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" Every year, scores of families sit for their annual holiday portrait. Most involve a typical array of motifs: red sweaters, static poses, maybe a Santa hat or two. But others are\u2026well, different. We&amp;#039;ve culled some of the best examples of Christmas spirit gone awry\u2014from silly expressions to over-the-top outfits\u2014courtesy of Mike Bender, founder of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com. Christmas Spirit  While Dad&amp;#039;s intentions are clearly from the heart, Bender says, unfortunately, &amp;quot;the dog has since converted.&amp;quot; Florence Nightingown  Why did this pic make the cut? &amp;quot;Truthfully, we just love the title this photo inspired,&amp;quot; Bender says. With Bells On  &amp;quot;We just love the miserable expression of the little girl on the left,&amp;quot; Bender says. &amp;quot;The story is that she wanted to hold the star at the top of the tree but, as you can see, didn&amp;#039;t make the cut.&amp;quot; Dream Team  &amp;quot;We think Santa might have been miscast,&amp;quot; Bender says of this photo featuring a towering Buddy-the-Elf character.  Family Trees  Now that&amp;#039;s some holiday spirit! We&amp;#039;re just wondering how long it took to make those costumes\u2014and how quickly they peeled them off after the photo was snapped.  Gift-Wrapped  Everyone loves getting presents. But becoming one? That&amp;#039;s something best left to a special few. Like a Rubber Glove  &amp;quot;Mom liked her dress,&amp;quot; Bender jokes, &amp;quot;because she thought it would clean easy.&amp;quot; The husband&amp;#039;s probably just thankful she didn&amp;#039;t ask to switch outfits halfway through the shoot. Shirtless Dad  &amp;quot;We love this one because it&amp;#039;s almost the perfect holiday scene: Mom and the girls in matching pj&amp;#039;s,&amp;quot; Bender says. &amp;quot;And then there&amp;#039;s Dad, who appears to have just wandered in the room...um, without his shirt on.&amp;quot; Vested Interest  &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s not enough that we share the same last name and resemblance,&amp;quot; Bender says sarcastically of this over-coordinated brood. &amp;quot;But we also need matching fabric to show our unity.&amp;quot; The Contortionist  There&amp;#039;s a lot to take in with this portrait. As Bender says: &amp;quot;This photo is uncomfortable. Literally.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/life/a2187/10-hilarious-family-holiday-portraits-114264/>