Circling back to the thank you card

We are by no means experts on etiquette, but we are super square rule followers who enjoy sending out thank you cards when we receive gifts.  Of course, there are exceptions to every rule.  Here are ours:

• We don't think it's necessary to give your partner/spouse a thank you card for a gift.  We do find an unexpected thank you note for being awesome or doing something sweet is always appreciated!
• Christmas: If the person who got you the gift is there to watch you open it, it may be alright to forgo a thank you card...but this still makes us a little itchy. 
• Birthdays: For whatever reason, we still like to give cards even if the gift-giver is there to watch us open it.  If you're like us, you probably got some new stationery for your birthday so may as well give it a whirl now!
• If you are ill and cannot pen a note, do not fret - Only a-holes would expect a thank you!

That's pretty much it though.  We like to keep a stash of thank you cards at home and also try and teach the kids in our lives that sending a thank you note is not only nice manners but motivation for people to get you more gifts (hehehe ulterior motive).  Kids obviously like gifts so hopefully they'll get the spirit of the thank you note when they're a bit older.

Full disclosure: We both love stationery so it is very possible that our love of sending out thank-yous stems from our love of buying and hoarding stationery.

NOTE: We do not judge those who do not love the act of giving thank you cards, so by no means should anyone be thinking, "Oh poops. I didn't get her a thank you card. I hope she's not mad."