Our relationship in Christmas Gifts

The other day I started thinking about what Christmas presents Bill has gotten for me since getting married.  I guess I've been wondering lately what Bill has gotten me this year (it's wrapped and under the tree - resisting the urge to shake is taking every inch of me!), so it prompted me to remember what he's gotten in years past.  It was actually kind of fun and is only 5 gifts, so it didn't take long to remember them.  The gifts are so indicative of what was going on in our lives that I thought it was kind of fun to share!


2005 Christmas - Jewelry Box

Bill and I had just gotten married on Nov 19, and had been blessed beyond our dreams by our friends and family by their presence and presents.  :)  We needed NOTHING.  We had said we would not to get presents for each other, but.... I found some shoes I really thought Bill might enjoy/use.  Couldn't we just do something small?

I'm sure I handled it awkwardly, being newly married and not wanting to sound like a diva.  :)  I do remember my mom having a conversation with Bill basically to the tune of, "Even if she says she doesn't want anything, you still need to get her something!"  Definitely an important lesson I am grateful my mom was willing to teach him!

Resigned, but still holding on to his belief that we didn't need to spend money on gifts or add stuff we'd just put in storage (we were, in fact, moving to Sydney, Australia in less than 3 months), Bill proceeded to use Pottery Barn gift cards from our wedding to buy me the pictured jewelry box that still sits prominently on my dresser.  I needed it then for my beginning collection of "real" jewelry (my $5 cheap stuff had never demanded it's own storage box).  It didn't make the trip to Australia, as with most of our other belongings, but I was excited to receive it that Christmas!  And... Bill liked his shoes, too!  Hmph!

2006 - Designer Bikini in Australia
Several things worth noting here - seasons in Australia are reversed to ours at home, so receiving a bathing suit in December is completely NORMAL there.  :)   Also, we were living on one salary while Bill sought his Master's degree and were on a fairly tight budget with rent costing $1000 AUD/month.  Again, presents were decided to be small because we didn't want to accrue things, but wanted to travel and accrue memories.  Also, I've never owned a designer bikini.  JCrew and Victoria's Secret end of season sales are the times when I buy, if I buy.  Never over $25 for the whole suit.

One of my favorite places to be in the world is on a beach all nice and toasty.  Australia and I became friends immediately.  I had admired this bikini in a store window, but never dared try it on or even go inside to check it out - it was daunting to me $-wise and figure-wise.  Bill made a mental note of that expressed affection and surprised me Christmas morning with another reason to head to Bondi.  I'm sure he approved.... it's a tad on the small (read: skimpy) side, you might say.  ;) This bikini was reserved for beaches far from our home beach of Cronulla.  I definitely felt cool in it and loved that Bill would splurge on something so fun!

Wonder if it will ever leave my drawer again?  

2007 - gift certificates to my favorite stores
This one wasn't too exciting - for the average person.... but, we had recently returned from Australia and had built our home in Muskogee.  I hadn't had much time for shopping, nor funds, and had actually been enjoying "shopping" my closet of treasures that I'd had to leave behind during our time in Australia.  Bill got me 4 or 5 gift certificates from stores I loved - a Bill endorsed shopping spree!  :)  I have no clue what I bought then, but I know I loved every minute of it!


2008 - Camera

As we settled into life in Muskogee, and I into life as a farmer's wife, I decided I needed the ability to take pictures of a higher quality than my 5 year old point and shoot camera.  Bill and I had started taking pictures of the crops and landscapes and wanted something with a higher quality output.  I also wanted something that would take several shots in a second... that feature is called "Burst" shooting on my current camera.  At the time, I was afraid to enter the DSLR realm - intimidated by the skill & pieces required, and the price tag.  In retrospect, I should have made the leap.  But, our little Panasonic has been a great camera.  It has a great zoom, burst shooting (the ONLY way I capture smile pictures during Eli's monthly chair pics!), and high quality for nice printed pics.


2009 - Cowboy Boots

I always thought Tulsa would be the smallest town in which I'd live.  I just love the bustle of big cities... love the creativity, the energy... the food.... the adrenaline.  Wellllllllllll.  I married a farmer.  Our small town can't exactly be considered "bustling" or "energetic".  Don't get me wrong - I do love the lifestyle of a smaller town.  I actually feel as though I can be a truer me without the distractions that I would undoubtedly face if I lived in a bigger city.  It's refreshing.

I had always loved the idea of owning cowboy boots, but I was so neurotically picky about what they looked like that I never really considered owning any because I had NEVER seen any I really liked enough to buy.  I'm not a traditional country girl, therefore I don't tend to like traditional country girl attire.  I don't dislike it (for all the country girls reading), but I just can't wear it authentically.  Anyway, I found these and knew it was a match made in heaven.  Bill didn't need much convincing - he wanted me to own a pair.  He liked that they were different to the average cowboy boot.  They tend more towards "urban cowgirl" than "real" cowgirl -- or, towards grandpa-vintage if you're my bro-in-law, Steve.  :)

I love them and love wearing them. 

2010 - ?
We'll see what Bill comes up with this year.  He kinda sorta didn't really do much for my birthday (which I later made up for by buying a couple of coats (on sale)).  :)

I wish I could say the gifts I buy Bill have been as interesting, but I cannot.  He makes gift giving quite a challenge.  For his birthday, he got a subscription to the Wall Street Journal on his iPhone.  and a sweater.  and some shoes.  :)  There's definitely a sweater/shoe trend going on here.  Bill and I love shopping together for the perfect gift for others -- he's usually better and finding it than I am. 

Anyway, this is definitely not the highlight for this time of year, and I'm trying to not feel silly for posting this due to it's superficiality, but I'm going to hit "Publish Post" anyway.

Do you have a favorite gift you've received over the year?  Do you think your gifts tell a story, too?

Love!