This the first year Joel and I have been away from our parents for the Christmas holiday.  Even when Joel was living in Colorado he made it home to Wisconsin.  We are fortunate to have the Tenniers close by in San Jose, only two hours away.  Last weekend, we attended Louis' church Christmas program.  They came by late on Christmas day to enjoy a fondue dinner and some family time in Sacramento.  They stayed with us and we watched the Packer game on Sunday afternoon (yes, it was on locally last week).

On Christmas Eve, Joel and I attended church as I mentioned in a previous post.  After church we exchanged our stockings.  My family is big on stockings, so Joel and I try to continue the tradition with our family.  My parents seem to be very good at getting the right things to fit in the stocking.  Joel and I both thought our stockings were a bit bigger then they were and had to set some of the items on the mantle.  Yes, Molly did have her own stocking this year.  For those of you who are quilters or sewers, it will interest you that my mom made the stockings to match our tree skirt which she also made. 

One question I do have for my mom and dad... how did you pack up the stocking for the other person without giving away what was in it?  Do you have a stocking tradition or memory?