Christmases past he has bamboozled me completely on two separate occasions.
Several years ago we spent a leisurely Christmas morning unwrapping all our packages. After Christmas afternoon dinner, my husband suggested we go for a drive to see his friend's horse (he knew I had a horse growing up and was in love with horses). We drove to the stable where his "friend kept his horse" and the stable was almost like a ghost town because of the holiday, so we spent some time walking around checking out the horses and picking our "favorites". At one point my husband called me over and said, "Hey honey, what do you think of this one?" I was surprised he picked one that looked like the horse I had owned when I was younger, and so I came right over and told him how beautiful she was. That's when he said, "Well, she's yours." I knew my husband (the joker) was just kidding, so at this point I was almost mad he would tease about something so special, and I gave him "the look." Then our eldest child (in on the secret?!) came up behind him and smiled, my husband gave me another look, and I just knew....she was my horse. I almost fell to the ground. He's even afraid of horses! I think that day I really knew how much he loved me, because of the sacrifice he made in more ways than one.
Another Christmas I begged for a second dog. I had to beg because my husband had made it clear we would never have more than one dog at a time. A few weeks before Christmas I even cried one day on the couch, saying I would get him a second dog if I knew it was that important to him. He seemed cold as ice, no way, no second dog. Christmas Eve we went for our traditional holiday lights ride around town, but this time he was taking us to a "very special lighting display" about 50 minutes away. Well, I have to admit I was tired and a tad moody over driving so far to see "special" holiday lights. Finally, we reached our destination and he seemed lost, so he turned into a driveway to seemingly turn around, but then he turned the car and lights off and stayed in the driveway. Next thing you know the ranch owners walked up to my window and handed me a beautiful puppy with a big Christmas bow. If I recall, screaming and crying was all the little puppy heard when I held him for our first hug.
So, can my husband surprise me? Yes. But these are difficult economic times, so who knows. Like I said, we both work at home, so it's hard to pull one on me. If I don't get a Kindle for Christmas, at least I'll know I'm loved.