One Christmas, many years ago, Papa Al bought one of those giant five foot stockings and filled it for Papa Joyce. (For the sake of clarity, Papa Al is the girls' Great-Grandpa and Papa Joyce was the girls' Great-Grandma. It was Abby who named her Papa Joyce, for reasons only clear to her, but it stuck) Now I wasn't there when Papa Joyce received her stocking, but I'm sure it was a great moment. Of course after the fun there is the inevitable question, what do we do with it now?
What did end up happening to the big stocking is one of my favourite things about Christmas. Every year someone different in the family gets the big stocking. This year it's Papa and Grandma Linda's turn. The rest of us all chip in to fill it. As much fun as it is to get the big stocking it's even more fun fill it. I have had a great time finding fun little things to help fill it up. I always start shopping for the stocking months before Christmas to make sure I end up with a great assortment of goodies. Another good thing about the giantness of the stocking is not too much is off limits. Giant packages of toilet paper fit quite nicely in there and as a bonus they eat up a lot of real estate. Great for the years you're helping to fill, not so great on the year it's your turn to receive it. *wink*
Now the big stocking is all kinds of awesome, but I think what we look forward to the most is to see what Uncle G-Mac's contribution will be. Some of his big stocking hits include; a dead plant, half a loaf of bread, a part box of cereal, ketchup/mustard/soy sauce/salt packages, a roll of toilet paper with about four squares left on it and many more in a similar vein. Each Christmas after we have ascertained what joke gifts got slipped into the stocking we all put our heads together and plot our revenge. Revenge that we won't get an opportunity for until 2010. As for Mike, the girls and I, we're on deck and looking forward to Maya's first big stocking experience in 2008.
This is, hands down, one of my favourite holiday traditions and I am so thankful that Papa Al and Papa Joyce invited us to be a part of it all those years ago.
5 comments:
You should put Maya in it. Won't they be pleasantly surprised that they will have her until 2010 :)
What a really fun and funny tradition - very cool. Take care. Kellan
That is so great. It sounds like so much fun. I love those kinds of family traditions, that are one family's alone. how special.
Suze - wouldn't they though. Well until they found out about her temper anyway.
Kellan - thanks, we all really enjoy it.
Karen - they are the most special ones, aren't they?
Such an awesome tradition! And yes, sticking Maya in the stocking would certainly be a surprise :)
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