Every family has its rituals. For Sandy Morris, it began with care packages.
“My journey of creating ‘Love Boxes’ started when my children were out of state attending college,” she shared. “I began a tradition of sending a holiday ‘Boo Box’ for Halloween, and a ‘Love Box’ for Valentine’s Day, partly for fun, but mostly to let them know we missed them and were thinking about them.”
What started as a simple way to stay connected evolved into something much bigger — and much more lasting.
When Sandy’s daughter had her first child — her first grandchild — the tradition deepened. “With my ‘Love Box’ I began including a photo book of fond memories of the prior year. We are now in year 5 of continuing this tradition.”
Today, those books sit right where they belong — within reach.
“My three adorable granddaughters love looking through their books which are kept on my daughter’s coffee table. The older ones have seen much love (which reminds me that I need to reorder!).”
Designed with Intention, Built to Last
Each year’s photo book reflects the personality of the moment.
“I always do my own design vs using the Mixbook tool that will create for me. (Which, by the way, is a great option to have). My design is inspired by reflections of the year, special events, and the quirkiness of personalities. Each annual book is different.”
Because her granddaughters are still young — currently between ages one and six — durability matters.
“Since the age ranges are currently from 1-6 years, I continue to use the thick pages as they can withstand the frequent views by my girls.”
For Sandy, the process itself is part of the gift.
“There are many things I enjoy in creating a Mixbook:
- The walk down memory lane. Time goes by so fast and I’m reminded of how important it is to snap the photo, write down the funny saying, be intentional in scheduling sleepovers, swim days, park days, craft days, play days etc. And, take pictures!
- I like the creative aspect of your tools. It’s very easy to upload photos from my phone, select the theme, the number of photos on a page, add text, clipart, etc. Your tools allows me to make it very personal.
- And, I love seeing how much my grandchildren enjoy the photobooks and how frequently they look through them.”
Books That Are Shared, Loved, and Passed Around
These photo books aren’t displayed for decoration. They’re handled, flipped through, and talked about.
“So many memories are captured between the covers. Memories that would have been easily forgotten or not memorialized in an album. The comments of ‘look how cute’, ‘ah.. I forgot about that until I saw this picture’, ‘I’ve changed so much’, ‘that was so fun’, and the list goes on and on.”
“The grandgirls look through the books together and individually. The books are loved and used. They don’t sit high up on a shelf. Instead they are easily accessible by all and I love that!”
One year, in particular, confirmed for Sandy why the tradition must continue.
“The moment that stands out as being especially meaningful to me is how emotional I found myself getting when I created the 2024 book. It was a confirmation to me that creating these books must continue.”
Her third grandchild was born that January, likely the last addition to her daughter’s family. “I wanted to make sure I captured the look on the older sisters when they first met their little sister.”
“The littlest sister LOVES looking at the pictures in the book of when she was a baby and how her older sisters loved on her throughout the year.”
How to Create Your Own “Love Box” with a Photo Book
Inspired by Sandy’s tradition? Here’s how to build your own meaningful Love Box for children, grandchildren, friends, or family members.
1. Choose a consistent moment each year
Pick a date that carries meaning — Valentine’s Day, a birthday, back-to-school season, or the holidays. Consistency turns a gift into a legacy.
2. Make the photo book the heart of the box
Include:
- Highlights from the year
- Milestone moments
- Everyday memories
- Funny quotes or sayings
- Screenshots of sweet messages
3. Design with personality
Follow Sandy’s approach:
- Reflect on the year’s theme
- Highlight special events
- Capture each child’s quirks
- Choose page thickness based on age and durability
Explore photo book themes perfect for family traditions:
4. Add thoughtful extras
A Love Box can include:
- A handwritten letter
- Small seasonal treats
- Printed photos
- Artwork from the kids
- A keepsake ornament
Keep it simple. Meaning beats quantity.
5. Make It accessible
Don’t let the book live on a high shelf. Encourage it to be touched, flipped through, and revisited often. The goal is use — not preservation alone.
Sandy’s story is a reminder that photo books are more than printed pages. They are intentional acts of love. They slow time. They preserve connection. And sometimes, they confirm that what you’re building is worth continuing.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a tradition — this is your sign.
Browse photo book themes perfect for a "Love Box" Tradition:
