What do you want for Christmas?

[spaz]

My husband is bugging me about what I want for Christmas and I don't have a clue. What I want cannot be bought in stores ( I've told him that...he rolls his eyes) He is wanting something he can order this weekend.. Problem is that he has showered me with gifts for so many years that there is not a single thing that I want or need. To be honest, I'd like to do away with all the Christmas gifts period but that won't happen.

So what are you asking for??

[v-girl]

I just want the boxed set of Boy Meets World. And socks.

[ladymoreta]

I'm in the same boat. Fortunately, DH already has a plan, so I don't have to think of something. The things I want are either really small (Hyperbole and a Half book) or way too big ($800 camera lens).

How about an experience gift? Is there a theater or symphony in or close to your town he could get you tickets for? Cooking class? Shooting range? Or maybe dance lessons? DH got me a 2-class package back in medical school, and we just scheduled the classes for when he was off work. It made a fun, different date night.

[spaz]

Yes, that was the idea I gave him to find a Christian concert I would like or something like that. We are finally having date nights occasionally after years of having none ( due to my insistence). But I have been the one planning all the dates. If I don't, we don't go. So yes, a calendar where he put down a reserved date night each month and planned the date would be priceless.

[MrsK]

Oh, gosh. I keep a running list on amazon. Mostly, it's books that I won't have time to read, magazine subscriptions, or cosmetics on which I cannot bear to spend the money. Probably my most desired are the following:


Glam Glow Tingling and Exfoliating Mud Mask
Skin Eau De Parfum Spray for Women by Clean
MaddAddam: Book 3 of The MaddAddam Trilogy (Margaret Atwood)
Hours of Devotion: Fanny Neuda's Book of Prayers for Jewish Women
FRYE Women's Miranda Bootie
Zojirushi BBCCX20 Home Bakery Supreme Bread Machine
GemOro Sparkle Spa Personal Ultrasonic Mini Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner

I'm also thinking of getting this yogurt maker for myself since the price is down to about $25. Anyone familiar with it?http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[SoonerTexan]

I keep a running Pinterest Wish list

Lots of jewelry, a few baby items, perfume, etc.

[Ladybug]

I'll second the experience gift! This is your opportunity! How do you want him to relax and spend time with you? He's handed you a silver platter. Grab it and run!

Ideas: Our awesome (catholic, but don't be scared ) marriage counselor often suggest dancing lessons to couples that want to find something active to do together. There is an inherant physical closeness, talking and laughing.

However, we ended up taking kickboxing together. I'm not sure what that says about our "intimacy" but it was so much fun. We started a membership at a family center that included in indoor water park, toddler play area, adult group exercise and 2 free hours (2 different age groups) of childcare per day. DH would meet us after work. We would swim after school, shower and PBJ dinner it until dad was able to meet us from the hospital. The exercise class ended up being such a huge stress release and reconnection for us. We would race and…laugh like kids. We hadn't done that in so long. Every moment is filled with responsibilities…work, kids, education, laundry…it's endless and hard. The exercise really helps with my stress and anxiety levels too. Again this is a family investment ($120/month) but a great gift to everyone (especially parents!).

We've taken cooking classes together. So fun. Not cheap, especially when you add a sitter in, but a great gift. Much more fun than just eating out. More interactive, more laughter, more fun.

I still have to orchestrate all this. DH just doesn't have time. Bottom line. All I can do is plan it and expect him to check work his work baggage at he door. Fair enough. It's reality.

And for myself (I've never had a problem there!) I have an expensive toy list. I'm pining away for an L macro lens for my camera. I dying for an electric pottery wheel. In the real world though, I'd settle for the Harry Potter Hogwarts Lego set. I think the whole family would have so much fun putting it together and putting in their mom's nursing office.

Keep us posted! If you need more gift ideas I have more…

[corn poffi]

I'll take anything that he doesn't get rush-shipped because he forgot to get anything earlier.

[Mrs. MD, Esq.]

I second Ladybug...I love taking a cooking class with DH...so fun!

DH has asked me for my wish list...but we're terrible in that we just buy stiff we want/need throughout the year so gift ideas are hard to come by...I'm thinking maybe a photography class as a combo Christmas/birthday gift since they're pricey!


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[spaz]

So are you saying that I go ahead and find the activities and tell him what they are.. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to do a joint activity. But when do you find the time???? And how do you talk your huband into it. My husband leaves at 5am and gets back at 7 if he's not on call. We live on a 50 acre place so he goes off to fix something on the place, till the garden, etc. That or he is doing something with one of kids.. Or we are working on the mission trip. One of the conversations we've had over the last year is this. I asked him how he relaxed and he says to pidde outside and just relax without anyone expecting anything and then just relaxing with the whole family. I then explained that since I homeschool my work is here and housework as well. So to relax I need to get out and have fun....

So now he takes me out some, but that means he doesn't always get the downtime he needs. Then I am just another plate he has to keep spinning. I have finally just gone back to making my own fun by myself or with friends.

Plus how do you make time to do an activity on set day every week ? His schedule is different every week. I would love to do an activity. In Marriage Buildrers they talk about love needs ad that most men need recreational activities. All the marriage books tell me to join my husband in his favorite activities...... that would be doing chores around thehouse and playing wth the kids. He doesn't do anything for fun and doesn't have any friends he does things with either.

I'll second the experience gift! This is your opportunity! How do you want him to relax and spend time with you? He's handed you a silver platter. Grab it and run!

Ideas: Our awesome (catholic, but don't be scared ) marriage counselor often suggest dancing lessons to couples that want to find something active to do together. There is an inherant physical closeness, talking and laughing.

However, we ended up taking kickboxing together. I'm not sure what that says about our "intimacy" but it was so much fun. We started a membership at a family center that included in indoor water park, toddler play area, adult group exercise and 2 free hours (2 different age groups) of childcare per day. DH would meet us after work. We would swim after school, shower and PBJ dinner it until dad was able to meet us from the hospital. The exercise class ended up being such a huge stress release and reconnection for us. We would race and…laugh like kids. We hadn't done that in so long. Every moment is filled with responsibilities…work, kids, education, laundry…it's endless and hard. The exercise really helps with my stress and anxiety levels too. Again this is a family investment ($120/month) but a great gift to everyone (especially parents!).

We've taken cooking classes together. So fun. Not cheap, especially when you add a sitter in, but a great gift. Much more fun than just eating out. More interactive, more laughter, more fun.

I still have to orchestrate all this. DH just doesn't have time. Bottom line. All I can do is plan it and expect him to check work his work baggage at he door. Fair enough. It's reality.

And for myself (I've never had a problem there!) I have an expensive toy list. I'm pining away for an L macro lens for my camera. I dying for an electric pottery wheel. In the real world though, I'd settle for the Harry Potter Hogwarts Lego set. I think the whole family would have so much fun putting it together and putting in their mom's nursing office.

Keep us posted! If you need more gift ideas I have more…

[diggitydot]

What do you want for Christmas?

I'm also thinking of getting this yogurt maker for myself since the price is down to about $25. Anyone familiar with it?http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Poky gifted me that yogurt maker and we use it all. the. time. Love and use it so much, it earned counter space in the kitchen.

Spaz - Are you an extrovert? Perhaps your husband is an introvert and when he comes home he feels like he needs quiet alone time to recharge? Could that possibly be part of the issue?

It's sometimes difficult to make time to do crap together. My DH is one of those who HAS to have some sort of project at all times. (There's even a thread here somewhere that contains a pic of one of his latest -- a wall-mounted entertainment cabinet.) If I want some extra time with him, I join him in whatever project du jour he's up to his knees in on any given day. Sometimes that means I'm hauling rocks, helping him fix the sprinkler system, painting, clearing brush from the property, or just holding tools. Not exactly my idea of fun, but if I want to spend extra time together, whatever were doing is less important than the fact that we're doing it together. We also finish much more quickly than if he were doing it alone, so that helps with the family time, too.

[spaz]

Yep. My hubby is just like yours. I never give him a to do list. He doesn't sit well. The compromise we reached is that I would help him with a project each week and he would take me out on a date. We can't always find that time for the date though because surgeries last longer or a grandmother has broken her hip... I just can't figure out why it can't be rescheduled. But if it doesn't happen on Friday night like we planned, then he doesn't think about the dAte and we are doing chores all day Saturday.

[KlynK]

I would totally ask for a massage/mani/pedi/facial kind of gift :P


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[Deebs]

MrsK - we have that yogurt maker and love it!


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[Thirteen]

Money no object?
Mani/pedi/90 minutes massage
A new laptop or desktop computer
A Tiffany "bean" necklace (because, you know, The Bean)
A romanic weekend getaway, complete with room service breakfast
A pony!

MOAR CHKNZ!!


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