You're overthinking it. It's just a friendly holiday greeting and I honestly don't think anyone is going to pick apart how you phrase your greeting or the names you include and quite frankly if they do, they're Scrooges. ;-D

I think the very simple "From Our Home to Yours/Wishing You a Blessed Christmas/from The Smith Family" is lovely - concise and all-encompassing. Your photos are wonderful, especially the one of the plaid-clad pup! Too cute! :-)

I vote for the pup. I enjoy getting Christmas cards, especially the ones with pictures. I very rarely read the wording. I just look at the pics, and then display them.

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't adults who don't live with you send their own cards? I would be mortified if my mother or MIL sent out their card with my name on it. I plan my own card every year and the only names on it are mine, my husband's and my children's. Unless you are sending out a family update letter for Christmas, just put the names of the people (and maybe pets) that live in your home. Really hope I didn't mis-understand your question....if I did, just ignore (I'm starting to hit a sugar low).

Oh, and the dog picture is ADORABLE!! That's the one I would like to get in the mail : ) .

What if you had printed on the inside "The Smith Family" and then signed by hand "Hugs and Kisses, Victor and Susan."

I'd probably go with the dog pic. That will make everyone smile.

NHB, this doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you, but I will take this opportunity to announce my biggest pet peeve about holiday cards -- receiving cards from friends and family that don't appear to have been touched by human hands. Want to have your names preprinted on the inside? Great. But at least add *something* handwritten. Even if I'm feeling rushed and overwhelmed, I'll write "XOXO" or "Merry Merry!" under or over our names.

Use either "Victor and Susan Smith" or "The Smith Family."

I'd be confused if I got a card with the names of grown up, moved out of the house children on it. I'd be wondering if they'd moved back home or something. As a general rule, if they can send out cards of their own, they shouldn't be on your card.

The first picture is pretty, but I vote for the puppy picture! (How sad is it that I scan every photo posted here for signs of the family pets? I just like seeing everyone's furry creatures.)

Use either "Victor and Susan Smith" or "The Smith Family."

I'd be confused if I got a card with the names of grown up, moved out of the house children on it. I'd be wondering if they'd moved back home or something. As a general rule, if they can send out cards of their own, they shouldn't be on your card.

The first picture is pretty, but I vote for the puppy picture! (How sad is it that I scan every photo posted here for signs of the family pets? I just like seeing everyone's furry creatures.)

bleigh - That was my point! Friends, relatives and acquaintances are doing it, and I thought it odd. We even have friends that are sending cards with them and their grandchildren like the GC are THEIR children. On the other hand, I didn't want my children, especially the single daughter, and my college age son, to feel left out. I guess you will understand when your own children are "out of the house", but still your children. :)

auntjen - Yes, I probably was "over thinking it." I think writing the above out, helped me make a decision before I had even finished posting. lol

Here's what I have decided. I will send "Riley" out this year, and the "Our Home" card next year. Riley is getting older, and we never know how long we will have her. :( On the other hand, a new house could be in the future the way we move so much. Hmmmmm I love the "Our Home" card!

OK, I hope this works.

Here are the cards in a mostly finished state. I have to be sure and remember to put our real names on the cards before ordering. :)

2010
{{!gwi}}

2011
{{!gwi}}

Didn't see the other post, as I was writing.

Seems that we are all in agreement!

sueb20 - I'll be sure and sign the cards by hand with a fine permanent marker. The cards are flat single page 5x7 matt card stock.

Where is Emily Post when you need her? :)
It is an awkward time... I guess it gets clearer as they are away from home longer. I would think it weird if my parents sent cards with my name on it - away from home now 15+ years.... right?:)
I'd say just your names, or the smith family.
Pretty cards:)

Well, my question now is, what if you have one kid at home and one (or more) grown/moved out? Do you only include the youngest kid's name on the card? That seems odd. I'm just projecting... my youngest is 5-1/2 years younger than her older brother so I'm thinking this will happen to me! I guess "The Jones Family" is the easiest route.

As I said above (and seen in the cards,) the decision has already been made that it will be The Smith Family the first year, and then just DH and I the next.

HOWEVER, I decided to poll the kids. Married daughter said no problem. She and her new DH, and their dogs, are having a photo shoot to make their own cards. That's sweet.

College son sounds upset. lol Kept asking questions like "why is it just going to be you and Dad on the card?" He said "I guess if you want to leave me off, that's alright." :-( I then said the card would say The Smith Family, and he sounded relieved.

Oldest daughter says, "if you are going to leave your children off the card, why send one at all? Who is going to be on the card...just you and Dad?" lol When I told her I was putting Riley on the card, she said "that's stupid." She said that last years card (the wedding) should have been the final card, and it went out with a big bag. I responded that we were allowed to send cards out as a couple,,,lots of people do.

Oh my goodness, this has been quite amusing and surprising!

Thanks for all your opinions. Now, show me your cards!

P.S. Riley is really excited that she gets to be the star this year.

First off, people with children aren't the only ones allowed to send cards to family and friends. You send them to people you love and care about to let them know you're thinking of them. What does your daughter think?? That you're life is centered around her and her siblings and that your Christmas greetings are meaningless without them attached somehow?? I get tons of cards from empty-nesters and would be really sad if they somehow thought they didn't matter enough to send their holiday wishes because their bratty kids moved out of the house.....

Using the photo of the dog and including her name on the card is not stupid. It's really cute and different. Just don't send your daughter one...

Newhomebuilder,
I think the card you chose is perfect. I would get such a warm and happy feeling opening that card with Riley all decked out.
The Smith Family is the best solution to my eyes.
I think the reaction of your children is exactly how I would have imagined it. The one that is married , now has someone special and is feeling like she has her own family where as the other two are still thinking they are still really at home even if they have moved out. Kids, so funny.

Seems a bit odd to add/sign names of grown children who have married and/or moved out of your "family home". I would include a child that attends an away-from-home college, as his/her home is still with the parents. With regard to signing the dog's name, isn't he/she part of the "The Jones Family"? I don't think you need to set the dog's name apart.

I think those people who are signing cards from GC, etc. have gone round the bend. Unless it is one of those bringing everyone up to date letter things I've gotten in the past, why would the parents (grown children) of those children not be sending the cards in their own names? Makes no sense to me, but may just be I'm old fashioned about things like that? I know my own DD would not want me to sign our holiday card from her if she were not living at home, or had her own family.

I am with sueb20. I feel like I am getting a form letter with the preprinted cards if the sender doesn't take the time to personaly write something. I always write a little something even tho the cards are printed. I can remember many years ago when the firm I worked for sent out pre-printed holiday cards signed with the firm name. We split them up, and each partner did take the time to pen a personal line about holiday time, or hand write the addressee's name on the inside. It just personalizes the card a bit if you do at least write a little something in your own hand. Perhaps something like "looking forward to seeing you over the holidays", etc.

Cute cards. I love cards featuring the family pet(s)!!

I like the dog on the front. Funniest & most memorable card I ever received was of a friend's Weimaraner wearing a boa and sunglasses in front of their tree.

No matter what you do, I think just signing it the Smith Family is appropriate. This covers everybody that should be covered in the eye of the receipient. (If some people think The Smith Family is just you and your hubby, you're good, if someone else thinks it means you, your hubby and college son, you're good, etc.) I would never ever expect to see the names of independent adult children on any card I receive.

I'd only put the people and animals (pets are family too!) who are living at home on the cards. Yes, to say the "Blank Family" is a good way to dodge the issue.

I guess I'm the exception in that I actually prefer to receive cards that have the senders names pre printed on them. I send out a lot of cards. Many are related to my husband's business contacts and much of the time he doesn't know one spouses name. First year they're on the list I really hope for a card with a name I can read. Many times it's just impossible so I hope for pre printed.

I also send out quite a few cards to Dobe folks who I really don't know. Over the years they've seen previous years cards and contacted me to ask to be put on our Christmas card list. Yes, that really does happen...Mason is pretty well known in Dobe circles. Anyway, that all adds up to a LOT of cards.

I send out pre printed cards myself. Sometimes, for dear friends and families I'll write something on the back of the card but many times I won't. I'm sending out over 100 cards, there's enough other stuff to do over the holidays that I'm not going to stress myself over it. If someone doesn't like it then they can stop sending us cards and I'll be happy to prune them from our list!

bleigh - That's a little harsh, don't you think?

lyban - Thank you for the kind words, and understanding. You hit the nail on the head!

I was most surprised with my sons reaction. He is the one who never plans to return back to our hometown. He only spent his first summer away at home, and has only been back for holidays ever since.

My first born, on the other hand, will not think about dating anyone that does not have roots where we are. She is not spoiled (or a BRAT), but definitely a homebody, and much loved!

work_in_progress_08 - You are correct. I thought about that last night. I will change the card to The Smith Family and Riley.

beekeeperswife - We have friends who send a doggy card every year. They have no children.

whitdobe - I see your point, too. I like to see the names pre-printed for that very same reason. Funny story... my mother once received a Get Well card from someone. She could not read the signature. Thought it said from The Chair. She was racking her brain trying to figure out who the "Chair" was. One day, she mentioned the card to a friend. The friend started laughing and said the card was sent from the CHOIR at church, that my mother sang with. lol

I showed the cards to my DH last night and asked him which he liked the best. First off, he said "I like the one with Riley, but who in the heck are Victor and Susan Smith?" LOL When he looked at the other card, he said, "why would we send that generic card?" He did not even recognize his own front door. I am surprised he even recognized the dog... MEN!

Nah, don't think that's harsh at all. Just seen enough in my short 35 years to know what looks and sounds like someone who's acting a bit like a brat. I've had my moments too...my kids have their's. But, some people just can't see their kid's behavior for what it is. What your daughter said to you, if that is indeed what she said, was a bit on the bratty side. To have such little concern for a mother's feelings and say those things just isn't nice and was very selfish. My best friend can act like to her mom and I call her out right then and there. Not cool to be so inconsiderate of the mamas. Not trying to mean, but you told us what she said and you've expressed it to be an issue...just sharing my opinion and letting you know that I think your card is quite lovely.

Honestly, if I received the door one I too would assume it was a generic pic from a house (I guess that means it looks a little too perfect, huh?). If you want people to know that is your home, you may need to note it or something?? Anyway, it has been a funny process for you! I do like the dog card. I like to get pics of people's kids, pets or themselves; it's more interesting than the standard issue cards. As long as the pics don't cross into that "too braggy" category. Over the top examples we've received include one with a montage in front of the Eifel tower, the pyramids AND glaciers or the one with a picture taken from a helicopter of someone's beyond gigantic mansion on the ocean.

When I was a kid growing up we would eagerly await the card one of the men who worked for Dad would send every year. One year he and his wife were pictured free climbing, another sky diving, another bungee jumping....it went on like that.

We waited for that card to see what new way he was trying to knock his wife off! (Joking....but we really did joke about it!)

bleigh - I will not argue with you. I know my daughter, and the way she put her comments, and it was not at all bratty. That's the problem with message boards, comments get construed because there are no facial expressions to see (no ecomotions on this board, either.) Thank you for the card compliment!

From redcor8
"If you want people to know that is your home, you may need to note it or something?? "
Well, the card does say "From Our Home to Yours" Doesn't matter if they know it's our home or not. I think it is a pretty picture and makes a pretty card. :) Oh, and almost all the people I will send a card too, know my front door.

I know what you mean about the "braggy" cards. Especially the long winded written novels about their life, their travels and how smart their kids are. YUCK!

That's funny, whitdobe!