"I don't wear outfits!"

Judging from the title, you might think this post is about a conversation between me and Margie Grace. However, she has yet to learn that degree of diffiance (she just sticks with "no" and "not"). In actuality, it stems from an exchange between Neil and myself. Apparently, in addition to learning new parenting lessons everyday, I am also -- after six and a half years of marriage -- learning new wife lessons. Let me fill you in.


We haven't had Margie Grace's pictures taken professionally since she turned a year old so when her second birthday rolled around, I decided it was time to make an appointment once again. We also haven't had a family portrait made since MG was a three-week-old infant. The one we took was a very sweet studio portrait of the three of us, dressed in the ever cliche white and khaki. Well, the photo needs to be updated and I decided since I was scheduling a photographer to do MG's pictures that we'd also use the occasion to take a new family portrait. This time around we are doing the photos outside at Kiesel Park. Wanting to look cordinated but not matchy-matchy, I put together something specific for each of us to wear -- shirts and pants that look good together but hopefully won't look like we are trying too hard (yes, I found us a pair of matching Fair Isle sweaters but I spared Neil that shame!).

So Thursday was the big day for our pictures and the night before on the way home from church, Neil and I were talking about Thursday's schedule. Who has to be where when, etc. Because Neil had a meeting prior to our appointment with the photographer I told him "be sure you wear your outfit to Kiesel." The moment was puncuated by a sharp silence before Neil whipped his head around at me and said very plainly "I don't wear outfits!" What?!? So I continued, "Yea, you know, the outfit I bought you to wear for our pictures. Be sure you wear it to the park." He bristled again and balked at the message I was trying to convey, even sighing in disgust. I didn't understand so I countered with "so what are you going to wear?" To which he explained "Guys wear shirts and pants, not outfits!" I had obviously really touched a nerve with my choice of words. We continued the discussion: me brushing it off and explaining it was just a word and Neil telling me that only men like Richard Simmons wore outfits. "I don't do outfits. I don't do ensembles. I wear shirts and pants. You wear outfits. Margie Grace wears outfits. I. Don't. Wear. Outfits!" OK, gotcha, point taken. So Thursday morning, while reviewing our plans for the day I took caution with my reminder. "You know those very manly dark brown pants and red plaid shirt that I bought you at the mall this weekend? You need to make sure you are wearing that when you come to Kiesel. Just pull up and look for Margie Grace and I; we'll have on our outfits!"