Wait for us!

The little penguin-powered handcar is the last part of a set that Hallmark introduced in stages this year. The other four pieces have Santa in the engine, an elf in the coal car, a reindeer passenger and a snowman in the caboose. All four of them hook together to form a train, but the penguins straggle behind separately. I only wanted the penguin, of course, so somebody out there isn’t going to be able to complete the full set. Sorry.

Hallmark Keepsake “Penguin Power” part of “Santa’s Holiday Train,” Kristin Gaughran and Ken Crow, artists

Acquired: November 4, 2011, Jill’s Hallmark, Brodheadsville, Pa.

Number: 0971

Size: 1.75 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall

Price: $9.95

Messy messages

The Hallmark stores devote an entire section to their Keepsake ornaments, but they often have others scattered around like this one. It’s a green sled and it was available with different messages like “Our First Christmas” or “My Favorite Uncle.” All the messages were smeared and messy, but this one seemed to be the most appropriate one for me and also the easiest one to read.

Giftcrafts green sled “With Love at Christmas”

Acquired: November 4, 2011, Jill’s Hallmark, Brodheadsville, Pa.

Number: 0967

Size: 2.25 inches tall

Price: $2.99

Snowboard, Santa and snowman

I went a little crazy last year with the Hallmark ornaments after I found out they have events starting in the summer to release each year’s Keepsake ornaments. I made sure I got to the Hallmark store early so I wouldn’t miss out on any of the penguins, and there were a lot of them. One of the benefits of going ornament shopping in summer was that Jill’s Hallmark had a big discount aisle in addition to the new releases for 2010. This set of ornaments, featuring a snowboarding penguin with a dancing snowman and Santa was marked down. I know, it’s three ornaments, but I only assigned it one number, because there’s only one penguin in the set. I used the penguin on the winter sports tree at the Trolley Museum, but left the snowman and Santa in the box. Next year, I’ll probably find a place where I can hang them together again.

Hallmark “Santa’s Merry Crew”

Acquired: July 11, 2010, Jill’s Hallmark, Broadheadsville, Pa.

Number: 0780

Size: 1.75 inches tall, 1.5 inches long (penguin)

Price: $3.75 (75 percent off)