THE PEANUT GALLERY: Ghosts of Christmas Cards Past

We take pride in our annual Christmas card. It's one of our favorite, if not our favorite, non-traditional traditions. We are not the kind of people who pose for perfect pictures, or would pose our child for a perfect picture, to evoke an image of the perfect family for our friends, colleagues, and loved ones. No. No. No. Family is not perfect. It is most certainly, and wonderfully, imperfect. We must laugh at our imperfections every chance we get. Here is the image and caption from our first-ever family Christmas card, sent the year after we were married:

2003: "Here's hoping the holidays
don't make you NUTS."

We were on to something. The next year, instead of posing for a ridiculous picture, we chose the most hilarious image from the year. Here's me, slightly inebriated, on the 4th of July at the Jersey Shore, "borrowing" a child's bicycle and helmet:

2004: "May Christmas bring out
the kid in you."

Then Luna arrived, opening a whole new world of hilarity:

2005: "Oh, crap. Not another Christmas sweater."

Then, someone else arrived, or was about to. Some accused of us of being sacrilegious with this one: (They're off the list now.)

2006: "What child is THIS?!"

Soon, Peanut would be the one opening up a whole new world of hilarity:

2008: "Never one to conform to popular belief,
(Peanut) does not subscribe to the
'Better not pout' policy." 

Still, Luna remains our best subject:

2010: "And what to our wondering eyes should appear?
But a miniature dog who ate tiny reindeer."

Not to be outdone, Peanut is now old enough to inspire her own brand of hilarity:

2012: "Definitely naughty" (FRONT)

She learns from the master:

"Definitely nice." (BACK)

I recently wrote about two other traditions. One that I hope Peanut does NOT pick up. The other, a very special one. You can read about them HERE.