I don't understand "stocking stuffers"

[hjffkj]

That's how we do it, too, Garga--

 

For me growing up, stockings were placed in beds at night so they are the first thing you see in the morning. You unwrap each item and can even eat candy before breakfast if you want to.

Then you go into your brothers' room, which is usually off-limits, and find they are waking up and opening their stockings, too.

Then you actually chat with them, and they are nice to you, because you are the youngest and usually a pain, but it is Christmas, so their hearts are made more tender to you.

Then you call the dog upstairs, which is Not Usually Allowed, and he comes up so happily, and his Beagle-Eagerness is just all over the place.

 

Then you troop together in your jammies, holding your stockings, into your Parents Room, saying "Merry Christmas!" and they groggily (but good-naturedly) repeat the greeting, and give hugs.

 

Then you still must wait just minute while Dad gets the floodlights ready so he can film you coming down the stairs and into the livingroom to see the tree and begin Christmas Morning.

 

Now I know we were given stockings in our beds so that Mom and Dad could get a few minutes extra sleep. We do the same in our home, because now the dad is a priest who doesn't get home until 1:30am Christmas morning and needs the extra sleep.

 

I miss my brothers! :001_smile:

Stockings were always a thing that kept my parents sleeping longer to. For us, they were downstairs with the tree, dad never recorded us coming down to see the tree. The rule was we could do stockings and then make coffee for the parents and older siblings, then we could wake everyone up. This process usually gave them an extra half hour to sleep.

[nrg]

Last year my son and his wife hosted Christmas in their new home. We woke up to find frozen macaroni and cheese and pot pies in our stockings. They explained these were "stocking Stouffers."

[UnsinkableKristen]

Last year my son and his wife hosted Christmas in their new home. We woke up to find frozen macaroni and cheese and pot pies in our stockings. They explained these were "stocking Stouffers."

:lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

Edited December 16, 2017 by UnsinkableKristen

[Daria]

Only kids (or in our family "kid") get presents from Santa, and everything from Santa goes in or next to the stocking.  If it fits in the stocking, that's where it goes.  So, if the big present is a cell phone, it's in the stocking.  If the big present is bigger, it's leaning behind the stocking.  Everything is wrapped. 

 

There are also one or two presents that are from me, and are under the tree.  Presents under the tree are even in number for everyone, so if I'm getting my mom 2 presents, than my brother gets 2 presents, and my son gets 2 presents from me.  If this means being creative about how things are wrapped, that's it.  For example, you can wrap 2 shirts together or separately.  You can wrap the batteries as a separate gift, or tell the kid "Oh, and there's batteries in the kitchen."  But the number is always the same.  

[school17777]

I like stuffing the stockings. In fact, I usually end up with some much that the stuff overflows to floor underneath. It often ends up that I spent almost as much on the stocking stuff as the gifts under the tree. The kids are still giving me ideas, but I think I have enough at this point.

[Kassia]

 

 

Forgive me for having a nostalgic moment.  I have had some tears this am.  Middle son turns 18 today and I am not wanting him to grow up.  

 

:grouphug:   Watching our kids grow up is so bittersweet.  

[umsami]

Growing up, we never did stockings that I remember.  My Mom hung them up, but they were empty.

 

I loved going to my friend's house.  Her parents were what I called Waldorf-inspired, although neither of us attended Waldorf schools.  She would always get really good colored pencils or watercolors, drawing pads, a few good books, etc. for Christmas.   Her stocking always had art supplies which would have been my dream stocking. :)

[ocelotmom]

I have an internally inconsistent view.

 

I think a small-but-expensive present can totally be a stocking stuffer.

 

I think that marketing something small-but-expensive as a stocking stuffer is intentional trivialization, designed to make the buyer feel that they need to get something else as the "real" present.

[Daria]

I have an internally inconsistent view.

 

I think a small-but-expensive present can totally be a stocking stuffer.

 

I think that marketing something small-but-expensive as a stocking stuffer is intentional trivialization, designed to make the buyer feel that they need to get something else as the "real" present.

 

As someone who puts expensive things in stockings all the time, I don't think of those as stocking stuffers.  If I put a new cell phone in my kid's stocking, it's a gift. 

 

To me a "stocking stuffer" is "Oooh, I've got this space in the stocking that I need to fill", so I go out and find a pair of socks or boxers with a funny print for $5, or a favorite candy bar if the hole is candy bar shaped, or wrapping the batteries in a funny shape to fill a specific space.  That would be "stocking stuffing", buying things primarily for the purpose of making the stocking look full.  

 

Of course, I'm someone who wraps the stocking presents early and then practices stuffing the stocking to achieve that "full" look.   Sometimes I rewrap them to make them fit better.  One year, in a fit a genius I wrapped everything in socks, which are very flexible and accommodating.  So I know all about buying things for the whole purpose of filling the stocking.  

[AimeeM]

I think that what anyone considers "hog wild," with regards to spending, is relative.

 

With that said, I can see why small items are placed in stockings -- even expensive items that are small. Especially things like bath products -- even if they are "luxury." Those very small items can get pretty lost in the mix under the tree.

 

We don't do stockings on Christmas; we do them on St. Nick's Day, and we include candy, religious items (saint necklaces or statues, a rosary or prayer cards, etc.), a pair or two of new pajamas, and typically a small gift or two.

 

If we did stockings on Christmas, I would probably put smaller-size presents in stockings. For example, we got DD a relatively expensive (in my opinion) bottle of perfume that she had mentioned wanting. It's in a box, but not otherwise protected. I'm concerned that this comparably small box is going to get demolished (and the perfume bottle will break) in the chaos with two much younger brothers plowing through the living room on Christmas morning. So, if we did stockings on xmas, I would feel completely justified putting it in there, lol.

[OrganicJen]

We typically have always viewed mandarin oranges or clementines, and walnuts and pistachios or other similar nuts as stocking stuffers.  Sometimes we include dried fruit like dried apricots or something like that, sometimes raisins too.  Basically I've always thought of stocking stuffers as fruit, usually citrus, and nuts, not as additional presents.  

[creekland]

There is no wrong way to do it, but, I'm thinking with such variety, the term "stocking stuffer" doesn't mean much!

 

I've always seen the term as a marketing ploy.

 

For our Christmas, everyone gets one gift from each other (but mom and dad go together, not separately).  This means we buy each lad one gift and they each get one for each other and for us.  We've never cared to materialize Christmas by oodles upon oodles of gifts.  We're just not gift givers with our love languages and sticking with one makes shopping easier.  Whether it's less costly or not depends upon the gift!  (Our kids weren't deprived, they had Grandparents and Aunts/Uncles, etc, so got more... just not from us or each other)

 

Then Santa brought each of them one gift.  We told them Santa only brings gifts to those who still believe in him, so my "kids" still believe.  ;)

 

Santa also fills stockings - nothing is wrapped in those.  They have candy, of course, various chocolates, Andees mints, etc, but also any other small thing the lad might like.  A bottle of Champagne Cola is common since they went overseas and learned they love it.  A lb package of Hickory Farms beefstick is common now that they've moved away to college and beyond.  None of us like Pringles, so I suppose these do the same job for us of taking up space.  This year Santa has also brought a jar of Huckleberry Jam for each of them (with a little help from a very considerate Boardie!!!).  This should be some nice, new, nostalgia for each of them.  Otherwise, in their youth it was small toys like Jacks, cars, or similar.  Now that they are in college one inclusion has been gift cards to eateries.  This year it's going to be $100 cash wrapped as a "Universal Gift Card" since they all prefer smaller local eateries over the big chains that have gift cards.  (BIG NOTE - Santa never gave $100 in his younger years... it helps that he's finished paying for college soon and has a well established, very busy, business.)  I'm not sure what it will be as they move on beyond college and med school.  My lad who is married and is out working gets similar things still though.

 

Stockings can be emptied and looked at/eaten/played with as soon as the lad wakes up Christmas morning.  Presents wait until we're all together to be opened.

 

I don't foresee that tradition ever changing.  We all like it too much.

[Tap]

Stockings here have small-in-size presents in them.  It could be a $2 item or a $50 item, doesn't really matter, as long as it fits.  They are 'from santa', but we don't really push the Santa idea, so it doesn't mean much other than that they get put out on Christmas Eve.  The kids traditionally open stockings while us parents get coffee going and get the morning started.

 

 

[Guest]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hey! I just realized this post was written by Unsinkable Kristen, whom I have not “seen†in a long time! Or I haven’t been paying attention. Or I don’t go in the same threads you do. But, hello again!

[Lizzie in Ma]

Depending on our finances, some years are more elaborate than others.  Stockings were our favorite tradition growing up and I love them still.  We let the kids get their stockings and open then while we sleep a little longer.  ;)

When I was little there were some things that always went in the stocking, candy, an orange, and a comic book or magazine.  I still do that for my girls.  Things like lip balm, shaving cream, fun things from CVS or Walmart aisles. 

[JudoMom]

Hey! I just realized this post was written by Unsinkable Kristen, whom I have not “seen†in a long time! Or I haven’t been paying attention. Or I don’t go in the same threads you do. But, hello again!

I had the same thought :).

[AppleGreen]

from Creekland:

 

Stockings can be emptied and looked at/eaten/played with as soon as the lad wakes up Christmas morning.  Presents wait until we're all together to be opened.

 

YES! We have always had the same rule, thus Santa always gave little people something to occupy them for a bit (Legos, craft projects, book) and some food, always two mini box of sugar cereal and often beef jefky and a little candy. Also, little people knew they were not allowed to come downstairs until 7 double zero. I have fond memories of them setting up a clock right by the stairs so they knew when it was exactly 7.  :wub:  

 

[Joyofsixreboot]

I haven't read but at our house the stocking ate last and sort of a highlight. They are my kids' favorite thing. It's lots of fun little things.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Kassia]

We do small, inexpensive gifts in stockings.  If I suggest something more expensive, DH tells me it's not a stocking stuffer because of the cost.  We do a mixture of stuff they need with fun things and also food.  DH also gets next year's Farmer's Almanac in his every year.

 

MIL always gives DH deodorant, his favorite pop tarts flavor, socks, and candy.  She always gives me dishrags that she makes wrapped around a small bottle of Dawn, some candy, and maybe some lotion or fuzzy socks.  The kids always get candy, something silly and cheap, and socks that they'll never wear.  Dd always gets pink nail polish - she doesn't wear nail polish and hates pink.  

 

ETA - I wrap most stocking stuffers

Edited December 17, 2017 by Kassia

[poppy]

I don't get unwrapped presents from Santa.  The kids see them before the parents even wake up? What is the point of stockings then? 

[CJVW]

As a child, Santa filled our stockings and we could attack those as soon as we woke. We were not allowed to wake our parents, so they kept us occupied.

 

Now that I'm the parent, St. Nick fills stockings and Santa brings presents.

 

Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk

[Innisfree]

I don't get unwrapped presents from Santa. The kids see them before the parents even wake up? What is the point of stockings then?

Well, Santa's presents are unwrapped here, but stockings are not seen before parents wake up. Kids stay out of public rooms til we all go out together. The anticipation and whispering and banging on our door at 7:00am on.the.nose is all part of the fun.

 

But if stockings were left in bedrooms, I can see how that would be different.

[Joyofsixreboot]

I love all the traditions in others' houses you never know about. I can't imagine stocking first! Who knew. Maybe it's because I grew up with a general 3 gifts limit and my kids did too. The stockings seem like a cornucopia.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[theelfqueen]

I don't get unwrapped presents from Santa. The kids see them before the parents even wake up? What is the point of stockings then?

My kids aren't allowed downstairs til parents are up... and we do stocking last :)

 

Santa gifts are often not wrapped because they are ungainly (think toddler kitchen or sleds) and/or the other gifts are sometimes accessories to go with the big gift so you don't want to accidentally unwrap sat an Xbox controller for an Xbox they haven't opened yet.

 

Our stockings are Always full to bursting but the individual items are generally inexpensive. Usually socks, toothbrushes, small toys and games, little gadgeys, earbuds, etc. A small but expensive gift would be under the tree. (Don't want the kid getting an iPod to watch all the other kids open gifts while he seems not to get any).

 

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[mellifera33]

 

 including clothing from the dog (who worries about us because we lack fur).

 

 

This is such a cute idea!

 

I use up stocking space by including convenience breakfast items that we usually don't have--individual bottles of juice, the mini boxes of cereal, applesauce in a squeeze tube, etc. Then the kids eat on the family room floor while they play with their other stocking do-dads and wait for the lazy parents to finally get up. :)

[AppleGreen]

I don't get unwrapped presents from Santa.  The kids see them before the parents even wake up? What is the point of stockings then? 

Well, I've already seen them, so it's not a big deal.   :tongue_smilie: In addition, Santa does not bring any big gifts. It is small, fun, and often practical things. For instance, Santa has always brought my kids a new toothbrush and calendar. I'm good, I don't need to see that. Two of my children asked Santa for new underwear this year, again I am good. Likewise, at Easter I don't make my kids wait until I am up (or home from my walk) to look for their baskets.

 

For us, stockings were a way to participate in the Santa part of Christmas without it being a huge focus. My dh didn't do Santa growing up, so it wasn't something he had a tradition around. We actually didn't originally plan on doing it with our kids, but when my 2 year old told me right before Christmas that he knew Santa was coming and couldn't wait to see what was in the stocking on Christmas morning, I wanted to make that magic happen. I always loved those extra minutes to sleep in when the littles were small. 

[teachermom2834]

This comes up every year and I am a convert from wrapped Santa gifts (in a special paper so it didn't match mom and dad's) to the unwrapped gift by the stocking. I think we did it one year we had something hard to wrap and never went back. Unwrapping is fun but sneaking down the steps and seeing the doll you asked for propped up unwrapped in the dark just lit up by the Christmas tree lights has been pretty special. Or waking up to a game system all hooked up to the TV and ready to play. We have plenty of unwrapping to do of all the other gifts so having the Santa gifts left out in a nice presentation is not anti-climatic at all.

 

Kids are supposed to wait for parents to go downstairs. I'm sure a kid has snuck and peeked at the unwrapped gifts at some point. That's ok. That was probably a special thrill to see that Santa had come and what he had brought in a stolen moment. I can live with that.

 

But yes, I thought it sounded odd the first time I heard it. I promise those of us with unwrapped Santa gifts aren't having boring unmagical Christmases!

[Kassia]

I love all the traditions in others' houses you never know about. I can't imagine stocking first! Who knew. Maybe it's because I grew up with a general 3 gifts limit and my kids did too. The stockings seem like a cornucopia.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

How funny - I've never heard of not doing stockings first!  

[Night Elf]

I grew up with unwrapped Santa gifts so that's what I did for my children. My sister and I would tip toe down the hall and stand just inside the living room ooohing and aahhhhing over what we saw laying around unwrapped, but we never went into the living room. After we peeked for a while, we'd go into our parent's room. I don't remember if we had a rule of what time we could go in. For my kids, it was never necessary because they didn't wake early. It was usually me waking the kids up to tell them it was Christmas morning.

[Jaz]

As teenagers, Santa always left cash or notes in the toes of our stockings that he "paid off the debt" to our parents. That made stockings a favorite!

 

Since we've raised our kids to try to not have debt, we often put cash in the toe. 

 

A tradition we've established is a package of mini-muffins or donuts in each stocking for breakfast. 

Edited December 18, 2017 by Jaz

[SamanthaCarter]

I usually spend $15 to $20 on each kid’s stocking. Stockings here are only for kids, and they are the first thing on Christmas morning. This year I’ll probably spend more because two of my kids need clothes, and those won’t be exciting under the tree gifts for them. We’re good on socks and underwear. As the kids get older, I think stockings will be more expensive (as everything else). Ds is already too old for dollar store junk, plus I just don’t want that junk around anymore. So far this year I have pop tarts, gum, single size pringles, mint KitKats, brownie mix, jello mix and I’ll get some powdered sugar mini donuts later (all stuff I don’t typically buy) I’ve got new paintbrushes (for the youngest) and tights. I’ll get a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of jeans for each of the older two. Mini flashlights for all three. MIL usually shows up thinking she’s in charge of filling stockings [emoji12], so I’m not buying any more. Probably bought too much already, unless she forgot in the excitement of the golden BIL’s twins first Christmas. Also [emoji849]. Dh’s side is a gifting family. I’m grateful. Usually.

 

We don’t do Santa or Santa gifts. Kids will get one gift each from us, and some from extended family.

Edited December 18, 2017 by SamanthaCarter

[vonfirmath]

We didn't wrap stocking stuff when the kids were little but as they became teens and the gifts became fewer because they were more expensive, we started wrapping some.  Some of our things are tradition like a single special bottle of soda, Andes mints, cashews for dh, pistachios for the kids.  We usually try to find a fun item or two to stick in there also. 

 

I've never put deodorant, toothpaste, to shampoo in ours. Just fun stuff. 

 

My son wants no candy this year so I was thinking of doing pistachios for him  (He loves them and rarely gets them) Do you buy the big bag and portion it out or the individual size bags?

[Catwoman]

We go "hog wild" for everything involving Christmas -- decorations, food, stockings, presents -- EVERYTHING! :hurray:

 

We also don't set a budget for Christmas, so everyone gets everything they want and then some. :)

 

We love Christmas at our house, and while this may not be a popular sentiment, we totally embrace all of the commercialism in addition to the traditional aspects. It's fun!

 

I'm counting down the days!

[Grover]

including clothing from the dog (who worries about us because we lack fur).

I do this!  This year the car is giving them bags for their music stuff because it is worried about them leaving their books and instruments in it. 

[Laura Corin]

I do this!  This year the car is giving them bags for their music stuff because it is worried about them leaving their books and instruments in it. 

 

Mine have had gifts from the house before now.  I can't remember what they were - maybe throws when the central heating was unreliable?

[MEmama]

We go "hog wild" for everything involving Christmas -- decorations, food, stockings, presents -- EVERYTHING! :hurray:

 

We also don't set a budget for Christmas, so everyone gets everything they want and then some. :)

 

We love Christmas at our house, and while this may not be a popular sentiment, we totally embrace all of the commercialism in addition to the traditional aspects. It's fun!

 

I'm counting down the days!

I always love your honesty, Cat! :)

 

Enjoy! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

[Carrie12345]

For me, growing up and now with my kids, stockings serve a very important role. Kids are allowed to unload their stockings before Mom and Dad are awake, buying them/us a little extra sleep!  Except we are getting to a stage where the kids are sleeping in later, and we're waiting on them some years.

 

With 5 kids, and dh and I fill each other's stockings, it does add up very quickly, even though we keep individual items pretty inexpensive.  We've always tried to make sure there are one or two things *to do* inside to keep them quiet and occupied.

[ktgrok]

We go "hog wild" for everything involving Christmas -- decorations, food, stockings, presents -- EVERYTHING! :hurray:

 

We also don't set a budget for Christmas, so everyone gets everything they want and then some. :)

 

We love Christmas at our house, and while this may not be a popular sentiment, we totally embrace all of the commercialism in addition to the traditional aspects. It's fun!

 

I'm counting down the days!

 

Us too, Catwoman. And so far hasn't ruined anyone :)

 

It's a family tradition, to go overboard. Even when my parents were very poor Christmas was a crazy abundance...often stockings were happy meal toys mom got other people to give to her, and the big present was a 2nd hand bike that had been rusted that my Dad got cleaned up and repainted, or a giant toy box he made from scrap wood. When money is not tight it is nicer things. But always a ridiculous abundance. I can see how limiting gifts can be good, but I don't think a ton of gifts is bad...in fact sometimes I think that crazy abundance CAN be a metaphor for the crazy abundance of blessings God gives us. Or maybe I'm just reaching, lol. 

 

Either way, it works for us. We don't go bankrupt. It's fun :)  (but I do sometimes envy the 3 gifts only people when wrapping all this stuff, lol)

[Annie G]

My son wants no candy this year so I was thinking of doing pistachios for him  (He loves them and rarely gets them) Do you buy the big bag and portion it out or the individual size bags?

 

I've done both. I always have leftover goodie bags from packaging up Christmas cookies for dh to give to work buddies so sometimes I buy the big bags and divvy them up, Sometimes I find individual sizes at our dollar store.  I think the kids prefer the big bags divided...they get more that way. 

 

My kids never get pistachios except at Christmas so it's quite a treat for them.  Oddly enough, all of them are adults and could buy pistachios any time they wanted, but they never do. 

[poppy]

We go "hog wild" for everything involving Christmas -- decorations, food, stockings, presents -- EVERYTHING! :hurray:

 

We also don't set a budget for Christmas, so everyone gets everything they want and then some. :)

 

We love Christmas at our house, and while this may not be a popular sentiment, we totally embrace all of the commercialism in addition to the traditional aspects. It's fun!

 

I'm counting down the days!

 

I'm the OP and I just want to be clear I'm pretty hog wild too.    My kids get a ridiculous number of presents.   I never meant "hog wild" to be an insult!

[Mimm]

For us, stocking stuffers are inexpensive, fun, and sometimes silly. Socks, nail polish, little toys, decks of cards, etc. Something like an expensive cell phone would be a person's main gift in my house and would not go in a stocking. I think it's mostly advertisers who think that just because it CAN fit in a stocking, it's a good "stocking stuffer".

 

ETA: Skimming the thread. In my house the kids can get up and look at the gifts but they are all wrapped. Once everyone is up and arrived (we host 10+ people who don't live here) then we do stockings together. Then we eat, and then open gifts, one at a time.

Edited December 18, 2017 by Mimm

[Catwoman]

I'm the OP and I just want to be clear I'm pretty hog wild too. My kids get a ridiculous number of presents. I never meant "hog wild" to be an insult!

No problem at all, poppy -- I didn't think you meant it as an insult! :)

[Retired]

I never had a limit on Christmas presents.  I set a monetary limit in years I didn't' have much money.  But I go with the hog wild Christmas LOL.  When the boys were younger.  They got to open one small present Christmas eve.   Then the next morning they could open stocking while waiting for us to wake up.

When they were very young we had unopened Santa showed up type of Christmas but started wrapping as they got older.   I was always about the fun fantasy land Christmas.  I grew up with very little so Christmas is a big fun thing for me 

 

Now they are adults.  We do Christmas on Christmas eve night.   Yes they still get stockings.   They usually get gift cards for fast food/gas stuff like that, socks not the kid fun stuff LOL

 

My youngest has a long term girlfriends so I do her a stocking she gets makeup, hair product stuff in hers.

[HomeAgain]

Stockings have traditionally been small toys.  We do a small bit of chocolate (a santa), a peppermint, and maybe a few savory snacks, and then small things we intend to give anyway: a wallet, lip balm, toothbrush, maybe a magazine...the 7yo is getting a lego figurine in his this year. 

 

Each child has had issues with candy - the oldest had a severe intolerance to chocolate for many years and the youngest throws up with certain dyes, so we had to change holiday traditions from when we were little (lots of candy, little else in our stockings).  Even Easter baskets are mostly non-candy.  It was easier than having everyone miserable.  We now make most of our own candies to control the ingredients and portion sizes, which works out better for us.  But those go on the table, not the personal gifts.

[Tina]

I don't get wrapping things that go in a stocking. The whole point (IMHO, of course) is that the stocking is the wrapping!

Oh, no!  The tradition is the white tissue paper!  lol

 

When the kids were young, the stocking was filled with inexpensive trinkets.  But now that they are grown, the stocking is the main thing. So-- some things may cost more than they used to, but most of the toiletries and food items are the same.  And half the time I have plastic bag of stuff that wouldn't fit in the stocking sitting with the stocking!  Jerky, jars of peanut butter, cereal and pop tarts are big!  :)

Edited December 18, 2017 by Tina

[Alisa in Florida]

What I got in my stocking for years: an orange or tangerine, a couple of walnuts in the shell and an almond, a candy cane. My parents were from the depression era, born in the 20's/30's, so I think that is where that idea came from. 

 

 

My stockings were exactly like this! And my parents were born in the 20s, too.

 

[Seeking Squirrels]

For us it's for simple, inexpensive gifts. Most of those things you listed I wouldn't put in a stocking. We do candy, some essentials, some useful but extra, and some small (think $2-$3) gift or two. 

[Tina]

Growing up, we never did stockings that I remember.  My Mom hung them up, but they were empty.

 

I loved going to my friend's house.  Her parents were what I called Waldorf-inspired, although neither of us attended Waldorf schools.  She would always get really good colored pencils or watercolors, drawing pads, a few good books, etc. for Christmas.   Her stocking always had art supplies which would have been my dream stocking. :)

I was on an art theme for dd and dil this year.  Can't think of a craft for my sons tho.

 

Last year I bought make up brushes and make up for the theme.

[scrapbookbuzz]

Thankfully my dh "gets" full stockings, his mom did the same. We don't do a lot of other gifts & don't spend a lot per child, usually $75-100 each now that they're older. I don't wrap things & am always looking for clearance items to put in them. I even shared this post with them & they said they LOVE getting stockings.

 

Clearance items are a GREAT idea!

[Reefgazer]

When I was a kid, we got oranges, bananas, and nuts in our stocking, along with a small amount of candy; we never got actual gift-type stuff in there.  I tried to do that with my kids when they were old enough to get a stocking and they looked at me like I was crazy.  I continued it for a few years thinking they would latch onto the idea of fruit and nuts, but they never did, so now I am trapped in expensive stocking stuffer land.