I thought you might enjoy seeing our family photos taken by amazing local photographer Dorie Howell. Thank you, Dorie, for making something so hard, fun. And thank you for doing whatever you did to make it not so obvious I was at my class reunion until 2:30 a.m. the night before. Poor planning on my part!
What do you think? Does one in particular scream Christmas card to you? I didn't do cards last year, and am contemplating, but not stressing over, doing them this year. Click here to see our cards from years' past.
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105 comments:
you guys are so beautiful and i love seeing margaret so happy!!!! my vote is the second family shot- horizontal with the blurred sky behind you. it's gorgeous!
I love the group shot in front of the fence, but oh that last photo of Margaret holding your hands is just totally awesome! I love seeing your happy smiles!
Great photos! You defintely didn't look like you had been up until the wee hours of the morning. I love the first one, with Margaret jumping...such joy! I am currently to see my family's photos, hoping that there is something usable :)
Love. Crazy love.
Love these! I could see the one of Margaret jumping with the word "Joy" inscribed at the bottom as a Christmas card. My favorite is still the first one you posted -- sunset behind the three of you, but the one of you guys holding M's hands is a close second. You all look radiant.
Oh.my.gosh! LOVE every single one! Just do a collage card so you can use them all. LOVE!
Oh.my.gosh! LOVE every single one! Just do a collage card so you can use them all. LOVE!
Gorgeous photos!
I think the one of Margaret jumping would be good with Joy beneath it would be great, as Ashley said. I also like the one of Margaret holding both your hands.
However, I think a beautiful card would be the one of the 3 of you sitting in the grass together - you can see Jack's picture in your necklace in that one, and you can see how much you love each other.
Anna, you don't give yourself enough credit, it wasn't hard at all to make you look great! It was my pleasure to take your photos. I'm glad you love them!!
As a card, I like the one of the three of you sitting. But the ones of Margaret jumping screams happy and I want it as my screen saver even though that is creepy to admit (hey, it makes me smile. I doubt you'd deny something that brightens my mood) and the one of the two of you is just...ok I can't choose which make me smile harder but I'm firm in the three of you sitting as a card. There. Final answer.
gorgeous! love the second photo.....blurry trees in background......horizontal format, waist up. all of them are gorgeous......that one is my favorite. thx for sharing. <3
These are amazing! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the family pics, but I hope you can include the one of Margaret jumping somewhere -- that's priceless.
Holy Christmas Card Batman - you all are gorgeous and Dorie is unreal. I like the second one for Christmas (and I love that Jack stays in the picture near your heart) and I LOVE the last one of M with you and Tim holding her hands, but not in the photo. What incredible symbolism for growing up...
This was a really brave of you all to do. And if you decide not to send cards this year that's ok too...
Thank you so much for sharing these!
Wow, Dorie captured your spirits. I'd go with the first one, no more is needed beyond that one.
Love love love them all....but it has to be the last one. Just so simple and shows that you dont have to be there to be there.
Xx
I love the one of Margaret jumping with a joyful look on her face!
What fabulous photos! Margaret is such a dear. I love her jumping shot ~ and the one of her holding hands with each of you is BEAUTIFUL in so many ways!
My vote is with the original one you posted. Besides the obvious fact that it is stunning of each of you, it's nice to see Jack's sweet face near your heart.
Also, I'm pretty sure that it's Jack's warm light we're seeing radiating so beautifully in the shot. He's with you wherever you go ~ helping to light your way.
xoxo
What beautiful family photos. You look so happy. My absolute favorite is Margaret holding your hands....
Gorgeous photos! I love the second family pic for a Christmas Card. Love your necklace, soo special!
They are all truly gorgeous it's hard to choose...but I would have to say the one showing off that beautiful necklace with Jack...that way the whole family is included!
As for my personal favorite...I LOVE the one of you and Margaret - beautiful pic!
JOY in a photo...simply. Beautiful. Thinking of your family this season.
I think what Laura said is lovely, especially the part about the Jack necklace, but you really can't go wrong with any of these gorgeous photos.
These warm my heart. They are all so beautiful. My favorite is the last one.
I think the first one (JOY!) and the last one ( which made me think of the word "beloved") are absolutely fantastic, but my vote is for the gorgeous shot of the three of you sitting in front of the fence. It is a peaceful family photo and you all look relaxed.
I think the one that shows the necklace would be just right. But all of them are just amazing photos.
jbhat
Just a thought...
If you choose to send out cards this year, perhaps the card will have a bird on it somewhere, for Jack...?
I'd use the one of her in the air, for sure, on the outside, and then the one of you all sitting (3rd one in this post) on the inside. :)
LOVE them all :)
The first one (Margaret jumping), is just MAGICAL. I have a (perhaps dumb) idea, but here it is. What if you added a small hand-drawn bird to the background. A simple line drawing. A rare bird. E.
Very nice, I love the one sitting down by the fence. Mary in NY
They are all great - but I particularly love the last one.
Wow, you all look stunning! I LOVE the picture of you and Margaret especially. Gorgeous girls! And I can't help but notice the heavenly sunlight shining on your family. Thanks for sharing!
Hmmm...tough call - I like one of the ones where you can see the necklace you wear with Jack's picture. They are all nice though. If you do one of just Margaret, the one where you are holding her hands but can't be seen is really cool.
They are all so good, I dont think I could pick just one. You all are so beautiful. Love you with all my heart.
I think they all are great but I LOVE the last one. A perfect Christmas card if you ask me. :)
My fav is the one of you 3 standing and M happy sweater just yells "Fun!".
Just beautiful pictures! You all look so happy. It's a tough call, but I think #2 would be great, or Margaret jumping for joy!
I love them all. I really like the one in front of the fence. The last one makes me miss Jack somehow. xo Diana
Love them all!! Especially the one of Margaret holding hands....touching.
Ok, just looked again...picture number 3 (where you can see Jack's necklace) would be a great Christmas card.
Gosh, they're all so beautiful! Maybe the second family shot or the last one with Margaret holding your hands? LOVE LOVE LOVE those smiles!
E one of Margaret jumping. Say something like "hope you have Joy all year"
They are all so beautiful...but especially love the one of the three of you in the radiant field with your necklace so prominent...and I had not seen the last one, and it was very powerful. Sweet Margaret. Love all your smiles and you!
They are beautiful, I don't think I can pick, but if I have to I'm thinking the fence one is pretty cute! I pray that you all have a joyous holiday season. (hugs)
Oh my, there are so many comments here! My first thought was, "It's hard to make Ugg boots look graceful, but Margaret did."
I really like the one of you on each side of her holding her hands, but any of the three of you is good.
Party on, Anna. Two thirty? Wow!
Personally, I love them all. Seriously.
Beautiful! I wish a rare bird had "happened" to land nearby for one of the pictues.
Oh, Anna, these are WONDERFUL! Margaret looks so happy and carefree, and that last photo has me sniffling and crying over here. Beautiful. Truly beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful! You and Tim and Margaret all look wonderful. I know it was difficult, but life goes on somehow---it has to--for you, and Tim and Margaret particularly. GOd bless you and may you all have a blessed Christmas, Anna.
Love, Sherry's mom
These are all amazing. Maybe a trio?? Love the shot of Margaret holding your hands....just different. Love you!
There's a lot of love in these photos! That last one is very sweet.
I love the first picture. Joy, indeed.
xoxo
I love these, she did such a great job. Then again, she had beautiful subjects to photograph. My four favorite pics I'd chose for your cards are the one of the three of you sitting in the field with the sun coming down behind you. There is something about it, maybe it's the space between Tim and Margaret or it's the sunset that brings Jack into the photo. I love the photo of Margret holding both your and Tim's hand. I would also choose the one of you and Margaret. Love that one! I'd also choose the one of You and Tim alone that you posted on facebook. I read somewhere that every family should always have a picture one of just the parents. That covers everyone in the family, Jack, Margaret you and Tim. You're only missing Shadow.
I love them all, but the second one is my favorite--the scenery is gorgeous and you can clearly see the necklace. Plus you all look very relaxed.
The last one. M is shining like the North Star.
I love it -- crowdsourcing the Christmas photo! SO wish I had thought of that. These are all great, but personally I'd go with the second from the top: you all look so lovely, and I like the up-close.
Though the jump-for-joy is a very close second...
I love it -- crowdsourcing your Christmas photo! SO wish I'd thought of that! My personal favorite is the second from the top: you all look fabulously happy, and the close up is nice. But the jump-for-joy is a close second.
These are so beautiful. I have to say that I love the whole family shots, but the first and last one ofMargaret alone are amazing.
I've been thinking how grown-up (and beautiful) Margaret looks lately, but the two pictures of Margaret by herself make her look like a young girl, and I really liked that. The joy and spontaneity of the first one, and her role as a small, protected, and loved daughter in the last. I would have those two enlarged on the wall, I think. The horizontal one of the 3 (4!) of you is a beautiful family photo for a card.
We had a silly family photo that I wanted to incorporate somehow, and I ended up ordering cards from Shutterfly where you can have a small photo on the back with an inscription. So the front is the "cute/sweet" photo of the boys, and the back has the small goofy picture of all 4 of us, like a logo. Maybe you could put the one of her jumping on the back!
These pictures are absolutely beautiful!!
I love the last one - and I love how tightly you are holding your daughter's hand. She is a loving bridge, she is holding you up, she is your center. It is obvious that despite your family's loss, she knows that she is loved ... and it is also clear that she is not weighed down by that...but lifted. I am not an engineer and families are not bridges but both can withstand the loss of a vital element. A gaping wound yes, but the bridge can still be strong. We have suffered a similar loss - I have posted before and find our paths eerily similar - in a really sucky kind of way. Bless you and your family this holiday season. My mom sent this passage to me ... "life is a dance of anguish and joy." I know that you know this to be true.
It's hard to pick just one so loving the collage idea. Christmas card faves are the 1st, 3rd, and last shot. Agree with many readers who say the last one is touching on every level and symbolic of strength and love. Margaret shines, you and Tim glow and Jack is in all of your eyes.
xoxoxo
I love the second one because you can see Jack's picture and I love the sunset behind.
The second one because you can see Jack so clearly on your necklace. Anna, you are beautiful. I am a redhead also so I feel a bit of a kindred spirit with you. :) These pics are beautiful. You can't go wrong with any of them. Hugs from Purcellville.
Those photos are beautiful...that last one with you all holding hands is a real heart tugger. xx
Forgot to add that the title of this post?
My favorite of all.
OK, now I feel like a stalker telling you what pic you should use for your Christmas card but I can't help myself! But you did ask!
For a family portrait my fave is the third one in the post, the horizontal one that shows the three of you so clearly against the blurred background.
I also really like the first and last of Margaret, the first because of the action and happiness (and yes, agree with those who would title it JOY!) and the last because it an an absolutely beautiful photo of such a lovely daughter.
I really like the pics, what a beautiful family and a great photographer. Wish I lived near enough to use and recommend her services.
Thanks for sharing these! Please let us know what you decide.
-- Joan in PA
I love them all. They are so beautiful! But for the Christmas card, the last one, showing just Margaret holding your hands, is my favorite. It says so much with a simple image.
Love to all of you!
Claire
They are all beautiful. I personally like the one with the fence behind you for there is an open space behind you and your husband...a place where Jack is, not in the photo, but in your spirits looking over you all. It's the first thing that jumped out at me when i looked at the photo. God bless you all during this tough season.
~Jeanine
Great pictures, all of them. My favorite is the one by the fence.
Anna, this is your family...so send out the Christmas family card! Jack is in there...in your eyes, in your smiles, in your heart, in your DNA, in your souls, in your memory, in your past, in your future. You 3 are FaMiLy.
love this family, Julia
Fabulous pics!! I vote the last one of Margaret holding your hands. Very symbolic. :)
How about one of those cards with three pics? First, the one of Margaret leaping, then put your favorite of all three and lastly the one of your daughter and everyone holding hands. Beautiful photos.
I don't know how you can possibly choose but the last picture with Margaret holding your hands is breathtaking. I love the idea of a bird somehow incorporated. You are amazing and so is your family.
Tory
i vote for the last one but they are all gorgeous.
All of them are beautiful!
Your family is so beautiful Anna! Hugs to you.
Gorgeous! A montage card for sure.
These pictures make me want to cry. Stellar job!
so beautiful. I love the second one the best. You guys are always in my thoughts. Xoxo
I love them all, but I think the picture of Margaret jumping with a simple "JOY!" or "joy to the world" would make a wonderful card.
Your family is beautiful, and these photos are gorgeous.
Oh my goodness! You are so brave. AND. Your family is so beautiful...still!
I love your pictures. Love the one with M leaping. LOVE the family shot sitting at the fence where you each look relaxed with other.
So love the one with you and Margs, too!
And, wow, the one with M holding hands with you and Tim, is, just, so uniquely special. I adore it!
Oh my goodness! You are so brave. AND. Your family is so beautiful...still!
I love your pictures. Love the one with M leaping. LOVE the family shot sitting at the fence where you each look relaxed with other.
So love the one with you and Margs, too!
And, wow, the one with M holding hands with you and Tim, is, just, so uniquely special. I adore it!
They are all so beautiful!
Gorgeous. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Sweet. Lovely. Just Lovely. Truly Gorgeous. Truly.
I vote for a card with two photos. First choice, the last pic with Margaret holding your hands - so beautiful, makes a "W" to preface a word - Wonder, or Wonderful, or Wish or Wishing. Second choice would be any one of the three of you. Wonderful photos! Hugs and a prayer sent to you every day even though I haven't said it in person recently.
Each photo is beautiful but the holding hands picture is my favorite. Even though someone will always be missing from the photos it shows that you are holding on and staying a family. S muh symbolism I could never put into words.
Hugs to you and your family through the holiday season.
Theresa.
The second one down....waist up of the 4 of you (I can see Jack on your neckalace:). The sun in the background. I love that one. NoVa Jen
I love the third one down. However that one of Margaret at the top is fantastic. I'd say...use both. :)
So so so so beautiful. xoxo
They are all beautiful Anna. I'm still thinking about you guys always and definitely praying for peace and comfort.
They are all beautiful. I like the second one best:)
We lost our daughter last October, I have struggled with doing family photos, could I do this? I have scheduled and canceled twice. You are brave and courageous.
Still such a beautiful family, even with that huge empty space. You are so brave.
Your pictures are gorgeous. The lighting is fantastic and I just love that last one of you two holding Margaret's hands - there is so much love in that picture! The 2nd and 4th are my faves for Christmas cards though - great family shots :)
You all look so wonderful and Margaret has the most amazing smile!
Oh I know how hard this must have been and I am in awe of your strength and your mothering because I understand just why you needed to do this even those I see a space that should be filled in every picture. Much love to you.
I find it sad that your dog is not in any of your Christmas pictures. Of all the families I know with dogs every one of them consider them part of the family and include them in the Christmas picture.
I love the second one, Anna. It is just beautiful. I didn't send cards the year of Joey's death - couldn't do it. This year we had professional photos taken that included both our son born since Joey's death and a picture of Joey held by one of our other sons. It turned out beautifully. I will be thinking of your family this holiday season.
I really like all of them, but the one with the fence in the back ground is the best. Such a beautiful family!
I love 1 and 3 for a card - maybe you can include both?
God, the pictures are truly beautiful and stunning. And sad- because someone is missing dammit. And that fucking sucks. BUT STILL- the smiles look genuine and Margaret genuinely looks happy. They are gorgeous pics- beautiful colors- beautiful family- love. I just wish so badly for you that every day going forward wasn't a reminder that part of your heart is missing. Love and Hugs
Beautiful! And I love that last picture of Margaret holding your hands.
OMG! These are gorgeous.
I think I like the very last one best. Sweet girl.
these are just so beautiful. I love how your eyes sparkle in that one of you girls.
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