I’m a Christmas letter person.
Ever since kids came onto the scene, it seems there’s much news to report, and little time to report it. So the annual letter keeps friends and family up-to-date on our lives.
But I love to share photos, and after starting this blog, the printed letter seems so restrictive.
So this year, we’re snail-mailing Christmas cards that “link” (if you will;)) to an online blog, complete with the annual letter and accompanying photos. There are many free platforms — we’re using Blogger — and since we’ll only use it for the letter, Blogger’s frustrating issues won’t be as troublesome.
We’re hoping this will allow an opportunity to interact with our Christmas-card recipients as well.
By the way, after reading Ree’s mock letter, I had a pang of “yikes” about the letters I’ve written over the years. Though we rarely have materialistic accomplishments to share, we do celebrate our year’s happenings and travel, and brag about our kids.
What are your thoughts? Love holiday letters? Or hate ‘em?
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12:57 am
So much depends on the letter – who wrote it, how it was written, and why?
My daughter Karmyn made a regular little newspaper and sent it out in years past. Had front page news, and all the sections with short little items. It was great. But then of course, she was my daughter – I would be interested.
I don’t send them. I’m a party pooper
2:54 am
I love Holiday Newsletters.
As a child, I used to create my own newsletters (cut-and-paste). I guess that’s one reason I became a newspaperman. Now that I am a full-time dad, I’m teaching my 3-year old (and my 1-year old, eventually), to do their own — this time, using a computer and Flash.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
3:09 am
I dont send an annual letter, but only because our family is close and we all keep in touch regularly. But, I’ve read other blogs that send letters
And I love your idea of making a blog Christmas letter! That’s pretty nifty 
*hugs*
8:39 am
I think holiday letters are a terrific idea. Now, if only I could find someone who knew my family well enough to write ours!!!!
8:52 am
I love holiday letters and we/I write one for those who are far away. It’s usually just stuff about what happened in the year and the kids and I try to keep it fairly light. I love receiving them too, even when they are corny or braggy – that’s part of the fun. You can almost pick what kind of letter you will get from each sender.
9:11 am
I like getting letters. They really share the personality of each family. Joke filled or braggy, it doesn’t matter to me.
Great tip. I have see this done with birth announcements too.
10:33 am
I love Christmas letters and I wish more of our friends and relatives sent them.
I started them when I realized I was writing the same news over and over at the bottom of Christmas cards, and it was just the bare minimum since we had so many cards. A letter made it easier for me than writing stuff out by hand, plus I could make it more personal.
We try to be “real” in them, not making them just a “bragimony” and included just good news. I try more to incorporate some idea of the kids’ personalities since so many of our relatives are so far away.
10:53 am
Although the blogging your Christmas letter is a great idea, I think I’ll still mail mine out, just because I love getting letters in the mail myself.
If you haven’t guessed, I love sending and receiving Christmas newsletters. It’s my way of catching up with extended family and friends that I don’t hear from often enough.
I’ve posted a 12 lbs ‘til Christmas WFMW tip.
11:07 am
I love holiday letters – sending them and receiving them.
I rejoice in other’s good news. And I hope they rejoice in mine as well.
It’s like we get our 15 minutes of “fame.” Plus it reminds me that my life isn’t that bad. I can get going into the next year with a postive attitude.
Love your idea about blogging your Christmas letter. I just moved to wordpress and if I can figure it out, I’ll do the same.
11:09 am
I send them and LOVE to recieve them. In fact, I make a yearly 2 page layout in a special scrapbook just to hold the gorgeous Christmas photos and wonderful newsy-letters that we always get!
11:46 am
LOL I can relate. I do enjoy sharing some, but usually not as detailed as some of what I get. It’s tough though because when you sit to share a year’s worth of updates you only highlight the big and best which makes you sound a little lopsided if you know what I mean. This year I’m doing an online holiday card with slideshow and simple sentiments. I’ll send snail-mail to the few I know who don’t have e-mail and the family members with updated pictures of the kiddos. What I love about technology is being able to share so much more…so this year the big share is adding my blog URL to everything!
Hugs,
Holly
Holly’s Corner
12:03 pm
My mother has taken do doing a Christmas letter that is “Our year in photos.” It’s grown to a two-sided piece of paper, with captioned thumbnail photos throughout. It’s always the most entertaining piece of holiday mail I get….
Well, except when I find I picture of me that she SWORE she wouldn’t use!!
12:47 pm
It depends on who’s sending them. This year we got a letter from DH’s cousin who we’ve both never met. He’s never kept in touch before but recently got married and had a child. I guess he feels the need to share now. It’s nice of him to think of us but I’m not very interested since I don’t even know who he is.
3:34 pm
I love most holiday letters…there are a few peoples who I may read part of it but when they getting to the whinning stage…I pitch it. I know, not very nice but a Christmas letter shouldn’t be whinny.
I personally like your idea
1:10 pm
I like ‘em , too. I write ours in our kids’ voices. The year we moved right after Christmas our son was 6 months old and wrote about how he and the dogs were left to the task of the letter because his mom and dad were packing. Last year it was a “Santa letter” from him telling Santa what each of us could use for Christmas based on what we were all doing. This year I used my 22 month-old daughter’s voice to write a Christmas greeting song to the tune of her favorite Baa Baa Black Sheep – short and fun!