Lunch and a movie

Chris' parents gave our kids money for Christmas, so Chris and I were asking them what they were going to spend it on. Annie and Noah came up with a plan (they couldn't convince Brig to go in on it with them) to take us all out to lunch at Panera and to the dollar theater to see High School Musical 3.

Yummy Panera soup and bread!!

Thanks Annie and Noah. What a generous way to spend your money! We had a great time!!

I'm dreaming of a . . . practical Christmas

So I meant to post this soon after Christmas, but our computer has been on the fritz (still kind of is). So this is a little late, but here we go:

An aquaintace once said to me that her mother-in-law told her son (this aquaintance's husband) that if he ever bought his wife a practical Christmas present, he would be in trouble. As I think back to the majority of the gifts that Chris has given me, he would be in some serious hot water with this woman. I admit that when I was younger, I was much more romantic. But then I got married, had 4 kids, we've been through med school, we're in the middle of residency, and I have gradually become tight-fisted and practical over the years.
I'm not so interested in fancy, frilly trinkets to clutter up the house; what I want right now are things that will make my life with four kids and a resident-husband easier. Yes, a gold necklace might be nice. The TV does say it will capture my heart, right? Maybe so, but that necklace won't chop my onions for me. But every time I pull out my food processor I swell with gratitude and love for that man I call my husband. And yes, perhaps I would sigh with pleasure over some crystal candle holders or perfume, but that sighing would stop short as soon as I find flecks of teflon (from my old pots and pans) in our soup. But whenever I cook with my new (fleck-free) pots and pans I want to run to Chris and hug him.
You may be thinking, "Hmm, you're boring." Maybe so, but the reality for us is that since we try to stay on a budget, and we don't have a whole lot of extra money, I don't have the luxury of running out to Target and buying these sorts of things whenever I feel like it. So, it makes sense to me to ask for them for Christmas. In time, that might change, but for now, THANK YOU, CHRIS, for indulging your practical wife. I love you for it!!