@bgbg4us any updates on your snack food ideas? I’m still debating adding another fun nosh to the menu. More like something to go in the baskets scattered about (popcorn, pretzels (although we aren’t much of a pretzel fam unless they are big hot warm ones!)). Check mix maybe? Still thinking…
Hi @shellz - Congrats to your son on the acceptance to USAFA! Our son will be headed for the USMA at the end of June. We are hosting a party for him also.
For the menu - hamburgers (husband will grill), various chips and salads, cut up fruit. Not sure about sweets. Our son has given up sweets/sugar, so it will really just be for the guests. I am leaning towards an ice cream bar.
I am assuming that the AFA is similar to USMA in that they have a basic training time during the summer and it is encuraging for them to get mail. We won’t be getting our son’s address until a few days after the party, so I will have a letter writing station set up at the party. Then I’ll mail these letters during his Cadet Basic Training time.
Congrats to you and yours, @bookreader! USMA is such an amazing opportunity! You must be so proud!
Having sent one to “regular” college, and now our second to an academy, it has been such a crazy ride. I have to admit that I am a bit envious of those sending their kiddos off to civilian college…I want a longer summer before sending him off. I-Day is June25th. Too soon!
When our oldest went to USCGA, we had pre-addressed and stamped notecards at his party. To ensure a steady flow of mail for our swab, I very lightly penciled in a week on the back flap as a timeframe for writing/mailing. It worked pretty well, but given how little time they have, he said he ended up saving big stacks of them and read them in no particular order. I was going to do this again, but I think we are going to try write2them.org. Check it out. I think it will make folks more likely to write because it’s as simple as sending an email. By the time we buy notecards and postage, I think it’s not too much more expensive.
Love that your son has given up sweets…mine is making up for your son’s abstinence! An ice cream bar sounds perfect!
I do think that write2them is a clever idea. I looked at it a few months ago but should look again now that his departure is more iminent.
We have hired two food trucks to come and serve food (from the truck). One is a taco truck (they will offer two hard or soft shell tacos or two burritos, and two sides—either nachos or Mexican corn on the cob) The other is a barbeque-type truck with hamburgers, chicken sandwich, sweet or regular fries, and quinoa salad. Then we have an ice cream truck coming for dessert. I also ordered a cake, and will have four appetizers including a mashed potato bar (the grad’s fave), chicken salad on endive leaves (my specialty), veggies and dip in shotglasses, and mozzarella-stuffed Italian meatballs. Also making a giant dispenser of homemade sangria along with the usual beverages. Everyone who I’ve told about the food trucks thinks it’s an awesome idea. It was mostly a selfish move since I do not want to have anything to do with making or serving the food.
@jerseygirl67 - Sounds like a big party! The food trucks and the rest of the food sound awesome. Love sangria.
The food truck thing sounds crazy cool. Without giving $$ specifics, @jerseygirl67, how does this work? Do you pay a fee for them to come and then another fee depending how much food they end up serving out??? How many guests do you expect? And finally, can I come!!! (I’m happy to help clean up after!!!)
In our area we have a crepe truck that goes to all kinds of events.
They make fresh sweet and savory crepes.
We thought it sounded cool! And food trucks are huge around here now. We had to pay a flat rate for up to 75 people for each of the food trucks, and then it’s a per-person rate after that. The Mr. Softee is just a tally of what everyone orders. I was going to have on site catering, but the food trucks were the same overall cost with no set up or clean up on my part, so it was a no-brainer! Not to mention not having to worry about flies and bees trying to invade the buffet.
I probably could not afford it but I would love to ATTEND this type of party!
T-minus 5 days and I’m losing my mind. The guest list is fluid…2 suddenly can’t come, three more can. Lather, rinse, repeat. Argggh. I just want to have the “perfect” amount of food. You know, just enough leftover that we can eat it up for dinner that night. At this point I am having visions of not having enough for the last 1/3 of the line, or mountains upon mountains of leftovers. Stressing, much? Yup. I guess it’s keeping me from realizing that in 22 days my baby will be property of USAFA. Yikes!
That last part is the hardest I imagine Shellz! Best of luck to him and you!
Having leftovers is the lesser of two evils. I would say depending on who your crowd is (more adults? more kids?) not everyone eats a hearty full meal at graduations. Especially those who might be going to more than one party on the same day. I could never imagine planning for the “perfect” amount of food. I would just be comfortable with “lots” of food!
One thing that could be helpful is to have some back up food in the freezer - Stoffer’s mac and cheese, lasagna, extra cookies, an extra watermelon waiting in the garage, etc. that could be pulled out and microwaved or prepped if you start running short.
Yes…perfect is probably unreasonable! I’m with you, @abasket…lots of food is always better. It’s my German upbringing that dictates that every guest must be fed, and fed well. In my heart I know that no one will blink if we run short of anything, but it’s years of programming I battle. I like the idea of the extra water melon…adding it to the list. We won’t be at home, and need to transport EVERYTHING (utensils, kitchen stuff…everything) to the venue so I’m trying to only take what I absolutely need. My husband laughs when I tell him stuff like “these are the back up chips, treats, etc”. I’m thinking we will be fine…I’m just a worrier!
It’s over,! Can I get a hallelujah?!! The party was awesome. 50 of my favorite people on the planet all there to love on my kid. Tons of leftovers, but that meant my wonderful helpers (who deserve sainthood for all the manual labor, decorating and cleanup duties) got sent home with enough food to feed their families dinner. Kid is happy, my body held up (sore, but this too shall pass), and the kid scored a major haul…so unexpected!
Wishing those of you still planning the best of luck!