The Annual Photo Op.

For the fourth year in a row, we are shooting our now annual Santa hat family self portrait. It will come as no surprise that three of the four years were shot in Florida where it's warm (or supposed to be) and the other in the desert where it is also warm (supposedly). But whether or not the weather is cooperating when we start to snap the shutter for the festive shoot, we always laugh ourselves silly doing it- so win, lose or draw, it makes for a fun day. I suppose somewhere up ahead we must shoot the shot in the snow, but for now that will just have to remain on hold while we salvage what heat we can find this time of year. We bought some additional props at the party store in Ft Myers on the way down to the Keys this year. Over sized sunglasses are just a happy item; no ifs, ands, or buts about it. They made us laugh and you should have seen the crowd that gathered to watch us shoot this year. Goofy makes a body feel good! Somewhere out on the wide world web are a lot of pictures of us taking pictures of ourselves. If it makes someone somewhere smile for even a brief time, then so be it. A holiday smile is always a good thing.

So now here is the official 2009 family portrait and a slide show of what it took to get to this point. Then a look back at the previous shots. From where-ever we find ourselves this time of year to where-ever you may be: Merry Christmas to all!



Above, LDMA Camp at Stanton, Arizona 2008

Sugarloaf Key KOA 2007, above...

and below, Malabar, Florida 2006