Christmas is fast approaching. With the stress of buying gifts, decorating, and travelling, it's easy to add family pictures to the list of stressful holiday activities. But, family pictures don't have to be stressful; they can be a fun experience instead!

While professional photographers can give us beautiful pictures to hang on our mantle, we probably don't need a professional picture every year. The cost of professional pictures automatically makes taking pictures a stressful activity, as does planning your schedule around a busy photographer and feeling the pressure of getting the perfect picture in a limited amount of time.

There is definitely a place for professional family pictures, but there is something to be said for having a fun, simple photo shoot as well. By getting another family member or friend to take your holiday pictures this year, your stress levels will decrease dramatically and everyone will feel more comfortable and natural.

Once you've created the perfect atmosphere for fun pictures, you're ready for some funny pictures. You can find many ideas around the internet, in magazines, or even on a professional photographer's gallery. Ask your friends if they remember any funny holiday cards or have thought of any themselves (that they are willing to share, of course). Here are some of the great ideas "floating" around the Internet:

1. Silent Night. Wrap up the kids in Christmas lights and put duct tape (or something like it) over their mouths. Just make sure the kids are willing.

2. Dog Pile. Put Dad and Mom on the bottom, then let the kids pile on. You're guaranteed to get some natural smiles and laughs.

3. Involve the Pets. Wrap your dog in Christmas lights or snap a shot of the cat in the tree to show their mischievous personalities.

4. Mama kissing Santa Claus. Dress up your husband as Santa Claus and be sure to capture the kids' faces as you kiss him.

5. Little Elves. Dress the kids as elves and Mom and Dad as Santa and Mrs. Claus.

6. Ugly Sweaters. Mock your old family photos with ugly Christmas sweaters and mugs of hot chocolate in front of the fire place (you can even fake a fireplace out of construction paper for extra "cheese").

Find some more ideas and inspiration by visiting the websites below. Most of all, just be sure to have fun!

Visit these websites for more ideas: awkwardfamilyphotos.com, http://www.pleated-jeans.com/2011/12/13/the-25-funniest-family-christmas-portraits-of-all-time, and http://blog.poweroftwomarriage.

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Comforting a loved one is not as simple as picking up "Comforting for Dummies"� at the nearest bookstore. The truth is, everyone copes with emotionally stressful situations in a different way. This means everyone needs to be comforted in a different way. That may be discouraging to hear, but figuring out your wife's comforting needs is not impossible.

Understanding Personality and Coping

Personality in other aspects of life may help you to identify your wife's comforting needs. If you have been with your wife for long enough, you may recall some situations in which your wife was required to cope with a difficult experience. Many times, a person may cope by shutting down, talking it out or distracting themselves; these are only some of the methods. Unfortunately, most people do not recognize their own methods of coping, so asking you wife how she is best comforted can be out of the question.

With all of the guessing that goes into trying to comfort a loved one, one thought may be very helpful - above all, almost everyone can be comforted by love. This means that an important step in learning to comfort your wife is learning her "love language."

Love Languages

If you haven't heard, The 5 Love Languages is a book written by Gary Chapman. It identifies the five ways that individuals can feel most loved. The book even offers a self-assessment to determine your own love language. This test is a great idea to take and share with your wife to discover the way that you can best show love to each other.

In his book, Chapman lists five ways in which people feel loved. First is by words of affirmation. In this case, your wife feels most loved when you tell her you love her. Another language is quality time; when you give your wife your undivided attention, it means the world to her.

Your wife may prefer gifts; the more thought you put into the gift, the better. Acts of service are a common language, ranging anywhere from doing what your wife asks to executing a big project for her.

Lastly is physical touch. The slightest touch on the arm or a hug can bring your wife great comfort.

If you have read this book or taken this test with your wife, you are one step ahead in the comforting process. If not, you may encourage your wife to take this test with you. If this is not possible, you may do some research on your own by reading the book or visiting the website, 5lovelanguages.com.

Chapman, Gary. "The 5 Love Languages ®." The 5 Love Languages ®. Moody Publishers, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012.

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Identify Your Audience

Because our topic is "Family Games for a Big Group,"� we will assume our audience is a family of many ages. All families are different, however, and that means you will need to identify the people that you will be planning for. These are some ideas for identifying the needs of your group.

Make a List

Do you know who is going to be there? Make a list of who will be participating. That way you'll be sure to include everyone.

Determine Group Size

"Big group"� is a loosely defined term. By determining the specific size of the group (as in, exactly how many people there will be), you'll know if you need one big game, several smaller games, a lot of prizes, a dozen chairs, etc.

Keep Personality in Mind

Some members of the family may not be perfect candidates for getting up and making fools of themselves. Plan participation accordingly so an embarrassing game doesn't leave a shy personality in tears.

Be Age-Appropriate

Do you have ways for a two-year-old to participate? What about the teenagers? Will these games cause grandma to break a hip? If you are doing multiple games, it's okay to have some kid-only and adult-only games. Just make sure everyone has a chance to participate.

Pick a Theme

Picking a theme for your games will greatly narrow your activity search-in a good way. Think about why the family is getting together. Is it for summer vacation? Try an "outdoor"� or "water"� theme. Is it for the holidays? If, so, then a "Christmas" theme seems pretty appropriate. Your theme doesn't need to be complicated; just make sure that your theme helps you in your activity search and doesn't limit you from doing what you really want to do.

Consult Other Resources

Chances are, you've been to a large group gathering before and played some games. Draw on your memories of other successful group activities. If you remember having a lot of fun with an activity, your group will likely enjoy it as well. Try asking family members if there are any games they remember enjoying or if they have any other suggestions.

The Internet is also one of your best resources for ideas. There are many parents out there who are willing to share their advice and ideas on playing family games. Use your favorite search engine or family website.

Be Prepared

It's not just a motto; it's very wise advice.

Assign or Volunteer

With my family, I knew that assignments had to be made. I made a list of everyone present and decided beforehand which games I would assign them (with some flexibility of course). That way, no feelings were hurt and volunteering for games didn't turn into shouting competitions. Decide what works best with your group.

Have Your Supplies Ready

Make sure you've thought of every scenario. If you're playing a game that requires a table, bring one in beforehand to avoid wasting time and losing short attention spans.

Prizes

If you're giving out prizes, decide how you want to do it. Will the winner pick what they want or will they draw from a bag? Will anyone be upset with their prize? Will everyone get a prize? Consider your audience.

Let Participants Know

Some outdoor games may involve running or swimming, and might require that participants get dirty. Make sure that everyone knows ahead of time what they need to bring in order to enjoy the activities

Most important of all, relax. If you aren't enjoying game time, you've missed the point. When everyone is enjoying time together, you know your games are a success.

For game ideas, try these resources:

• tipjunkie.com
• group-games.com
• parties4me.com
• nbc.com/minute-to-win-it

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