Christmas Jammies & The Christmas Stocking...

Christmas traditions are extra special. We have enjoyed many different little traditions in our family since our kids were little ones. And even though our son is grown and living on his own and our girl is still home...She may be a teenager, but she still loves the traditions. She looks forward to the special Christmas Jammie's she gets every year and The Stocking she gets to open when she wakes up Christmas Eve Morning. I love it too. I make or find the special jammie's that will be worn throughout the year before getting the new ones next Christmas. I usually give them their jammie's the night before Christmas Eve, so they can wear them to bed and when they wake...They have them on while opening up The Christmas Stocking

The Stocking is filled with particular items every year. It consists of:

Something to Read, something to eat, something to play with and something you need. I place The Stocking in their bedroom while they sleep. And when they wake on Christmas Eve...(even if no one else is awake or with them) They can open The Stocking and enjoy their goodies. It's a nice way to have a quiet morning, make breakfast while they are reading the book they have wanted so badly. The treat tides them over while they wait for Christmas Eve breakfast. The thing to play with can be a little toy or game or puzzle. That will also keep them amused for the morning. The something they need. I add in something like socks, or bubble bath...Just something they can use throughout the year.

This is a tradition I will hang onto for as long as I can. I am sending my son a stocking of his own via snail mail..Because your never too old to enjoy some Christmas fun! This year I let Freckles have her jammie's early...But...She will have to wait on The Stocking just a couple more days. 

Red & White Christmas & The Small Tale Of Rudy Reindeer...

 
Our family room is definitely filled with red and white Christmas decorations. I just love red...what can I say. This year I hung red wool stockings...simple, yet bold. My mantle is also less cluttered this year. I like to change it up a bit. I like the simplicity of it. So does our new friend Rudy Reindeer. Yes, I found him thrifting. With Salvation Army's 50% off day...I got him for $2.00. He was lying there on a shelf amongst a bunch of hmm hmm...junk....Our eyes met and I saw a twinkle in his. I really did. I swooped him up looked him in the eye and said " your comin' home with me" and at that very moment he smiled. I clutched him in my arms and merrily pranced over to the checkout, handed over the money with pleasure and gleefully took him home. True story. Doesn't he look happy to be in my home? I promised him, he was a keeper.
Have a wonderful weekend.

My Vintage Tree Skirt & Wreaths

 

Just as promised I am sharing my tree skirt which I found thrifting.
 Remember in the last post I shared my childhood stocking below?
 I had found this tree skirt that had the same fabric in it.
 I was so excited to see such a cute skirt my tree can
 wear for the Christmas season.

Some other vintage finds involves the wreaths
 I have collected in the same sort of fabric designs from my childhood.
Here is my braided wreath....

 

Then my little candle light wreath...so cute and colorful.
 I love the checked gingham and white eyelet trim around the wreath itself.

Lastly a big stuffed patchwork wreath which

 I hung on my back door of our family room.



They are so cheery and bring happy
 memories of Christmas yesteryear!

Some Christmas Eve Magic....

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care.
But, this Christmas Eve morn my children
will find a bedpost stocking awaiting to be opened when they awake.
This will surely be pure joy to open their stockings in bed.
They can pull it under their covers, clasp the contents and furiously
unwrap each little package with glee.

( I captured this sweet photo of my daughter
sleeping away after I hung her stocking in her room...
she will be so surprised.
It was too dark in my son's room to get
a snapshot without a flash waking him up.
They will be so surprised...
Oh the anticipation of Christmas. How fun!)

And, what they will find is a magic recipe used by Victorians so long ago.
I am bringing it back!
This is what each will receive and will also give
an extra forty winks of sleep to Mom & Dad.
****
Something to eat,
something to read,
something to play with
and something they need!