I'm not even entirely sure what I'm asking here. If you all could give me your assessments and how to handle suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
BG: Couple weeks back, I mentioned to a couple neighbors that I had bought an artificial Christmas Tree. they gave me theirs that they don't use any more and told me to return the one I bought. So I put "their" tree up with my lights last week. That got me in the spirit of the holidays and I made a batch of Christmas cookies. /BG
The cookies are round butter cookies with choc chips in them and covered with red or green sugar. I put a bunch in plastic bag, wrapped them in white tissue and tied them with a bow. Last week when stopped by, I handed the cookies to them and said "these are for you. thank you for the tree.". There was no more discussion as the dogs had run out on the porch and I had to get them. I've been wondering why they haven't mentioned the cookies to me at all.
Last night, the wife asked me to drive her to the big warehouse supermarket (she has cataracts and husband wasn't home to drive). In the store, she pointed to the vanilla-filled caramels and said "mmm! I love those!".
Me: "Why don't you get some?"
Her: "You know I'm diabetic!"
Me: "yes, but you often have a couple choc chip cookies with your milk."
Her: "No I don't. I just like to bake them."
Me: "I've seen you eat them. That's why I didn't think it would be a problem to give you the sugar cookies."
Her: "We thought they were dog biscuits! we gave one to the dog every day! She loved them!"

She then bean dipped.
What happened?? They thought colored sugar cookies with visible choc chips in them were dog biscuits!? (Just days after I said I didn't bake dog biscuits, fyi. We had been talking about fund raiser ideas for a dog park.)
It felt like an intentional insult.
Their Christmas present was going to be banana bread (half brown sugar, half Splenda). But now I'm thinking "Nope." I also was going to have them over for lunch to see the decorated tree. Now, I'm thinking afternoon coffee and a store bought box of sugar free cookies.
What do you all think that was about? Suggestions on a present (we exchange every year) and handling the tree?
Thanks