Third Annual Stocking Night

      We have not hosted Christmas morning at our house since the grand children started to arrive for the fun.  Much easier to move Gramma and Pop Pop on Christmas morn rather than the little ones.  They have their morning at home, then extended family meet at Barb's house for the Christmas Feast.  And even though no one would come here for Christmas, Gramma would still decorate inside and out.  We still had stockings some years, though they might be empty.
      Two years ago I suggested to Cindy that we have the girls and families here for dinner shortly before Christmas so everyone could see the tree and decorations.  And the best part is that I would be able to go to the dollar store to buy gobs and gobs of stuff to pack the stockings.  To my utter surprise, the idea was warmly embraced, and a tradition born.  The first year we had Gramma's delicious beef stew.  The second year Gramma's delicious beef stew was even requested by the wee ones, and yes, Gramma's now Delicious Beef Stew is on the menu for tomorrow.  Even though the forecast is for a high of 73 degrees.  Don't mess with a good thing.

Stocking Night Eve, December 21,  2013

      Now we are ready for the crew to arrive late this afternoon.  Ah; kids, noise, waste paper thrown everywhere.  What more could one ask for?  Well, maybe the Redskins and the Eagles to both win today. Come on Santa, fill Pop Pop's stockings with those goodies.

Ready and waiting, well mostly ready

Stocking Night

      With the addition of grand children to our family eight years ago, we have given up hosting Christmas Day celebrations at our house and instead go where the kids are.  And yet, Cindy still decorates the house and outside, and we still go cut a tree every year.  So rather than than going to all the effort that doesn't get seen, I proposed a new idea last year of having Stocking Night at Gramma's and Pop Pop's house so everyone could see the decorations.  Lo and behold, everyone liked the idea!
      And I get to go wild at the dollar store.  I just spent $32 there, got lots of neat little things for the kiddies, and had a fun time to boot.  This morning we stuffed all the stockings, and tonight we will have Gramma's great and beloved beef stew, another growing family tradition.  So if you can't host the big Christmas event, I highly recommend Stocking Night shortly before Christmas.

Christmas is near, 12/22/11

      Oh, and I have already wrapped all of these gifts under the tree.  Maybe Christmas Eve won't be so hectic this year.

Stockings all set

Happy Holidays to All

      When I saw the flash go off, I knew it would reflect off the painting, so I took the shot from the side that is the second photo.  Yet when I saw the above shot, I immediately liked the Christmas Star.  So let it Shine.