Thanks, All! MM: I know, I am loving that lamb and pull him out every chance I get. Punk: I could use MINE or DH's for a Western table, but I doubt DD would let me use hers ;^D As for Petits Fours, IMO they look much better than they taste, although DD tells me that the chocolate ones are extra yummy this time. Karen, of course I'll adopt you ;`P . . . or just stop by anytime and I'll fix you some brats. DH will only eat them a couple times a year, as he's watching his cholesterol, but You, DD & I can eat them! Kathleen & LG: thanks! Lynn

Grandma's can be hard to buy for. Mine sure was. We bought tons of 'stuff' for her over the years. She in later years said just give me something I don't have to feed, walk, dust or worry about keeping safe. And I don't like perfume or clothing that needs dry cleaned. We found she didn't like shirts that went over her head or slippers. We started to give her cookies and dried fruit and candy (which she loved to share with the little kids) We gave her calenders and photos and anything home made she loved. I found out later she just loved the jams I made and only brought them out with guests so she could say her granddaughter made it. She loved an old lumpy pillow my cousin made her when she was ten. And another cousin made her a horrible drawing that she framed and hung over her bed. My sister made her some bread once and again she froze it and served it to guests for a year. My son made her a cutting board one year, she never used it as a cutting board, she didn't want to muss it up, but showed everyone the wonderfull board when ever she had company. At time time of her death we all found the homemade stuff in her home but the other expensive stuff was missing or stuffed in a box. Except the bottle of really yukky bubble bath one of my cousins gave her as a child. She knew he worked a week of mowing lawns etc. to earn it. Maybe the framed art work isn't such a bad idea if could be taken to copy plase and shrunk down to make fidge magents or a keychain or something. I love the idea of a photo on a sweat shirt or tote bag. Maybe fill the bag with her favorite coffee or cookies or ????

I'll second, third? Lisa and Sov. Six years old is too young to teach a charity lesson at birthday time IMO. Their birthdays are about silly fun with their friends. Lisa's statement in regards to gifts (optional but please be sure to bring yourself blah blah) is as far as I would go. As the mother of a small child who has too much, I use these experiences to teach the gift of giving. The joy of finding a special toy (and a matchbox might be all that is for some but it's still special to a six year old) is a lesson I don't get to give very often so I really take advantage of it (our son is 4 and not yet in school). At 8 or 9 plus it's a fun idea to discuss giving a party for charity, but only as an idea for the child...you know when they're ready for this or if they ever are :) I bitterly remember the birthday where my father taught me about charity. I opened all the gifts and then they were given to the "less fortunate" (I had no idea who those people were because we didn't learn that lesson). It was really more about control (now that I look back on it) verses a lesson in charity, but to a small child...do they really know the difference? I think we often forget the "joy of giving" and focus on the receiving too much :) So I get where you're coming from, but for a child of six...it's a party :) Let them enjoy it as a six year old should. Goody bags aren't a tradition in our area of the country. But I think the cookie and balloon sounds great. Great for table decor and enjoyable for the kids to take home. Or you could go with a matchbox given the theme of the party (those cheap ones). I don't mind cheap crap...it makes DS smile. The fact that he does not know the difference between a one dollar car and a twenty dollar one actually pleases me. And I don't mind the matchbox's anyhoo...at least they're metal :) My DS is afraid of birthday cake (or was until this year when he's braved the frosting) so I guess we're not overly birthday focused, but he has enjoyed the parties he's gone to as long as we avoid the cake. I don't remember getting any party bags...wait maybe one, but perhaps that is just our circle of friends. I don't think a lecture on how to throw a party is necessary :) Family, friends, it does not matter. Kids should have special birthdays be it with their school friends or family or both. Special does not have to mean much. We had our favorite couple over with their two kids for DS's 4th. Then we repeated a simple dinner with grandma the next week (we were moving to her state). He enjoyed both parties immensely and both were quite simple. DS would love to attend by the way....do you allow 4 year olds? I promise to limit the plastic LOL

what about a "you're a grownup now" library? All the "reference books" for life: HOME CARE Martha's "Homekeeping Handbook" or Cheryl's "Home Comforts" FINANCES Suze Orman's "The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke" HEALTH (or, "do I need to go to the doctor?") "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book" or "American Medical Association Family Medical Guide" ETIQUETTE "Emily Post's Etiquette," 17th Edition or "Debrett's New Guide to Etiquette and Modern Manners" RELIGION any reference book (bible, catechism, concordance, hymnal, for example; I'm a Lutheran, so I'd put in The Augsburg Confession and The Book of Concord) that pertains to your religion; ask a clergy person for suggestions COOKING "The New Doubleday Cookbook" by Jean Anderson (my personal favorite "general, how-do-you-do-it" cookbook), or "Le Cordon Bleu's Complete Cooking Techniques" or "The New Basics Cookboo"k by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins GENERAL dictionary, encyclopedia (though these aren't as useful anymore what w/the Web, and she's probably got a decent dictionary) ATLAS Buy 'em used, and it won't add up *quite* so high. Add in "every grownup needs 'em" gadgets --a "tape gun" or packing tape dispenser, a mini sewing kit (I know college grads who don't have a seam ripper to help take the tags out of their clothes), a paper trimmer, stuff like that.