This Christmas, make sure to capture memories of your celebration that you can look back on years from now.
Pictures
Taking photographs is the simplest and easiest way to record memories of your special day. Posed photos are great, but candid photos are even better. Capture your child’s look of surprise and delight as she opens a gift, or your mom and dad enjoying Christmas dinner. Whether you have a “regular” camera, a digital camera or your cell phone handy, don’t hesitate to whip it out.
Video
Many digital cameras and cell phones have a video option as well as still pictures, so make sure that you stock up on memory cards so you can take as much video as possible. Don’t limit it to big, orchestrated moments, such as carving the turkey or opening gifts. Catching your family members cooking dinner, joking around, playing with new gifts or simply sitting around and chatting can make for a priceless family memory.
Kids
Consider giving your kids their own disposable cameras for your holiday parties or get-togethers. Seeing the day from their perspective can be eye opening and totally fun. Older kids may already have cell phones, iPods or their own digital cameras — encourage them to bring them along and snap photos and take video.
Write
Take a notebook and pass it around to your family members to record their thoughts on the day. Take notes from your youngest kids (it can be totally adorable to read, years later, what your 2-year-old had to say) and encourage everyone else to add on. Keep it open ended or suggest a topic, such as favorite gift or favorite food. Another idea is to have everyone tell a story through writing, with each person adding a sentence.
Save
Upload your photos and video as soon as you can, or make a backup copy on a computer. Have the kids do the same, and if you have film to develop, get a CD copy as well. You don’t want to lose your precious holiday memories.
