They are lovely Hannah. I can quite see why they would be priced at £20-£25.

I remember my pillowcase very fondly too Jean – we all fought over the supremely special Mickey Mouse one, and no one wanted the odd flesh coloured one!! I don’t want to make it all about ‘stuff’ for my girls, so as I’m not selling craft this year, December (& November) is a lot freer to plan lovely things together! I love hearing everyone’s different traditions too, its very heart warming! xx

Totally agree with you Jean that its all to early and too commercial in the shops, drives me batty when you see Christmas Chocolate for sale in August, and its expiry is in the November!?

I made the girls their sacks (www.facebook.com/finderskeepersrossett – in the Christmas album) and charged £20-£25 each for them but they are huge & a lot of work!

We’re having to find a new church for Christmas eve as our local is now run by a vicar who never appears for the Christmas service and a miserable stand in appears, and gives the whole meaning absolutely nothing! I LOVED The Wells Catherdral service, so think we’re going to have to got to Chester this year! This is still getting me pre-festively festive just talking about it!!! Elf was great last night 😉

Thanks so much for the comment Hannah. It’s great to hear other peoples’ accounts. I guess I viewed these as stocking fillers as they were £6-£10. We have books and chocs too in ours, and mainly things that are around the £5 mark. My brother and I didn’t have stockings, we just had medium and big presents. My mum never spent a bean on herself all year round and then used to go absolutely crazy at Christmas on us two (actually quite surprised we are not totally spoilt now!).

When I was young, we never put the Christmas tree and decs up until after December 10th (my birthday). My mum didn’t like to confuse the two things. So, even now, we put the Christmas tree up some point soon after the 10th. It gives enough lead in without feeling OTT. It definitely comes down by the 6th Jan. After Boxing Day I start to feel a bit depressed about seeing the tree and decs still up as the anticipation has obviously gone.

Sofia was very lucky to be bought a lovely stocking a few years ago by my sister-in-law. I wanted to buy the exact same ones for Maria and Gabby, but was flabbergasted at the price: http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/millyandpip/product/personalised-christmas-stocking With the personalisation, it came to £78! Cannot justify that kind of expense 🙁

We do pressies from us in the stocking/bedroom done first thing and pressies from the rest of the family/friends under the tree, just like I did with my folks!

Stocking fillers this end are hama bead boards (around £5 for 3), tubs of beads to go with it, some DVD’s, sweets, books, and some clothes.

Medium is usually clothes/shoes, lego, and toys that accompany the ‘big’ pressie – fewer of these though.

Large is usually (in an all pink household) something big and only one of them that is over £40/£50 – this year its Barbie and Sofia the First for Lyra & Hattie! Beatrix is harder, but as I get through toys fairly quickly childminding, she may get a trike as the boys I mind have just broke hers!

Christmas for us is the build up, the anticipation, the Christmas films on a Sunday in December, going to see Father Christmas, crisp walks, decorating the house with holly and ivy, making dec’s as family, baking together. I couldn’t and wouldn’t want to confine it to two days, as with young kids they love it all, and things seem to go so fleeting and fast its nice to have it drawn out a wee bit so they get to grips with it! Also it takes the best part of 2 days to decorate in our house so Christmas would be over before we finished trimming! Ooo I don’t know if I can wait until December – but I will – anything before December 1st is criminal (but we may have to sneak a watch of the Polar Express while we put the Christmas lists in the fireplace for FC to collect tonight !!)