A Calendar of Relatives

I've been sharing some very thoughtful gifts our children gave us.
Here's another one that just blew us away this Christmas.

While I have this thing for calendars...
this one is no ordinary calendar.
Brock and Erin put lots of work into this....(translate: many phone calls, emails, photo taking and gathering, and computer work)

At the top of each month is a combination of family pictures...whoever's birthday or anniversary we are celebrating during that particular month.

For example, look at the following 4 random months:

JULY
DECEMBER
MAY
APRIL
(notice the 2 ultrasounds of the twins due in April)

And then under the group of pictures are the regular calendar days,
including their pictures again listed on their special day.
For example....
the month of July
Am I making sense?
I just love it. I have this hanging in my kitchen, so I can see it very clearly everyday.
What a feeling of family!Thank you Brock and Erin for this very thoughtful gift!!
This is one calender that I will always keep, and treasure.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is so cool. I love it. A very good idea.

Anonymous said...

Jill, What an awesome gift! I had one of these years and years ago that I just loved, and it is still in my "scrapbook stuff." Mine didn't have the pictures on the individual birthdays however. That is a very special touch. Kudos to Brock and Erin for such a creative gift. Love, Dad and Susan

Anonymous said...

That will be a treasured gift. I know that took a lot of time and effort on your part and it came together beautifully! Very, very awesome Brock and Erin!
-Kim :)

grandmapeg said...

What a great gift! My nephew did a calendar similar to this years ago but it didn't have the pictures which, pictures are absolutely the best idea! What a great job Brock and Erin did and their family picture is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I've always wanted to make a professional-looking calendar!!!! I have the photos all ready, but I don't know how to go about it. Can you direct us to a website or store?
Thanks in advance!

Brock said...

Darlene, the simple solution to your problem and, in fact, many problems in your life, is to simply take the plunge and get an iMac. We got our first one this past September and it comes loaded with a ton of great programs that are very simple to use, like video editing software and photo editing and compiling.

The iPhoto program is what we used to make this calendar (or rather, Erin did. Usually I take point on thing computer-related, but this was one project she wanted all for herself and the ease of use of the iMac programs made is possible). Once we had the calendar made, it was just a couple of clicks within iPhoto itself that allowed us to order it. It was in our mailbox within a week.

Sorry, not trying to sound like I'm on the Apple payroll here, but it's an amazing machine and it really make stuff like this so very, very easy.

Glad you love it, Mom!

Brock

the Rich girl said...

So cool. What a fabulous idea!
It does look like Erin had fun making the calendar.
And the calendar looks so good.
(Thanks for including me in the calendar, too!)

Kathy's Red Door Welcome said...

What I am wondering Jill, is, how did you get this all on your blog?
Amanda made one for us through Kodak Easy Share Gallery,but it didn't have the pictures on any of the days of the month.

Grandma Honey said...

Well I was wondering too how to get it on my blog, but Dennis just took pictures of it with my camera. When I try to do that, I always end up with a flash right in the picture. But he did it in our kitchen which has more light and I guess the flash was not needed there.

Kris said...

Way to go, Erin! Such a nice gift and one that she can keep for years to come!

Brock said...

Jill I am so glad that you like it!! I was surprised how high the quality of printing was. We had a really good time seeing everyone's pictures come in. I feel like I know our family better! That includes you Karen! Of course we would include you.
erin

Lisa said...

It's INCREDIBLY beautiful & pictures do say a thousand words. Your family is so stinkin' photogenic. Good Genes. You guys must be drinking some good water, huh? LOVE IT!

I made a great card for Christmas on my IPHOTO, but decided against it since it was $1.99 a card x's 80. No can do for that price, but this calendar is AWESOME.

PS: Hope McKay traveled ok today. Saw your comment on J's blog.

Amy Nielson said...

I've made a couple of those for family members before and they are so fun to have! Something you can keep after the year is over. Yours turned out very nice.

The Millers said...

I must agree with everyone above...personalized calendars are so fun. Its such a good reminder of the blessing we have. When Alex and I got married our guests signed a calender that we made...you probably remember because you signed it! I was orginally going to make it for june2007-june 2008, because that way we would have it right after we got married, but of course I goofed and made it all for 2008. So it was fun because it had been about 6 months since our wedding when we pulled it out to enjoy. I loved it!

Also, my mother-in-law has been making calendars through COSTCO the past couple of years, which is a great idea without having to buy an iMac...haha.

The Gage Cage said...

That is a very cool idea. Paul's sister does the same thing for the Gages and his mom can't survive with out it. She has to make one every year.

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