- Dec 14, 2023

grand gift ideas for our Littles! Christmas stockings & more!

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Earlier this week the realization hit that Christmas will be here before we know it!

For some reason, it felt like there was lots of time to prepare…

perhaps because Thanksgiving came earlier than normal?

We have to admit that this reality added a bit of stress … Can you relate?

Then this quote magically appeared on our social media feed.

(How does that happen???)

Its message is definitely one worth sharing!

Hopefully this post isn’t finding you overwhelmed

with what’s still left to do…

Rather, we pray that in the midst of it all,

you are able to take the time

to make lasting memories with those you love!

On Tuesday we shared our post,

Grand Gift Ideas for Our Littles!

The Gift of Time!

If you are looking for a meaningful and special way to connect with your Little(s)

you can find the details in that post here.

Back by popular demand, today’s post highlights

Stocking Stuffer lists for the Littles and the Middles in our lives!

We love this tradition!

Then, at the end of the post,

we’re sharing a special gift Laura gave Little L last year for her First Christmas!

Check out our Christmas Box -

a perfect gift for Distant Grands to share with their Littles!

In many countries, gifts might be found on Christmas morning

in a stocking,

hanging by a fireplace or even at the end of a child’s bed!

Do you know how the tradition of the Christmas stocking first began?

We did a little research…

We discovered that the custom of hanging stockings

comes from the legend of St. Nicholas dropping money into a stocking

drying by the fireplace or window to help out a poor family!

In 1823 Clement Clarke Moore’s poem,

Twas the Night Before Christmas

was first published

and nowadays people worldwide follow the tradition…

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there!

For each of us, a cherished family tradition

Is filling Christmas stockings for our Middles and Littles

to enjoy on Christmas morning!

It’s a tradition neither of us can imagine giving up,

so we’re always looking for fun and creative additions to each year’s contents!

We’re resharing the lists we compiled last year and you’ll find them below!

Christmas Stockings for Our Middles!

First up… our list for our Middles (our adult children)!

NOTE: Many of these items would work for teen (or older) Littles, as well!

Our Middles definitely expect to see specific things in their stockings year after year (i.e. toothpaste or favorite chocolates). However, we each do our best to come up with a few new or creative yet inexpensive items to surprise them with each year. This has increasingly become more of a challenge as our Middles grow older... in-laws have joined the fold and interests, needs and wants have evolved! Below are some of the ideas we’ve brainstormed for stuffing our Middles’ stockings!! Maybe you’ll find a new idea or two to add to your Stocking Stuffer lists, too!

We love finding useful, silly and unique items to add to our Middles’ stockings!

Gift cards to a coffee shop, for a car wash or gasoline or to a favorite restaurant

are very popular with our Middles!

Christmas Stockings for Our Littles!

These days we are especially excited to

stuff our Littles’ stockings!!

First up, you’ll find our list for our infant & toddler Littles!

And here’s a separate list for the preschool and school age Littles in our lives!

We hope our suggestions help you in your Grand gift giving endeavors!

We are always looking for ideas to add to our own stocking lists,

so if you and your family have a recommendation for us,

please share in the comments section at the end of this post!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Last year was Little L’s first Christmas… so special!

Laura’s family celebrated Christmas together a few days after the holiday!

However, as a Distant Grand,

Laura couldn’t let the occasion go by

without doing something special for Little L’s very first Christmas!

So Gramma and Grampa sent Little L her very own

Christmas Box!

The Christmas Box was filled with lots of fun things for Little L to explore!

Laura included two sensory bottles she’d made

(you can learn more about that project here),

She also added a few fun books and Baby’s First items, of course!

As a twelve month old last Christmas, Little L loved sensory experiences! So, Laura included a small box filled with Christmas decor and trinkets with different textures or sounds from Dollar Tree or things found in her own Christmas bins at home. Some items Laura included were a necklace with a bell, a plastic cookie cutter or two, a shiny star and colorful bows and ribbon, too! Everything came out of the box and then went back in.. numerous times and we’d play peek-a-boo first over FaceTime and then in person, too! PLEASE NOTE: With young Littles, be sure to check materials for potential choking hazards and then watch your Little(s) carefully at all times!

Laura also added a few special touches to Little L’s Christmas Box - a note to Little L, a small gift for Little L’s mommy and daddy and the Nativity snow globe that once belonged to Little L’s mommy, too!