With November here and Christmas fast approaching, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we handle the “aftermath” of the holidays—and more importantly, how we remember them. Back in January, I made a list of tips for wrapping up the season, but today I want to dive deep into one specific topic that is near and dear to my heart: Documentation.

Christmas is such a special time, but it can also be fleeting. The guests leave, the tree comes down, and suddenly the house feels empty. As we get older, memories tend to fade, and I’ve found that having a system to look back on those cherished moments is invaluable.

Over the decades—from being a newlywed in 1978 to a retiree today—my method for keeping memories alive has evolved. Whether you are a scrapbooker, a digital hoarder, or someone who just throws cards in a box, I want to share my educational guide on how to document your Christmas history.

The Early Years: From Chaos to Portfolios

When my husband and I were first married in 1978, we were young and busy with our careers. Honest truth? I didn’t think much about documenting. I would take the Christmas cards we received, date them (that was my one good habit!), and just throw them into a big tote bin. I never had time to look at them.

The Turning Point: 1983 Everything changed when my son, Cameron, was born. Suddenly, it felt crucial to document everything. With an only child, you tend to want to keep every drawing and every memory.

• The Portfolio Method: I went to the office supply store and bought nice white portfolios and certificate paper. I started creating a “Yearbook” for each Christmas.
• Detailed Lists: I didn’t just keep photos. I wrote down exactly what he got for Christmas and who gave it to him—Nana, Grandpa, aunts, uncles.
• The Business Card Hack: Here is a tip for you: I took blank business cards and wrote the details on them (Name, “First Christmas,” Age, Date) and attached them to the memorabilia. It made labeling so easy.

Adapting to Technology and “The Busy Years”

As time marched on into the 90s and early 2000s, life got hectic. Between work, school graduations, and medical issues, I didn’t have hours to scrapbook every page.

• The Digital Shift: By 1996, I started using the computer more. I created digital files of our newsletters and photos and saved them onto a USB stick. I even made a little decorative holder for the USB so it wouldn’t get lost. This is a great space-saving tip if you don’t have room for physical albums!
• The Summary Binders (2001–2014): During these busy years, I switched to making cloth-covered binders (using festive Christmas fabric and lace). Instead of daily logs, I wrote a Yearly Summary. I noted the big events, the milestones, and the feel of the year. It was less pressure but still kept the record straight.

The “London Years”: Return to Detailed Journaling

In 2014, Cameron moved to London, England. When your child lives far away, the time they spend at home becomes precious. My documentation style shifted again to capture every second of his visits.

• Arrival to Departure Logs: I started documenting the holidays from the moment he arrived to the moment he left. I recorded everything: what movies we saw, where we went for dinner, and even what we had for breakfast.
• The “Personal Journey” Review: Since he wasn’t here all year, I started writing a review of our year—personal milestones, garden projects, and even global events (like the climate or the pandemic years). It helps contextualize the memories when you look back later.

Creating Themed Collections

Beyond just a chronological yearbook, I found it incredibly helpful to create “Themed Binders.” This is a great way to organize if you have a lot of one specific type of item. Here are the collections I maintain:

1. The Toy Binder: My father made me a toy box when I was little, which I recovered to store these binders. Inside one, I have photos of every major toy Cameron received, especially the handmade ones.
2. The Ornament Binder: I am a crafter, and I have made countless ornaments over the years (Santa, Mrs. Claus, Father Christmas). I keep a photographic record of every ornament I’ve made and the year it was created.
3. The Traditions Binder: This holds our recurring events. Photos of us with Santa (from Cameron’s first year to adult family pics), pamphlets from the Pantomime we visit annually, and movie tickets.
4. The Vintage & Cards Binder: I have a special binder for “Vintage Christmas”—photos from my childhood in the 50s and my husband’s childhood. I also keep a separate binder for special Christmas cards from close family.

My Plan for the Future

Now, heading into 2025, things are changing again. My son won’t be home for Christmas this year, but the documenting continues!

I am moving toward a Monthly Digital Log. I have a template on my computer where I log details month-by-month. at the end of the year, I transfer it to a USB. It’s manageable, doesn’t take up physical space, and ensures that even as I get older and perhaps a bit more forgetful, I’ll always be able to say, “Oh, that’s when that happened!”

Final Thoughts

If you are young, start now. Even if it’s just a digital folder or a shoebox with dates on the back of photos. If you are older like me, it is never too late to organize what you have. Re-purpose old file folders, cover them in craft paper, and start sorting.

It is so special to be able to pull a binder off the shelf and relive 40+ years of family history. I hope this inspires you to preserve your own holiday memories.

Thanks for reading, and happy crafting!

Fran