Two Little Stockings.

When my children were little I hung two little boxes on the tree.  And on the 6th December, there would be a little chocolate inside.

I started this tradition as I'd read that in parts of Europe Christmas started on 6th December, with a gift.

As the boxes are getting a bit fragile now (I still have them), I made these little stockings for the girls, last year.

But as I didn't see them on the 6th I made the mistake of putting a chocolate in every time I saw them.  This, of course meant they expected one.

This year as I've seen them a lot more, I've put chocolates in practically everyday.

The other day, Isabella said, completely out of the blue, 'Is it you putting chocolate in the stockings Grandma?.'  For a minute I nearly told her the truth.

'No,' I said, (lied!), Father Christmas is starting to make a lot of journeys back and forth, that's why there's always chocolate.'

She sat for a minute, then said, 'So, why is there never any chocolate on our tree at home?'

I was completely thrown, I made some feeble excuse, and quickly changed the subject.

Too clever by half, what's she going to be like next year!!!

I wonder if I could get back to only putting the chocolate in on the 6th.  No, probably not.