Our Holiday Card
Every year we like to pop in before everyone sets aside their keyboards for the holidays to share our Christmas card and a few heartfelt words of thanks. This year felt especially busy—book deadlines, hospital decorating, showhouse meetings and stormy weather—so we were thrilled to have one perfect photo to use. That shot happened to be the moment we told Clara she was going to have a little brother, and we’ve filed it under “Christmas miracles.”

Because we love a good outtake, here’s one of Burger hunched in blurry apprehension while Clara energetically wrestles Captain Barnacle.

And here’s another that captures pure Burger enthusiasm paired with Clara’s very neutral expression—proof that family photos are rarely perfect, but always memorable.

We managed to get a sweet shot of Clara kissing her doll, though Burger isn’t in frame—and yes, the pose looks a little like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation if you squint.

We are so grateful for even a single good image when the calendar is this full.

We also snapped a shot in front of a big “Love” sign that might have worked for the card, though we were standing a bit far away—Clara’s grip on Captain Barnacle is barely visible, and he never leaves home without her.

We printed our cards through TinyPrints and used a site coupon to save 20% and get free shipping. Addressing all the envelopes with only about a week to spare was a little nerve-racking, but we finished in time—and it felt extra special to announce that we’re expecting again, which we haven’t done on a card since our very first one back in 2009.

Since readers always enjoy a look back, here’s a quick recap of our family cards from past years, starting with last year’s card:




In other holiday news, several family members are arriving today, so we’re off to tackle a few last-minute tasks—baking cookies, priming cabinets, and the usual festive preparations. Before we sign off, we want to send our warmest wishes to you and yours. We truly appreciate you stopping by, and we hope your holiday season is full of delicious cookies, beloved toys, and the little moments that bring joy.
We expect the week between Christmas and New Year’s to be delightfully chaotic, but we’ll still be checking in now and then. Early next year we’re planning a painted cabinet reveal to kick things off—hopefully with a bold color and plenty of paintbrush enthusiasm.
Update: We’ve also shared a roundup of our favorite holiday décor finds—many budget-friendly options perfect for seasonal decorating.