I recently shared the story behind my parent’s 2021 Christmas card design on Facebook, and got an overwhelming response. What I wanted for myself was a catalog of all those portraits and the story each of the cards from the last 10+ years have represented to me and my family as the “Grands” have grown. So I am choosing to catalog all the cards here on this platform so we can always go back and enjoy the memories and growth from year to year.
One of my greatest joys from years of custom portraiture was getting to design Christmas cards and Announcements for the families I worked with.
2021
After I helped my Mom score this huge rustic outdoor farmhouse table free off FB marketplace, I had a vision for this exact set up. My mom crafted the wooden angel, that Sarah Beth and Lyla are holding, out of some special wood to symbolize Grandma Sauter who is now watching over us all. The holidays won’t be the same without her, but we have preserved so many memories of our time with her.
2020
With the craziness of 2020 an official card was not printed, but we were able to capture one last family portrait with Great Grandma Sauter. After a year of independent living, Grandma made the decision to come live with Mom and Dad just before Thanksgiving. It was a blessing for the family to have her close by for the next 9 months.
2019
In 2019 the Sauters made their permanent move to Arkadelphia Acres and the Baileys moved back to Birmingham and spent the first half of the year living in their Vestavia house. The cousins were excited to get to see each other more often.
2018
2018 was a year for breaking and clearing ground at Arkadelphia Acres. By the end of the year, the finishing touches were being put in place before the Sauters could move into their new home.
2017
In December 2017, the Sauters closed on 10 acres of land in Arkadelphia, Alabama, adjoining the land my sister, Kathryn Baggett lived on. Their card announced their plans to build and lumber jack attire and axes were appropriate to tell this piece of their story.
2016
The 2016 pictures were taken in front of the cedar trees my dad planted in Vestavia and on one of the benches he restored. My Dad has always have a love for cedar trees!
2015
Everyone was all smiles in 2015 in bright jewel tone attire. This picture was taken in Kathryn’s backyard with the glowing Fall colors at Thanksgiving.
2014
in 2014, I wanted to highlight and use one of my Dad’s wood piles as a backdrop for their Christmas card. My Mom couldn’t be left out and is holding a sprig off her rosemary bush. I found matching Gymboree pajamas for the kids to go with this woodsman theme.
2013
I am reminded of growth and change when I look at this portrait! Another picture taken in Kathryn’s backyard next to the small evergreen trees Dad planted, which have now grown taller than their house! In 2013, the Baileys had just made a move to Atlanta and I had just begun planting seeds to grow my Spoiled Rotten Photography business.
2012
In 2012 I hauled that green couch all over creation to shoot Fall Family Portraits, so why not take it to Kathryn’s backyard to photograph the grands all together. I miss those snaggle teeth and coordinating Gymboree outfits! I also love that Grandma Sauter made an appearance on this card!
2011
After my Mom’s appearance with the Grands on their Christmas card in 2010, my Dad didn’t want to be left out. He surprised us all wanting to be in a picture, and that is when the annual picture with the Grands was born. We welcomed James, the first boy Grand in November, so this year’s card got to include him! We used the Holiday Studio set that I designed that year and used a special hollowed out driftwood log to place the new baby in.
2010
Fall 2010 we took the girl cousins to a local covered bridge to take some portraits. My Mom got a great shot with all the girls wearing the white dresses she bought them, that we put into a Christmas card template for her to send out.
2008
In 2008, while we lived in Madison, AL we took a trip with the Baggetts to the Opryland Hotel to enjoy the lights and decorations of the season. Pictures from that trip were used for each of our Christmas cards that year.
It has been a blessing to tell this Grand Story for the past 10+ years and I pray we have many more years to continue the story.
