There's just something special about opening up your stocking, isn't there? At least it was always a favorite thing of mine as a little girl. Maybe because you get to dig in a big ol' sock for small treasures?...treasures that "you" (and by this I mean me) had tried to decode by feeling their shape in the days following Christmas.
My parents apparently trusted us, filling our stockings ahead of time. I don't share the same trust of my small children...being that they share my DNA and love for Christmas secrets. :)
Admittedly in past years, I've bought completely useless things...something slightly akin to the junk you'd find in McD's kid's meals...for their stockings. You know, just to fill them up.
Don't get me wrong, I mostly buy things that the girls would really like. But some of the stuff was just plain useless. things that have most likely ended up in Good Will boxes or yard sales.
But this year, I decided that I wasn't going to fall prey to the mindset that declares "more is better". The girls knew we were having a small Christmas (present-wise). And I've been even more careful with our money and the presents we were investing in (meaning: I sold off unwanted things on Craigslist and used that money to buy gifts).
So stocking stuffers this year were things like chocolate, book lights, chocolate, wallets for the big girls, bath stuff for the little ones, and ...more chocolate.
We normally don't do much sugar, so the fact that they each got their own stockpile of chocolate... Well, that was pret-ty impressive to their "Mine" Hoarding Tendencies. *grin*
So, see...just deprive your children of sweets all year and by Christmas they'll be way thankful for a lone candybar. Instant (and inexpensive!) Christmas joy. You gotta love my logic. :)
Another bit of Christin-Logic: If the child is too young to remember actually getting a present, I'm too cheap to actually buy one.
This, because we've actually bought presents that have brought about less interest than the box and paper they came in. So...we stopped buying for the really little ones.
Only I didn't take into consideration that the girls were getting SWEETS in their stockings. Something that Lani happens to take a keen interest in. Opps.
Thankfully, the girls were all too willing to share. *sigh of relief*
Though she wasn't wanting to give the chocolate back. ;) Just think Grip of Death.
So Charis stepped in and shared some of hers with Selah. (love these girls)Eventually, we had to
She was loving it! :)Though for the record, she did get to open two presents. which she could have cared less about. So my newly adopted logic? Little ones get a single piece of Christmas Candy.
Preferably one that lasts long enough for the other girls to open their presents in peace. *grin*
