We had a reunion last summer after many years of not having one. It wasn't near as organized as most of the suggestions listed above. We plan to have another one this summer. Hopefully better and more innovative this year. Turn out was light last year but hoping for a bigger turn out this summer. We reserved a shelter at one of the local parks and put an ad in the local newspaper giving the date and place. Some people received personal invitations if they lived further away and didn't subscribe to the local newspaper. The ad was costly so probably would have been cheaper to send out invitations to each family. I do family history research so I took along my book for everyone to look at. Then I also made a poster board with wedding pictures of my grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles. Underneath each picture I put their birthdates, wedding dates and if deceased put that date also. Both were a big hit.We had a playground in front of our shelter for the smaller children and was also a swimming beach nearby. Food was potluck and worked out well. People just had fun visiting. Most of the crowd was seniors so I don't think games would have gone over too well at our gathering but I love hearing all the ideas. I took my camera and snapped pictures of each individual family as they arrived. Then we took one group shot but some had already left. I wish I had thought of the group shot earlier in the day. I love the idea of hiring a photographer but that would get too expensive for our group. I also have heard where some reunions each family wears different colored tshirts to identify which group they belong to. We had name tags at our gathering. One other reunion we attended had a notebook on a table as you entered the shelter and you wrote your name, address, email and a memory of your descendants. Everybody could read those notes and next year it will be shared at the next reunion. Also one couple was in charge of pictures and then they posted them to a web site to be shared with the reunion attendees. All the pictures were labeled so if you forgot some names it was a nice reminder. Keep posting ideas. I will be checking to see what other ideas come up.

Here's some of my tricks from the cottage where I often have 15 or more ! Number one rule , keep it simple and try and minimize actvity in the kitchen or it will be bedlam! Breakfast: For each breakfast put out a selection of fresh fruit and cereal for the light eaters. A choice of juices and of course fresh coffee! Day 1 - Make ahead breakfast strata or overnight french toast served with sausages you have cooked previously and then reheat in the microwave. Make the strata/french toast the day before your company arrives. Day 2 - Assortment of sweet breads (like banana nut loaf), coffeecake and muffins. Make the breads and muffins ahead and freeze them. Or buy them at a good bakery. Day 3 - Baked ham slices and scrambled eggs with toasted English muffins. Bake the ham ahead , slice and wrap in foil. Warm in the oven when ready to serve. To make a bunch of English muffins at once, split them and do them under the broiler...watch them! Do the eggs in big batches in the microwave. Serve with salsa or chile sauce and preserves. Lunch Day 1- Assorted cold cuts and large rolls. Plates of sliced onions, lettuce, sliced tomatoes. Lots of assorted pickles, a few different mustards and of course mayo. Let them build their own sandwiches. Cole slaw purchased from the deli on the side. Day 2- BBQ burgers and Sausages, buy good frozen ones and make up for it by having lots of condiments! In addition to the mustard, relish and pickles have, roasted peppers,sliced tomatoes, onions, sauerkraut, hot peppers etc. Day 3- Chilled soup (can be made a few days ahead) an assorment of cheeses and a salad made from mesclun (a mixture of baby greens that comes pre mixed and can be bought in most grocery stores) drizzeled with your favourite vinagrette. Dinner: Stick with buffet!! If you have a BBQ try and do the meat outside. Day 1: Baked Ham (used the leftovers for breakfast), baked beans (I have an easy make ahead recipe), cheesy scalloped potatoes( this recipe can be frozen and reheated)served with a mixed vegetable salad. Day 2: Lasagna and a Ceasar salad with some great fresh breads. Make the Lasagna's ahead and freeze. Make a meat one and a vegatarian one for variety. Day 3: BBQ or roasted pork tenderloins. Marinate them in soy sauce, garlic, honey and ginger for a few hours. Really easy on the grill but works just as well in the oven. Oven roasted new potatoes that have been quartered, drizzeled with olive oil and sprinkled with rosemary. Serve with grilled mixed vegtables....red and green peppers, onions, beans..whatever. Cut them up in advance and bag them, on the day you want to serve them marinade them in olive oil and balsamic for a few hours. Throw on the grill while the pork tenderloin is resting, they only take a few minutes. This meal is a great outdoor meal. Serve some nibblies and drinks while everyone mingles around the grill. Lots of fun! Day 4.....make reservations!! Most of all relax and enjot the family! Hope it works out! Sharon

In our area, some of the school kids go door to door selling stuff for their fund raising projects. One of them has subscriptions for $12. When you buy those, you get a voucher for each magazine you paid for that you fill out with what magazine you want and mail in, and your subscription starts soon after. These would be useful for any age because they could pick whatever they want. ALTHOUGH.... I have a couple of 'little old lady friends' that I gave these to and they thought they were going to have to send a check with it and so they THREW THEM AWAY!!!!!!!! Even though it said "Prepaid" clearly all over the voucher! So if you give these, be sure to include a note that says that they're already paid for and all they have to do is pick what they want and send it in. I do understand there are some prepaid magazine offers that are scams. I've never had any trouble with the ones I buy from the school. And it's probably too late to get them now. If you want to do this next year, you could call your local school and see if any of their money-making projects include these. --Ilene

I still have 10 birthdays yet to come. I hate this time of year. For the young kids (under 8) I found some cute bath towels in the shape of animals - cows, dogs etc. So I bought them each one for the birthdays. For their Christmas, I bought the 4 brothers a homemade barn house. My sister us buying the animals and tractors and such. For the girls, I bought Barbie clothes at a craft sale and a stuffed blanket animal for the baby. For DH, I'm still stumped. He just had a birthday last week and I bought him a new golf bag. For DD, I'm not sure. She is in college and I know can use money mostly but I hate giving money because it is so impersonal. I may give her mainly gift cards, we'll see though. I still have most of my Christmas shopping to do.