Awkward Christmas Photo Card

[Ginevra]

Stepping out of my board break to tell about it. I cannot believe the card faux pas I got from a friend. This is the last friend on earth I would think would send a Christmas card with such a hideous photo. I can only assume she thought it would be fun and care-free. Her daughters are in bikinis in a pose that I guess was meant to be fun, but instead just looks...gross. PSA: girls in bikinis should never, ever, ever be photographed frontally or with their legs not together. :huh: I'm not a big fan of bikini photos for Christmas to begin with because it looks so unseasonal but...sheesh. I don't even want to display the card.

 

I didn't send photo cards this year (sent ordinary cards) because I didn't have a good, seasonal photo prepared and time was getting away from me. This strikes me as a better option than picking one that happens to have all your children together and calling it good.

 

Another thing I'm not a fan of in Christmas cards are bragging via photos: "Here's a picture of us on our African Safari! And look, here's my son getting his National Honor Society seal! And this is all of us standing beside the new Lexus!" :rolleyes: Give me a break.

 

One of the nicest cards I ever received was from my uncle and included a tiny recipe booklet inside, with recipes for cookies and fudge. It was so much more in the spirit of, "I care about YOU and want to acknowledge you at Christmas." Could we get back to that?

[oldskool]

We got a similar bikini photo a few years ago. It was embarrassing to even display with the other cards. This year the same family, with the bikini girls now grown, sent a picture of just the husband and wife swimming in a pool. Not even a great picture of the two of them. Not sure what people think when they decide on what picture to have on a Christmas card. Surely, there would be better choices? :confused:

[Jenny in Florida]

I guess I'm just pleased when people think of me and send a card. Having two teenage kids who are busy and also picky about photos of themselves, I understand that sometimes people have to go with what they've got.

 

We used to make a big production out of taking or having taken good photos of our kids specifically for sending in Christmas cards. But the last few years have been a challenge in that regard. My daughter was away at school for four years, getting home for the holiday often just a couple of weeks in advance, which didn't leave us much time to do the photo thing. Even when she isn't away, they are both so busy that it's tough to get them both in the same place at the same time, dressed appropriately and ready to shoot. Often one or both of them is in a show; they both usually sing for Christmas eve services at our church and have to pick and rehearse their songs. Plus, you know, it's Christmas.

 

So, for most recent years, I've just gone through our photos and picked one I think is acceptable. One year, we had been so busy that there was not one single decent photo of them together. So, I made and printed a little collage with a couple of photos of each of them.

 

My point is, I guess, that I am appreciative that people want to keep in touch and share their lives with me, even in such a token way as a card and photo. I can't imagine being irritated by the photo they choose to send, although if it makes you uncomfortable you could always choose not to display it.

[Carrie Sue]

I don't even try for a group shot anymore...just take 4 photos and make a photo collage on a 4 x 6, after they've been cropped. This way, I can make sure each person looks like himself/herself! :) And it's only $.30 per photo at Walgreens!

 

I'm not a fan of beachy-Christmas card photos either!

[SKL]

Yikes! I just forced my children to tolerate a second photo shoot in their Christmas dresses and went through about 50 photos in those dresses before picking out 3 that were OK enough (imo) to send out. That too, I cropped them before sending them to print. This is what I do every year. Maybe I'm over-thinking things.

 

Last year I did include one small photo from my kids' baptism, which was in November. I thought it was an adorable picture with my kids in an affectionate embrace (and fully clothed).

[Guest]

I guess I'm just pleased when people think of me and send a card. Having two teenage kids who are busy and also picky about photos of themselves, I understand that sometimes people have to go with what they've got.

 

We used to make a big production out of taking or having taken good photos of our kids specifically for sending in Christmas cards. But the last few years have been a challenge in that regard. My daughter was away at school for four years, getting home for the holiday often just a couple of weeks in advance, which didn't leave us much time to do the photo thing. Even when she isn't away, they are both so busy that it's tough to get them both in the same place at the same time, dressed appropriately and ready to shoot. Often one or both of them is in a show; they both usually sing for Christmas eve services at our church and have to pick and rehearse their songs. Plus, you know, it's Christmas.

 

So, for most recent years, I've just gone through our photos and picked one I think is acceptable. One year, we had been so busy that there was not one single decent photo of them together. So, I made and printed a little collage with a couple of photos of each of them.

 

My point is, I guess, that I am appreciative that people want to keep in touch and share their lives with me, even in such a token way as a card and photo. I can't imagine being irritated by the photo they choose to send, although if it makes you uncomfortable you could always choose not to display it.

 

I have nothing against choosing some good photos that you have or compiling a collage. I did that last year for the reason you stated - I never got around to getting everyone organized in sweaters for a photo. But no - I don't think any old photo is good enough and I'll just call it good because someone deigned to send me a card. I'm not of the mind that "it's the thought that counts," which is what you seem to be saying. I feel that if someone matters enough to you to send them a greeting, it should be the best you can manage.

 

The "bragging" photos bug me because that is clearly about the person displaying themselves and has nothing to do with them caring to connect with others at Christmas. It's just a press release for their fabulous life.

 

Yikes! I just forced my children to tolerate a second photo shoot in their Christmas dresses and went through about 50 photos in those dresses before picking out 3 that were OK enough (imo) to send out. That too, I cropped them before sending them to print. This is what I do every year. Maybe I'm over-thinking things.

 

Last year I did include one small photo from my kids' baptism, which was in November. I thought it was an adorable picture with my kids in an affectionate embrace (and fully clothed).

 

Sounds perfectly nice to me.

[Wheres Toto]

We used to go and get a family portrait every year for our Christmas cards but the last few years it's been very hard to get everyone together given oldest dd's very very busy work, school, dance, spend 1/2 her time at her dad's schedule. Last year I had to go with 3 different pictures (that I didn't really care for) but this year I had one very good picture with all three kids together, dressed nicely and with normal expressions on their faces. It was taken in the Spring so I did the card using a winter scrap background in a light green with pink, green and blue snowflakes. The only times we are all dressed nice and are together these days are Easter and Thanksgiving.

 

My MIL has a photo wall in her bedroom with pictures of all her grandkids and great-grandkids. She likes new pictures every year. My oldest was easy this year - we had her graduation pictures from school. But I literally had maybe 3 or 4 each of the little guys to pick from. It was so hard to find even individual pictures where they had normal looking faces, were facing the camera, had decent looking hair and, in little dd's case, was actually wearing clothes.

[Jenny in Florida]

But no - I don't think any old photo is good enough and I'll just call it good because someone deigned to send me a card. I'm not of the mind that "it's the thought that counts," which is what you seem to be saying. I feel that if someone matters enough to you to send them a greeting, it should be the best you can manage.

 

We're probably coming at this from different perspectives, since no one has actually "deigned" to send us a card this year. I'll admit that it makes me sad to think of you scorning your friend's gesture while I'm bereft of friends that would even bother.

[angela in ohio]

PSA: girls in bikinis should never, ever, ever be photographed frontally or with their legs not together. :huh:

 

They sent you porn for Christmas? ;)

[Happy]

.

 

The "bragging" photos bug me because that is clearly about the person displaying themselves and has nothing to do with them caring to connect with others at Christmas. It's just a press release for their fabulous life.

 

 

 

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Well...I disagree. I think Christmas cards are a time to share some of the highlights of your life that year. There are many people with whom we only connect via cards at Christmas. I WANT to hear they went on a great anniversary cruise or a significant mission trip. I want to hear their children graduated with honors. I CARE about them. Rejoice with those who rejoice...

 

I do agree about the new Lexus stuff...I can do without a bunch of material display...but do tell me about life. Hopefully you are as pleased to hear about me and mine when you get our card.

 

Even when we are having a bad year or season, I love hearing that my friends are having a 'normal' or great year. It gives me hope! ;)

[Guest]

We're probably coming at this from different perspectives, since no one has actually "deigned" to send us a card this year. I'll admit that it makes me sad to think of you scorning your friend's gesture while I'm bereft of friends that would even bother.

 

You have no one who sent you a Christmas card? There's not a person who would send you a Christmas card? If that is so then, I agree - that is sad. Christmas cards are mostly an "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" affair IME. I send out about 60 cards; I receive about 20. Do you send out cards, but nobody ever sends you one?

 

They sent you porn for Christmas? ;)

 

:lol: I'm sure it never crossed their minds.

 

Well...I disagree. I think Christmas cards are a time to share some of the highlights of your life that year. There are many people with whom we only connect via cards at Christmas. I WANT to hear they went on a great anniversary cruise or a significant mission trip. I want to hear their children graduated with honors. I CARE about them. Rejoice with those who rejoice...

 

I do agree about the new Lexus stuff...I can do without a bunch of material display...but do tell me about life. Hopefully you are as pleased to hear about me and mine when you get our card.

 

Even when we are having a bad year or season, I love hearing that my friends are having a 'normal' or great year. It gives me hope! ;)

 

Well, we part company there. I didn't like that much even before photo-cards were typical, back when "Annual Letters" were more the thing. It just seems to me there's no way to do that without either sounding superior or sounding like Job. Or if one child is very outstanding but the other(s) are not, it's very noticable on a card if the parents say, "Oh, and Timmy did this, Timmy did that, Timmy is amazing...and Johnny, yeah, Johnny is enjoying his DSi." :tongue_smilie: (And yes, I have had a card very much in that vein.) It's not that I think nobody should ever include a picture of, say, a graduation or wedding or ceremony. It's just that I have over the years gotten some that look like a forum for showing off. It's not as though every other card is annoying, but what I'm saying is, a couple are. 20 cards, 18 very nice cards, 2 weird ones. That's all.

[GoVanGogh]

Another thing I'm not a fan of in Christmas cards are bragging via photos: "Here's a picture of us on our African Safari! And look, here's my son getting his National Honor Society seal! And this is all of us standing beside the new Lexus!" :rolleyes: Give me a break.

The "bragging" photos bug me because that is clearly about the person displaying themselves and has nothing to do with them caring to connect with others at Christmas. It's just a press release for their fabulous life.

I sent out a photo like that this year, but I would hardly consider it a press release for our fabulous life.

We were married 25 years ago and didn't have either time nor money for a honeymoon. My husband has always said we were "doing something big" for our 25th anniversary. Well, that was this year and - yes - we 'did something big' and I did send pictures of it in our Christmas card.

It doesn't mean we have a fabulous life. In fact, our past few years have been rocky - unemployment, major house issue that cost $$$, health problems, multiple surgeries, relative killed by drunk driver, etc.

But we saved up for 25 years for this trip and we needed it in so many ways. If people that received the card/photos decide to see it as a brag, so be it. But most people know what we have gone through the past few years and were very happy that we made the trip.

The only person who wouldn't have been pleased with the pictures is my MIL, who thinks everyone should live the same awful life that she does. :tongue_smilie:And I refuse to live my life to please her. :D

[Guest]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

[Tess in the Burbs]

We're probably coming at this from different perspectives, since no one has actually "deigned" to send us a card this year. I'll admit that it makes me sad to think of you scorning your friend's gesture while I'm bereft of friends that would even bother.

 

I agree. We haven't received one card this year. I would take an awkward photo over nothing to display. It would at least feel like someone remembered us.

 

We moved too.....so I doubt we will get any cards. No one updates their address books anymore apparently :tongue_smilie:

[Laurie4b]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

 

Maybe because it was the significant event of their year and they wanted to share that with others because it was special to them.

 

ETA: I don't send photocards, so I have 'no dog in the fight" as they say in the South. It just doesn't seem odd to me that after 25 years of saving and after a rough few years, they couldn't share that special moment with friends and family without being thought to be bragging or somehow else inappropriate.

[teachermom2834]

I didn't send cards this year but if I did it might have had our picture with Mickey and Minnie mouse. I wouldn't have been bragging. It would have been the only time someone else was there to take a picture of our whole family.

 

I'm glad I didn't do that. Now people just know I'm unable to pull it together enough to send cards.

[PeacefulChaos]

Hmm...well, I can imagine that this photo was...less than flattering. ;) I can be certain I would not send any cards to anyone with a photo in a bathing suit, period. Even cute photos of my 2 year old in hers. :D

I will admit, however, that our Christmas card is a collage, and has 12 pictures on it, from the entire year. One of the 3 kids together back in April (it was a cute picture, perfect showcase of personalities), of DH and I in May (on Mothers day, the only picture from this year of DH and I together! :lol: ), of DS6 playing in the backyard from February (though it wouldn't be out of season at this point, just that I know it's older!), DS7 in October, DD in May (on her birthday, eating her first ice cream at DQ), the 3 kids together on a rock when we went into the mountains in November, all of us with DH's grandfather in October, the boys together when we were in the mountains in November, The backs of the 3 kids walking with DH down the street on Halloween (in costume - such a cute pic!), me and the kids (and the dog?? Idk, she just jumped in there) on Mother's Day, DH and the kids on Father's Day, and the boys when they got their trophies for Royal Rangers/ Rainbows at their awards ceremony in September.

So as you can see, I just grab photos from the year and do a sort of 'year in review' so to speak - I figure as long as they are from this past year, why not include them? Many of the people I send letters to are perfectly happy to receive a card with all these pictures on it - they are mostly family and don't see us, ever. Those who don't care about the card, they can do whatever with it, I really don't care - I made the gesture to send them a nice photo card with plenty of pictures of the kids, and their response to it really doesn't matter to me. :)

I did do Christmas letters back in the day, also. The last time I did it was probably...idk...2-3 years ago? I just don't have time to do it now, or the will to do it! :lol: But again, I like letters that tell me about what people have been up to the past year. I don't consider it bragging, I consider it a matter of fact rundown of what they have been doing. I don't think it's bragging for me to say that DS6 is learning to read and loved soccer this fall, or that DD is talking a mile a minute though we don't know what she's saying all the time! Or that DH went on a missions trip to Haiti and that I was excited to go on my first missions trip to NYC in June. Those are the type of things I usually see in letters, not anything 'bragging' about it - just a rundown. :confused:

But again, that's just me... :)

 

ETA: I hate hate HATE 'Christmas' photos - people all matched up in sweaters or some mess like that. It looks contrived and usually there are much BETTER pictures of the whole family together - why not use a better picture rather than one that happens to be Christmas-y? If it's just done at home, we've done that before and the picture of us together was ok, the pics of the kids separately were cute. But I don't want to do the same thing every year - boring!! :) But what I really, really hate are professional Christmas pics. Like, what do people do with those??? Do they hang them up on the wall? So they have 'Christmas' pictures hanging up all year round? That one has always just baffled me...

Edited December 21, 2011 by PeacefulChaos

[Guest submarines]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

 

Because for Christmas cards many choose a photo which is most representative of their year. If I had a fabulous trip, and had great pictures of it, I'd want to share it (and that part of my life) with my friends. It wouldn't occur to me that others might see this as bragging. :confused:

 

The other choice, of course, is to send a cute card with everyone wearing yet another pair of red and green pajamas, or any other variety of typical Christmas cards. Not saying that there's anything wrong with that, but why to put down those who want to be a little be more personal and creative?

 

Maybe the bikini photo in the OP represented a very special memory to that family. I'm sure the mother focused on her children's faces, not their crotches. For whatever reason they thought it was the best photo. Why does it bother you so much? It is not like you have to display it. :confused:

[Guest]

Because for Christmas cards many choose a photo which is most representative of their year. If I had a fabulous trip, and had great pictures of it, I'd want to share it (and that part of my life) with my friends. It wouldn't occur to me that others might see this as bragging. :confused:

 

The other choice, of course, is to send a cute card with everyone wearing yet another pair of red and green pajamas, or any other variety of typical Christmas cards. Not saying that there's anything wrong with that, but why to put down those who want to be a little be more personal and creative?

 

Maybe the bikini photo in the OP represented a very special memory to that family. I'm sure the mother focused on her children's faces, not their crotches. For whatever reason they thought it was the best photo. Why does it bother you so much? It is not like you have to display it. :confused:

 

 

It doesn't bother me so much, but it is something worth talking about. I'm speaking out about badly-done Christmas cards. Public service. Maybe next year there will be less of them in the world.

 

I don't think there's two ways to do Christmas cards: be creative in a bikini or put everyone in an ugly red sweater in front of the Christmas tree. :confused: I'm not sure why anyone would think that's how narrow I think the choices are.

 

I do think "highlights" are easily and often perceived as bragging and I'm positive I'm not the only person who thinks so. Sending a Christmas card is not supposed to be about representing to others what your special moments were this year IMO. It's supposed to be about reaching out to somebody else.

[PeacefulChaos]

It doesn't bother me so much, but it is something worth talking about. I'm speaking out about badly-done Christmas cards. Public service. Maybe next year there will be less of them in the world.

 

I don't think there's two ways to do Christmas cards: be creative in a bikini or put everyone in an ugly red sweater in front of the Christmas tree. :confused: I'm not sure why anyone would think that's how narrow I think the choices are.

 

I do think "highlights" are easily and often perceived as bragging and I'm positive I'm not the only person who thinks so. Sending a Christmas card is not supposed to be about representing to others what your special moments were this year IMO. It's supposed to be about reaching out to somebody else.

 

Ah, I see, I think that's where the major difference lies. I don't see Christmas cards as a 'reaching out' type thing - I see it as a 'keeping in touch' type thing. So that we can still have some inkling of what is going on in each others' lives - so that we can see how much the kids have grown now, etc.

[DaffodilDreams]

Stepping out of my board break to tell about it. I cannot believe the card faux pas I got from a friend. This is the last friend on earth I would think would send a Christmas card with such a hideous photo. I can only assume she thought it would be fun and care-free. Her daughters are in bikinis in a pose that I guess was meant to be fun, but instead just looks...gross. PSA: girls in bikinis should never, ever, ever be photographed frontally or with their legs not together. :huh: I'm not a big fan of bikini photos for Christmas to begin with because it looks so unseasonal but...sheesh. I don't even want to display the card.

 

I didn't send photo cards this year (sent ordinary cards) because I didn't have a good, seasonal photo prepared and time was getting away from me. This strikes me as a better option than picking one that happens to have all your children together and calling it good.

 

Another thing I'm not a fan of in Christmas cards are bragging via photos: "Here's a picture of us on our African Safari! And look, here's my son getting his National Honor Society seal! And this is all of us standing beside the new Lexus!" :rolleyes: Give me a break.

 

One of the nicest cards I ever received was from my uncle and included a tiny recipe booklet inside, with recipes for cookies and fudge. It was so much more in the spirit of, "I care about YOU and want to acknowledge you at Christmas." Could we get back to that?

 

You must be related to my husband's family. We received an African Safari Christmas card a few years ago, too. We refer to it as the Merry Carcass card. Horribly inappropriate for the holidays! Yuck!

[beaners]

Ah, I see, I think that's where the major difference lies. I don't see Christmas cards as a 'reaching out' type thing - I see it as a 'keeping in touch' type thing. So that we can still have some inkling of what is going on in each others' lives - so that we can see how much the kids have grown now, etc.

 

I think of cards like this too.

 

All of the threads with recipients horrified by or making fun of cards make me want to add a disclaimer to our cards. Maybe I could suggest that anyone who doesn't enjoy our card in a genuine (as in not gathering the family around to point and laugh) manner, feel free to let me know and I won't bother you next year.

[Laurie4b]

Ah, I see, I think that's where the major difference lies. I don't see Christmas cards as a 'reaching out' type thing - I see it as a 'keeping in touch' type thing. So that we can still have some inkling of what is going on in each others' lives - so that we can see how much the kids have grown now, etc.

 

:iagree:. Keeping in touch with updates is a way to reach out.

 

And if Christmas cards aren't supposed to be about sharing but about reaching out, how are any photos or updates appropriate? What would be contained in a "reaching out" only card? :confused:

[Belacqua]

You must be related to my husband's family. We received an African Safari Christmas card a few years ago, too. We refer to it as the Merry Carcass card. Horribly inappropriate for the holidays! Yuck!

 

You just made me snort in a most unladylike manner. :)

 

We received a card last year featuring the sender's kids (a boy of about 4 and a girl of 6) posing with Hooters waitresses in Santa hats. It wasn't indecent or anything, but I'd just never associated Hooters with Christmas.

[Trish]

 

 

Well, we part company there. I didn't like that much even before photo-cards were typical, back when "Annual Letters" were more the thing. It just seems to me there's no way to do that without either sounding superior or sounding like Job.

 

I have had friends tell me they read my Christmas newsletter to people who don't know us. That's probably because my newsletters sound like they were composed at the Onion.

 

But we do a get a lot of the variety you're talking about -- All Fabulousness, All The Time, or a rendition of everyone's illnesses. (one memorable one: the acquaintance who called her van a "rolling vomitorium," and my old college friend who describes their home remodeling projects in EXCRUCIATING detail. "then it took forever for the contractor to pull the permit, followed by two weeks of bad weather, and then another week of semi-bad weather..." I always read that one aloud to my husband because he finds it funny. And they seem to have been remodeling since we left college. Wonder if the house looks like the Munster Mansion...you know, classic.

 

But honestly, no matter what people are saying, I always enjoy the newsletters and read every word, no matter how eloquent or braggy. If these are people whose lives I care about, I like to reflect on what's going on with them and enjoy their rendition of the previous year.

 

We got one a couple years ago that started off upbeat, then went on to say, (paraphrasing) you may notice that only four of us are on the card instead of five. Sadly (husband's name) has decided to pursue other interests involving other women and isn't interested in going to counseling with me.

 

Oh. My.

 

Sorry about bragging about my well-read newsletter, but I have to brag SOMEWHERE!

[Jennifer in MI]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

 

We usually do a Christmas letter with pictures from our year. If we've taken a trip, there are pictures of our trip in there. This isn't done to brag. It's done because it's something we did that year.

 

I also don't see a Christmas card/letter as something done to reach out to others. I want to share a bit of our life with people we know, but don't see often.

[regentrude]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

 

Maybe because it was the nicest photograph they had taken of themselves?

 

The only time we ever take a family picture is when we are traveling. So, every year, our photo involves us standing on some mountain or in some desert canyon. That's a statement about what we love to do most, it's a statement about who we are, what we do to bond as a family - so yes, it should go on our card.

[Dolphin]

Well...I disagree. I think Christmas cards are a time to share some of the highlights of your life that year. There are many people with whom we only connect via cards at Christmas. I WANT to hear they went on a great anniversary cruise or a significant mission trip. I want to hear their children graduated with honors. I CARE about them. Rejoice with those who rejoice...

 

I do agree about the new Lexus stuff...I can do without a bunch of material display...but do tell me about life. Hopefully you are as pleased to hear about me and mine when you get our card.

 

Even when we are having a bad year or season, I love hearing that my friends are having a 'normal' or great year. It gives me hope! ;)

 

 

 

:iagree:

[regentrude]

Sending a Christmas card is not supposed to be about representing to others what your special moments were this year IMO. It's supposed to be about reaching out to somebody else.

 

No, not for everybody.

For me, writing Christmas cards and letters is about keeping in touch I take the end of the year as an opportunity to let friends with whom we have not been in contact very much know what is going on in our lives. It is an occasion to update them about events in our family. In turn, I want to know what has been going on with them. And I LOVE receiving photos.

[Trish]

I sent out a photo like that this year, but I would hardly consider it a press release for our fabulous life.

We were married 25 years ago and didn't have either time nor money for a honeymoon. My husband has always said we were "doing something big" for our 25th anniversary. Well, that was this year and - yes - we 'did something big' and I did send pictures of it in our Christmas card.

It doesn't mean we have a fabulous life. In fact, our past few years have been rocky - unemployment, major house issue that cost $$$, health problems, multiple surgeries, relative killed by drunk driver, etc.

But we saved up for 25 years for this trip and we needed it in so many ways. If people that received the card/photos decide to see it as a brag, so be it. But most people know what we have gone through the past few years and were very happy that we made the trip.

The only person who wouldn't have been pleased with the pictures is my MIL, who thinks everyone should live the same awful life that she does. :tongue_smilie:And I refuse to live my life to please her. :D

 

Congrats on getting through tough times and having something to be happy about. Just wanted to say that any friend or relative who goes on a cool trip, I EXPECT to see or hear about it. I would like to see that photo. And if you didn't provide one I'd be disappointed. So please rest easy knowing a lot of people are enjoying that photo of you. I know I would if I were in their shoes! Some of the coolest photo cards we have received are from exotic locations. I love them!

 

:)

[Stacia]

For me, writing Christmas cards and letters is about keeping in touch I take the end of the year as an opportunity to let friends with whom we have not been in contact very much know what is going on in our lives. It is an occasion to update them about events in our family. In turn, I want to know what has been going on with them. And I LOVE receiving photos.

 

:iagree:

[acurtis75]

You just made me snort in a most unladylike manner. :)

 

We received a card last year featuring the sender's kids (a boy of about 4 and a girl of 6) posing with Hooters waitresses in Santa hats. It wasn't indecent or anything, but I'd just never associated Hooters with Christmas.

 

That made me snort..why would you select that photo to mail out? I hardly ever send out cards any more. Even my aunt who the family lovingly calls Martha Stewart stopped sending them. I do give small gift bags out to friends and relatives with ornaments that dd makes in them. We generally include some stuff we baked and a good photo or two from the year. We rarely go take official portraits so it's often a vacation photo. It would never include bathing suits or hooters but that's just not something I would send out to represent our family.

[ThatCyndiGirl]

We received a card this year from the family member who was also discussed years ago in the blog post here: http://ohmynoodness.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-i-do-not-want-for-christmas.html

(at the bottom, gold shiny mirror purse recipient)

It was a holiday letter printed on regular sized paper and it was ONE ENTIRE PARAGRAPH. :001_huh:

 

One paragraph. Nary a pagebreak to be found, bless her heart. :tongue_smilie:

[LMA]

It's just a Christmas card. You can just shred it. The cards I've seen are no worse than what people send me in their emails and what they post online on Facebook or blogs. Why should we be shocked to get a similar thing in a card? I just enjoy the cards and I just take them as holiday greetings. Let's just accept the cards in the spirit of Christmas and give the sender the benefit of the doubt and be happy for them.

[Impish]

The receipient is responsible for the message they infer, not the sender.

 

What the sender considers a special memory/event to share, the receiver could take as 'bragging'. Not the sender's fault.

 

I have a friend whose divorced and childless. Mentioning my dh or children, to her, is interpreted as bragging. To me, it's my life.

[Guest]

:iagree:. Keeping in touch with updates is a way to reach out.

 

And if Christmas cards aren't supposed to be about sharing but about reaching out, how are any photos or updates appropriate? What would be contained in a "reaching out" only card? :confused:

 

Man, this thread is taking a weird turn. I'm not a keeping-in-touch-hating photo-phobe. I LIKE photos, people! A whole bunch of different kinds! Just not especially of your daughters in swimsuits with legs and arms akimbo. And not especially of All The Amazing Successes We've Had This Year. There are TONS of awesome Christmas card photos; the great majority fit into this category.

 

I have had friends tell me they read my Christmas newsletter to people who don't know us. That's probably because my newsletters sound like they were composed at the Onion.

 

Well, that would be fun.

 

I should have resisted TWTM. I was doing fine, getting stuff done, but noooooo....:auto:

[tammyw]

How old were the girls? Would you find it more acceptable if they were younger? If they were in one-piece bathing suits? If their pose was more appropriate in your view? I'm just curious where someone draws a line. I create a photo book every year for all the parents and grandparents. It includes pictures of my children at the beach in their bathing suits. It's a photo book of our entire year. Our families love it. It sounds like it would be considered bragging by some, because we share pictures of our lives throughout the year? That makes me sad.

 

Same with someone who includes a picture of their family from an African Safari. I guess I don't understand what's wrong with that? Maybe they don't have many family photos? Maybe that's the best one of the year? I know that I am always behind the camera, so rarely in the pictures. If I had a great picture of our entire family, I'd be using it my book, that's for sure. Or just because someone is pictured in front of their new car, doesn't mean they're trying to brag about it. Perhaps someone said "here, let me take a picture of your family" and it turned out to be a great picture. I doubt they said "let's get a picture in front of our new Lexus so we can make everyone on our Christmas card jealous".

 

I'm not saying that I think "porn" should be used on a Christmas card. But if we're talking about 5 year old girls in bikini bathing suits (and in all honesty, I don't let my daughter wear a bikini because I want to cover as much skin from the sun as possible), then I don't know that it's so inappropriate.

[Abigail4476]

It doesn't bother me so much, but it is something worth talking about. I'm speaking out about badly-done Christmas cards. Public service. Maybe next year there will be less of them in the world.

 

I don't think there's two ways to do Christmas cards: be creative in a bikini or put everyone in an ugly red sweater in front of the Christmas tree. :confused: I'm not sure why anyone would think that's how narrow I think the choices are.

 

I do think "highlights" are easily and often perceived as bragging and I'm positive I'm not the only person who thinks so. Sending a Christmas card is not supposed to be about representing to others what your special moments were this year IMO. It's supposed to be about reaching out to somebody else.

 

I agree [mostly]. My favorite Christmas cards are the ones that aren't preprinted and generically signed. I love the ones where someone has taken the time to write a personal note inside and actually signed their name with their own hand. THOSE are special and they are kept in my box of sentimental paraphernalia.

 

Last year, I had a friend put a few pictures of her daughter from their trip to Disneyland (there was one where she was standing in front of the castle, one kneeling in the sand at the beach and another one hugging Minnie Mouse). At the bottom it said, "Believe in the magic of the season!" I thought it was cute. Picture cards can get out of hand, though. I haven't received any I thought were bragging. I've seen some that made me laugh because they were either "redneck Christmas" pictures (not deliberate on the part of the sender, you understand) or they were all wearing terrible sweaters.

 

As a sidenote, you can use up the meaningless cards by cutting up the covers into various shapes (or cutting out the Santas, trees, etc.), backing them with Christmas paper, laminating and stringing them into a Christmas garland. :tongue_smilie:

[Guest]

We received a card this year from the family member who was also discussed years ago in the blog post here: http://ohmynoodness.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-i-do-not-want-for-christmas.html

(at the bottom, gold shiny mirror purse recipient)

It was a holiday letter printed on regular sized paper and it was ONE ENTIRE PARAGRAPH. :001_huh:

 

One paragraph. Nary a pagebreak to be found, bless her heart. :tongue_smilie:

 

It's fortunate she didn't go over-long. And the blog post is hilarious! (Or is it Hillary-ous?);)

[Guest]

How old were the girls? Would you find it more acceptable if they were younger? If they were in one-piece bathing suits? If their pose was more appropriate in your view? I'm just curious where someone draws a line. I create a photo book every year for all the parents and grandparents. It includes pictures of my children at the beach in their bathing suits. It's a photo book of our entire year. Our families love it. It sounds like it would be considered bragging by some, because we share pictures of our lives throughout the year? That makes me sad.

 

Same with someone who includes a picture of their family from an African Safari. I guess I don't understand what's wrong with that? Maybe they don't have many family photos? Maybe that's the best one of the year? I know that I am always behind the camera, so rarely in the pictures. If I had a great picture of our entire family, I'd be using it my book, that's for sure. Or just because someone is pictured in front of their new car, doesn't mean they're trying to brag about it. Perhaps someone said "here, let me take a picture of your family" and it turned out to be a great picture. I doubt they said "let's get a picture in front of our new Lexus so we can make everyone on our Christmas card jealous".

 

I'm not saying that I think "porn" should be used on a Christmas card. But if we're talking about 5 year old girls in bikini bathing suits (and in all honesty, I don't let my daughter wear a bikini because I want to cover as much skin from the sun as possible), then I don't know that it's so inappropriate.

 

 

They are fully-developed teenagers.

 

Your photo-book extrapolation is absurd. There is no relationship whatsoever between making a photo book for grandparents and sending out a bragging Christmas card.

[KungFuPanda]

Stepping out of my board break to tell about it. I cannot believe the card faux pas I got from a friend. This is the last friend on earth I would think would send a Christmas card with such a hideous photo. I can only assume she thought it would be fun and care-free. Her daughters are in bikinis in a pose that I guess was meant to be fun, but instead just looks...gross. PSA: girls in bikinis should never, ever, ever be photographed frontally or with their legs not together. :huh: I'm not a big fan of bikini photos for Christmas to begin with because it looks so unseasonal but...sheesh. I don't even want to display the card.

 

I didn't send photo cards this year (sent ordinary cards) because I didn't have a good, seasonal photo prepared and time was getting away from me. This strikes me as a better option than picking one that happens to have all your children together and calling it good.

 

Another thing I'm not a fan of in Christmas cards are bragging via photos: "Here's a picture of us on our African Safari! And look, here's my son getting his National Honor Society seal! And this is all of us standing beside the new Lexus!" :rolleyes: Give me a break.

 

One of the nicest cards I ever received was from my uncle and included a tiny recipe booklet inside, with recipes for cookies and fudge. It was so much more in the spirit of, "I care about YOU and want to acknowledge you at Christmas." Could we get back to that?

 

 

 

One year I sent luau-themed Christmas cards. I had a cute picture of the kids in Hawaiian shirts with a cheesy beach backdrop that I wanted to share, so I found some beach Santa clip art and made cards. I figured people would rather see the kids than a mass-market Christmas scene. Besides, not everyone lives in the Eastern deciduous forest so 'seasonal' is a matter of geography. My sister lives in Hawii. They'd roast in 'proper' Christmas outfits.

 

[tammyw]

They are fully-developed teenagers.

 

Your photo-book extrapolation is absurd. There is no relationship whatsoever between making a photo book for grandparents and sending out a bragging Christmas card.

 

I honestly wasn't trying to be absurd. I show the book to friends all the time (I print one for myself also).

 

I apologize for commenting. I do agree that teenagers in an inappropriate pose shouldn't be on a Christmas card fwiw.

[ThatCyndiGirl]

It's fortunate she didn't go over-long. And the blog post is hilarious! (Or is it Hillary-ous?);)

 

 

Thank you. I can't wait til DH gets home and can read that letter. ohmy. I tried to read it in one breath and nearly fainted dead away. :svengo:<---See, she just tried to read the letter, too! :lol:

[Guest]

I honestly wasn't trying to be absurd. I show the book to friends all the time (I print one for myself also).

 

I apologize for commenting. I do agree that teenagers in an inappropriate pose shouldn't be on a Christmas card fwiw.

 

I'm just saying it's not that I think one should never mention that they went on a trip or whatever...it's not like I think you need to sneak away in the middle of the night and never mention it again. I make photo books, too. I've shown them to other people. I have photos up on FB of trips I've taken or other fun things.

 

I just don't know how in the world the thread went from my saying I didn't like bragging Christmas cards to where it's thought that I never think someone should share a trip photo or whatnot.

 

I don't know. This thread went for ill and now I can't remember why I thought it would be something to chat about. I should have just focused on the Snickerdoodles.

[WIS0320]

That's awesome that you took a fabulous trip, but why should it go on your Christmas card? Now - who knows, maybe it was perfectly nicely done and doesn't look like a display of your fabulous life, but I ask why that should go in a holiday card? This is a sincere question.

 

We used a photo taken at the Mary Poppins breakfast in DW on our card because it was the only photo of all 5 members of our family in one shot taken in the last year. It wasn't bragging, we just don't get to the photo studio like some families do each year. I'm actually not even sure if people could tell where we were b/c it was black and white and we were standing in front of a mural. But I certainly wasn't bragging that we went to DW, I was just glad to have a decent shot of all of us to use for the card.

 

It has been my experience that most people who receive my cards are glad to see an updated photo of the children because they change so quickly. I don't know anyone who thinks it odd to use a photo from a family vacation on a Christmas card aside from you here on this thread.

[Pink Fairy]

This popped up yesterday in my facebook feed. I just knew it was going to be great card, based on the title of the blog post--"Brace yourselves...it's about to get all kinds of UGLY up in here." :D

 

Personally, I love receiving holiday letters from friends! I want to know about their kid's perfect SAT score and their new house, or if their mom died and they are in the middle of a divorce. That's real life. If I had more time, or (let's face it) was more creative, I'd send out a letter with my cards, but I limit myself to a short note and a 4x6 pic of the kids.

 

It's a hard world, and I wish people wouldn't be so picky about the small stuff.

[Guest]

We used a photo taken at the Mary Poppins breakfast in DW on our card because it was the only photo of all 5 members of our family in one shot taken in the last year. It wasn't bragging, we just don't get to the photo studio like some families do each year. I'm actually not even sure if people could tell where we were b/c it was black and white and we were standing in front of a mural. But I certainly wasn't bragging that we went to DW, I was just glad to have a decent shot of all of us to use for the card.

 

It has been my experience that most people who receive my cards are glad to see an updated photo of the children because they change so quickly. I don't know anyone who thinks it odd to use a photo from a family vacation on a Christmas card aside from you here on this thread.

 

:banghead: I give up. Smile and wave.

[LisainOhio]

I sent about 60 photo cards this year. In the center of the card it said "2011..what amazing year" and around the edge were many pictures of my family but mostly of my 6 year old because my hubby and I aren't nearly as cute! The photos are from different times during the year. We do travel so there are travel photos. We do have fun parties so there are photos from those. My daughter managed to master some tumbling moves this year so there's a shot of her in a backbend. We most certainly are not bragging. We are sharing part of lives with those who want to stay in touch with and those we love. We have friends and family scattered around the world and I love getting their cards and seeing what they have been up to during the year.

 

I mailed them on Saturday. I received 3 phone calls yesterday from friends of my parents who thanked me for sending them a card and giving them an overview of how my daughter is growing. My parents both died before my daughter came home to us and it's important to me..and clearly to some of their friends...that we keep in contact.

 

So what some may as bragging...nice trips, crazy good tumbling skills and some fantastic days...some see as wonderful, beautiful and important. That's what is so fantastic about humans..we're all different and it makes us interesting!

[RanchGirl]

I think we can all agree that soft core porn of your daughters, or anyone, is inappropriate for all occasions, be it facebook or Christmas card

 

My friends in front of their new sports car could probably be considered bragging, but honestly it wouldn't bother me.

 

Where we'll have to agree to disagree is this: My friends on a trip = a photo they like and/or something fun they did, nothing more. I love seeing where they have been. I don't see how this could be perceived as bragging except by folks already prone to jealousy and pettiness. (Not saying you are Danielle, just my personal opinion, a generalization as part of the discussion you began.) I also enjoy hearing about their kids. I don't need report cards but general info about what kids are into these days is interesting and gives me an idea what their lives are like now if I haven't talked to them lately.

 

My personal pet peeve is the Debbie Downer letters. As in 4 pages, single spaced, cataloging a litany of horrible things that happened this year. I have one of these. It is a chore to read it each year. I have to skim it because I just can't take the misery!

 

The only card I have ever received that bothered me was this year. A co-worker of my husband's, a former family friend. He left his wife and got a girl pregnant, married this girl last year. This year they sent out a card full of pictures of him, new wife, new baby, and son. Pre-signed from the 4 of them and several different pictures of all of them, including one family photo, one of boy and baby, parents and baby, etc. No picture or mention of his teenage daughter from the first marriage at all. I am SO disgusted. That one's in the trash.

[WIS0320]

:banghead: I give up. Smile and wave.

 

:confused::confused::confused:

 

I quoted you in my reply and directly addressed what you wrote. I am unclear as to why you suddenly feel that you are being misunderstood.