Merry Christmas 2010: The Christmas Card

When I decided to do a Christmas card blog post instead of an actual Christmas card this year, I asked my dahling husband to help me select an appropriate image.  He declined.  See what happens when I'm left to my own devices?  I find this one delightful; it reminds me of Animal Farm. 

To all of my business contacts and vendors, a handful of relatives, and the ONE friend who has sent me an actual, physical Christmas card so far: Thank you!  Yes, I got it; yes, I enjoyed it; and no, you're not getting one from me this year.  It's Christmas Eve, no cards have been ordered or purchased, and this is the best I can come up with at the last minute.

The Christmas Card as we know it is in serious decline, anyway.  When I was a little girl, I remember tons of Christmas cards like those pictured above coming to the house.  These days it's mostly so-called photocards, and it's not my cup of tea.  Used to be, you'd tuck a recent wallet-sized photo of the kids inside the Christmas cards you sent to faraway relatives, folks who actually might want to carry around a picture of your kids in their wallet.  To be honest, most of the photocards we get at Christmas end up in the trash.  I can go look at your kids on Facebook any time I want, after all -- and at least on Facebook it's clear whose kids belong to whom. 

Still, kudos to those of you who sent some kind of Christmas greeting in the actual mail -- hopefully next year I'll join you.  Without further ado, here's our family Christmas Card Post:

It's been a busy year for all of us (isn't every year?).  Rebecca went to Paris in January for the Maison et Objet trade show and had a wonderful time; if you missed it, you can read about those adventures here.  The rest of the year, Rebecca barely kept her head above water, juggling work, homework supervision, kids' activities, laundry, and grocery shopping.  I was about 15 minutes late to just about everything all year long.  So I'm really consistent! 

Bernie has been traveling a lot with work, but we enjoy the perks of his working from home when he isn't on the road.  He drives the boys to school whenever he has the chance, he has been enjoying cooking more often this year, and of course he has spent hundreds of hours of "free time" doing things like painting, installing can lights, chandeliers, and crown molding, and hanging artwork around the house. 

Lars is doing well in the fourth grade this year, and is mildly annoyed that he has already read all of the books that his class is reading together.  He continues to do well with his piano lessons and is currently playing the theme song from Jaws about a hundred times a day.  Lars also enjoys composing his own songs on the piano, and he specializes in "ominous" music.  When he's not reading, tickling the ivories, or playing with Legos, Lars is either drawing or asleep.

Anders started a new school this year for second grade, and although he has had to work hard to catch up to the other students, he's doing very well and is definitely in the best school for him.  He is also excelling at piano, but not so much at getting dressed in the morning (ahem!).  Anders enjoys playing chess competitively, reading, Legos, and doing anything Lars is doing.  His new thing is parting his hair to one side, and for some reason, he desperately wants a tuxedo.

We're headed to church now for the candlelight Christmas Eve service!  I hope this Christmas message finds all of you and your loved ones safe and sound, enjoying one another's company and the blessings of the Christmas season long after vacation has ended and we all go back to work and school.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you!