<p>Not the celebration, but I’d like my kids to do something thoughtful as a present. This man really does not need any things–in fact he and his wife just downsized their house quite dramatically. All I’ve come up with is for each of my kids to write a heartfelt letter? (Will boys even do this?) Any other ideas?</p>
<p>Will you see him in person? A couple of things I have seen in our family. Song written and performed by family members about birthday person. My husband’s family is big on the song idea sometimes performed in rap style. Or a poem written and performed.
Slide show of family events over the years.
Memory box- For my FIL’s 75th birthday my nieces painted a big box and called it the memory box. They asked each person to send them some memory of my FIL. For example some of the memories came in the form of letters, copies of old photos, poems and even drawings and paintings from some of the younger guests.</p>
<p>Plans are still TBD. The actual day is mid-week and he’s currently undergoing cancer treatment. I love the song idea, although at least one of my kids would be horrified at having to perform. I also like the idea of old pics, but honestly don’t think I have the time/energy to do a good job (this is my FIL, not my father). The memory box sounds like a great idea.</p>
<p>Good luck to him in his cancer treatment. Is his prognosis good? That might have some bearing on the nature of the gift or gesture you decide on.</p>
<p>What about those picture frames which have a digital capability for accompanying sound…so that each grandchild can talk to grandpa while he looks at their picture?</p>
<p>If all your children are male. Depending on your FIL’s health how about a male bonding trip. H, sons and Grandpa.</p>
<p>How about a simple scrapbook that would consist of a heartfelt letter from each kid/grandkid (detailing favorite memories or things admired about grandfather) and a photo or two of the letter-writer with the grandpa? (It wouldn’t have to be a recent or current photo; the fact that some would be older photos would make it more fun/interesting.)</p>
<p>When my dad turned 75 the grandkids gave him a tower of gifts–one box held 75 lifesavers, one held 75 chocolates, 75 ricola cough drops (he loves them), one held a little book of 75 great things about papa…it was reasonably priced, fun and he used the stuff.</p>
<p>See–this is why I love CC. These are great ideas. Thanks for asking about the prognosis–it’s prostate cancer that he’s been living with for several years, but I believe there are some spots in his bones. (That said–the man looks <em>great</em>. Really. He just came out to one of my kids’ soccer games on Friday.) I’d love to do something with pictures although they are the bane of my existence (organizing them is first on my to-do list after the youngest goes to college–they’re all over the house and honestly I won’t get to it til then). Very cute idea with the tower of 75 things. I’ll have to discuss a male bonding trip with DH. This man climbed Kilimanjaro when he was 70. Did an Idaho river trip with DH and DS#1 a few summers back. There are several local climbs that could be done in a day. (Not to mention I could send DH + the kids and I could stay home in front of the fire and prepare the hot chocolate or something.)</p>
<p>We made a voice quilt for a recent important birthday. It was loved by the givers who had never heard of it before and the receiver. It can all be done long distance which is a huge plus. I actually got the idea from an old thread on CC. They have a web site…not sure I am allowed to post links here…just search for VoiceQuilt.</p>
<p>FIL turned 90 this year and after decades of being an intrepid traveler, the last few years he has really been forced to limit his ‘large life’ and has not traveled at all. DH & I took him out to a place a day’s trip from home, a place where he had had many an adventure in his day, but to which he had not been in over 10 years.</p>
<p>The gift required him allowing us to gift him our time & energy, it required him to let go and let some one else do for him and that was a tough thing, FIL likes to be in control. He was ecstatic, it was harder than he thought and yet he was thrilled to do it. </p>
<p>I snapped a few good shots and send several 8x10s for her memories</p>
<p>How about an 80-page booklet with a page from each family member,neighbors, and close friends? It would be nice to just have simple handwritten birthday wishes from each person. You could include favorite family photos and other family items to round out the 80 pages. It does not have to be fancy, scrapbooking-style, though you could do that if someone has those skills and the time.</p>
<p>My dad was well-known for his “famous sayings,” little quotes to live by. For one of his big birthdays, we made him a book of those in our handwriting with little pictures from the grandkids. He loved it.</p>
<p>If you can pull it off, a family portrait, including the grandpa, with all the family you can pull together. It will be cherished.</p>
<p>We had a baby that day.</p>
<p>These are great suggestions (except silvervestersmom’s). ;)</p>
<p>We gave my mom (turned 80 last week) a jacket with the initials of each generation her seven kids then the ten grand kids initials on the next line and the great grand kids on the next line. This way people ask her what does that spell ? And she can still name all of us using the guidelines of the initials on her jacket.</p>
<p>A twist on the photo/letter album:</p>
<p>All family members wrote limericks and submitted a photograph of themselves, with Grandpa if possible.</p>
<p>Everything was done online: limericks and photos were sent electronically. My sister formatted and printed everything, and we assembled it into a small album. He absolutely loves it. The themes of the limericks were classic: his love for ice cream, his horse, my mother, were all documented with humor. </p>
<p>He makes everyone read it…</p>