Snowmen, tangerines and Nan on guitar

The winner! A house full of family, including Nanny, then 82. One present, Guitar Hero, was taking centre stage as four teenagers competed at full volume. Tensions were building as it was preventing Nanny from her EastEnders fix. Eventually, she fell into a post-lunch snooze and then awoke, refreshed and competitive! The picture shows Dorothy Hobbs (Nanny) on lead guitar, with Josh Hobbs and Andy Hobbs (in party hat) in the background Photograph: Tim Hobbs/Guardian

This Christmas will be our best Christmas ever. Our family is complete - with baby Scarlett born on 11 June. Most importantly, Archie (above left, beside his little brother, Jem) is quite well after five years of ill health and long periods in hospital. He has severe special needs and is unable to walk or talk - but since he started at a specialist school last year, his understanding has improved greatly Photograph: Sarah-Jane Windridge-France/Guardian

This picture was taken at Edinburgh Castle. We had joined our father from Nigeria. My sisters and I thought this was heaven. Those gloves were bought after crying my eyes out at school as my hands thawed from a gloveless snowball fight. The snow appeared unreal Photograph: Olubunmi Oyeneyin/Guardian

In 1955, Christmas was held at our grandparents' home in Atlanta, Georgia. There were few presents under the tree compared with today. What made it unforgettable was the magical atmosphere. David, my three-year-old brother, looks bewildered that something so wonderful can really be true Photograph: Norman Scarboro/Guardian

This is a photo of my husband Pete and our children David, Mark, Robert and Megan in their garden with the first and only snowman they have ever managed to build in west Cornwall - not an area renowned for snowfall, and still talked about every winter Photograph: Helen Mycock/Guardian

This is my son, Isaac, aged six months, at Christmas 2003, the day after my dad died. I love this picture because Isaac looks so full of joy, like he's about to dance. The rest of the family were unbearably sad that Christmas, and only Isaac could put a smile on our faces In the picture: Isaac Higgs Photograph: Joanne Mallon/Guardian

Pictured is my wife, Jo (or at least her middle bit - the bump is now our daughter, Zalie), on Tulum beach in Mexico, Christmas 2006. Unforgettable, because it was our last Christmas as a couple (and probably our last winter-sun treat as a couple) - but we still managed to share it with our daughter Photograph: David Wise/Guardian

This photograph is of Miranda Sheard, aged 11 months. We were in overdrive on our daughter's first Christmas. I'll always regret interrupting her joyful wonder at her first stocking find, this bright orange tangerine, in our eagerness to push the rest of the junk on her. She'd needed nothing more to make it a merry Christmas Photograph: Paige Sinkler/Guardian

Christmas Day 2003, 4.30am. Aoife was born first, quickly followed by Milo, 15 minutes later. When they were put together in the cot, Aoife started sucking Milo's finger. This is the day we changed from a reasonably civilised family of four, to the noisy, chaotic family of six we are now. Christmas Day is extra special in our house! Photograph: Louise Mulligan/Guardian

What was memorable about Christmas 2007 was that we were in Ethiopia. My mum and sister met my granny for the first time. We had one present each, which we appreciated, and felt happy to be with our family. On Christmas Day it was more than 30C. I am third from the right and my sister is second from the left Photograph: Naomi Gessesse/Guardian