After last year's creative card, I knew our 2009 holiday greeting had to deliver. Enter two sausage McMuffins and the dubious dream that Nikon, our lively little German Shorthaired puppy who just happens to be packaged in the body of an 85-lb dire wolf, would be willing to feign pulling Kyle, Alder and me in our toboggan for just a single shot, that would be captured using the self-timer feature on my camera. The breakfast sandwiches were a bribe, put just a bit out of reach so he'd appear to be straining slightly leaving the line to appear taut, as if he were truly pulling us Santa style. As if!
Do you know what a dog loves more than sausage McMuffins? Mauling his mother, who smells suspiciously similar to said sausage McMuffin, seeing she just scarfed one (ok, maybe one and a half) down herself. After a series of frantic and frustrating attempts, Alder and Nikon ended up stuffed with greasy goodness, and I was back to the drawing board, charged with creating a card in which no animals were harmed, or even slightly put out, in its making. The result was this hand-designed and oh-so-timely Twitter card, which many of you likely received recently. (Just for fun, click here to see a nice family self-portrait from our attempted card session. Note the lack of snow around the sleigh as we'd worn it completely off.)
While the look of the card has changed, its intended message of best wishes for the happiest of holidays as you spend this celebratory season surrounded with the warmth of family, friends and festivities remains. And from our family to yours, cheers to peace and plenty in the New Year.
As we do each year, Kyle, the kids and I are off to Clearwater Camps on the shores of Mooselook Lake in Rangeley, for a trio of technology-free days filled with fondue, schussing at Saddleback and that familiar feel of cheerful contentment that comes from carrying out the traditions of this season with loved ones. I am especially eager for this year's trek as we'll be taking it with Kyle's sister, Erin, and it's the first holiday both she and Kyle have been home at same time in more than a decade. As a result, Samantha Warren Weddings will be offline through Monday, December 28 with limited access to email. I will respond to your inquires immediately upon my return.
In the meantime, enjoy the holidays and the gift of idle time spent doing exactly what you've been wanting to do all year (at our house, it's usually eating, chatting, and reading) that comes with them. If your year is anything like ours has been, it's certainly well deserved.
