With Christmas fast approaching, it's time that I write the annual Christmas letter. Yes, we're that kind of family. But there's a fine line between the good and the bad. And there are some that are just plain ugly. I have no idea where mine falls into this list.
There should be guidelines for writing these things. Three paragraphs on how your baby learned to roll over is nauseating. And when I find out that you vacationed to the Bahamas at the Christmas party, and you didn't even mention it in your letter, there's something wrong. Mention big things, update us on family events, let us know about the kids (without gushing) and send holiday wishes. Is this too hard?
That said, it's time reconsider our own missive. This may be the year that I stop the great letter writing campaign. I seriously don't think I've anything worthy of writing about this year. I started a blog, we didn't vacation again, we reseeded the front yard in hopes of getting grass to grow. Not something I want to subject others to. Maybe I should just put my blog address at the bottom of our Christmas cards so that family and friends can keep updated on our life every day of the year. That may be the best way to go.
12 comments:
Blog address on the Christmas cards...brilliant! Slap a picture of the family in there and you're good to go! Can't get more simple than that.
the whole bog addy on the bottom of the card - sounds good to me! If I didnt talk about some of my family, I would do that to mine too, LOL. I have always wanted to write the Christmas letter, but never get the energy to. And I think its good that it stays that way, LOL. Otherwise my yearly letters would all include pregnancy induced hormonal outbursts at different family memebers (my one brother and his wife mainly) and you know, there are better ways to say Merry Christmas than with pregnancy hormones, ya know, LOL.
~Jennifer
Yep, I'm a Christmas letter writer too. Some years I skip it, when I just run out of time. This year I plan on writing a short one and then referring all my family and friends to my blog - there they can catch up on most of the stuff going on with us. My Christmas letters started years and years ago and is one of the reasons I became serious about writing - the positive responses I would get from my letters. I like writing them, but agree that I don't always enjoy reading those that aren't as WONDERFUL as mine (tee hee).
Take care and have a great weekend - see you soon. Kellan
Aaaah, Christmas letters. I've never had the pleasure of reading a good one and don't think I'll try writing one myself any time soon. It's a tough balance to try to say what's going on without getting too gushy or having to be so vague you don't really say anything at all.
The family having your blog address is a double-edged sword. There are so many stories I would share if I didn't have to worry about offending someone, but yet no one can complain that they don't know what we are up to. It's all there for anyone to read.
You might want to leave your husband's cousin out of it if you do share your address. Just in case she really thinks her Christmas letters are the most perfect things ever!
BB's Mom - I've often thought it might not be a good thing to have family know my blog exists. Although, if I do add the blog addy to the cards this year I'll certainly delete this post beforehand. I don't usually say things family shouldn't read, but they may learn more than they should. In reality, though, I doubt anyone would read it.
Kellan - I think we started our letters because we have so many friends from the military days who are scattered here and there. We only catch up once a year in cards. The Letter seemed the easiest way. I've heard good reviews from ours though. It's always encouraging. I'm sure it's not as wonderful as yours is though. ;)
Jennifer - I agree. Hormonal ramblings are best kept inside one's head. haha
This is the exact reason that I started a blog for my kids in addition to my own (http://lifeat5532.blogspot.com) - I put the web address on our change of address postcards the last time we moved. I love to hear what people have done in the past year and to see pictures of their children, but I don't need the run-down of the number of colds they had, the assortment of solids they have tried, and, my favorite, that their little angels have been sleeping through the night since they were 4 weeks old - it's like 'Mommy Wars: Holiday Edition'.
Picture and blog address sounds perfect to me!
I did our first Christmas newsletter the year I was pregnant with Kayla...and that is how most people found out our news :) I think I did one for the next couple of years then just gave up. I don't think I'm witty enough to write one of those really interesting letters! And besides, everyone I know has our blog address, not that they all read, but they could if they wanted too and all the news I would put in the newsletter they would already know about from reading the blog LOL
Amen. I've never done a holiday newsletter. In fact, I rarely get Christmas cards out before Valentines Day.
I have a hard time getting my cards out much less putting a witty letter inside it. Do you suppose if I just print my name on a label and slap it on the inside of the card it would be tacky? Ah well, it was worth asking....
I try to do something different with our Christmas letter each year. One year we did a top 10 list (think David Letterman), and last year I typed a quick list, varying the length of the sentences to form the shape of a christmas tree. God bless.
I thought I would write my blog address on our cards. The people that read my Christmas letters actually called me to tell me they liked them, but if that's the case then they ought to just read my blog...
Bia, you're brilliant! I'd love to see your letters as I'll bet they're definite must-reads. I think I may do one of your ideas and include my blog there, announcing in one of the sentences that it's replacing any future letters.
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