Ho! Ho! Holiday!

I know that Christmas card letters have their share of detractors. But, I love getting cards and letters from people at this time of year. I'd much rather have a mass-produced letter than simply a signature, though it's great when people include a handwritten note, too.

Several years ago, I transitioned from a full letter to a summary on the back of the card. It was quite a leap for me. I am not necessarily a believer in the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." I'm glad to give you the 1,000 words ... and multiple photos. (My niece, Paige, wins best Christmas card letter so far this year. I told her that I literally laughed out loud.)

Even in this electronic communication age, I send quite a few Christmas cards. It's been a way for me to keep in touch with childhood friends and college buddies, along with sending greetings to family members across the U.S. and seasoning's greetings to neighbors. 

For us, the photo Christmas card is a family tradition. I starred in my very first one in 1957, as a 6-month-old baby.

By the time 1958 rolled around, I was already sharing space with my sister, Lisa, on the annual missive from Bob and Janis.

Though my brother, Kent, was born in December 1966, he didn't make the Christmas card until 1967. This is the first photo card with all my siblings. I would have been 10, Lisa, 9, Darci, 6 and Kent was 1.

My parents included their children on the family Christmas card until we graduated from college. Since then, we make occasional appearances on their card.

 Randy and I sent our first photo card in 1981, the year we were married.

 Then, we didn't send another one until 1985, the year that Jill was born.

Christmas Card Photo - Jill - 1985

We sent one with the three of us in 1986, when Jill was 15 months old. After that, I usually stayed on the other side of the camera and just included the kids. (When you're the one doing the work, you get the most votes.)

Christmas Card Photo - 1986

The first one with Brent was in 1988. Brent would have been about 7 months and Jill was 3.

Christmas Card Photo - 1988

Before the advent of digital photography, I developed rolls of film trying to come up with the perfect photo.

Kinley made her first Christmas card appearance in 2012.

In 2014, when Brooke joined the family, I featured outtakes on the blog, showing my attempts to get a decent Christmas card photo with two little girls. I guess I had amnesia regarding the number of photos you take to get one photo that's Christmas card worthy. But it all came back to me.

 

At least it's digital now and you can delete them off the memory card at will. In 2014, Kinley, almost 3, was at that cheesy fake smile stage unless you captured her in action.

Brooke, at 3 months old, would smile, but it was more fleeting than the camera shutter could record.

 

There's a reason I'm not a professional photographer. I can usually capture a pretty sunset, but portraiture is another thing all together.

I think this is what we ended up with.

They are considerably easier to photograph these days. (And so far, I've avoided any pre-teen eye rolls on the number of photos I NEED to take.)

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!