Conference moira::parenting

    I realize AJ is a little older than my child, but last year (first
    father's day for us), I had pictures taken of Jackie and wrapped them
    up for my husband.  It was fun and special since it was his first
    father's day.  I'm not sure what we're going to do this year since we
    picked out her 2yr old pictures together.
    
    I might plan on asking the daycare to have Jackie make a painting or
    drawing and have it framed.  I think something done by her will have
    more meaning (I hope!) than if we go out and buy something.  Since both
    of our father's have passed on, I have no suggestions for
    grandfathers...  except for my mother, we had a picture of her holding
    my daughter and nephew made into a sculpture-magnate.  I haven't seen
    her so she'll get it this weekend when we're in NJ.
    
    Mary
    

    My husband has a gold rope chain and on it he has a charm that says
    "#1 Godfather"  This is his first father's day ever so I am going to
    get him one from Kayla that says "#1 Dad".
    
    I'm getting my Dad a fish finder
    
    Katrina

Every year for my parents' anniversary, my sister collects pictures from all
of us (we were eight children) and creates pages to add to an album.  She
sometimes uses a specific theme like places where we live, work and play, or
old friends.  She also has used very old pictures from our ancestors.  Each
family gets a section, she mounts the pictures, sometimes adds funny captions,
and then has them professionally laminated.  The pages go into a very good
quality album.  I think the "album" has grown to several volumes by now.

This year my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  Kim is
preparing a very special album which we will give them at a huge party we
will have this summer (over 350 guests invited!).  Each family has been asked
to provide an 8x10 family portrait which is set in the album in a "frame".

Since we are now all so spread out, these books are more than just a photo
album.  Through the unique contribution of my sister, they are a living
chronicle of the lives of my family and a way to bring us ever closer to my
parents.

Cheryl

    
    Were doing a little more "modern" version... We are copying
    all the videos of Victoria (6 mos worth..) onto to one
    for Granpa so he has "moving" album..
    
    

We've discussed the video question but it is too hard to coordinate with 
nine different families!  The other issue is the expense.  Since I live 
in Europe, we don't have the same video standard and they couldn't use my
videos.  I am hoping that someone can find a multi standard monitor when we
come over so we can show a few videos that we've made.

ccb

    For my father-in-law's 70th birthday my mother-in-law wanted to give
    him a surprise birthday **BIG BASH** and invite all of his relatives. 
    She needed a way to get him out of the house and get him dressed up
    because it was a dressy occasion.
    
    My husband and I thought of a good one.  We had our wedding
    photographer take a portrait of "the guys" -- grandpa, my husband, and
    my son.  It was a nice way to get him out of the house, we knew where
    he was and how long he'd be gone, and he was really surprised when we
    got back to his house with around 40 relatives waiting to surprise him.
    
    The best part was he also got a really nice portrait of the three of
    them in about a month.  It is still hanging in their family room with
    pictures of the other grandkids.
    
    What do you think?
    
    Kathy

    I checked this notesfile and the other two versions, and could not find
    what I was looking for.
    
    I am planning a 35th Wedding Anniversary party for MY parents, and as
    people respond to the RSVP, they are inquiring about what gifts my
    parents might like to receive.  For the local guests, my answers come
    easily, because my parents enjoy eating out and a gift certificate to a
    restaurant would be well received.  They are also both golfers, so
    golf-time on the green somewhere would also be a good gift.  One other
    thought I had was picture frames.  They are first time grandparents and
    the amount of pictures they display around the house seem to be
    increasing exponentially.  However, that is where my suggestions run
    out.  I would appreciate hearing some ideas from other noters who have
    had parties for their parents or attended similar gatherings.  Any
    suggestions are welcome!
    
    Thank you in advance!
    
    Lynn
    

    re: .7  I went to a very nice 50th Anniversary party that my cousin 
    planned for her parents.  She requested  that instead of gifts that
    photographs or short stories of things that had happened with/to her
    parents be forwarded to her so that she could make a scrapbook as a
    gift from everyone.   This was nice because many of the people
    attending were retired and didn't have alot of money for gifts.
    Her parents were absolutely thrilled with the gift and have spent many
    hours remeniscing.  

    Any ideas for this year?  Its Keith's first father's day.  He is the
    best daddy but I'm bias.  He doesn't much care for photos.  I gave him
    one of us when we married in a nice frame for our first anniversary.  I
    thought it would be nice for him to put on his desk when he got his new
    job.  Its still in our bedroom.
    
    cj

    My oldest son is giving his daddy a new cassette case for his truck -
    and inside the case are copies of all the wonderful(!) kids tapes
    that my son loves to listen to!!! (also some tapes that Dad will
    enjoy!!)  Daddy is also getting a sweatshirt that says "Fatherhood -
    It's Not Just A Job, It's An Adventure" (got this from WIRELESS
    catalog)
    Lila
    

    There's a place in the Pheasant Lane Mall (and lots of others!), that
    will transpose any photo onto a mug or t-shirt or button or a few other
    things.  A few years back I got one on a mug, with a picture of the 2
    kids together, and the other side of the mug says "We love you daddy!"
    made to look like it's written in crayon.
    
    Running short on ideas myself ...
    

I'm trying to think of something to go along with the gift I already 
made for my husband (first father's day).  

I'm thinking of something special, related to being a father, maybe 
something they could do together.   

    What about mother's day?  What are you all hoping you will receive? 
    Personally, I would love a day to myself at the beach; soaking up
    the rays (hard to do with the little one running around) and a good
    book.  Course if I had some girlfriends join me, it would probably be
    alot more fun.  But I guess I would have to ask my boss for that and
    not my husband! 
    
    cj

    
    My husband is working the 14th so we are celebrating Mom's Day this
    Sunday and we are going out to brunch but I would also like a day of
    know cooking, no doing dishes, no chores of any kind, no changing
    diapers, etc.
    
    

    
    re: -1  
    
    Sounded like a good idea until I thought... if I ask Steve to clean the
    house and do all the chores for me, I'll end up mowing the lawn on
    Fathers day .... no thanks!
                
    Karen

    I'll just be grateful if my son *remembers* Mother's Day - with my
    roommate gone, there's noone to prode his memory (unless I pitch for
    myself, which I don't like to do !) or take him shopping unless he
    thinks of it and asks the sitter or one of our adult friends..... I'll
    be happy just to have him remember and maybe get a self-made card....

    It's silly, and never going to happen, but it would mean so
    much to get a Mother's day card from Angeline, from her father.
    After all we went through this past year and beyond, I'd like
    just once for him to acknowledge me in this way.  He gets cards
    from his daughter for everything from me.  At Christmas, I had
    hoped he would at least just buy me a Christmas card out of respect
    for the three years we spent together, besides my delivering his
    daughter.... but that was a wasted hope.
    
    Now, I'm not setting myself up for a fall, it would just be nice
    if he could bother.  
    
    But, nothing is going to mar my spending my first Mother's day
    with my baby and one big MEGA-SMILE on my face :-)
    
    						cj *->
    

   I'm sure I'm in the minority here.  Our Mother's Day tradition is a
   trip to Canobie Lake Park (amusement park in Salem,NH).  I requested
   this 3 years ago and it turned out that mothers get free admission and
   free lunch on Mother's day.  So a tradition was born.  We all have a
   great time.

    Elizabeth