The Elusive Christmas Card Photo Op

[Margo]

Christmas's past, we have looked with an envy that isn't exactly appropriate to the holiday season, as greetings poured in from far flung friends and family that prominently featured the family pet. This year was to be the year we would document stylishly our first Christmas as proud dog owners. By now I was sure utterly adorable Christmas cards featuring Holly and Meg and Labradoodle Lily would be ready to go. Heartfelt personal notes would have been scribbled in the leisurely hours after dinner. Massive numbers of cards would be signed with envelopes addressed with red or green Flair pens; everything sealed and stamped. Truly, that was my intention.

Holly, Meg and Lily would be sitting together in natural looking poses that we all know are not natural at all. Perhaps they would perch casually on the front steps or maybe we could make it to the beach when the breeze is gentle and blowing just so. I could pick up some cute deer antlers from Target for Lily to don festivily to give the photo a perfect, but not overdone, panache. The girls would be wearing jeans. At their ages, no one ever wants to look as if they tried too hard; even if they did try hard, and together their jeans cost more than their mother's most expensive pair of shoes.

But life intervened. Dog treats of various shapes and textures litter my pockets. I know I smell like liver.I spend huge chunks of time gathering the small flotsam and jetsam of living off the floor, so Lily doesn't get hold of something she shouldn't. I received an uber vacuum for my birthday and was actually thrilled about it. The one time I managed to get to Target in search of a cute holiday touch for Lily's debut on the family Christmas card, everything was designed for chihuahuas.

Even though daylight savings time came later this year, it didn't come late enough for us to have the three subjects, the photogapher, the equipment and wardrobe necessary for this photo op to align. Now we're receiving those greeting cards depicting the festive fray of the not-looking-like-they-are-trying-to-be-adorable children and their beloved pets. This weekend's schedule is packed with December madness, but I guess it's now or never. I'll settle for a flash photo. Sometime around midnight might work when the girls get home from babysitting. Lily, in a sleepy stupor, isn't necessarily a bad thing.

I'm not the greatest at getting the cards out on time any year. This time around, especially with such lofty ambitions, I'm not sure I really even believed I would get it right. I can always pick up boxes of regular cards, without a place for a photo. But I am always at little disappointed when there isn't a picture of the children when we're the receiver. I understand what happened though; life intervened for them too. And I'm just glad that they sent us a card at all, because we have a lot in common.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

And I 3rd Adina's comments. We are supposed to get our picture taken tomorrow eve at the Mall with SantaPaws. Hope Samantha doesn't freak out with his beard.

[Marianne *OZZY & ZOEY]

I think the picture you posted would make a great Christmas card! We all know Christmas is coming and we always rush when it gets here saying it happened so fast.....you are not alone

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I second Adina's comments; I really enjoyed reading this (and laughing!) A great blog post!

[Adina P]

Oh Margo...I feel your pain! Daylight savings just really cuts deep into the heart of Christmas card photo ops. I was hoping to get our family photo taken this week, but alas time, light, photographer, never worked out. I think me and my family of 4 others are gonna have to be photoshopped together :-/
Really enjoyed your blog...made me chuckle, thanks for sharing!