17 Years of Christmas Cards and our 2023 Card and Newsletter

After 16+ years of blogging, you might have noticed some trends here on the blog. For instance...though I have not a single shred of wit in real life, I sometimes think I'm wildly funny here on the blog and I post silly things that make no sense to anyone other than....me. Also, I have a real problem with using the blog as an outlet when I'm feeling upset or hurt. I usually end up editing or deleting those posts later, but a lot of you regular readers have probably seen a few of my PMS-driven rants pop up and then quickly disappear over the years. And last, but not least...almost every year I post something about Christmas cards and how much I love them sending and receiving them.

Sooooooo...in the spirit of all three of my blogging trends....allow me to rant about how annoying it is that I'm still not funny, still get PMS despite not having a uterus, which means I can't predict when it will hit anymore, and how I still get so dang obsessed with Christmas cards every single year. I literally work on getting the cards sent out before buying gifts a lot of years (like this one)!   

Here is a glimpse of this year's card....

With Adam being on a mission for the entirety of 2023, we never got a family picture, so this collage was the best I could come up with.

I had great fun creating this newsletter with a template I'd purchased on Etsy. In years' past, I've mostly created our newsletters from scratch on either Microsoft Publisher or Photoshop, but this year I needed a creative boost, hence the Etsy help. I was happy with the way it turned out.

Last but not least, I FINALLY got a bee in my bonnet to gather all of our Christmas cards and compile it into one big collage. I wasn't able to locate any from pre-2007, but with a good bit of sleuthing, I was able to find them all from the last 17 years at least.

Wow!  It was kind of crazy to see a little glimpse of all these years in one place.   From cancer, epilepsy, unemployment, the failing health and death of a parent, mental health struggles, to a wedding, a grandbaby, 11 years of homeschooling, 3 missionaries, 5 high school graduations, a whole lot of adventures, etc... these years represent A WHOLE LOT of stress, heartache, struggles, and also deep deep joy.

A closer look at previous years' cards: 
2025 (the red collage card and a SIMPLE SPOTLIGHT newsletter)
2024 (the simple card and the HAND-DRAWN newsletter) 
2022 (the card full of regrets and TMI newsletter)
2021  (the artistic card and NEWSY newsletter)
2020 (the covid update)
2019 ( the simple card and the SECRET FILES newsletter)

2018 (the super small airmail card and the ANNUAL REPORT newsletter)
2017 (the basic, but pretty fall leaf card and a  GAZETTE newsletter)
2016 (the Jefferson memorial card and the CANCELED newsletter)
2015 (the card with a pic from a Lord of the Rings filming site in NZ and funny CATALOG newsletter)
2014 (the card where we look a little disheveled and DICTIONARY newsletter)
2013 (silly mustache/pajama card and GAZETTE newsletter)
2012 (middle of cancer card and FAIRY TALE newsletter)
2011 (Alleluia silhouette card and GOOFY newsletter on the back) 
2010  (letter here) (the card where 2 of us were photoshopped and NUMB3RS newsletter)
2009 (the professional photograph card and the TRIFOLD CHURCH PROGRAM newsletter)
2008 ( card in fall leaves and WANTED POSTER newsletter)
2007 (my early attempts at graphic design card )

 

Thanks for coming along for the ride!  HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  

Off the Rolls and onto the Blog

Most everyone I know has migrated to capturing their life's milestones on social media and I admit that it is a convenient way to share information. Unfortunately I find that staying active on social media is challenging for my mental health and turns into a time-suck that is difficult for me to manage.  I still have social media accounts, which I do use, but mostly I keep it at arm's length and rarely share or interact on it.  Having said that,  I really, really like having stories and pictures combined into one place, so that we can look back and remember how things were in that moment in time.    This is ultimately the reason why I am trying to keep up on the blog again.     For nearly 16 years...holy cow that's a long time...this blog has been there for my family to look at anytime, as well as any of my friends who cares to see what's going on in our lives.  I can share my pictures and stories in  a way that maintains my creative control over the formatting and it is solely mine.  I know it takes more effort for people to find their way here and I frankly like that aspect too.  My life isn't being thrown into anyone's feed of a 100 items for people to press the obligatory "Like" button to show they "care", but it's there if anyone cares to look for it.   😁

So...in the vein of capturing moments...here are some pictures I didn't want to get lost in the camera roll.   Some more pictures from when Cami and Lucie were in town...

I left the house more in the week they were here than I had in several weeks before that and I loved all the girly time we got to spend together, including more visits with Emma (down at BYU), Cami's sisters-in-law, and my Mom and sister, Heather!

It's honestly felt way too quiet around here since they left, but I take heart in the fact that we will be seeing them again in a few weeks!  I am already eagerly looking forward to it. 

In the meantime, our weekly Facetime calls with Adam will have to suffice for family time!

I love our family! 💗💗💗

Spring Break in Acronyms

S-o many friends over to play at our house
P-arks, playgrounds, and picnics
R-ain and clouds...at first
I-got to meet blogging friend, Lolli, for the first time
N-ot enough sleep
G-randma Rosanna visiting from Utah

B-eautiful cherry blossoms
R-eally cheesy kids' movies
E-aster eggs and too much candy
A-unt Karey, Uncle Matt, & Lincoln move close by!
K-ids, kids everywhere!


Whew! That was tiring!