It all started 10 years ago when we decided to take a fun family Christmas photo to send out as a holiday greeting to friends and family. The first photo was so well received that a few years later, after moving into a larger home, I decided to turn it into a family tradition. Each year, our photo reflects something that happened that year—like the year we decorated Christmas cookies, which coincided with repainting our kitchen, or the year of The Polar Express, marking the moment when some of the Christmas magic began to fade as our kids grew older. Our photo of everyone reading Christmas stories reflects educational milestones, with a high school and college graduation and the youngest starting preschool. And, of course, the year of COVID is instantly recognizable to anyone who lived through it. The kids affectionately call these our “Christmas Disaster Photos,” and the name stuck. Each image captures the perfect mix of holiday traditions, family fun, and the playful chaos that comes with having a large family. Enjoy!
The Christmas Heist (2015) freezes a perfectly mischievous moment of holiday rebellion. Two young girls proudly restrain their parents with a strand of Christmas lights, staging a playful takeover of the living room. While authority is temporarily disabled, their accomplices tear into the presents beneath the tree, and the youngest culprit calmly helps himself to Santa’s milk and cookies. Playful and theatrical, the photograph spotlights a brief holiday takeover led by small hands and big schemes.
Decorating the Christmas Tree (2017) captures an animated family moment centered around a beloved holiday tradition—though things don’t go exactly as planned. Dad climbs the ladder to place the star, while the oldest daughter stretches from the stairs to grab it. One girl drapes ribbon, another hangs ornaments, and two boys in the foreground have just sent a container of ornaments crashing to the floor. Amid the lively disorder, only Mom notices, pausing mid-wreath to glance over her shoulder. The photograph captures the mix of tradition, teamwork, and gentle mayhem that defines family holidays.
Gingerbread House Construction (2018) captures a family immersed in the delightful—and slightly chaotic—tradition of decorating a gingerbread house. Dad carefully wields a Dremel, expertly trimming the edges for a flawless finish. One girl eagerly squeezes frosting over a Christmas tree, while another “paints” her cookie with a tiny brush. In the midst of the fun, a little boy sneakily samples some of the sweet treats, and another boy shakes sprinkles playfully over his baby brother. Meanwhile, Mom cradles the baby, unaware of the sprinkle shower, as she reaches out in disbelief to stop another daughter—who, with a fierce, determined glare, raises a mallet poised to crash down on the gingerbread house. The scene perfectly captures the mix of creativity, mischief, and family dynamics that make holiday traditions so memorable.
The Extra Stocking (2019) is a candid moment captured and compiled from video footage, not a staged photo, revealing a truly special Christmas morning. After the kids finished opening their stockings, one lone stocking remained on the mantle. Encouraged by Dad, the oldest daughter unwrapped it to find a tiny onesie inside—announcing that their youngest brother would soon become a big brother in July. This photograph beautifully preserves the genuine surprise and joy on each child’s face as the news sinks in, while Dad watches from his chair and Mom captures the heartfelt moment on her camera. It’s a timeless glimpse into the magic of family celebrations and unforgettable announcements.
The Extra Stocking Reveal (2019) shows Grandma and Grandpa, who were there to share in the joyful moment, proudly holding up the tiny onesie. The message on it reads, “Santa, elves and reindeer that fly. Blake is going to be a big brother in July.” Their smiles capture the excitement and love surrounding this special family announcement, adding a warm, multi-generational touch to the unforgettable Christmas surprise.
Mistletoe During COVID (2020) captures a hilariously chaotic Christmas in 2020, the year the pandemic changed holiday traditions. Mom and Dad sit on the mantel with their baby between them—Dad holding mistletoe overhead while pulling down his mask to kiss the baby, and Mom leaning in from the other side. Around them, the family’s playful disorder unfolds: the oldest daughter, masked and mischievous, has wrapped Dad in a string of lights, pulling him away to keep him from kissing the baby; a little brother fiddles with the lights on the floor; another son, also masked, measures the distance between Mom and Dad, holding up one finger to note it’s only one foot instead of the recommended six. Yet another masked boy reaches for a squirt of hand sanitizer from his sister while surrounded by toilet paper. Another daughter gestures toward the importance of masks even as Mom goes mask-free. This photograph perfectly captures the mix of humor, love, and pandemic-era ingenuity that defined family holidays in 2020.
Sweet Cookie Chaos (2021) captures a family Christmas cookie baking session full of sweetness—and chaos. One boy sneaks a taste straight from the bowl, while a daughter struggles to roll out dough that’s stuck all over her rolling pin. Dad shakes his head at the mess, pointing to a container of flour for guidance. Another daughter carefully pipes frosting on her cookie, but while she is distracted a little brother is sneaks a lick from the bowl. Meanwhile, a daughter pulls a tray of cookies from the oven, accidentally tipping it so the treats tumble to the floor. Mom glances over her shoulder in surprise as she reaches for something in the cupboard, while two mischievous boys hide under the counter, happily snacking on the fallen cookies. This photograph perfectly captures the love, teamwork, and playful mayhem that make family baking a holiday tradition.
The Nutcrackers (2022) captures a delightfully chaotic family moment centered around the holiday tradition of cracking walnuts, with playful nods to the classic ballet. Mom holds a tray of nuts in one hand and a single walnut in the other, while a daughter raises a mallet, ready to smash it. Dad sneaks a few walnuts from Mom’s tray, and another daughter tries her luck with a nutcracker doll. On the floor, two boys are deep in mischief—one holds a bowl of walnuts poised to toss, while the other bends over a nut, preparing to crack it with another nutcracker doll. Nearby, a small boy places a walnut into the mouth of yet another nutcracker. Amid all this, a daughter dressed as a ballerina gracefully raises her hands in a circle above her head, and the youngest boy sits atop a carousel horse wearing a Mouse King hat and holding a large candy cane staff—both playful references to characters from The Nutcracker ballet. This photograph perfectly blends holiday whimsy, family interaction, and theatrical fun with the lively mayhem of a festive tradition.
A Musical Holiday Chaos: Can You Name the Carols? (2022) This photograph is a whirlwind of holiday characters and chaos, each detail referencing a beloved Christmas song or carol. At first glance, it seems like discordant mayhem, but once the musical references are recognized, the scene falls into whimsical harmony. Grandma clutches her toe in pain while balancing a Mexican hat, a toddler dressed as Rudolph rides by on his tricycle holding a letter to Santa with the L’s crossed out. Grandpa sleeps beside Grandma, crown on his head, holding a small ship. A daughter wearing a snowman hat and winter coat peers out the window, one hand bracing against the cold while the other cups her ear, as if listening for carols in the night. Another daughter, dressed in white with a halo, eyes closed and singing, gestures toward a Christmas tree with one hand while holding a bell in the other; a ship hangs from the tree as a playful nod. In front of the tree, a little boy wears a cowboy hat and plays a drum, while another dons an Elvis wig, sunglasses, and a blue scarf, strumming a guitar, and a third boy raises a bat over him, a frog perched on his head as he glances toward Mom and Dad. On the floor, a girl grins joyfully, ivy wrapped around her neck, leaning on a globe and holding a December calendar with the 12th circled, a ship nearby. Dad wears a Santa hat, pointing questioningly at a wrapped baby that lies in a manger, while Mom, in festive Christmas shoes and a sweater reading “’tis the season,” leans in to kiss him on the cheek, holding the ivy. Amidst the chaos, references to countless Christmas songs emerge—from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to I Saw Three Ships, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman, and more—making this photograph a joyful, intricate puzzle of holiday music and family fun. How many carols can you spot (Hint: There are at least 35)?
Who Believes in the Magic of Christmas? (2023) This family Christmas scene perfectly captures the mix of wonder, chaos, and holiday spirit. Around the tree, a daughter reads The Polar Express to two little boys on the couch—one covering his ears as another sister shakes a bell but doesn’t seem to be able to hear it. Bells have spilled across the floor, unnoticed by a teenage sister perched on the arm of the couch, absorbed in her phone, but another little boy notices. Mom sits nearby on the floor with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, reacting to the clattering sounds. Across the tree, Dad holds broken pieces of train track while another boy points to a younger brother crouched on the floor, fully engrossed in the train set. His shirt says it all: “Dear Santa, they’re the naughty ones.” Amid the playful mayhem, the photograph asks a delightful question: Who can still hear the bells, and who still truly believes in the magic of Christmas?
Christmas Chaos in C Major (2023) is a lively family portrait that captures the humorous mayhem of a household full of musical instruments. Mom sits at the piano, only to have a son blast the clarinet right in her face. Two teenage daughters slump nearby—one leaning bored on her cello, the other asleep with her ukulele. On the floor, a boy arranges several colorful bells, adding to the visual and auditory chaos. In the background, a daughter wields her violin toward a younger brother, who looks up in surprise while playing his own violin, accidentally jabbing his bow into Dad’s eye. Dad, clutching a guitar, reacts in shock and pain. Amid all the commotion, the youngest boy stares directly at the camera, leaning on Dad while wearing noise-canceling headphones, a small island of calm in the middle of the musical storm. The photograph perfectly captures the family’s humor, chaos, and love for music—even when it’s loud and unpredictable.
Christmas Story Magic (2024) captures a family fully immersed in the magic of Christmas stories, each bringing their own character to life. Dad reads A Christmas Carol, dressed as Scrooge, while a boy wearing a snowman hat enjoys Frosty the Snowman. Mom sits beside a Charlie Brown tree, reading A Charlie Brown Christmas, and another boy, donning a Santa hat, bites into a cookie as he reads The Night Before Christmas. A younger boy, hands covered in Grinch fur, reaches for the cookie as he reads How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Around them, several other stories are displayed, each reader embodying the spirit of their tale, creating a playful and imaginative holiday scene. The photograph beautifully showcases the joy, creativity, and storytelling that make family reading traditions so magical.
Gift-Wrapped Chaos (2025) captures the moment holiday order humorously unravels. What begins as a family tradition turns into utter chaos: wrapping paper becomes swords, duct tape replaces ribbon, a puppy lunges into the fray, and a younger brother wraps the newlyweds together—playfully “tying the knot” all over again. Each figure plays a role in the mayhem, from selfies and mock battles to the youngest child calmly experimenting with tape. The photograph celebrates the beautiful disorder of togetherness, where perfection is abandoned and connection steals the scene.
