Walmart has 2 of those shrunken washcloth things (with fish on them) in a pack for 0.88. I had forgotten that I got those until it was mentioned. I so wish I could buy my dd8 all the smelly bath stuff, but she has eczema, and things like that really irritate her skin. I don't buy it for my other girls either because, she'd use it and then have to deal with the itchy consequences!
For my DD's..I put paper back books, CD-rom ( called cooking w/ kids) , a CD , movies ( I got both dd's Popular Mechanics for Kids dvd's from a library sale),lip gloss ( disney princesses) and bath paint ( both from Avon.com $2.49 shipping on every order for next 5 days), the Hello Kitty items from Target, and some pictures from throughout the year to be included in their own scrapbooks. For DH.... Suduko #8-10 ( from Michael's crafts , they have a series #1 easy to #10 very hard), from $ Tree some logic puzzle books ( they are in the shape of a computer, coffee mug and strofoam cup ), men's skin care line ( from Avon), XBox360 game, CD and some golf balls along with a time/place for a pre-paid golf game. For me... my DH and DD's go to the $ Tree and get me pens, pencils and tons of notepads. That is all I ask for every year because they always take my pens and paper and I never seem to find those items when I really need them! They also put , a CD and a book in there. To my family the stockings are the best part of opening the gifts! My grandfather always went way out with stockings. He would get exotic fruits , veggies and spices from all over the world ( he was a chef) and would include a cooking lesson with them. Books were always included (ususally about the country the candies and food came from), candies from different countries , a hand written note about us from that year with a cartoon that he would draw as well. I really miss those!!
For me... my DH and DD's go to the $ Tree and get me pens, pencils and tons of notepads. That is all I ask for every year because they always take my pens and paper and I never seem to find those items when I really need them! :!: yes, my kids take my pens too:roll:
Amy, I have "my" drawer, and in it is "my" pencil box. The box is labeled clearly "Mom's Box: WHOEVER TOUCHES WILL DIE A SLOW, PAINFUL, DEATH!!!", lol! That's helped some, though DH knows when he can't find a red grading pen, he can always look there for one! But I also know he'll put it back! We don't put anything expensive in stockings. Usually "dollar store" stuff, or small stuff! Except DH got Rachael an electronic Sodoku game this year!
Alot of cool ideas almost everything said that we put in. But, I can't put underwear in my dd's stocking they think it's gross. LOL
It seams so easy to fill the girl's stockings but not the boys! girls have so many little things (trinkets, jewlery etc....) boys have cars! (but thats it)
One thing I do that I haven't seen listed that works for the 8+ (even younger depending on the child) is a $1 calendar. I try to gear the ones I get towards the childs personality. I usually get my son one with cars, but I laughed a few years ago when Joyce hinted that she wanted a car one also! Jane loves funky socks (trouser style) that you can quite often find for $1 and those are fun.
I keep telling my dd's bra too. LOL they don't like things like that in there stockings. I don't know why.
Someone mentioned wanting to be able to buy dd8 the smelly bath stuff...I can't take anything with artificial scent(candles, perfumes, lotions, etc..). I snuck into Bath and Body Works with my dd(now)7(!) and I let her look momentarily.. the lady asked if I wanted to try the grapefruit, which smelly sooooo yummy, but alas.. after telling her my problem she recommended their NATURAL line!! They have many great things there and maybe something she might be able to use. My dad has exzema really bad and I know he is careful too. You might want to check it out though.
I forgot to mention ...something kind of funny. DD11 bought her brother and sis ROCKS!! They are pretty, but you can't tell when they are wrapped! They are in their stockings! LOL!!!
When I was a young teen, we got an assistant pastor that was in charge of kids. So at Christmas I asked him what he wanted. "Oh, I'll probably just get a rock in my sock!!!" So I found a good size rock, painted it Christmas-y, put it in an old sock and wrapped it up "To Preacher Sam, From Santa Clause" (and yes, I misspelt Clause!) I put it under the little tree in the foyer on Christmas Eve. Next Sunday, he came up to me. "I wanna talk with you!!!" He knew right away who it was from!
That is cute Jackie. We had a youth minister several years ago that had the kids bring funny gifts for a Christmas party and they passed them around or something and everyone ended up with a gift at the end. The gift the youth minister brought was a pair of the ugliest pants you have ever seen! They were striped in yellows and oranges and were made of a fuzzy type of material. Anyway the whole time he was here those kids would wrap those pants back up and take them to the Christmas party for youth and someone else had to keep them for a year at their house. One of my older kids got stuck with them one year but the kids loved it and had such a good time being silly about who has to keep the ugly pants now.
We had a neglige that got passed around the school I taught in! One gal got it at her school wedding shower. The recipient passed it on at the next shower. Eventually it got back to the original giver. I still had possession of it when I quit my job. I went in to tell the principal that I wouldn't be returning, had the box with me. I told Joyce, "I've only one concern about quitting. What do I do with THIS?" She laughed, and promised me she would take care of it for me.
My grandmother, her sister and her sisters-in-law trade this hideous pair of earrings. Every year, someone gets them, and the sister holds onto it until the next Christmas and passes it on. There's 4 of them (well, was, my Aunt Blanch passed this summer). So, no one ever knows who's going to get it. My grandmother mentioned that it was being passed on to younger generations this year. My mother passed two years ago, so I think either my sister or I will see it - and it will be our job to pass it to our cousins at the same "level" of the family we are, I think. LOL!!! They are SO hysterical. My grandmother always breaks into hysterics when she tells the stories of the years it was her turn. I think they've been doing it for like 25 years or something.
Jane and I like to go to Wal-mart's website and send for freebies. Well, she thought it would be funny to send for some Poise undergarments (adult diapers) but requested it in my name! Guess what my 16 yr old dd is getting at the bottom of her stocking?! I am sticking a diaper in there!!
Oh Jennifer how funny. You should really wrap them up and give them to your sister and see who gets the last laugh. LOL
