Great cards! I can so relate to how many shots you need to take to get "the one" for your Christmas/holiday card. Before DD started college last year, every year I tried to shoot DD with the dogs. At one point I was shooting 3 dogs with DD. That was fun. Trying to get just one picture that makes the most of all subjects is a tall order. I would shoot about 20 pictures and then view them on the computer. Shoot more, repeat, until DD pronounced "enough already mom". Trying to shoot more would not result in anything better, as DD was sick of posing and the dogs can only eat so many treats in one sitting. LOL This year it will be just the dogs. Glad you started this thread, I need start working on our holiday photo this coming week.

That is just adorable! Must be training therapy dogs at that school. Cooper and Bailey are great at taking balls off the tree but not so much putting them on! LOL

1. Send as many e-cards as possible. There are some really cute interactive ones that are great for families with small kids. I make copies of an old family photo to send to all the adult nieces/nephews and our siblings. I send it in a Christmas/Holiday photo card. That's their gift from us. Over the years I've sent out all the ancestoral grand-, great-grand parents, etc. going back several generations, along with information about the subject/s in the photo. 2. Get the end-of-the roll newsprint (paper used for newspapers) from your local newspaper (free/cheap) and use it for gift wrap. I tie them with inexpensive twine, rather than expensive ribbon/bows for a country/rustic look. Have the kids decorate the paper if you need a craft project for them. 3. I also make my own gift bags. You can make them any size you need using most kinds of sturdy paper. The trick is finding a box the size you need to use as the form to make them. HOW TO: A. Using a large box that cereal came in, take your paper and wrap the cereal box - all but the top (try to make the seam at the back of the bag, not the side). DO NOT stick anything TO the box - it's just a form. B. Use a glue stick and/or double stick tape at the seams and bottom. C. Leave the top of the box you are using as a form open so that you can reach in and have something to hold onto when you pull the box out of the bag. D. Finish the bag by cutting the top edge (if it needs evened out) - you can use fancy cut scissors or pinking shears, if you have some. Fold the top edge into the inside and glue down using a glue stick. You can fold it over twice if you are going to attach ties/handles. E. You can add ties/handles using twine, ribbon, yarn, etc. by using a hole punch and making 4 holes (two on each of the long sides) about 3-4-inches apart and thread the twine, ribbon, yarn, etc. through the holes to secure the top closed. F. Crease the sides in the center to resemble a regular paper gift bag. 4. Another easy gift bag can be made out of brown paper lunch bags (you can also find them in colors or out of decorative paper). Secure the top by folding over 2-inches or so, punch two holes through all layers of the folded down area, and secure with twine, ribbon, yarn, etc. You can decorate these with all kinds of things, or leave them plain. We set a $10 gift limit for immediate family (kids/grandkid), but spend more on them for their birthdays. It's easier to budget this way. Hubby and I exchange one $1 gift from the Dollar Store. That's actually turned out to be a lot of fun... -Grainlady

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas day. We visited four of our five kids and their families the past two weeks. We were to have dinner with our youngest and his wife yesterday but darn if they didn’t come down with covid. They’ve been vacinnated but not boostered. She had it mild but it knocked our son down. Hubby and I had our dinner then took some over to them to drop off on the porch. We were able to see them through the window at least and what a relief to see my son was actually up. Weather is crazy here. I’m winter sowing and hoping it gets cold enough at some point. Yesterday, we broke a record high and tomorrow will almost be 70! I have my idea for January’s swap and will be posting on the 1st so keep an eye out! Time to party. Margo