<p>I’ve finished mine as well!! Digmedia doesn’t live near me, but I do have a 15 year old son, luckily. Bought the pretty cardstock, did the wording and picked a cool font. Son sized, centered, etc…done in 20 minutes. I may go the art supply and get some matching tissue to put between the pieces. </p>
<p>The best thing is that I was able to create different invitations for different people and my D was able to do some fun ones for her school friends. I’m very pleased with the way they turned out. I’m going to send them in 2 weeks, so they will arrive 3 weeks before her graduation and 4 weeks prior to the party. Is that too early? No one will be attending the ceremony except immediate family.</p>
<p>Now on to the party planning…we have apres-prom here tonight, too.</p>
<p>I did order the school provided announcements but then made my own open house invites on publisher. We included my S college plans only because his graduation party is a combination going away party (he leaves the 29th of June). I agree with most of you on the gifts - I have spent a fortune on gifts over the years for most of the people being invited, it’s just the same money changing hands :)</p>
<p>AFAMom - is that for the USAFA?? Is your son/daughter going there? If so, I’ll wave. The chapel can be seen from my house (about 8 miles away or so), or at least from the roof of my house - lots of trees here…</p>
<p>Gifts are nice but it wasn’t the reason we had the open house. I really did want all the neighbors to come. I didn’t want the new neighbors to feel obligated to bring a gift. The last time the neighbors gathered was a year earlier when “Mac” passed away. I wanted a happy event for all of us to celebrate. It really was happy and fun.</p>
<p>OAM wrote “and I expect him to be present”. </p>
<p>I laughed at this because I said this to my own. “We’re throwing a party for you on XX date, and we need you to BE THERE and to STAY”.</p>
<p>As an aside…
We’re having my son’s party at my parent’s home because it’s larger. Plus, my mom offered, which means she really wants to have it at her houose…and it will keep her busy and make her feel good. She and I have divided the list of food items. We’ll erect a small tent on the side lawn (I own the tent, bought for my D’s Christening celbration).</p>
<p>Anyway, my parents have relatively new neighbors on the side of their house with the large yard. The neighbors are from another country (which shall remain nameless). In this country, it is customary to have “stuff” outside of yoru house…junk. So, they’ve been storing things outside…a kitchen sink, wood, metal objects, and lately, A TOILET! So, when I told my mom that we could erect the tent in her yard, she said “oh, so the guests can have a nice view of the toilet?” and my dad chimed in (with his normal humor - Cliff Huxtable (Cosby) and my dad have the EXACT same personality - I swear) and said “I’ll go ask them if we can use the toilet as a porta potty for the party…on THEIR property”. LOL</p>
<p>Party planning in full swing over here. I’m glad to have something else to obsess over. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any ideas for decorations, other than the usual “congratulations graduate”?</p>
<p>As to decorations - does your son play a sport? In the band? As I mentioned, we’re doing a combination graduation/going away party. I found a bunch of different airplanes - the balsa wood, put together ones - and we’re using them to hang among the crepe paper. We’re planning on doing one half of the room in his HS colors and the other half with Air Force Academy related stuff.</p>
<p>Cool idea AFAMom! Congrats on the Air Force Academy. My son’s EC of note is fine art (impressionism). I wish we had a bunch of Monet’s paintings to hang around (lol)…heck, I wish we had 1 Monet painting…period!</p>
<p>Actually, you are all inspiring me…with the community appreciation for helping your son’s and daughters. I was thinking of the “It takes a Village” theme…and am now thinking that the “Village” theme might be fun…as we are inviting the village to celebrate! I’ve seen variations on village ceremonies welcoming the young adults into the adult community…where the entire village gathers to collectively celebrate the passage and give their consent. Now my creative juices are going…and I’m thinking of drummers and dancers. And if anyone who knows my son reads this thread I am surely going to hear about it tonight when he gets home. I can hear “mom, I’m “out” at the first sighting of any old African guys!”</p>
<p>Congrats on the USAFA. Colorado Springs is kind of not really too attractive (sprawl), the AFA is situated in a great area up against the mountains.</p>
<p>BTW, I don’t know if you got the AFA’s 2004 Athletic Association catalog (for clothing and other AFA “stuff”), but the dark-haired “Cover Guy” is my son (modeling job last summer)!</p>
<p>I’ve bought a bunch of AFA stuff online so I’m sure they’ll send me a catalog. I’ll have to check it out!</p>
<p>Great idea for your party! It sounds like it could really fit in with your son’s art interests. If your son is anything like mine, and most 17-18 year olds I know, it would be so much fun to string him along with the “old African guys” thing. I told my son I was going to get a couple of Airplane Pinatas The look of horror on his face was just priceless. Especially when he tried to act like that was a great idea!!</p>
<p>Jeez - I didnt realize you had to send out grad announcements- S is graduating from a very small HS, and amount of attendees at the ceremony is very limited so I already have a head count for that. </p>
<p>S’s grad is at 7p in the evening and then immediately following there is the main senior ‘tent’ party and then an allnight pool party. So no room really for individual party or even dinner. We are having a nice sitdown lunch earlier in the day with relatives.</p>
<p>And I don’t remember seeing anything sent home from school re engraved announcements either.</p>
<p>Over here, the big obsession seems to be on some kind of “theme” food. When I graduated it was just the “meat platter” “veggies and dip” thing. Now they have taco bars, sushi parties, pig roasts, etc. What does everyone else do? I’m curious if it seems to be the same but different in other parts of the country.</p>
<p>Newsgirl, it’s a matter personal choice. Announcements, parties, open-houses…</p>
<p>Because of the flurry activity on graduation weekend, our party will be the weekend prior. That way, S will be free to attend other parties on grad weekend. His 18th birthday is the weekend of the party…so much to celebrate!</p>
<p>Our school did send home an invitation to the graduation…very tasteful…small white card with blue engraving. </p>
<p>Your lunch with relatives sounds very nice. I think the key to really enjoying this special time is not to stress about it. After all, this, for us parents, is the big “EXHALE!”.</p>
<p>Our menu is:
Green Salad
Crabcakes
Grilled Barbeque Chicken
Honey Baked Ham
Baked Ziti
Potato Salad
Pasta Salad
String Beans
Deviled Eggs</p>
<p>No real theme…</p>
<p>Funny thing though…son saw the menu and said “I want to invite (his best friend) because he loves Soul Food” (friend is Jewish). I said “but, the menu isn’t Soul Food”. He said “Yes, I know…but anything that isn’t steamed is Soul Food to him”. </p>
<p>So, according to my son and his friend, we’re having soul food…crabcakes, ziti and all the other traditional “soul food!” LOL</p>
<p>Announcements successfully designed and printed! Thanks, digmedia, for the support. I dared not attempt the engraved look of yours, but they came out great. </p>
<p>For anyone still in the get-it-done mode, I found that using Avery card stock gave me an assist in the process, as they include some tips in the package. It’s a nice pebble-textured quality card stock, as well.</p>
<p>On to parties. We are doing a late July “Off to College” party instead of near graduation. Since SIL and niece will be in town from Az, ours is a 3-kid party for S, grandS and niece, who are off to Tulane, UNH and Arizona respectively.</p>
<p>Food theme will be “what they will eat” - gS eats burgers, pizza, roast beef, end of story. Niece is vegetarian. S is a foodie. Oh, well.</p>
<p>Hadn’t thought of decor theme, but will watch for ideas here. </p>
<p>Invites done with companion Avery card stock - some to be inserted in announcements, some sent separately. Used clipart of an artsy mortarboard.</p>
<p><em>pats self on back for the publication process success</em></p>
The look of horror on his face was just priceless. Especially when he tried to act like that was a great idea!!</p>