There’s a giveaway too — Keep reading for details.
It’s that time again. Time to think of a ridiculous premise for our holiday cards! You know how I do a monthly shoot for the kids in the same chair to document their growth? I thought it would be fun to do the same portrait for all of us this year, then compile the photos into a card.
Eleanor is a toddler. If you’ve experienced toddlerhood, you’ll know that’s all that needs to be said.
I put her down for a nap in hopes of a better shot later. I used the time to run out for flowers (Brandon’s idea, and a good one at that). We took the rest of our photos while E slept, but here are a few from the second attempt later in the day. We tried to bribe her with a lollipop. She let it fall out of her mouth and onto her skirt, and was then appalled.
August was happy! A happy but wiggly, rocking, and slightly out of focus baby. It was so dark in the living room, I had to bump the ISO waaaaay up, open the aperture all the way, and hope for the best.
I was the consummate professional, needing only one shot. Or perhaps I’m just saying that so I’ll only have to show you one shot. You’ll never know.
Brandon looks like a standup fellow. So dapper. So mature.
Oh, wait! We have a B-side. A Brandon B-side.
Aw yeah. Brandon’s footie pajamas made a triumphant return. Along with my necklace. And with that, here is this year’s Balch family holiday card.
We’re lookin’ good.
Giveaway
You are no doubt inspired to make your own holiday cards now, right? OK, you may not want to take the route we did. You can still go for the classic family photo, and for that you’ll need a nice camera. And something (or some things) to put that photo on. Well, Shutterfly is offering 50 cards, a 12×12 photo book, an 8×8 photo book, mug, 3 calendars, reusable shopping tote, and an ornament, along with a PowerShot S100 Camera.
Visit Shutterfly to select your favorite photo card template, and leave a comment here about which one you like best to enter. A winner will be randomly selected.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends 12/6/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds and prize descriptions, visit Girl’s Gone Child, The Spohrs are Multiplying, or Make and Takes. Void where prohibited.
Congratulations to the winner, Diana L!
Melissa | IS•LY
November 16, 2011 at 11:42 pmFantastic giveaway, Nicole!! Chris & I were just cracking up at all of Brandon’s B-sides this year & past years. If only we were neighbors.
Our family has matching footed pajamas, btw.
I’d go for the Lovely Wreath Christmast card! I designed the lettering for it!
jade
November 16, 2011 at 11:42 pmI love merry memories collage so we could put all our travel photos from this year! Fun!
Sarah W
November 17, 2011 at 12:18 amI like them all So hard to choose,but I do really like the Wishing You Merry Christmas Template.
Christy
November 17, 2011 at 1:38 amI love the “We Believe” card!
Sophia Costa
November 17, 2011 at 3:25 amI’m torn between Oh So Wonderful and What Fun!
Sandra
November 17, 2011 at 7:56 amMy favorite is the Merry Mum Blossoms template.
Janae
November 17, 2011 at 8:04 amGreat giveaway and the B-side photo is hilarious!
I’d pick the Joy Snowflake card — very pretty! :)
Rachael Keeler
November 17, 2011 at 9:04 amI’d pick the Happy Frame one to showcase our own little baby New Year.
Crystal
November 17, 2011 at 9:41 amClassic Scrolls all the way. LOVE LOVE your pics!!! Go footed pj’s!
Anne with an e
November 17, 2011 at 9:42 amI think the Holiday Love Sketch card is awfully cute…
Lala
November 17, 2011 at 9:51 amOooh, awesome giveaway! I’d go with the Happy Greetings Holiday Card :)
Lauren
November 17, 2011 at 10:01 amWishing You a Merry Christmas
Love the card! I’m still trying to come up with ideas for ours.
sarah cardillo
November 17, 2011 at 10:37 amI’d choose the ‘Why Hello’ card option. It was a tough choice though. I was pleasantly surprised by so many excellent choices. Great giveaway. Hope I’m the lucky winner.
Katie Blackden
November 17, 2011 at 10:39 amI love the Why Hello!
Allison
November 17, 2011 at 10:56 amI like: What Fun!
Tara
November 17, 2011 at 11:08 amlove the initial wreath card – great givewaway!
Lourdes
November 17, 2011 at 11:10 amSo many good ones…but I think “Peppermint Cheer” is the front-runner.
Joelle
November 17, 2011 at 12:32 pmFa La La – because you can add so many photos!
lauren s
November 17, 2011 at 1:42 pmlove the bright holly jolly and the peppermint stripes. (I actually love your picture of Eleanor and think it’s perfect for her age!)
Jeran
November 17, 2011 at 1:56 pmI’m already working on the Happy New Years card that has a spot for each month of the year and a few photo spots as well.
jo
November 17, 2011 at 2:36 pmi am so impressed with their selection! i love the joy in lights card
Kim
November 17, 2011 at 2:36 pmHow cute! Love your card this year :D
My favorite from Shutterfly is the Retro Stripe Frame!
terra
November 17, 2011 at 3:40 pmMy favorite is “Oh What Fun!”
helenlam
November 17, 2011 at 4:18 pmMy favorite is the Dainty Snowflakes!
Jess
November 17, 2011 at 4:39 pmI love the confetti splash style. It’s so cheerful and colorful!
Shannon
November 17, 2011 at 5:31 pmI’m liking the Merry Montage card myself. I love brown holiday cards. Fun Christmas card, by the way!!
Ashlee
November 17, 2011 at 5:48 pmI’d choose the Merry Bright Zigzag card. I seem to have a thing for zigzags at the moment. I just finished crocheting my third zigzag blanket yesterday!
Beth Elder
November 17, 2011 at 6:29 pmPicture In Landscape 5×7 Folded Card
This way it only needs a great photo and you can put anything inside -any occasion.
jjzach
November 17, 2011 at 6:47 pmWhat fun!
DazzLynn
November 17, 2011 at 8:15 pmOhh this is so fantastic!! We’re having a private wedding at the end of the month and I planned to do a photo holiday card/announcement. I love the retro merry wishes!
JessK
November 17, 2011 at 8:24 pmI bookmarked the “Snowflakes Ribbon” card a couple of weeks ago. Now just awaiting pics from the photographer!
Angela
November 17, 2011 at 8:34 pmi am LOVING the sparkle joy and merry bright zigzag cards!
Marlys
November 17, 2011 at 8:50 pmI love your holiday card! From Shutterfly, I’m digging the Sparkle Joy card!
{JenM}
November 17, 2011 at 9:07 pmHad fun looking at all the choices. How can I just choose one? Love the “Colorful Joy” card.
Cara
November 17, 2011 at 9:46 pmGreat giveaway! I love Shutterfly! I really like the Merry and Bright ZigZag card but always wait to make a final decision once I have plugged in our family pic.
Kim
November 17, 2011 at 10:17 pmMerry Bright Zigzag. Very nice.
Vanessa L
November 18, 2011 at 12:24 amFlourishing Noel. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Sara P.
November 18, 2011 at 1:26 amI love “What Fun!”
sunny
November 18, 2011 at 8:25 amfun fun fun! Love your holiday card! My favorite one at shutterfly is the retro-ish “This Much Merry” card. So pretty!
Nikki
November 18, 2011 at 8:53 amTop 10 Moments – Love picking out photos for a top 10 list
Friday Favorites « warmhotchocolate
November 18, 2011 at 9:07 am[…] *might* be family holiday photo weekend, which is why this post had me laughing in that it’s-funny-because-it’s-true kinda way. (btw, this is how last […]
Susie
November 18, 2011 at 10:10 amThere are so many great choices, but I love the Modern Pinecone — so unusual!
nic
November 18, 2011 at 11:09 amLove the “We Believe” template!
jarman
November 18, 2011 at 12:29 pmI normally go for something a little more retro/funky but the simplicity of the Modern Pinecone is really doing it for me.
Samantha
November 18, 2011 at 12:45 pmI love the “Why Hello” card!
Hope I win!
Grace
November 18, 2011 at 1:20 pmI love the “we believe”! Merry Christmas!
karen
November 18, 2011 at 5:17 pmso hard to choose…”sweet and scrappy”???
Risarjohnson
November 18, 2011 at 7:32 pmWhy Hello is AWESOME!
Melissa
November 18, 2011 at 9:11 pmLove the holiday sketch style!
Chris
November 19, 2011 at 12:00 amSo hard to choose – but I think I like the Tree of Memories best.
Larrs
November 19, 2011 at 2:26 amLove the color scheme, very vintage my wife will love it. Now she will want to figure out how to create it, great ideas! Great little gerber models too!
Jen
November 19, 2011 at 6:14 amI like the Strictly Ornamental!
Sarah M
November 19, 2011 at 9:24 amI love shutterfly, and have been browsing their cards a lot because we are having baby#2 any day now and plan to send out a birth announcement/holiday card combo. If I had to pick today, I’d probably get the Sparkle Joy card.
katie
November 19, 2011 at 10:42 amjoy and peace
Monica
November 19, 2011 at 1:25 pmIm really loving the “counting our blessings” card! I’d love to win because we’ve been browsing our shutterfly catalog and it would push us over the edge to finally order this year!!
Love your cute card: got a big chuckle out of me, can only imagine what peoples reactions will be when they receive it!
Deb
November 19, 2011 at 4:57 pmHow fortuitous! We’re taking family photos this weekend. I love the “alleluia” card format. And Id love to win this giveaway.
Tiffiny Duke
November 19, 2011 at 5:22 pmTwinkling Snowflakes is my favorite!!
sarahbchicago
November 19, 2011 at 9:09 pmSweet & Scrappy is my favorite–love the square shape and the retro label.
Erin R.
November 19, 2011 at 9:24 pmLoving the Faith, Hope Family card Christmas Card.
Kristin
November 19, 2011 at 9:26 pmThe snowglobe. How Cute! My little munchkin would look adorable in her little snowglobe.
misolee
November 19, 2011 at 9:46 pmi like the faith and hope card. so simple yet so classy~
Charlotte
November 20, 2011 at 8:45 amI like the graphic punchiness of the Wishing You Merry card.
Sascha LaCoss
November 20, 2011 at 3:25 pmFa la La is such a cute card – i like multiple pictures on one card and the bubbles above the pictures!
Katie H
November 20, 2011 at 3:26 pmLove the “Top 10 Moments!” card – what a great idea!!
By the way, for your card: I think you should put an age bubble over the cat, as well. :)
Kim c
November 20, 2011 at 4:08 pmThe peace, love, and joy is the one that speaks to my heart, as that is what I strive to fill my home with each day. You have the loveliest blog. Thank you for sharing your wonderful life and family.
Snowlet
November 20, 2011 at 5:07 pmI love Twinkling snowflakes!
Sharon
November 20, 2011 at 6:38 pmI have a few favorites… We Believe is adorable, and for the whole family I like Merry Little Stripes.
Marta
November 20, 2011 at 8:05 pmThe twinkly snowflaes re my personal favorite. This is a great looking card :)
Caitlin @ Hardly Housewives
November 20, 2011 at 9:41 pmI love the Cheers Zigzag and Candy Striped Snapshot. Maybe when we have kids I’ll like some of the more playful ones!
Amanda
November 20, 2011 at 10:09 pmVintage Snapshots is my favorite. Love the b&w look.
lindsay
November 21, 2011 at 9:04 amI love the “Fa La La” template! So fun.
Paige
November 21, 2011 at 10:24 amI love the “bright bold trees” card :)
logan
November 21, 2011 at 1:53 pmHmm…tough choice, but I think I like the “Joy in Lights” template the best.
Dottie
November 21, 2011 at 2:35 pmI would get the “Celebrate The Bang” New Year’s card template because, I’m so not going to be able to get my holiday photo together in time to send it out this year! Hee hee!
farrell
November 21, 2011 at 3:09 pmwow – thanks for the generous giveaway! i am in love love love with the “retro stripe frame” template. love it!
Elizabeth
November 21, 2011 at 3:25 pmI love the “Merry Bright” greeting card template. It’s so joyful and happy and has a great vintage feel.
Sarah H.
November 21, 2011 at 3:40 pmToo many to choose from! But since we’re probably gonna do a combo birth announcement/Christmas card, I’m liking the “Holiday Banner” for its simplicity.
elise
November 21, 2011 at 7:53 pmWow! What a selection! I like the “Make Merry” card.
Melissa
November 21, 2011 at 8:11 pmI like the holiday love sketch card design.
Sarah Young
November 21, 2011 at 9:26 pmWe just ordered photo books from Shutterfly for all our family presents! Love Shutterfly. Bright, Merry Zigzag would suit me fine. BTW, those PJs are killing me!
megan @ a life's design
November 21, 2011 at 9:33 pmI love the tradition of sending Christmas cards. I would select “Vintage Merry Wishes”. Happy Holidays!
Briana Rader
November 21, 2011 at 10:34 pmI like the Joy and Peace one!
Sophia
November 22, 2011 at 12:34 amLove the Merry Ribbon card. So many cute designs.
Stefi
November 22, 2011 at 1:39 pmThe choices are overwhelming! The first one that really stood out to me was Merry Bright Zigzag. Looking to make calendars this year as holiday gifts via Shutterfly. Looking forward to seeing the end result! Your card looks great.
Sarah
November 22, 2011 at 8:13 pmI love the Colorful Candy Wishes! They have so many to choose from!!
Suzanne
November 22, 2011 at 10:45 pmI’ve been meaning to log on to Shutterfly to make up some holiday cards (after I pose my little 9 month old fellow for a photoshoot). Snowglobe one looks good! I like how you included photos of yourself…I know parents can easily be tempted to just have photos of their kids and leave themselves out, but friends and family from afar want to see the whole gang in my opinion.
Nicole N.
November 23, 2011 at 9:27 amI love the “Oh What Fun” flat card– so cheerful! Thanks for sharing yours!
Melissa armstrong
November 23, 2011 at 11:27 amFa la la! Although I would <3 you making me a template! This year is our first true family holiday card! Two under two.
Heidi
November 23, 2011 at 11:51 amCount our Blessings! So classic!
Ann
November 23, 2011 at 1:07 pmBerry Merry Frame. So pretty!
Nami
November 23, 2011 at 1:09 pmI love the “colorful Joy” holiday card template.
Beautiful with black and white photos!
Caroline
November 24, 2011 at 8:55 pmI like ” with love”
Cathy K
November 25, 2011 at 6:29 amLove the Joy and Peace card!
Aimee
November 26, 2011 at 2:05 amConfetti Jacks is kind of fun. I like the “Merry Everything” bit!
Elizabeth
November 28, 2011 at 1:53 pmI love the wishing you merry card. There are so many great designs!
Marisol
November 28, 2011 at 8:56 pmI like “Flurry Of Snowflakes Holiday Card” because it’s cute and allows several pictures to be printed on it! :)
Cora
November 28, 2011 at 11:01 pmI love the Top 10 Moments layout. If I had children I would so use this one, its a holiday letter and card in one!
mindi
November 29, 2011 at 7:52 amI love the “simply love” card! And, I adore your card!!
inspired : 11.29.11 « beka stays
November 29, 2011 at 7:58 pm[…] this card cracks me up. totally doing this with my family someday. […]
Veronica
November 30, 2011 at 11:08 amI like the Merry Bright postcard. The colors are very eye-catching.