Christmas Traditions Part Deux

A little over a week ago I posted about some Christmas Traditions my husband and I have. Part of that included sharing about our handmade stockings. While the two of us have our names stitched on them, I never put names on the two felt stockings I made for the cats. Never had an idea of how to add them that I thought would look right. Yesterday while doing my morning walk, I saw the perfect idea in the magazine I was reading - mini frames w/ photos attached to a stocking. Loved this idea and thought maybe during the weekend I'd shop for a couple. Fortunately for me, I remembered last night that I actually had some mini frame ornaments by Making Memories. They were in a kit last year sold at Target. I found it on clearance a couple days before Christmas and bought it. Pulled everything out of the large box and stashed the goodies inside a ziploc baggie in my Store In Style drawers. They were perfect! Now each cat has a little framed photo tied w/ a ribbon (from the Target $ spot) on their stocking. Since there were 4 frames in the kit, I also made 2 ornaments for my sister's pets. :) Shh! Don't tell. ;)

Another tradition I wanted to share came in the mail today. When I was younger, my stepfather always purchased advent calendars for my sister, brother & I. Sometimes they told the story of Jesus. Sometimes they were picture stories. And some, like the one I received today have little fictional stories [or at least I think, I haven't started it yet ;) ]. He continued sending me the advent calendars when I left home for college. And, even today, Trent & I receive one in the mail at the end of each November. I confess, it's something I keep an eye out for and still get a bit giddy like a young child with the excitement of this childhood tradition. Thanks, Charles!!