Panel 1: As he looks at the cosmetics counter, John suggests getting Elly perfume; Liz says 'no' to that idea. When he suggests getting a new blender, she says "Daddy!" somewhat more forcefully.
Panel 2: She then says that he should get her somethin'diff'rent for Christmas....somefin'spensive that tells her that he thinks about her a lot.
Excellent idea, Liz. He should do the same thing for you and get you speech therapy and elocution lessons.
Panel 3: Anyhow, she facepalms when he points out new winter tires and thinks that why she's upset is that they're too hard to wrap because he doesn't realize that while he is indeed thinking of Elly's safety, he'd be spending the rest of the winter yelling "WHAT NOW?" when Elly gave him the cold shoulder.
Summary: This is, of course, a reminder that John is an insensitive clod who doesn't know Elly well enough to know what she likes. What she likes is to not be reminded that she's bad at most things and to think that she's great at things she's terrible at.