The Stockings Were Hung...

A tradition for our family is to open our stockings on Christmas Eve.  This has worked out very well for our family, even as our kids have married, because we are usually together for lunch on Christmas Eve, celebrating Tim's birthday!

We often include a movie, some years we've gone to see a movie, other years we've watched the Nativity Story and that's how we've transitioned to the Christmas celebration from the birthday celebration.

For many years, my mom and I were the only ones buying for everyones stockings and financially it adds up!  The last several years some of our marrieds have been adding 'stuff' to the stockings and I love it! 

I do a variety of things from little packets of tissues and a new toothbrush to small playdoh (for kids), candy, clementines, sample size lotions or facemasks, hot wheels.  A real variety of things to stuff those stockings! 

We have 17 stockings hung, with our local married kids having their stockings here because this is where we 'do' stockings.  

A tradition that I started for the grands is to buy their Christmas stocking.  I get them a Pottery Barn kids stocking.  I fell in love with them when my younger kids needed stockings and I've continued to buy them with every new grand!  

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We have trains, dogs, ballerinas, fairies, kitties, snowmen.  Some of the style change from year to year.

The one I bought for Von this year is not showing on the website so it must have sold out.  

Do you hang Christmas stockings?  Do you have traditions around your stockings?

 

The Stockings Were Hung...

On my antique chippy ladder, as I do every year!  They are right behind the front door, in a little alcove made by the coat closet.  Its a spot where no other furniture can go, but the ladder fits there just fine, and it is part of the living room.

These are the stockings of the people who will be here Christmas Eve.  Our tradition is to open stockings together in the evening of Christmas Eve. (earlier in the day we are celebrating Tim's birthday)  We always have food to munch, and we either watch a movie or play games, sometimes both.

On Christmas morning, my parents will come over to open presents with us, and the married kids will usually come by later in the day, at least for a while.

Christmas is no stress here.  We are savoring the day, thankful for the gift of our Savior, Jesus.  We eat a lot, read, listen to music, play games, have company drop by.  If the weather is nice, people might go for a hike.

What are your traditions for Christmas Eve?

The Stockings Were Hung

For many years now, we've been hanging our stockings on this old ladder.  We don't have a hearth or a banister in our cottage so this is how we handle our stockings.

On Christmas Eve, we all gather here and open our stockings.  Everything from socks, to gum, to earbuds, to new toothbrushes.  You never know what you'll find in your stocking.  Most of the grown ups buy stuff to put into the stockings.  

Do you do stocking gifts in your family traditions?  What kinds of things do you put into your stockings?

Christmas Stockings from Pottery Barn Kids

Many years ago, I was shopping in the Pottery Barn Kids outlet and found some sweet Christmas stockings.  My three youngest didn't have nice ones, so I bought them each a quilted stocking with sweet red gingham at the top.  

When Kamryn came along I bought one for her.  Now we have two more granddaughters, so of course they need their cute stockings.

This is the one I ordered for Klaire - 






And this one is Isla's pattern.

They are so cute and it will be fun to fill them with sweet things for Christmas Eve!

Do you have special stockings for Christmas? When do you open your stockings?