Thursday, December 4, 2008

Hey It's December Already.

Not quite sure how that happened. Anyway, I realized after I received my first Christmas card in the mail this week, that I hadn't even ordered Christmas cards yet. This is the picture we used for last year's card. You like it?


Yeah, it was the only picture that was Christmas-card-worthy out of the 195 pictures we took of the kids that day. Let me say that again. Marshall took ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE pictures. Yep. And just one good one. The rest were like this...






With that very traumatic (for us) experience still fresh in our minds, I had a brainstorm for the Christmas card this year. Pick a Christmas card template with THREE separate picture places. So now we could just take a bunch of pictures of the kids individually and pick the best of each instead of finding one picture where they all are looking at the camera and all are smiling. Brilliant. And I think we might do this every year until the kids are teenagers and we can make them sit still and smile for the camera under the threat of grounding them.

And while we still ended up with Christmas card rejects like this...




And some "almost" Christmas-card-worthy shots like this...


We did actually end up with a Christmas-card-worthy photo for each kid in under 30 pictures, with no stress. Yes, we're definitely going to do this for the next few years.

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42 comments:

  1. Brenda Jean HydeDecember 4, 2008 at 4:44 AM

    I don't know Julie-- I like the silly ones. You could have a silly Cmas collage. BAHAHAHAHA Actually, I have not done this yet either. For some reason the week before Thanksgiving was hectic with Emily sick, then we were out of town, and then it SNOWED over 6 inches. I'm moving so slowly this week... I think it's the cold:)

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  2. SkellerDecember 4, 2008 at 4:53 AM

    hahahahahehehehehe!!!!! Hey, I'm not laughing at you; I'm totally laughing with you.
    I've. lived. this. post. :-)
    And yeah. Collage cards are the way to go.

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  3. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 5:02 AM

    I love the picture where Marlie is pinching Haven's nose! You should have gone with that one - it has character! hahahahaha

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  4. CaraBeeDecember 4, 2008 at 5:21 AM

    What a good idea! I can't imagine trying to get everyone smiling at the same time. I have a hard enough time getting my ONE child to sit still.

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  5. Robbin HopkinsDecember 4, 2008 at 5:49 AM

    Leave it to Ms. Marlie to shake things up! Can't wait to see the final product.

    Robbin

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  6. Life in FitzvilleDecember 4, 2008 at 5:50 AM

    Too funny! I actually had a brainstorm this year, and figures out a way to get a group shot and not worry about who was not looking at the camera, eyes closed, whatever.

    I love Seamus's hair. My Charlie has equally long hair, but not those gorgeous curls.

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  7. Keys to the Magic TravelDecember 4, 2008 at 6:09 AM

    I just did a post like this on Tuesday! With my little comedian. I finally managed to pick stuff out and now I have to figure out how to upload it all and get it printed :-)

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  8. emilyDecember 4, 2008 at 6:45 AM

    Loved this post! Every year I have the thought "wow, I would love to see the rejects if this was THE one" with a few cards. Hilarious!

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  9. NicholasDecember 4, 2008 at 6:59 AM

    They are so funny - it looks like Marlie and Tessa have the same scrunhy nose when they smile hard!

    They're all so adorable - It would be so fun to send a goofy one one year though wouldn't it - so different than what everyone does!

    xoxo lor

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  10. JulieDecember 4, 2008 at 7:13 AM

    The very last one of the 'rejects' is wonderful! It shows their playfulness. I think it is great. Although, I have to admit, I find all pics of your kids adorable. They can't help it-they are adorable.

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  11. BrandyDecember 4, 2008 at 8:06 AM

    Even the "rejects" are adorable. I'm sure no matter what picture you pick, it's gorgeous with those three on there.

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  12. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    You know I just realized last night that we have not taken any pictures for our Christmas cards this year? I am so behind the curve on Christmas this year. Our tree isn't even up yet.

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  13. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 9:30 AM

    They say a picture is worth a thousand words! Well, let's just say your blooper shots had me laughing. They are too cute!

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  14. ValDecember 4, 2008 at 9:48 AM

    All those pics are so cute anyways!!
    But don't get too excited about when they are teenagers. They get attitudes and don't want to smile. Then when they do the others aren't. How do you ever get a perfect one?

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  15. BrookeDecember 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM

    The almost pics looks like magazine ads, you know where a little bit of the face is cut off. SO CUTE! I love it. Marlie's hair has gotten so long! It's beautiful!

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  16. JeniDecember 4, 2008 at 10:10 AM

    Okay I'm not crying this time (that only makes sense if you read my comment on your adoption post). This time I am bowing at you feet. How come I couldn't have thought of that idea. We take around 200 pics every year as well, just to get 1 decent one of all 3 kids. I end up being a sweaty, frustrated, about to lose it mom/photographer. I'm gonna have to try this technique...you're brilliant Julie, just brilliant.

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  17. Katie ODecember 4, 2008 at 10:50 AM

    The other option is photo shop! My sister and I - for some crazy reason - get all 7 of our kids age 10 months to 9 years tgether to take a good pic for the grandparents every year. Talk about a nightmare! We actually ended up photo shopping good faces off of some pics and putting them into others :) It works, but only if the pics were taken from the exact same distance and the total placement of the heads are the same in both pics!

    I also love the silly pics of your kids and think it would be awesome if you made one of them your Christmas card. But, on the other hand, I would never do that, so why should I expect you too? :)
    Katie O.

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  18. BrittDecember 4, 2008 at 10:55 AM

    I love how last years pictures all have Haven enduring patiently the giggly goofiness of your youngest two.

    And I really, really like those goofy ones :o) Especially the one with Seamus' eyebrows and Marlie's tongue .. that one really made me smile =-)

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  19. LisaDecember 4, 2008 at 11:38 AM

    That is just like our family. Too funny! Great idea with the separate photos. Much less stress involved.

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  20. ShannonDecember 4, 2008 at 12:34 PM

    Brilliant idea!

    But the so-called "reject" pics are too adorable!

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  21. Ruby Red SlippersDecember 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM

    That is my home-I swear!!! (I am posting tomorrow about pictures/candy canes/stress). Bad idea to add sugar and pictures in the same hour...
    I am sure you are aware that your children are the most beautiful ever! They really are!!!

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  22. LaurzieDecember 4, 2008 at 1:08 PM

    HAHAHA, I LOVE these!

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  23. AshleyDecember 4, 2008 at 2:29 PM

    If those are your 'almost' Christmas card worthy shots I can't wait to see what made the cut!

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  24. ShaunDecember 4, 2008 at 3:35 PM

    Julie,
    You have an amazing sense of humor. I just crack up at your posts. I loved all the pictures actually. The silly ones have so much character!

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  25. EricaDecember 4, 2008 at 4:32 PM

    Cracking up at the 195 shots! I did 310 this year - and yes - we only got a couple good ones. I'm thinking I need your address. :)

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  26. MichelleDecember 4, 2008 at 4:46 PM

    See, this is why I just don't do the photo card. Wayyy too much stress, and I know what the wee ones look like.

    I do love how in most of them, the oldest is just sitting there so patiently waiting. Ha!

    Can't wait to see what the official card looks like. You *will* share it, right (and did you manage to get any purple in it)?

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  27. JenniDecember 4, 2008 at 6:51 PM

    I actually REALLY love the last group one with them all laughing...how cute is that??

    Can't wait to see the final product!

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  28. Rachel AnnDecember 4, 2008 at 8:24 PM

    I like all the pictures...especially the one where your daughter is grabbing her brother's face...they actually look like they love one another and not just tolerate each other! :)

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  29. AnonymousDecember 4, 2008 at 11:02 PM

    OMG, I would love it so much if someone actually sent out Christmas cards with photos like these in them. Can you imagine? That would be the best.

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  30. Aunt TeaDecember 5, 2008 at 12:13 PM

    happened on this on a blog hop today...

    my kids are almost all grown now. among my favorites are the outake type shots like you show. i ended up framing several sets. a frame with four spaces, filled with four group shots, etc. i love my outtake framed photos! it shows what the group dynamic was like then. they bring a smile to my face everytime.

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  31. imbeingheldhostageDecember 5, 2008 at 5:21 PM

    I like the silly ones too! Last year's is terrific, but I enjoy seeing a giggling kid or a face-maker. Your "almost" shots are priceless!!

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  32. Mama PapayaDecember 5, 2008 at 11:20 PM

    We should start a real life Christmas card campaign. Fingers up noses and looks, like well Marlie in her stink eye picture. Toss in a couple of pics of a mall traffic jam and mom taking a nip of wine in the pantry and you would have yourself an everyday everyone kind of Christmas.

    Excellent purple coverage by the way.

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  33. krissyDecember 6, 2008 at 6:24 AM

    This is a lovely post! The pictures remind me of when I try to get good Christmas card photos of my family. Too funny! I have such renewed admiration for our photographer. It looks so easy, but it's not!

    They are beautiful children!!!

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  34. Beth@Pages of Our LifeDecember 6, 2008 at 3:41 PM

    Ahhh....Long time no read. :-) I love all of these! They are sooo funny. We did this today. I hope we get one good one.

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  35. UnknownDecember 6, 2008 at 10:47 PM

    I like the silly pictures, but I can't imagine getting 3 small kids to all look at the camera at the same time.
    Stop by my blog, I'm having a giveaway!

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  36. JennersDecember 7, 2008 at 7:02 AM

    Visiting via BPOTW

    To be honest, I prefer the "non-worthy" ones to the "worthy" ones...so much more amusing and funny! Cute cute kids!

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  37. AnonymousDecember 7, 2008 at 8:12 AM

    I love the "candid" ones. Those are some gorgeous kids ya got there.

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  38. MonaDecember 7, 2008 at 10:04 PM

    I LOVE your posts. I'm laughing so hard I have tears in my eyes. I can see the personalities just oozing out of your precious kids. I hope to meet them all in person some day soon.

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  39. darciDecember 8, 2008 at 5:35 AM

    i'm in the 'laughing WITH you' group..heehee..this is why I LOVE my new digital camera...you really CAN take 195 photos and survive it financially. i love the ones from this year! your kids are all so beautiful!

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  40. RonnicaDecember 9, 2008 at 8:54 AM

    Whatever...I think that ANY of those photos would make for a fun Christmas card!

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  41. ChatterDecember 9, 2008 at 9:38 PM

    Seamus can do some seriously crazy things with his eyebrows. Wow.

    Your kids are so beautiful! Seriously. Can't wait to see pictures you chose for your Christmas card (making the assumption obviously that you will share them with us).

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  42. BPOTWDecember 10, 2008 at 8:26 PM

    I love the natural pictures! I especially like the last one of all three of them. That is so precious!!

    Merry Christmas!

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