The Excited Christmas Picture Tradition


This is me in 1981, really, really excited about Christmas. For me, Christmas has always been a wondrous time filled with togetherness and magic. My husband felt differently and the mass consumerism of Christmas left him, well…Grinchy. What's more, he couldn't understand how his personal objection dampened the holiday spirit. Just feel the joy dammit!


The above picture is of my husband on our first Christmas, notice how his expression mocked the supposed excitement of the holiday. Obviously unfamiliar with the Christmas joy of 1981, every Grinchy Christmas that followed was commemorated by an annual "excited Christmas picture".


The year our son was born Christmas was different; he was genuinely excited to celebrate our first Christmas as a family! It seemed my Grinch's small heart had grown three sizes that day. While we immortalized Baby's First Christmas with the annual picture, this new daddy finally understood the Christmas joy of 1981.


Today we have 2 sons, ages 3 and 7 and our household celebrates every bit of the magic and excitement the Christmas season brings.


A picture that began as a Grinchy protest has become a beloved family tradition. Christmas magic is real; it just took a daddy to realize it.