On the fourth day of Christmas... Santa's stocking

On the fourth day of Christmas Pandora gave to me... Santa's stocking charm... a pair of silver bells... a polar bear charm... and a clear cz pavé lights charm.

Taylor, Christmas morning, age 3

I find November depressing. In the early fall both the weather and the scenery is lovely. And in the fall it's busy with back-to-school, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and then birthdays at the beginning of November - mine as well as my twins. But then in November the days are so short, the skies are often grey, and if we haven't had much snow everything on the ground seems grey too. But if I start wearing my "Beat the Winter Blues" bracelet it reminds me of one of my favourite things to do - go shopping for Christmas gifts, especially for my kids - and their stockings! Because these are the expressions (in the photo of Taylor hugging her stocking) that fill our hearts with joy on Christmas morning.


In the photo with my bracelet (below) is one of the famous illustrations by Jessie Wilcox Smith, for the original 'Twas the Night Before Christmas book by Clement Moore. Of course reading that book is a tradition on Christmas Eve, after the kids have hung their stockings and left snacks for Santa and his reindeer.


Reading "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve
(age 2)

Taylor hanging her stocking on the fake mantle, age 5

Our fireplace is actually in our basement so Santa has to enter there and make his way up to the main floor where the stockings are hung on a fake fireplace mantle in the living room. One year Santa left footprints on the carpet and stairs; he must have gotten soot on his boots from the fireplace. The reindeers have always enjoyed their carrots but one year they must have dropped one because we found one partially eaten in the back yard.

The kids write letters to Santa (his postal code is HO HO HO), and if we do it early enough they even get a personalized letter back from the jolly old elf himself. Traditionally a note is left for Santa with his milk and cookies and he usually sits down long enough to write a reply. We track Santa's journey through NORAD and in the morning look for signs that he has been here. I'm afraid this is probably the last year for some of these traditions since my kids are now 13, but this little stocking charm filled with toys will remind me of those special magical years, as well as help me get in the Christmas spirit - for shopping!
 

Mitchell and Taylor hanging their stockings on Christmas Eve, ages 2, 3 and 4
in our old apartment with a real fireplace for Santa to come down