When we were kids I do believe that the gifts not withstanding, it was the stocking I looked forward to the most. My mother would look all year for little trinkets to fill them with, and we kids were always thrilled with what we found.

I did the exact same thing for my two sons. Of course the stocking had grown larger by then, and the gifts too and more expensive but they really looked forward to them as we did.

Somewhere along the way that seems to have died out, but I remember it fondly.

Is there any particular Christmas memory you'd like to share??

I LOVED the stockings on Christmas morning! That was and will always be my very favourite memory of Christmases past.

We still do stockings for each other...they're an integral part of our Christmas. Now there are only three of us, but we pulled names out of a hat in October and are now busy shopping around to find interesting fun stuff to stuff each other's stockings. It's a lot of fun.

It was also Gary's very favourite part of Christmas - whoever drew his name always had to make sure to put a few toys in his stocking - even at 42, he still loved to play. I think one of his favourites in recent year was the pig-flinging gun-thing I put in his stocking. I'm still amazed that we didn't lose any of those little piggies down the heat vents!

Living in Newfoundland meant fresh fruits were scarce. Christmas morning the bottom of my stocking held the most delicious 5 point apple,the juciest navel orage and purple seeded grapes...my eyes are watering as this precious memory is brought back into my mind.
Dotsie,I want to remind you how your site has affected me. It's a place that has brought many teary eyed moments like the ones I feel now. Tears of gratefulness and joy. A place where I can share "me" with others who understand. Something as simple as sharing a story of my christmas stocking as a child....at 7:30 in the morning alone in my home.
You are a blessing to this Boomer Woman.

Chick it makes my heart sing to have started such a happy memory thread. It was always one of my fondest memories as well.

Yes Chatty, Thank You for starting this thread. I am so happy to have met you in Vegas. This is truly a wonderful site.

I keep waiting to hear that you're coming back for the poker championships played here for millions of dollars. I will definitely come and watch you play!

I'm so grateful that my mother kept the German traditions alive, although we lived in America.

I think I experienced that magical childhood feeling on Dec. 6th, Nicholas Day. Children put their slippers out in front of their bedroom door and in the morning found their shoes stuffed and spilling over with red apples, tangerines, walnuts, chocolate, and what was never missing, - a branch from a pine tree.

I thought it was so grownup to have my own fruit bowl in my room, and just take a fruit whenever I wanted to.

That time reminds me of fairies and magic wands and being in awe of life. When I read how overwhelmed you felt, Chick, I immediately thought of Nicholas Day, and could almost smell the scent of the freshly cut pine twig. Thanks Chatty for bringing this beautiful memory back. Here is a photograph of my granddaughter's Nicholas Morning last year.

chatty, great thread. Thanks for beginning this.

Chick,thanks for the kind words. I can't tell you how much I appreciate them. It's nice to hear something positive about the forum community that I so dearly love and pour my heart into, as many of you do.

EW, thanks for the photo. It's only two days away. Are you prepared? Do you and hubby do this for one another? And pardon my ignorance, but please share what the pine branch means. I'm sure I'll say, "Oh yeah. That's right. But right now, nothing's coming to mind.

We always had stocking too. In the toe, there were ALWAYS tangerines and nuts. I still put these in my kid's stocking.

I just sent an email to the kids yesterday, asking them for stocking stuffer ideas. How fun that I should come across this post today.

Ross and I always did stockings and exchanged gifts. Last year, we stopped everything for one another. I have to tell you that I didn't miss it at all. We exchange nice cards and that's it. We'll also do a couple nice dates this season, which I totally enjoy. We're going to see Kenny Rogers, and another night, we'll see Amy Grant in concert. I love their Christmas music and look forward to snuggling up to Ross in the theater while listening to some of our favorite tunes.

I remember a day being called Nicholas Day too but can't remember much else about it. Nice tradition and the pic is lovely.
EW I want to PM you but I can't and I'm sorry. Email maybe but I don't want you to post it here because of scams etc. Soon when the site allows me, I will.

Chick, you could email JJ, and she could give you my address.

No, Dotsie, Hubby and I don't do that...besides his shoes would make apples taste like cheese..lol....
I told "A"'s Mom about the German tradition, and that the children usually talk about it in KIndergarden. I hope she will do it for her daughter, so that "A" won't feel left out. If anything I'm sure my son will do something. As for the pine branch...it's that Chrismassy pine smell, that I always combined with Santa or Nikolaus. I thought they smelled like that. hah