Abby wanted a dog.

In our busy home, this was a hotly debated topic. My dear wife, mother of seven and many of them small, was really opposed to the idea. She didn't need another baby to pick up after. I saw no harm in it personally. After all, I reasoned, Abby was nearly ten years old and fully capable of handling a puppy. And she was relentless in her campaign to get one.

She had notes left for me in my car. On my dresser. Even in the shower. "Dad, can I please get a dog for Christmas?"

So, the day before Christmas Eve I picked him up -- a little border collie puppy who whined all the way to my parents house where he would stay until I could bring him home for Christmas morning.

That dumb dog destroyed all the best laid plans. Christmas is a two-day event in my house and Christmas Eve is the biggest day of the year. But all through out the day I got updates of his high-strung nature and the fact that he just couldn't be left alone. And I worried the whole time if he was destroying the Christmas Eve my folks and all in their home were trying to enjoy a few miles away.

In the course of my concern, I missed a few traditional details of Christmas Eve. I forgot to put out the Christmas cookies my wife had made with the kids the day before. I neglected to complete some wrapping. And I was late turning on the lights to our Christmas village because of my distractions. Oh, nothing major was missed and we still had a great time. But it all happened on the account of that little puppy my daughter would come to name Sammy.

The picture above was taken last Christmas Eve. For me, the Christmas Eve picture is one of the most cherished traditions of the season. And last year's picture is a good example of why.

The photo shows our seven children.

All of them are dressed in their new Christmas Eve jammies, a tradition started by my mother when I was a kid. (Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find anything matching for seven kids of different ages?)

I always begin the Christmas season by looking at the Christmas Eve photo. It is a reminder for me of what it is all about. The picture doesn't show gifts or decorations or the chaos so often involved with the season. It makes no reference to Christmas concerts or baked goods or sending out Christmas cards. By the time we look this picture over again we've forgotten about what was given and received. For me and my wife, this picture is why we do all that we do each season.

My kids, without fail, always remain excited to take the picture again. In fact, compared to other posed shots we try to get of the family each year the Christmas Eve shot is always successful. And the reason is clear: on this one night we just love being together. And there is nothing else to distract us from it.

I grew up with photography. I know how to take portraits. I make my children suffer mercilessly as I try to get the right pictures of them. Nothing in the world is more difficult than trying to get a family group shot. Especially with six daughters all fussing over makeup, pony tails and whether or not to wear lip gloss.

But not on Christmas Eve.

The kids are totally relaxed, pleased as could be with their appearance in anticipating Santa, and thoroughly cooperative with each other as I take the annual pictures. In fact, I usually get hounded with requests of "Is it time to take the pictures yet, Dad?"

I always start with this picture because no matter what kind of year I have had this feeling is what we're really after. You can bury a lot of money into Christmas and I believe it is a natural inclination in a lot of folks to do just that in search of the "perfect" holiday. This picture reminds me that what we seek just can't be bought. So I look here to remind me of what we're trying to accomplish.

Like many, we've had a leaner holiday season the last couple of years. The dot com bust and the downturn of the economy have taken their toll on us financially. But that hasn't lessened our merriness in one degree. Christmas is always a time for us to be together. And that's the fun of it for us. And now that things have stabilized somewhat, I don't want to forget that.

So we take a look at this picture and get the inspiration to do it all over again. And there is a lot to be done.

As the kids start up school again (all except our eldest are home schooled), we start to map out our fall and Christmas seasons. We begin with a Family Night to talk about it. This conversation, for me at least, is an important one and it is my job to really listen.

It's funny what kids notice and remember one year from the next. When we had this family night a few weeks ago in our home I was struck by a comment my six year old, Allie, made. She said wanted to "ring the doorbell" this year.

That's a reference to a little game we play as the Christmas Phantom. During December, we pick a family in our neighborhood and for the 12 Days of Christmas the Phantom drops little treats and notes of holiday cheer on their doorstep in a merry game of doorbell ditch. (Anyone can get away without detection once. Do it twelve days in a row and it's tough!)

This year Allie wants to be the doorbell ringer. It is a job that requires stealth, speed, and -- for a six year old, at least -- nerves of steel. This child, by the way, is our worrier. So you can imagine my surprise that of all the things about Christmas she wanted to talk about this was at the top of her mind for this season.

Go figure.

In our house, Christmas is doing. From trimming the tree to decorating the stockings, there is no shortage of merriment to be had. We try to remind ourselves, however, that no matter how much we try to cram in to each day to celebrate the season the pinnacle comes in taking that picture. Those relaxed, happy smiles -- looks on their faces that you know memories of the best kind are being made -- is what it is all about.

Sometimes we miss details in our celebrations. And they just don't matter.

I've got the pictures to prove it.