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Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

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Our DIY “Thanks Jar”

For the fourth year in a row we’ve filled up our little thrift store jar that we etched with the word “Thanks” back in 2010 (you can read how we made it here). So before everyone dives headfirst into the gravy bowl (what? that’s not a thing?) we thought we’d stick with the annual tradition of sharing a few glimpses of some things that ended up on the list this year.

Finished etched glass Thanks Jar With notes of gratitude inside

Spoiler alert: one of them’s you guys. So let’s just pause for a moment so I can tell you how good your hair looks and how nice you smell and how flattering that shirt is and most of all, how grateful we are that you drop in on our blog.

This past year has been insanely wild and wonderful: moving into a new house, a new baby on the way, a whirlwind book tour, working on a showhouse for Habitat For Humanity, hearing Oprah say our names. Look, I’m so ver clempt I didn’t even use parallel structure for that list. We just don’t have the words to explain how amazing and completely unexpected this little blog journey has been. We never could have dreamed that first post in 2007 would ever lead to this life, and I’m so so thankful that my techie hubby was all “let’s start a blog for fun” and I was all “a what? that sounds nerdy.”

Chalkboard drawn heart with leaf garland around it

Anyway, I’m rambling. Back to the “thanks jar” tradition. For anyone who needs a refresher, every year since 2010 we’ve each stuck a piece of paper in it every day during the month of November with a different thing that we’re grateful for. You can see a few things that made the list in 2010, 2011, and 2012. This year was even more special because Clara is so articulate and color-happy that she got to dictate every single one of her card to us, and had fun coloring each one as she went along (last year there was a lot of us asking “are you thankful for… books?” and this year she came up with each item all on her own). Plus there’s a card where she drew me and my head looks just like a football. Priceless.

Thanksgiving Thanks Jar gratitude notes spread out on table as part of holiday craft tradition

This year we also tried a new color system. Instead of everyone picking a randomly colored card each day, Clara’s are all yellow, mine are all orange, and John’s are all red. So when we flip back through this year down the road, the colors will clue us in on who’s “talking” (sometimes our chicken scratch starts to blend after staring at a ton of tiny pieces of paper).

Some of our favorite things that Clara listed were:

  • Making smoothies with daddy
  • Santa! (a holiday crossover)
  • Legos and building really biiiig castles with mommy
  • Going to the beach
  • Grammy & TomTom and their toys
  • Playing in my box crib (we currently have a giant refrigerator sized box in our living room and Clara fills it with animals and toys and basically wants to live in there)

Meanwhile, John and I had some funny overlapping ones (we both specifically shouted out The Walking Dead, iPhones, and the mighty miter saw).

Thanksgiving Thanks Jar gratitude notes spread written by adults and children

Every year at the end (usually Thanksgiving Eve or Thanksgiving Day), we open the jar to read them all together – and we also go through the batches that we’ve saved from the past years. It’s sweet how they freeze time and remind us of things we’d never remember otherwise (old shows we watched that have since been canceled, places we visited, “hot” songs that we loved that have since been completely forgotten, weird inside jokes). I love that we’ll always have them to peek back on.

Gratitude notes for Thanksgiving saved in binder clips over multiple years

Sheesh, and to think my original plan for this post was just going to be typing “Happy Thanksgiving” with this cute chalkboard pic and letting you guys go eat your stuffing in peace. I’m going to go ahead and blame the hormones. They make you wordy, right? No. Then maybe it’s the smell of cookies baking (they make me delirious). Can’t. Stop. Talking.

Oversized DIY chalkboard with Happy Thanksgiving message drawn in chalk

We hope you all enjoy safe travels, good food, loving company, and weird dreams about Bound 2 a nice post-dinner nap. We’ll be spending the holiday with the fam along with diving into some kitchen stuff and a few Children’s Hospital projects that we can’t wait to share with you when we come back (three pounds heavier).

More Thanksgiving Crafts & Traditions

We love celebrating Thanksgiving in our home, so check out some other holiday crafts and traditions here:

Thanksgiving craft traditions with chalkboard and printable notecard

Comments

  1. Deb D says

    This is such a wonderful way to be reminded of things you’re thankful for throughout the year, not just the 30 days in November. Today, I’m thankful for friends who are like family (framily?) when my family is a ways away! Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply

  5. Kerrie says

    I love this idea. Have you thought of punching a hole in them and the putting them on a ring to make them easier to flip through?

    Happy thanksgiving!! I am thankful for many things and one of them is getting to read your blog daily!! Even on the crazy days it allows me a minute to take a breath and relax! Thanks for all you do! :) oh and I can’t wait to see if the bun is a boy or a girl! :) ahh!! Next week can’t come fast enough! Lol!!

    Reply

  8. Lindsey says

    I’m especially thankful for you and your blog. You are very inspiring people, and it’s great to share in what you accomplish. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy looking back on all you are thankful for.

    Reply

  9. Jessie says

    Happy Thanksgiving to you! I’m thankful for your blog keeping me entertained and inspired.

    Sidenote, I’ve never ever been one of the first people to comment on your posts (by the time I do there are usually 100+). Oddly, it made my day to comment at the top! This girl= Big Nerd!

    Reply

  14. Erica says

    Isn’t it amazing what a difference a year makes? Love that Clara was able to tell you what she was thankful for on her own! What a sweet little girl you have!

    I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! :-)

    Reply

  15. Cheri says

    What a sweet family tradition. Our kids are now young adults, but I think we could start this as a new “empty nest” tradition. :). Thank you for sharing (so beautifully) your home and family with us. Happy thanksgiving!

    Reply

  20. Nancy says

    I am thankful for your blog which I so enjoy reading. You write so well that I feel that I know each of you and we are best friends!

    Reply

  21. Barbara in CT says

    I’m not the first, but I’m grateful for your blog–not just ideas you give me but the thought process you explain. I love that you pay as you go and aren’t extravagant.

    I look forward to many more years of following you.

    Reply

  22. Ana Silva says

    Happy Thanksgiving beautiful people! Now step away from the computer and go have fun. God bless. Don’t work too hard.

    Reply

  23. Julianne says

    I love this…I’m going to start this for our little family, too. Beautiful for so many reasons! Thanks for sharing & Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! :0)

    Reply

  24. Hallie says

    Thankful that you posted today (and such a sweet post at that).

    You’re my favorite blog and I miss you when you’re not there.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply

  25. Evelina says

    Happy Thanksgiving! We already celebrated (Canada whatwhat) and I totes implemented the YHL Thanks Jar! It was so fun reading all our notes with my husband. Enjoy your meal and family time :)

    Reply

  26. Leah says

    Ah! Love it so much.

    The little things throughout a year add up. Only one day is nationally sanctioned as “Thanksgiving”, but I love the idea of a year-round thank jar.

    Great way to look back on the past with gratitude, but look forward with excitement! 2014 is lookin’ good!

    Reply

  27. Gail says

    Happy Thanksgiving, Petersik family! I’m thankful for your blog–I look forward to reading every new post! Enjoy your day.

    Reply

  28. Melissa says

    And this is the third year in a row that I say, “I’m going to make a Thanks jar for next year.” Maybe I should put it on my New Year’s Resolutions list… Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing. Now go eat some turkey Petersiks! Happy Day!

    Reply

  29. Jeanna says

    How sweet of you to post today! I just wanted to say how thankful I am for your blog………. even though I don’t know you, I am very fond of your little family and blog, and look forward to it every day. Have a wonderful holiday :)

    Reply

  30. Diane says

    Happy Thanksgiving John,Sherry and Clara!! It’s been great finding you this year and following along with your family projects. Have a great day.

    Reply

  31. Sara says

    Keep that refrigerator box around for as long as you can! I remember when I was around 4-5 we had one randomly and it was just GREAT.

    Reply

  32. jbhat says

    What a lovely collection of thank yous you are amassing from year to year. You forgot to add meeting jbhat in Tacoma to your list of this year’s highlights. lol Wasn’t that right up there with, who’s that you say? Something about Oprah? ; )

    Have a wonderful holiday!

    jbhat

    Reply

  33. Summer Miller says

    Happy Thanksgiving, guys! I’m thankful to have found such a family-oriented, hilarious *this-is-my-humor*, beautiful blog! You guys are truly wonderful and I am thankful to have stumbled upon your area of the interwebs!

    Reply

  35. M says

    Happy Thanksgiving from sunny California. You guys are the best. Thanks for keeping up the blog, and always thinking of your followers. I bet it’s tough to keep up with the comments, but that’s what makes you awesome.

    Reply

  36. Theresa says

    Thankful for the brightness you guys bring to my DIY-lovin’ life, that my husband is home from the hospital in time for Thanksgiving and that yes, there is good television on. (I won’t say ANTM is “good” but it does entertain and I haven’t missed a season)
    Happy Thanksgiving!

    Reply

  37. Victoria says

    I’m so thankful for so many things. One of them is you guys and your blog. Please have the Happiest of Thanksgivings!

    Reply

  39. Cathy says

    This is the best idea ever!! I love this so much!
    I am going to start this with my husband next year. Love that you keep the previous years too!

    Reply

  41. Jennie says

    Happy Thankshiving to you guys! I feel like there is so much to be thankful for. Thanks for a lovely post today (and every day!)

    Reply

  44. CE says

    I’m very thankful for the always hysterical $herdog, John the super husband (who sets the hubby bar seriously high!), sweet adorable Clara & that cute little (ham) Burger! You guys make every day more fun with your posts, and you beat the pants off any “this old house” I ever saw growing up in the old days with my with my dad (zzzzz)! Thanks for being so awesome! Hope your holiday was fabulous!

    Reply

  48. ce.leb says

    here in Germany, we dont celebrate Thanksgiving usually.. we have something like a harvest festival, but thats not a public holiday.
    Yesterday, we gathered for the second time at a friends house and celebrated Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful evening! Hope you had a blast! Wish you all the best, and also thankful for your everyday DIY-Input!
    ce.leb

    Reply

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