Let’s get into what Santa brought us. This was an exciting Christmas because in all of our seven December 25ths together, we’ve never woke up in our own beds to open the presents under our own tree as a family (i.e. we’d always traveled elsewhere).
We did meet up with a bunch of relatives later in the morning to open gifts as one big crazy Petersik family, but we snuck in some present opening time as just the four of us earlier in the morning. Especially since Santa brought one little Petersik something extra special this year (as mentioned in great detail here)…
Along with her play-kitchen Clara got lots of clothes, books, toys, and that favorite leopard hat of hers. But since we always get asked what we got each other, let’s get into that. First off, I stalked Sherry’s Pinterest page to learn that she wanted these Kendra Scott earrings – which look quite good on her, if I may say so.
She also got me a couple of dangly things in the form of two bicycle ornaments (well, technically one’s a moped) from Crate & Barrel to fuel my new obsession with bike art. It provided the perfect opportunity to pose next to my dad with the gift that we got him – a bicycle parts shirt from Etsy (unlike me, my dad’s love of bikes extends to actually riding them regularly).
Sherry and I both ended up getting each other art too, which was kind of funny. Sherry made me a very sweet Boy Scout merit badge collage for all the “skills that I excel at” that she was inspired to create after seeing some vintage badges on eBay for woodworking that she thought I deserved (they were selling for something like $80, so she called a friend whose son has tons of boy scout/eagle scout badges and just scanned and returned them). Then she printed the ones that “applied to me,” cut them out, and taped them in a grid on some navy craft paper leftover from our old living room art.
The sweet part is that she used the actual name of the merit badge to express something she loves about me, is thankful to me for, or that’s meaningful to us both.
She even typed up and framed a key to explain everything. I laughed out loud at letter P, which was a badge featuring a squirrel icon.
We haven’t figured out where to hang it yet, but I love how simple and graphic (and funny!) it is. It looks great with the curtains in the dining room, so it might end up there. On the other hand, Sherry had my gift to her hung before the day was over. That girl is fast!
It’s there on the far left, and it’s a custom poster that I bought from A Vintage Poster. It’s a weird story, but this is a line from an episode of Toddlers & Tiaras (um, not that we watch that show – it was just on in the background one day). They introduced one little girl to the stage with this gem that perfectly epitomizes childhood innocence: “When Emerald grows up, she wants to be a photographer… or an octopus.” I altered the quote a bit and A Vintage Poster did a bang up job converting it into a fun little one-of-a-kind poster that only makes sense to us.
Who doesn’t need a refreshing reminder to dream big every once and a while? And the coral color looks so great with Clara’s painting next to it.
Speaking of big dreams, Clara, Burger and I also gave Sherry something to encourage her to pursue one of her former hobbies: art. She’s got her BFA and originally went to school to be an artist, but life has kinda pushed that aside. I’ve heard her say more than once while watching Work of Art on Bravo that she misses it, so we snagged her some paints and a gift certificate to a local art supply store (intentionally not Michael’s or somewhere she could spend it on house projects instead). Oh, and don’t mind my goof on the card – I’m so used to signing “John & Sherry” that I forgot she wasn’t giving this to herself. #ChristmasPresentFAIL
Let’s see – what am I forgetting? Oh yeah, Sherry got these funny little buttons that perfectly sum up our relationship for me here on Etsy.
Knowing my nerdiness, she also got me a “tech” gift in the form of a remote for our camera (because I’ve often mentioned that it’d be helpful to have around). After all, the world needs more photos like this, right?
Oh, and don’t worry – Burger wasn’t forgotten. He’s just not a morning person – er, morning pup (?) – so he had to have his presents delivered to him in bed. Here he is with the lion toy Clara picked out for him.
And there’s a great stretching/smiling photo of him here. On that note, I think we’ve more than exhausted our run down of Christmas goodies between this post and this morning’s play kitchen extravaganza. What’d you guys get or give his year? Anything especially awesome? Something DIY or house related?
Psst- We just shared a HUGE CHRISTMAS POST full of family pics and even more holiday details over on Young House Life, so you can check that out here.
Update: You can check out all of our favorite holiday decor finds here – many of which are under $15!
Justine says
Finding the perfect present is one of my favorite things. Looks like you all got quite a few of them. And bonus good-husband points to John for helping Sherry pursue her dreams!
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
I love all the personalized gifts! They’re so fun and I always prefer art that means something!
Alissa says
Hold the phone, is that a Christmas tree decorated with streamers of CANDY BUTTONS? Sheer genius, I tell you!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! Isn’t that fun? John’s sister saw it at a candy store and DIYed it! It’s so fun in person (although you have to resist eating it, which is hard for someone like me).
xo,
s
Alissa says
That’s a bummer. I was picturing a posse of Petersiks sitting around opening presents and scraping candy buttons off paper with their teeth. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I wish!
xo,
s
Criss says
I noticed those too! Cute idea. :)
Giselle says
Do you have any idea where she got the tree topper. I’m in love.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I feel like she said Ikea or HomeGoods! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Morgan says
Looks like you had some really thoughtful ideas! What great gifts. I bought myself a new camera with my Christmas/birthday cash. It just came in the mail today! I signed up for a few photog classes too. Can’t wait!
Lindsey says
We bought a house in December and our realtor got us the BEST present- a personalized ornament in the shape of a front door, with our address, names, and 2011 on it. Even more special and meaningful because this was our first Christmas as an engaged couple and this is our first house.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cute!!
xo,
s
Chrissie says
That is so sweet!
Courtney says
That John with remote pic is priceless! Looks like you four had an amazing Christmas.
I made most of my gifts this year (sugared nuts, cran-apple vodka, bacon jam, and pumpkin spice sugar scrub) but the gift I was most proud of was the one I gave my husband. I got him the Perplexus game (soooooo addictive!!) along with two tickets to the Calgary Flames vs Toronto Maple Leafs on Valentine’s Day. He is a life-long Leafs fan but has never seen them play.
As for what I received, my favs were two items from my Oxfam Wishlist – girls in school and an chicken – along with some Walking Dead graphic novels.
Happy New Year!
Allyn says
Oh, what awesome gifts! Love them!
I got my man art too! I had a custom map made of all the places we’ve lived (and he’s lived ALL OVER the world), with a red heart for Nashville, where we met/fell in love/got married.
And he was brilliant and got me some of the new(ish) Penguin hardcover classics to add to my collection, and these Frye boots: http://lollingabout.wordpress.com/2012/01/03/holiday-recovery/
Did I cradle them in my lap and stroke them lovingly when I opened them? Maybe…
Anne says
I think that there’s a Simpsons episode where Ralphie says “When I grow up, I want to be a principal just like you, Principal Skinner. Or a caterpillar.”
Great gifts! I am drooling over your homemade Clara kitchen. It looks ahh-maaahhzing!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, that’s the best!
xo,
s
Amanda says
The two of you are so creative! I love the gifts you get each other. That octopus poster is so neat!
Michele says
Amoung a number of great presents I got this year, my bff made me a calendar with pictures of my friends and family (including a favorite picture of me and mom which makes me smile big time cuz she’s being silly – I miss her). It was especially cool because she took the time to find out everyones birthdays and marked them on the calendar for me. It was the best present!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so sweet and thoughtful!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
White ceramic husband! bahahaaa! Love you guys!!! :)
aimee m says
What sweet gifts! I am in love with the octopus print, it’s hysterical! :)
Deena says
You guys are so awesome, every post makes me smile and brightens my day.
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
Awesome Gifts! Love the tee and that picture of Burger.
Monika says
I laughed so hard at John’s recap of x-mas presies. The signature mishap was just too funny for words! Cute, cute! And Sherry, you look so gorgeous there :)
Annalea says
Well, Santa didn’t bring me anything at all . . . but my DH got me . . . wait for it:
a Kreg Jig! :o)
I’m pretty stoked. And I love that t-shirt, John. Awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
Woo hoo! Welcome to the Kreg Klub! (That’s not a real thing as far as I know, but maybe I should start an unofficial one). :)
-John
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
Great gifts! They are all so thoughtful–which are the best kind. Chris surprised me with WICKED tickets and I teared up and I got him a leatherman which I am 90% sure he likes. hahaha. For our little girl, we got her a Prince Lionheart Wheely Bug…that is actually a cow. Proof that not all toys are created equal. This one is seriously stylish and I don’t even mind it hanging out in our living room.
http://chrislovesjulia.blogspot.com/2011/12/scenes-from-christmas-morning-2011.html
(scroll down to see what we enthusiastically call, “Wheely Cow!!”
YoungHouseLove says
I love it!!!! So cute!
xo,
s
Ann L says
White ceramic husband shirt? In the words of Rachel Zoe…Ba-na-nas (or is it ba-nan-as?)!! Such a cute gift idea, even if it is for you to wear.
Ann
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love a good ba-na-nas reference.
xo,
s
Ann L says
Watched a RZProject marathon on Bravo so all of her “isms” are stuck in my head. I actually said “I die for this” in reference to one of my ornaments while undecorating my tree during said marathon.
Luckily, only my dogs were around to hear me.
Jordan says
I love how sweet and personal your gifts to each other are! Too cute. My adorable fiance bought me an oil-rubbed bronze Eiffel Tower statue that I’ve been lusting over for the past five years.
Sophie says
My favourite present has to be one of the ones from my parents. I’m training to teach little kids so they bought me something to help me out when I’m on practicum. Wait for it…
SESAME STREET FINGER PUPPETS!!!!!!!!
I know, I know, sometimes they think they have a three year old instead of a grown up lady for a daughter.
Though my puppets may or may not have already ‘met’ various friends via skype. They all think I’m completely nuts XD
Maureen @ This (Kinda) Old House says
Such great/thoughtful gifts! What jumped out at me the most? Sherdog’s AMAZING skin! lol. Seriously, you are so lucky!
Again, I am really impressed at the thoughtfulness/creativity of your gifts.
YoungHouseLove says
Shucks, that’s sweet of you to say! I feel like my skin has never been worse because we’re not sleeping like we should be! Soon though! 2012 is going to be the year I sleep like a normal person. Haha.
xo,
s
Kate says
Besides some clothes, my husband got an air compressor and I got a miter saw (part of that was for my birthday, but they merge together; my birthday’s Dec 28th), which should both be great for the projects we have lined up for the coming year! My gifts to my husband were rather uninspired, but he got me a ring from Etsy that has a sweet message stamped on the inside (well, I showed him the ring but he picked out what to write in it).
I also got a bit of birthday money that I’m planning to use on a Kreg Jig, woot!
Jyl says
I giggled at photographer or Octopus.
I laughed a little at the crafty wife and nerdy husband pins, cos that sounds like me and my husband…
But I laughed so hard that I honked (I have a cold) when I got to “White Ceramic Husband” for a good minute at least.
John Petersik you are a riot. And deserve a merit badge for willing to play along. Merry Christmas, Petersiks!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- that’s what I said! After we opened gifts I was already thinking of new merit badges he had earned for present giving and wanting to update his frame! Haha.
xo,
s
Lisa says
You guys are ADORABLE and totally just brightened my day. I love all the thoughtful and creative gifts you got each other…. and the White Ceramic Husband shirt is the icing. LOL. Love it!!! Happy 2012 to you and your family.
Annabelvita says
Love it all! That octopus art is my fave.
My boyfriend got me a bright red kitchenaid (I’m so in love!) but my favourite small present was a set of hankies my mum made for me out of my old pyjamas- so sweet ( you can see em here: http://Annabelvita.com/pyjamas, along with a toy cat I made out of pyjamas)
Annabelvita says
Ps. Apologies for weird brit spelling of pajamas
Candace says
Such sweet and thoughtful gifts you guys got for eachother! Love the earrings, Sherry! And, LOVE the nail polish! Can you share the color??
YoungHouseLove says
I think it’s called School Of Hard Rocks by Essie (I don’t own it, my friend did my nails for me!)
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Ooooh, I was lovin the nail polish too!!
Jessica says
love those earrings on your $her-dog!
p.s. i thought the poster said “photographer FOR an octopus”… i am still laughing at it both ways though!
merry merry merry to you guys
xx
YoungHouseLove says
LOL, now that would be a unique profession. Personal photog for the most famous octopus in the world!
-John
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says
I love how sweet and personal all of your gifts are! You guys are so thoughtful! :)
Caroline says
I’m glad someone else also watches Work of Art! That show definitely makes me want to be an artist too. Although I did not major in art. Go figure.
Debbie says
i got a range rover for xmas, complete w/ the huge red bow. we’ve been talking about getting me a new vehicle since this summer, but w/ re-modeling yet another home, it got put on the back burner. also when we were in NYC for new years, i was treated to an all day shopping fest at barneys, where i did some serious damage. i got the bf a new telescope that mead had been building for nine months. i was really starting to think it wouldnt get here in time (it arrived 12/23) & custom floor mats for the vette w/ his aviation co logo on them.
Erin says
My husband got me the same earrings for Christmas, compliments of Pintrest! :)
Larissa says
Sweet sweet gifts.
My husband got me some awesome cowboy boots and I got him a pistol. We’re in Texas so it’s totally normal, I swear.
Penny says
BAHAHA. I love it!!
Tiffini S. says
Aww! We got our son a kitchen for Christmas (we went the Little Tykes route, though) and he loves it, too. By far his favorite gift.
The manly men in our family have even reconciled with it, saying he could be the next Emeril or some other manly type chef. (Then they saw me painting his fingernails, and quasi-freaked again. But that’s how he defeats monsters – with my black fingernail polish as his monster claws. Gotta have those super powers to keep the monsters at bay!)
VVednesday says
I’m getting married this July and I also purchased those “crafty wife” / “nerdy husband” pins. Too adorable! And I LOVE Clara’s kitchen!!
Pamela Heller says
Yay for staying at home for Christmas morning this year! We did it for the first time in nine years of being together on Christmas, and it was a huge relief, and so great for our kids to have those memories of waking up at home. We actually had everyone over afterwards, which was also really lovely.
Marie says
My boyfriend, knowing my obsession with YHL, searched your website and Amazon store, and got me a subscription to DIY magazine – can’t wait to read your articles! – along with Carol Spier’s “The Apartment Book” – more applicable to our current stage than “The Home Book” he thought (and I agree!). It was super thoughtful and I’m so excited about it!
Claire says
I had a lovely Christmas. I think my favorite gift is the fish eye lens my parents gave me. I’ve been wanting a wide angle for a while and have rented one a couple of times from borrowlenses.com but the fish eye pretty much takes care of the whole wide angle thing for the moment. I am so thankful for it!
That octopus print is priceless. I adore the collection of inside jokes that my husband and I have together. Great idea to put one of them on a print. Unfortunately most of the jokes he and I share aren’t terribly appropriate for our walls. Maybe we need to clean up our humor…
Lauren says
Looks like you guys had a wonderful Christmas! Quick question for you- what is the floor planning program you use? I think its a free site somewhere but I can’t remember which.
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve used a few actually. You can see our thoughts on three of them here: https://www.younghouselove.com/break-out-the-3d-glasses/
-John
Kelly says
You guys are such an inspiration! The gifts you gave are sooo thoughtful and take gift-giving to a whole new level. You are blessed to have found each other and obviously are a great couple and team! Thanks for opening up your lives to us and wishing your family a great 2012. I will be along for the ride as I check your blog daily!
Emily says
John, I love that you used Pinterest for gift ideas! My husband (also a John) thinks Pinterest is totally ridiculous, but he surprised me by doing the same thing and got me the victory pendant lamp from cb2 that I had pinned (and pined for) ages ago. Great thinkers….
Jen @ The Well Read Fish says
OH! Those buttons! When I got married in May, when we exchanged rings, we also exchanged pins. . . these exact ones, and then wore them for the duration of the wedding!
Michelle says
HAHAHAHAH…….BURGER…….HAHAHAHA…..HAHAHAHA…. STILL LAUGHING….
Leah says
I’ve decided that Groupon is giving me a Christmas present in the form of this deal: http://www.groupon.com/deals/cosmo-magazine-spokane-coeur-dalene-wa?c=all&p=3
But I need some professional advice on which one to choose – Elle Decor or House Beautiful? Any suggestions??
YoungHouseLove says
Oooh, both are good but if you’re putting a gun to our head… House Beautiful.
xo,
s
Melissa says
Oh how funny! Our pup, Rufus (a toy fox terrier), got the exact same toy in his stocking. Thanks Target!
Jessika says
For my birthday (8 days before Christmas), I wished and wished for a garbage disposal (ours busted a few months back and we were using the allen-wrench spinning technique on the bottom of the old model until we replaced it). My husband came through– super quiet, snazzy disposal! He also installed it for me! And for Christmas, I got him an electrical outlet (insert goofy joke about sparks flying when he kissed me). It’s no ordinary outlet– we’re converting part of the garage to a pottery studio, which means it needs to be wired to a huge outlet to handle his kiln. DIY? Yes. But fantastic. Fan-freakin’ tastic!
KathyG says
What a wonderful holiday you all had! Us too, but I am one of those who is always relieved when Jan 2 rolls around. I thrive on routine, and holiday season is not that!
Have you seen the finale of Work of Art? I just got back to it today finally…Awesome. And the right Artist won, I think, although I did think Dusty had it in him, just couldn’t let it out. I hope they got the ratings they need for Season 3.
Happy 2012!
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! I agree! The right artist won- I loved that person’s show so much! And yes, Dusty was so awesome! I was oddly intrigued by Lola too and sort of wish we could have seen what she would have done with a show – just because I think it would really be out there!
xo,
s
Jenna at Homeslice says
what a fun christmas! I love the “photographer or an octopus” poster. Kids are amazing.
Brittany says
You all are so thoughtful in picking out/making gifts for one another. Love the earrings!
P.S.
I found your laundry room mirror selling online for $350! Here:
http://circawho.com/2011/12/gold-octagonal-faux-bamboo-mirror/
Gretchen @ Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen! says
My dogs Harry and Daxter wanted Burger to know that they have that same toy and they LOVE it, so they hope he does too. Just passing the message along. :)
Katie says
Sherry! I got the same earrings for Christmas as well…mine are jade. I’m in love with mine, I hope you enjoy yours just as much!