Awe. I agree with Rob, they need to be filled! :)

Get the poor guy something!

I'll be getting him something but we are frugal and we will wait for sales after Christmas. Before Christmas he is getting a car. We need to replace our truck after 14 years. I've asked him for a couple of things but he will not commit to a list for me.

Cheat. Buy him stuff that he probably needs like underwear and socks. Perhaps several of his favorite candies or small packages of cookies. Wrap each item in a separate box. If you roll the underwear it will make an interesting sound when hitting the side of the box.

It may only be in this area and I have to admit I have not shopped the two days before Christmas for a long time but those two days had better bargains than the days following Christmas.

You went through a lot of trouble for appearances. Christmas is much deeper than appearances and dressed up boxes, a Kardashian dresses up boxes for appearances. You've got to figure a way to fill them on Christmas Eve.

Being frugal is fine, many frugal people put stuff in boxes for Christmas without breaking the bank. Hand made, home made, find a few bargains.

Maybe he could learn to become enthused about a pencil ... and some paper?

Perhaps wrapped as a (e.g. birthday) present and placed next to his plate at dinner/supper?

With a suggestion that he spend some time with pencil in hand, next to paper, in contemplation of building a short list ... well, as short as seems appropriate, of items (beyond a heart-felt kiss) that might be fitting to offer a spouse, prior to Christmas?

Good wishes for success in your quest - and for a merry and meaningful Christmas ... enjoying your new truck.

ole joyful ... still enjoying his "new" (2007 vintage) Grand Priz

A Kardashian I am not. I wanted to the house and tree to look nice for both of us. He will get things for Christmas, he more than likely wont be home for the actual holiday. He is a motorcoach bus driver and does week long charters. We're thinking he will be at Disney for the week. I'll be home by myself which is ok. That's just another reason we will celebrate after. When he is home we treat ourselves to a fancy dinner out at a restaurant we would not normally visit.

Our current truck is 17 years old, we've had it for 14 years, pushing 400,000 miles. We don't want to give it up but for his safety and reliability we feel the need to replace it. We buy used and are looking at the Buick Enclave.

My mistake: I thought you'd said that he had a new (to you) truck.

Congrats on having kept your current old truck reasonably reliably operational for these many years.

And hopes offered for success as you choose a car ... and for many years of reliable service from whatever you choose.

ole joyful

He drives week long charter trips? I bet he's seen some mighty interesting things ... !

A favorite memory of mine is my daughter's 2nd (or was it 3rd?) birthday. My sister gift-wrapped some kraft mac & cheese for her. She LOVED it -- the box made fun sounds when she shook the gift, and it was (still is) one of her favorite meals.

That could be a fun Christmas game -- everybody bring a wrapped "shakable" gift. Who can guess the most items?

two25acres, familiar scenario here. I'm guessing at least half of our 40 years together dh has had to work Christmas week. We celebrate when it's convenient for us. As for gifts, we stopped exchanges years ago. One year I put wrapped empty boxes under the tree, but they didn't stay there for long. I'm happy with just the tree skirt and occasionally a kitty (under my watchful eye).

This made me laugh out loud! I had to read it to my husband because we are very much the same and I could see myself wrapping up empty boxes so it would look better. I feel bad for your husband! HAHA! At least you didn't put lumps of coal in them! :P

I think the skirt and kitty are beautiful! That particular kitty looks VERY comfortable.

The above discussion is why I make "perpetual gifts", lighted glass blocks with bows and ribbons, and a poem to look like a gift.

Now u know how excited he really is about Christmas. He still believes in Santa

My tree should be like this lol

I saw something new for the bottom of your tree. It is called a tree collar, comes in 2 sections. I saw a wicker one at Sams club.

Chaser, where do you buy the glass blocks? I checked online and Lowe's wants $10 each. That seems high.

Hi Rose p,

That trèe with accompanying equipment looks something like a cone-ifer, that's been somewhat trunk-ated, it looks like, to me, since only about half of the (upside-down) cone seems on hand.

A cat might agree, ya figger?

Jes' sayin'.

o j

Our cats would think that wicker skirt was their personal scratching post :-)

I saw a funny “tip” for parents the other day: put wrapped, empty boxes under the tree. Every time a child is naughty, toss one into the fire.

I laughed too about the empty boxes, for a minute, and then I felt kinda sad for your DH, poor guy. Mine never will tell me much what he wants for Christmas. Having just had hip replacement, he hasn’t been in the mood for much of anything lately but has turned the corner so maybe I’ll get something out of him. Why don’t you wrap up some of his favorite snacks and a few gadgets like a small flashlight or phone charger for him to take on his bus trips?

I found a book by one of DH’s favorite authors yesterday, and I usually find a couple of gadgets for his stocking.

My sister by marriage posted the empty box on the fire joke; love it! The other joke I saw was, wanna get rid of some junk? Put it in Amazon boxes, and leave them on your porch

I too feel sorry for the husband which is why I made my suggestion to wrap what he needs. I understand being money poor especially when facing all the costs of buying a new truck but although he may not of said anything inside he was probably crying thinking he was seeing a rare treat then discovering it was not to be. Seeing all of those packages then realizing that they were empty must have hurt.

My husband would be thrilled with the empty boxes! I use to buy him lots of gifts for Christmas and he would tell everyone that my gift to him was lots of presents and his gift to him was to take them all back. :-)))) He's the martyr in the family. Denies himself everything. I say every family needs a martyr and I'm glad it's not me.

We don't go crazy at Christmas either, and socks are a popular gift. DH does wrap everything in a bunch of boxes to make it look spectacular. The first time I asked him why he did that, he replied "It's all about deception." :)

Very funny.

I like the idea of adding more gifts for your husband under the tree. I know you want to keep the costs down. Maybe it could be something you would already do, but package it as a series of date nights or adventures. Print out a pass to rent a movie or go see one together. Another a pass to see the sun rise or sunset. Could be a picnic to see some place local or even coffee on the patio. Can you go on one of the booked trips with him where he drives? Presumably, he already has a hotel room and the ride is paid for. Just go and hang out with him. I think you could put together something enjoyable without a lot of extra cost if you think about it.

CindyMac, I get the glass blocks at A.C. Moore, $5 ea.

two25....my husband would have reacted the same way. He loves to be the center of "fun" and surprises for him would fit that bill. I saw him get excited over a box of carpenters pencils once.......so it's the little things he enjoys.

Chaser, thanks. No AC Moore here. I'll check Michael's.

I would fill those boxes. I love to give (probably too much) at Christmastime. We save heavily for the Christmas Holidays during the year with a saving account at our bank. We also give money along with gifts to spend on the after Christmas sales. Hubby and I give each other gifts. We give children and spouses and grands and great grands each a gift. That is why we save heavily during the year, and we LOVE doing so. Oh, forgot! The dogs and grand dogs, grand cats get presents too! There are only two great grand cats that are in the family and we get them some kind of interactive toy the great grands can play along with their kitties. We always find out from the mother or father what is something they would like. Can you tell I love Christmas time!!??