Friday, December 5, 2008

A Self-Timer Christmas

I just had to make time for a Flashback Friday. I have about a bazillion Christmas memories I'm dying to share. I hate to waste Fridays in December not sharing them. As it stands, I'll only squeeze in a couple memories.

We have a tradition on Christmas Eve of setting the self-timer on our camera and taking a picture of our whole family in our new Christmas Eve jammies in front of the Christmas tree. I'm not really sure how it started. Our first Christmas, we just wanted to document everything. Then the next year was our first Christmas in a house, then our first Christmas with a kid. And pretty soon it became a favorite tradition.

The dog likes to get in on the action...making for some pretty interesting and sometimes inappropriate shots. We ALWAYS end up laughing our heads off. So here it is...six years of self-timer Christmas memories.

2002
Our shoe box for an apartment and a measly three-foot Christmas tree.
2003

Just four weeks after we moved into our first house...hideous wallpaper and all.

2004

Parker's first Christmas and the ice storm left us without power for 5 days so we spent Christmas in a hotel.

2005

The dog was covering me in all my 8 months pregnant glory.

2006
Spencer didn't quite make this shot, but it's always been a favorite of mine.
Take 2...and it includes Spencer.

2007

Chief did make this shot (as usual), but it was a little inappropriate...luckily I could crop him out without cutting the rest of us.

And who knows what 2008 will bring...

17 comments:

Moms Are Contagious said...

How FUN!!! These pictures are so great...what an awesome memory every year for you guys!

Kris said...

What fun that was! Can't wait to see the 2008 shot!!!

Autumn said...

Such a fun tradition. I just might copy! Love the pictures.

Lauri said...

I love your first Christmas picture. There's something romantic about a first Christmas.

You're going to have to post about your Christmas in a hotel. That is certainly a story worth telling!

Amanda B. said...

That is a really cool tradition! I love it! Definitely pictures to keep forever. Those are fun to look at!

Kelly said...

What a great tradition.. ya know we may just steal that tradition too! I love it! Your smiles tell the whole story!

Kelly said...

Such a great tradition! We do it on Christmas Eve with my parents and all my nieces and family. It is always an adveture- but my dad buys me a Hallmark ornament so I can put the picture in each year- it is by far one of my treasured gifts!
We will have to try it by ourselves this year!

jeanine said...

What a fun tradition! All the pictures are so fun... and I bet they hold a million memories.

Genn said...

What a really fun thing to do every year and look back on. Every year was a great shot! Especially the one of the dog blocking your 8 month pregnant self! Cute post.

Heidi said...

adorable... Love love all the jammies. Good to see you back in the blogging world... for now anyway. ;)

Cynthia said...

Christmas in a hotel. What a crazy situation, yet you are smiling in the photo. Good for you.

Kipn n' Sarah said...

those pictures crack me up so big time, what funny and fun shots you have through the years! Can't wait to see this years!!

Sheryl said...

Your growing little family over the years, what a treasure they are going to always be! Can't wait to see 2008!

Abbey said...

What a cute tradition, hey I loved that wallpaper. The one of you and the boys is so darling.

Eric said...

What a great idea. Love that they are so candid, it helps you remember what it was really like. Maybe it'll be a new tradition for the Randall's.

Megan said...

That's a great idea! I love how it documents the changes through the years. I'm excited to see your 2008 photo.
I think your 3 boys and my 3 girls would have quite the adventures together.

Stubbart said...

I lOVE this idea! I'm think I'm going to have to copy it for us each year! You have the best ideas!