<p>Just thought I would mention a neat idea for your parties. If you do a Google search for "custom printed M&M's" (sorry I still don't know how to insert a web link) you can order custom printed M&M's. Keep in mind the order takes about 4 weeks (maybe longer if more orders are generated). You can select specific colors to represent you HS or better yet, the Academy's colors.<br>
Cost is on the high end. There is a minimum order. Check it out. </p>
<p>I would love to hear of any other unique ideas for graduation/send off party ideas. </p>
<p>My son turns 18 during boot camp. He asked for a birthday party at Chuckee Cheese's before he goes. I can't deny him that. I'm sure it will be a day full of stories to tell! Our "kids" have to grow up so fast.</p>
<p>I am always looking for great ideas like yours- thankyou!!!</p>
<p>At our son's graduation, we made up party bags for each guest- filled with: lifesavors, salt water taffy (in, of course, red-white and blue stars and stripes- can order on-line), goldfish crackers, swedish fish, chocolate gold coins from Davey Jone's locker, blue and yellow M&M peanuts, chips-ahoy cookies, etc....we also had each guest sign a page in a photo book with good wishes and words of wisdom that we will send him during the summer....and lots of funny photos from everyone- </p>
<p>We are planning a "survival bag" for I-day, but this time with vitamin water and kleenex added along with the treats for those attending- and a "welcome basket" of fruits and goodies for each room at the hotel-and for dinner the "Night Before I-Day" we have his "photo in a ship's bottle" (ordered on-line) and engraved with "USNA I-Day 6/28/06" for everyone traveling down to send him off- and a bingo-game planned consisting of "midspeak and skuttlebutt"....(those attending have already been sent a welcome aboard letter and lots of midspeak!!!)....and of course, the bingo "chips" will be those gold chocolate coins...... and we got big "Torpedo Fan Club" buttons for everyone to wear on the yard! ...... oh, and a prize from Neptune's vault for the winner of "Skuttlebutt Bingo".....</p>
<p>And I really like the idea of the m&m's....will have to check it out!</p>
<p>And I suppose after this I will have to wear one of those "Moms Gone Wild" tee shirts.....:(</p>
<p>(well, at least it beats worrying myself sick over this ~)</p>
<p>Before you wear the "Moms Gone Wild" t-shirt, make sure you have NOT signed a release and more importantly, make sure there are no cameras near by! :) </p>
<p>Jake turns 18 during Plebe summer. So, we are celebrating his birthday in Mid-May so he can enjoy his presents etc... For graduation, which is a week before the wedding, I just don't know yet. I might have his friends over and they can have a "wild evening" once I talk to the other moms and get their ok. I think Jake wants to really cut loose before Plebe Summer and since graduation will be over, I say go forth, Jake! I don't know how much he will cut loose considering his workout is planned to have him in perfect shape for enjoying plebe summer.</p>
<p>As far as presents, it seems like a watch might be a good thing. He will be getting several computer games for his birthday so he can finish them before he leaves.</p>
<p>A digital camera is a great idea! I really didn't want to just give money because I will send as he needs it. My husband wanted to get him a gun like a Colt 911???and engrave it. But obviously he can't take it with him. He also mentioned a GPS unit that also does weather type stuff.
I wish he could use an IPod because that would be cool. Oh, can the midshipmen use camelbacks for their running during plebe summer?</p>
<p>Pretty sure that they cannot use camelbacks during Plebe Summer. They all have canteens that they use. Besides, you don't want to look any different than the Plebe standing next to you. After Plebe Summer, many Mids use camelbacks when they run. The Mid Store has a very nice selection of camelbacks. As far as graduation, money and gift cards are an excellent idea in addition to the camera. Most try to get out and see movies and go out to eat on the weekends when they have town liberty. You can check the Annapolis Mall for gift cards. They have theaters at the mall and also at the Harbour Center. I know many hate to give money as a gift but for those in the Academy, there is very little else that they need. They may want to save for a spring break trip. I took some Mids to the airport last Friday when spring break leave began and you cannot imagine the crazy and VERY HAPPY scene as many of the Mids headed out of town with their friends to a beach somewhere. Money will always come in handy!</p>
<p>The best gifts my daughter received and was able to use were the phone cards. Cell phones don't work in the barracks at WP and new cadets cannot have them during Beast. Once Reorgy Week started and they had landline phones in their rooms, I was just as happy as she that she had all of those cards.</p>
<p>For the party, we had a pretty big one because of all the different groups. The field hockey team, chess team, a very few beloved faculty members, lots of friends and family. Everyone wrote notes in a journal and they also filled out envelopes so that she could write to them. (I was optimistic that there would be time to write. That never happened.) We also ordered West Point balloons from Vasily's which is across the street from the Visitors' Center in Highland Falls. The website is <a href="http://www.vasily.com/%5B/url%5D">http://www.vasily.com/</a> and we ordered West Point Grandparent tee shirts for all of the grandparents to wear that day. We were lucky to have a nice day so the party was outside, but in the house we had the tv playing "Surviving West Point". That certainly shocked a lot of people.</p>
<p>We also bought her a digital camera. Also, find out if they can use UnderArmor (or equivalent) because that would be great for sports.</p>
<ul>
<li>For a graduation party buy postcards from home, pre-address and stamp them. Give one to each guest and have them write encouraging words for your plebe/cadet (have them put them in a basket). Mail one out each day to them during the summer.</li>
<li>Small photo album filled with photos of family, friends, and pets.</li>
<li>Digital camera & memory cards</li>
<li>Disposable cameras for use during the summer</li>
<li>Gift cards</li>
<li>Mid-Store, Academy bookstore gift certificates</li>
<li>Phone cards (Sam's has a great deal)</li>
<li>Preaddressed/stamped notecards</li>
<li>Ipod (they will get to eventually use these)</li>
<li>Custom address labels</li>
</ul>
<p>PS: Sam's Club has a great deal on custom sheet cakes. You can take the Academy seal design and they will put it on the cake. They are really reasonable (~$30)</p>
<p>I'm buying our 6th iPod for Herndon. We all know that technology changes at warp speed, so I would wait on the iPod because plebes won't be able to use them during Plebe Summer or Plebe Year unless the iPod/mp3player is kept at the sponsor family's home (if they are lucky enough to even get a sponsor family). Additionally, Apple and other computer makers offer hot deals in August/September for back-to-school college students on the Apple Education website. If you are determined to get your plebe an iPod, at least wait until late summer. On the other hand, a digital camera is a excellent gift for a plebe at the end of Plebe Summer. Save the iPod for Herndon!</p>
<p>listen to cadetmom--she offered some excellent suggestions!</p>
<p>megbee- both my kids swear by underarmour (one rows, one plays lax)- they even use the winter weight underarmour for skiing- very warm (summer weight keeps you cool) - both wick water away from your skin to keep you dry- and the stuff wears like iron- can be a bit expensive, but well worth the cost</p>
<p>Use a photo editor and create an 8x10 collage of photos to go in the one allowed 8x10 frame. In fact, you can make several and layer them inside the frame so they can switch them out from time to time.</p>
<p>I did the pre-addressed post-cards for friends but then found that letters were preferred for privacy reasons (still trying to use up those post card stamps). I kept a stack of pre-addressed/pre-stamped envelopes in our foyer all summer for friends to pick up and send. For New Cadets, you might not get the PO Box until R Day anyway.</p>
<p>Depending on the barracks at WP, some will get great cell phone reception and others very spotty. A car cell phone antenna helps - cadet can place the antenna in the window for better reception. Just something to keep in mind - no point buying it now until you find out which barracks they're in.</p>
<p>Yay! Underwear talk! Megbee, the wicking material is great to stop chaffing from all the sweat you're going to generate. Last year, someone (sorry I've forgotten who. Aspen I think) said you can wash the underarmor in your sink, then roll it up in a towel to dry and in about 20 minutes you have a clean dry pair. Cool stuff. It really is worth the investment.</p>
<p>I found that I was constantly being asked about the address & email address so I took business cards that you can run through your printer & printed all of the information on the cards to pass out. We were lucky enough through my son's academy to have had the information before I-Day and son gave out the cards to his teachers and friends. Then the address changed so I did new ones around Thanksgiving. I gave one out just the other day to one of his friends who had lost the email. Beats writing all that stuff down.</p>
<p>Tip: Buy batteries in bulk. When they are allowed the ipods, they call once a week for batteries! ;)</p>
<p>So, can they bring underarmour to plebe summer? If so, its awesome stuff and dries so fast. Any color restrictions? Also, any ideas on good white running shoes?</p>
<p>Another question, how do we send money to them? Can we wire it?</p>