Good-bye Christmas cards!

Let it be known that I am an avid Christmas card sender. Literally hooked at an early age and have been sending Christmas cards ever since -- that's well over 25 years of card sending.

It's not just a card but always a personal note with an update (because receiving a card with just a signature in my opinion is a good waste of paper) and now pictures with the kids are included. Since marrying I think we sent out close to 100 cards each year. Which took a lot of prep and planning but much like holiday baking, it's overwhelming if left to the last minute but enjoyable when you know it's done and you're sending your love through the mail.

This year, there will be no love through snail mail from the Burton family. I am giving up the Christmas card. I debated this last year but caved at the last minute. But this December, I have decided to give them up cold turkey.

Why? How do you just give up a time honoured tradition?

To start, it's a heck of a lot of work and time! Secondly, the number I receive has drastically declined over the last few years so I think others are also giving up and that's part of the fun, receiving mail too. Thirdly and most importantly, with blogging, Facebook, Twitter, email and so many other applications staying in touch is just so much easier and a card to me now seems redundant. If anyone wants to check in on the Burton family there are sooooo many methods to do so (even google us!) and no need to wait until December to hear.

Plus - what do we do with all these cards? I have been keeping all those I receive for years and now this year they are turning into craft supplies as Lauren & I chop them up for gluing to her various projects. I dare say most people chuck them on December 26th.

And the beautiful printed pictures we all include - what happens to them? A cursory look and then what? Maybe your close relatives frame them or stick them in an album but everyone else? I bet 94 of the 100 photos I send see the recycling bin so why not just send them to Facebook to see recent virtual shots?

Not sending cards doesn't mean our friends & family are any less dear to us so I hope it won't be perceived as such. It's just a change this busy mama needs to make.

So tootle-loo Christmas cards! I will miss you and maybe next year will decide to revert but for 2009 friends will get a little virtual something (maybe that seasonal picture which I have yet to take!) and I'm going to spend that writing-card-time on something even more precious - time with my own family.