The family joke at our present-opening is when I open my two or three gifts from Bob and exclaim, "Why, Bob, how did you know? It's JUST what I wanted!"

Every year he says something like "I don't have any idea what you want. If you see something you want, get it for yourself for Christmas from me." So I get a couple of things, wrap them up, and tag them to myself from Bob.

Does that sound unromantic? Cheaping out? Thoughtless?

Not to me. Choosing gifts is just not what he does well, but that's okay. He's far from thoughtless. All year he does the dishes, the vacuuming, the cat boxes, most of the laundry, the recycling, etc.

I'm always discovering he's done some little thing so that I don't have to. Picked up after me. Folded up my clothes. Fetched my afghan. I could go on and on. All without making a big deal out of it.

I don't remember if, when we first got married, I wished he'd surprise me with a special Christmas present. Maybe I did. I know how important, how symbolic that is to a lot of women, and I totally get it.

He's so thoughtful the rest of the year that I'm willing to be a good sport about the Christmas gift thing. (If he WASN'T thoughtful the rest of the time, that would be another story....)

You're a very blessed woman, B2Y. But you know that. I think the same way you do. My DH wasn't the best at picking out gifts. He was good at other things, though. Taking care of the house, car, pool, etc. Stuff that I couldn't do....didn't like to do and had no desire to learn. And I appreciated it all throughout the year. So, cookie cutter gifts like you'd find at Sears or WalMart were what I'd come to expect. And I loved them! Because he showed his love all year round....not just on one particular day. And if I saw something I wanted during the year I usually got it. I really miss those cheesy Christmas gifts, sometimes wrapped in birthday paper if Christmas wrap couldn't be immediately located!

We are both pretty generous but I've never been really hung up on gifts and I think that takes a lot of pressure off my DH. I just can't imagine the money people spend on roses for Valentine's Day as an example.

Ditto for me!!! I love the things my hubby does for me everyday! I truly don't care if I ever get a gift, flower, or card....though he does sometimes....then it is a surprise!

you are blessed miss sally.

You are blessed.

So well put, B2Y. Sometimes, time and feeling cared for are the best gifts ever. Can't buy that.

You would think I have holes in my head or something. I know its B2Y that wrote the post, and yet somehow, my brain wrote out sally on my reply.

I apologize to B2Y.

let me try this again. You are blessed my friend. you are blessed.

Thanks anyway, Dej.. And I am also blessed.