Tuesday, December 2, 2008

SITSmas Greetings!

Merry SITSmas! If you are a smidge confused. Click on the link and get yourself hooked up. Think of it as an early gift for yourself. There are amazing prizes being given away hourly. Including a $200 gift card to my very favorite place - Tar-jay. And did you know that I am doing weekly prizes right here?

Well, my friends, I need your help. A few weeks ago, my good friend Teri came over to take our annual family photo. We traipsed through the back yard. And found a number of places. Places that would surely frame a master piece.

Except that my children are in the pictures. And one of them is quite convinced that she is part of a comedy show.

Or perhaps a reality show. About modeling.

Or maybe it's all an exercise in meditation. Can I hear an "Ohm?"

And then. When you finally pick out the perfect picture. You have to figure out what pre-made border from Sam's will be a perfect accompaniment. The best pallate. The frame that is just-so.

But wait. You have more to decide. You can type in a message. In 60 characters or less.

Such as Wishing you health, happiness, and. Um. Why is it that I need things to come in threes? And I feel the need that the third word should begin with an H. Health, happiness, and hoopla. Hyenas. Horticulture. Oh. What about Health, happiness, and a histronic free New Year? No. Not quite right.

What about Wishing you Health, Wealth, and something else that might rhyme? Stealth? Can you just imagine that on a Christmas card? Maybe I should suggest some stealth with your wealth? Who knew that creating a card would so difficult.

Wishing you many blessings in 2009!

Love,

Casa Sunshine and Lemonade

So, which picture would you choose? Do you send Christmas cards? With pictures? Do you write a letter?

post signature

Theme song: John Lennon - Happy Christmas.

86 comments:

Becky W said...

I can see where you would have problems choosing!!! I like the horizontal one of the 4 of you up close!! MERRY SITSmas!!!!!

Liz {Learning To Juggle} said...

Merry SITSmas!!! I love all your card suggestions - I would personally go for Health, happiness and hyenas..

Kori said...

I choose number 4. I really like the way the light is breaking through the trees. And let me just say that color looks awesome on you.

Amy said...

Merry SITSmas!

I love the second to last one (close up) it's really cute.

I do Christmas cards when the urge strikes me..lol! This year I will be sending one, but only with my girls in it!

Unknown said...

Merry Sitsmas!

Heather said...

I'm all about the model pose pic. Too cute. I like photos with some character!

I don't usually send photo cards, but I do include a picture with my handmade cards. I love making Christmas cards, especially with Isabel and my MIL, Kay. We have so much fun.

Good luck on the wording, though. That is a hard one.

Oh, and Merry SITSmas!

Mama Dawg said...

I like the second to the last one.

I send cards, but no pics or letters.

Your photos are wonderful, though!

Shannon said...

I am going to have this song in my head all. day. long.

I like the 5th pic (close-up) the best... or the 6th (last one).

I do include photos in my cards... usually just one of the girls with Santa or them in front of the tree... I'll just print off wallet size ones and stick in my cards. I've nothing against Christmas letters, but I've never done one.

Merry SITSmas to ya!

S Club Mama said...

cute pictures!

Shelley said...

I like the very last one.
MERRY SITSmas.

Becky said...

Merry SITSmas. I think chose one of the ones your daughter is being the comedian. I love those type of pictures!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

Merry Sitsmas.

My favorite is the last one as well!

namaste said...

I like the 2nd to last one (close up) and I love you offering "stealth" to everyone...! very original! Stick with that! LOL. I do photographer on the side, and do lots of family portraits... I love the kids reactions! Usually when I finally get a "serious" pose with the kids, the parents have their eyes closed so it's always fun; I actually love it... it's true to life! Enjoy that little silly girl of yours!

Tam said...

All of your pictures turned out great! I love them all but I love pictures. I am laughing so hard...yes I think it would be too funny to get a Christmas Card wishing you wealth! I like that and yeah Stealth is funny...well being a military wife...we want stealth on the part of our husbands that are on missions...so YEAH I think that is funny and I have a friend who will get a kick out of that!

I send out Christmas Cards with my boys on it but will not this year because I can not get a good picture with the two together.

larkswing said...

Merry SITSmas!

I think the second one from the top! You will have a chuckle everytime you look back on it. What great times are to come with that one - or the ohm one. The others are great too! Beautiful family!

We do a picture every year and ususally hubby does a letter. Last year it just never got completed - too many small hurdles added up throughout the year and took the excitement of sharing.

I am curious to see how it falls out in the next week or so :) I am opting for a Happy New Year Letter instead!

Lula! said...

The second to last one is my fave...'cause Michael's looking like he's seconds from a summons.

Ahem.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Sandy said...

Great pictures! Merry SITSmas to you!

Unknown said...

Loved the pix! You have a beautiful family....Merry SITSmas

Sandy said...

All the pics are good but I really like the next to last one:)

Loud Spirit said...

I vote for the modeling picture - OMG - how cute is she?

As for your greeting..you could incorporate the obsolete word "dealth".

"May you be dealth health and wealth in 2009"

No that's not it...if your going to use an obsolete word, we should use old english.

"May thee findeth in 2009 that thoust is dealth health and wealth"

Doesn't quite go with the pic though. Stick with stealth.

Happy holidays - and I really enjoy reading your posts.

Brandy said...

I like the "America's Next Top Model" one but I'd probably send the 2nd from last (close up).

I send cards, normally without pictures and without a letter. In fact I don't know anyone that writes a letter.

Hmmmmmm I should host a card exchange.

Jewel Allen said...

They are all cute.

I haven't done a single thing towards our Christmas cards this year yet. And normally I have them done by now.

Maybe an elf will get them done for me while I sleep.

Merry Christmas, too!!

Jen said...

those are awesome pictures. I am struggling with the same thing to write or not to write. I have always wanted to but never have. Should this be the year to start?

Elena said...

I absolutely LOVE looking at "the process" from photo shoots. Cracks me up!! And to be honest, my very favorite is the "model pose". I think it is darling and you will treasure that in years to come. These are great Kat. And yes, I send cards and a letter every year. But I'm thinking about skipping this year, just to cut a little cost somewhere. I don't know though, I LOVE Christmas cards!

MsTypo said...

I love all the photos! :) Hubby and i don't do cards or the letter. I figure i have a blog that people can read to catch up on all our news. LOL

koopermom said...

I would put together a montage of all of them! The close up being the center and all the others placed around it. You must keep the personality! Very Cute! Merry SITSmas!

Carrie said...

Love, love, LOVE the 2nd from the bottom! SO cute!!!!

Merry SITSmas!!

LadyStyx said...

I love the next to last one to be honest...second choice would be the last one posted.

For us, we dont bother with the pix usually. Every other year at the best *if* I can get my man to go in to get them done!

Hmmm Heatlth, Happiness and Hugest Hugs? (that last one was a term a friend in England was always saying)You could always go with Heavenly Days too....

Karin said...

Love the up-close one! They are all great - no matter which one you choose.
Card sentiments:
health, hope and happiness
wisdom, wealth and wonder
life, laughter and love
warmth of love, wisdom of life, and the wonder of laughter
and on and on and on we could go!
Have a blessed Christmas!

Skeller said...

WOW! Teri rocks out your portraits yet again. She's awesome!
Love your hilarious commentary.
Think any one of these beautiful pics would work.

Yes, I usually write a letter (a long one, even. how totally ironic, eh?). But this year I'm not. The blog is my letter this year. Not that I expect anyone to read thru the whole thing (talk about time consuming). But it's all there if anyone wants to... Just sayin'.

Anonymous said...

I think I like the 5th picture best - nice close up shot of all of you. :)

I stink at writing cards so I'm sure I'll be of no help to you. I wrote...

"Holiday Greetings from our family" then signed our names - yeah super lame. But it did have cute pictures on it!

jori-o said...

That little girl is so cute (and clearly full of piZAZZ!)

Any of them would be loved by all who love you!

Merry SITSmas!

jennifersusan said...

Merry Sitsmas!!! I do like them all but my favorite is the very first one with your mom and brother in it. Whatever you send will be amazing, as always. :)

Aubrey said...

I too love the 2nd to last one! They are all great though! Especially the "top model" one. She is a ham! LOL

We usually send out handwritten cards. This year I would love to do a photo one but I am running out of time. Can you procrastination??? I can!

rachel griffith said...

oh the 5th one is my favorite!!!
{the one really close up}
it's perfect.

your daughter cracked me up!!!

Swirl Girl said...

I love the model pose shot!

You could make a 'flip book' card this year!!

Happy Christmas to yoU!

Vic said...

Love these photos! Can't you put all of them with your captions? I think of them put together would be nice. :) Merry SITSmas and a happy new year.

Knit Purl Gurl said...

A blue Christmas! You have a beautiful family!! Merry SITSmas!!

Anonymous said...

Those are all cute pics! I love the poses from your daughter! So cute! Good luck in deciding what to do--I usually forget to send out Christmas cards! :) Merry SITSMAS!

Rachael said...

Love the photos - your kids are gorgeous! Merry SITSmas!

Michelle said...

I think that I would go for funny and pick the model pose. It really is hard to pick just one because they are all really cute.

I have been getting picture cards from Costco for several years now. The girls are usually the only ones on the card (unless we include the dogs).

Scary Mommy said...

Ha! I love the first couple-- you totally get her- so cute! And you ended up with some really great shots-- impressive!

Valerie said...

I really like the last one. I do send Christmas cards every year, sometime late. lol Have a Merry SITSmas day!

Jennifer P. said...

I like the close up one of you guys. And your daughter---what a joker :)! Such a personality!

I love to send out a Christmas letter--sometimes with a picture, sometimes without.

Jenny and the Princess Peonies said...

Fabulous photos!

I personally like photos with character in them. I am not a fan of a "planned photo". Personality is what makes us loveable - right?!

Merry SITSmas!

I hope you win something fun!

flickrlovr said...

HA-that process sounds familiar...beautiful family!

Merry SITSmas, SITSta!

The Joye of Teaching said...

My pick Wishing you Health, Wealth, and stealth! (like Edward!) hehehe cute fam. Merry Merry!

Shanda said...

Great family photos-very clear & crisp!

Merry Christmas SITSta!

Finding Normal said...

Merry SITSmas! Could this day get better?
I like the model pic.
We send a photocard of the kids. No letter. Ever. I philosophically oppose the letter. If you needed to know all the stuff I'd write in a letter, maybe you'd be more involved in my life.

Annie said...

Great photos! Merry SITSmas to you!

Linda said...

They're all great photos ... of course I'm thinking you could use them all in a sort of scrapbook layout fashion. I'm sorting through my reams of blue and brown scrapbook papers in my head as I'm looking. Tacking little sparkly stars on the page.

Yes, I always do photo cards and a Christmas letter. But this year we're doing a newspaper format. My daughter is the editor of our homeschool group's newspaper. So that's the format we're going to use with our own photos and stories. Of course, as soon as I get it together since I tend to procrastinate.

Kristen Andrews said...

such great pictures! I love the model pose, that is too cute!

tara @ kidz said...

All the photos are darling, but I love the 4th one (the close-up) the best.

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

So beautiful!

Britt said...

I really love them all .. because I think your daughter is adorable. And I'm pretty sure she shares a brain with my drama queen littlest sister, whom I once literally held over the toilet and threatened to flush.

The last picture is just the best, though .. you all look so happy. And I love that color of blue on you.

I know how hard a card can be .. I stopped sending them because I am just incapable of getting them out on time. Honestly, last year I had them done, enveloped, addressed, sitting waiting for stamps. I threw them away around St. Patricks day because what is the point?

I'm hopeless =o)

Michelle said...

My two cents: I like the one right after the ohm one. But granted when put into a picture card, that may make the people look too small -- you'd have to judge.

I do a picture of the fam separate from a card, with a letter to those I don't see often. Those I see regularly don't get the letter, but still get the pic. If someone wouldn't want a pic of us, I'm not sending them a card anyway. Oh, and everyone gets a handsigned card.... Most of them should also have something personal written on them so they know it's really too them and not just a mass produced thing. But I know I'm in the distinct minority with that!

Good luck with your card: Wishing you hope, happiness and health in the new year ;)

Amanda said...

great pictures!
love the closeup one! beautiful family.

Merry SITSmas!!

Teri said...

I like the close-up 1st choice (I think I said that while I was shooting it, yes?) The last one is my next fave...and the modeling and angel on high shots are a close third. I love that kid!!!

Oh yes, we do photocards every single year. Believe it or not, I already ordered mine and have them in my hot little hands. Miracle!

One more thing...don't forget to send me one of those final Christmas cards - to go with the previous ones that I ordered for myself. :-)

WheresMyAngels said...

She must be one of my kids, cause that is so my older two. Big show offs for the camera!

Love the photo's. My family don't get any, take too much time for me to do them :(

ChicagoLady said...

Wow are you feeling the bloggy love today or what???

I think I like the 2nd from last, the close up one. You all look like you were having fun with the pictures when that one was taken, not so "posed".

I send Christmas cards, usually very close to Christmas, it ends up being a rush. I also include a letter to family and friends that I don't communicate with on a very regular basis. Although this year, so little has happened, I'm not sure what all I would put in a letter. Since it's just me, I don't send out pictures. They all know what I look like anyway.

Laura Marchant said...

Merry Sitsmas!

What a ham! I love it.

Brian and Staci said...

I like the second to the last the best. But I love them all...your Mady cracks me up! What a card! We usually do send Christmas cards....I'm usually ALLLL about it. We even have great pics that we spent a bajillion dollars on a few months back...but for some reason, I just can't get jazzed about em this year. I think this new house is doing me in. I'm kinda in a funk and don't know why, ya know!!?? Sorry, didn't mean to unload there. I love your sweet pictures of your sweet family! Hey! Maybe I'll just post a pic on the blog...you guys are the friends I love the most this year :) (Shhhh...Don't tell my real-life friends!) It's only 8:40 and I think I'm turning in. Pregnant tired...but I'm NOT pregnant!

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

I like the Om picture, but I think 3rd to last is the best one.

Since the birth of Monkey, we send picture cards. If I didn't, the multitude of Aunties would come looking for me!

Cassie said...

Merry SITSmas!

Anonymous said...

She's ready for Hollywood! Your header is so eye catching, i love it!
Merry SITSmas!

Anonymous said...

They are all so good!! You have an award to pick up at my blog. :)

Unknown said...

Your daughter is sooo stinkin cute & funny! Love the cards....just one more thing I have yet to do on my Christmas List!

Unknown said...

Merry SITSmas! I love the 2nd to last one.

nikkicrumpet said...

Very funny post...but that little one of yours is totally cracking me up! I love the posey Top model shot the best!!! Thanks for stopping by on SITSMAS day..what a blast that was...I still have a ton more to visit. Oh and our dog is actually a Wheaton Terrier...but they do look a lot alike!

Rhea said...

Madalyn is HILARIOUS. Your commentary is just as funny though. Those are some great family photos. I love the last few.

Who is that man next to your mom in the first photo?

KimmyJ said...

Aww, great pics!!! So adorable! I like the next to the last one! Great family!!

Anonymous said...

She's quite the ham, your daughter. I bet she keeps you laughing every day. I have one like that too. She's the energy in my house and my life. Merry Christmas to you all!

Nissa said...

I like the closeup! :)


I always send Christmas cards with pictures since they've become inexpensive. We used to do the 'family year summary' letter, but I got tired of it; trying to make it interesting was tough..

Unknown said...

I'm another fan of the 2nd to last close up pic. You cracked me up with your 3-some Christmas wishes. Merry SITSmas!

Susan said...

Beautiful pictures!!! Please let us know which one you choose. I am doing a Christmas card with just baby girl... not us. Then, I don't have to be self-conscious about my post-Thanksgiving chubby face.

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the photo right after the "Ohm".
You have a gorgeous family!

Tiffany said...

Love it. Love it. Love it.

Tiffany said...

I sent that before I was done...

Yes, I send a Christmas card.. but you already knew that...

Karol said...

Merry SITSmas! You have a beautiful family!

Carla said...

LOL! Merry SITSmas to you and yours:)

Jill said...

I love all the photos - what a photogenic family you have!!

My favorite? The close up... it's fabulous!

And yeah - we totally send out holiday photo cards each year. It's actually a game to see how we can outdo the one from the previous year.

Tonya Staab said...

Merry SITSmas to you hon.

I love the 2nd one. Your daughter is such a comedian I think her personality needs to shine through a little :)

Alicia @ Oh2122 said...

So this is completely off topic, and I didn't want to put it in the comments of your most recent post because I thought it was not appropriate... Is that weird? Is there a blog etiquette book yet?

I'm sharing some meme love with you.

http://oh2122.blogspot.com/2008/12/meme-along-with-me_04.html

Mariah said...

I like the second to last one best. I always think I will send out Christmas cards, but never do. I usually send out Valentines pictures instead.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful family and pictures!! Slowly making my way through the list and wishing all a Merry (belated) SITSmas!!

Vickie said...

Still going thru the SITSmas list. What beautiful pictures! You have a beautiful family. Your little one cracks me up