Every year we like to pop in before everyone sets aside their keyboards for the holidays to share our Christmas card and a few warm words of thanks. So here it is:
We had several ideas for this year’s card — Clara gift-wrapping Burger, Clara riding her bike with a tiny tree while Burger ran alongside — but book deadlines, hospital decorating, showhouse meetings, and poor weather limited our options. Thankfully we managed to capture this image on the very day we told Clara she was going to have a little brother. I’m filing it under “Christmas miracles.”
Because we love an outtake, here’s one of Burger looking a bit stunned while Clara wrestles Captain Barnacle.
And another where Burger is all enthusiasm and Clara is decidedly unbothered.
We also got this shot of Clara kissing her doll, though Burger isn’t visible and it looks a bit like mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
We’re so grateful for at least one good photo this year.
We also snapped one in front of a large Love sign that could have worked for the card, but we were a bit far away and you can barely see Clara clutching Captain Barnacle (she never leaves home without him).
We ordered the cards from TinyPrints and used a site coupon to save 20% and get free shipping. Addressing all the envelopes with only a week to spare was a little nerve-wracking, but we finished in time. It felt special to reference a baby on the way — we hadn’t mentioned that on a card since our very first holiday photo back in 2009.
For a quick trip down memory lane, here’s a look at our past family cards starting with last year’s:
And the card from 2011:
The 2010 card:
And our very first card from 2009:
We have a bunch of family arriving today, so we’re heading off to tackle a few more to-dos — baking cookies, priming cabinets, the usual — but we wanted to share our holiday card and send warm wishes to you and yours. We truly appreciate you stopping by, and we hope your holiday season is full of cookies, dolls, and whatever brings you joy.
Even though many of you will be busy between Christmas and New Year’s, we’ll still check in occasionally. We’re planning a painted cabinet reveal in early 2014 to kick the year off with a bang. Or, more appropriately, with a brush.
Update: You can view our favorite holiday decor finds on our site — many affordable options under $15.