Mosaic Moments Photo Inspiration: Week 35

 

I read a status update by a friend on facebook this morning and it took me back a little. She had just spent hours transferring photos to her computer and must have been a little frustrated with the experience. She said she was making a mid year resolution to "Stop taking so many pictures."

My instinctive reaction was, "WHAT? NO!!! Don't take less pictures!"

She continued with, "I mean, really, how many pictures do I need? I'd rather be doing stuff with the family than taking pictures of the family doing stuff without me."

Having a few minutes of early morning quiet time to ponder, her comments turned my mind to this weeks Photo Inspiration.

Mosaic Moments™ Photo !nspiration: Week 35

Several years ago I decided that there were times that I needed to put the camera down and just enjoy time with my family. The first time I put the camera away was Christmas Day. It was the best decision I ever made.

WHAT! You don't take pictures on Christmas Day? 

I discovered I could get all the shots I wanted and needed before Christmas Day: Counting down on the advent calendar, playing with the nativity, seeing Christmas lights, Santa's lap, drinking hot cocoa, reading the Christmas story, wearing santa hats, kids shaking the gifts trying to figure out what is inside, baking cookies, decorating the tree, the gingerbread house...

Just 16 Fridays before Christmas!

Soon it will be time to get out those holiday decorations once again. Do you have a Christmas Photo Check List? Here are some images you might want to consider:

1. Children writing notes to Santa
2. Addressing Christmas cards
3. Stack of Christmas cards ready to mail (try adding a ribbon tied around the stack)
4. Putting letter to Santa in the mail
5. Picking out the tree (or setting up the tree)
6. Looking at special ornaments
7. Detail of Ornaments (see photo above)
8. Decorating the home
9. Hanging the wreath on your door
10. Reading Christmas Stories together
11. Baking or making treats
12. Plates of Christmas cookies
13. Decorating a gingerbread house
14. Putting up the Christmas lights
15. Assembling gifts/toys (might want to keep these out of the scrapbook for now if the toys are from Santa)
16. Wrapping
17. Dressed in pajamas on Christmas Eve
18. Photo with santa
19. Photo in front of the tree
20. Stockings hung in a row
21. Making holiday crafts
22. All dressed up - for party or church
23. Drinking hot cocoa, eggnog, or spiced cider
24. The gifts under the tree
25. Wearing Santa hats
26. Children sleeping on Christmas Eve
27. Enjoying a favorite holiday flick

Please add items from your Christmas Photo List that I've forgotten.  I'll choose one comment (at random) to receive a $25 SNAPNCROP Gift Certificate. (Comments close in one week- September 6th)  :)

Comments

[Bevallen618]

My favorite pictures on Christmas morning is our brunch, lots of food for a big family and friends

[Cfodel]

My cats trying to climb the Christmas tree!

[Ratbjak]

I like your Friday before Christmas list... I don't know why I wait till the last minute to do cards its not like I don't know it's comming, I think this year I'll make the Christmas cards and address them as I enjoy the 90 degree weather

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=500151218]

To me it's capturing all the fun events we do around the holidays, it's a group shot of us dressed up to go to the local holiday theater production or holiday concert, the great shots I get at our town's annual Nutcracker ballet, including capturing the smiling faces of all the dancers we know out in the lobby after the show, the magic of all the decorated Christmas trees & us among the lights & splendor of Winterfest (event where trees are auctioned for charity), the detail of all the manger scenes & the people enjoying them at Crèche Festival, festive shots from Christmas luncheons & parties from groups we're involved with....oh, and when our son was growing up it was the sweet, funny shots of him goofing around with ornaments & garlands decorating the tree. I treasure the ones from the year he first asked if he & his girlfriend could decorate our tree...she loved a "real" tree but couldn't have one due to family allergies & I got such sweet pictures of the two of them now married with a home of their own! So now it's the messy fun of making our evergreen wreath for the front door or our puppy dog getting her first sniff of the big intruder as my husband brings in the tree. Last year I saw some chestnuts in our local produce market & bought a few...had to get pics of them roasting on the open fire of our bbq! Seems that's going to be an annual tradition...they were really good & lots of family wanted to try it, but unfortunately the store was out by the time I went back to get more. Buying a lot, it's the my calendar for this December!

[Julie Miller-Oconnor]

We would sprinkle reindeer food (small amount dry oats mixed w/glitter)on the front lawn Christmas Eve night before bed.

[Chris Kilburn]

Some fun Christmas time moments are pictures as the kids come down into the living room on Christmas morning - also getting the "obligatory" picture of the clock (and what time it is. Last year it was 3:30 AM ! Also, Bob (my husband) cooking the turkey on the grill.