Going Away Party ideas

[mommabear]

Hello,

We are having my son's going away party next weekend and I would like some ideas of special things to do for him.  Any ideas?

[scubagirl]

My son left for RTC the first of June and had PIR on 7/25/14.  When we had his party he wanted to have friends and family and just eat and have a great time.  We did and he enjoyed it.  Really laid back.  I had found at Target in the note card section a box of note cards that have an anchor on them.  I gathered a bunch of pens and ask everyone to write my son a joke, encouraging thoughts, etc.  The note cards are too small to send alone so I included one in each letter or card I sent him.  I never knew what they said and he enjoyed them.  Some of the family wrote notes and did not sign them so he could try to figure out who the note was from.  I had enough to include until the last week before PIR.  The main thing is to keep it upbeat and not sad.  We made a banner and hung it out front.  I bought a helium tank from Party City and had blue and gold star balloons everywhere.  When he left I continued to add helium as they needed it and every Sunday we let one go into the sky and said a payer for our son.  Just another way to count off another week.  We let the last one go the Sunday before he had PIR.  I used blue plates and plastic forks.  I used yellow tablecloths and napkins.  I took the napkins and rolled the plastic utensils in the napkins and tied it with a blue ribbon with a white lifesaver attached.  I had yellow buckets I put the rolled utensils in.  Yellow cups and all looked really pretty.  We made sliders instead of large hamburgers all had all kinds of sides.  I had ordered an edible Navy emblem online and had the grocery store make a sheet cake with just yellow piping on the top edge and bottom edge and then I put on the Navy emblem.  She photos below.  ENJOY and Do Not Stress out. 

[Sherry]

Our ideas were practically the same.  I had the same cake and banner.  We had the banner down low with sharpies and everyone was able to write a message and sign it.  We also bought a small address book for all of Stephanie's friends and families to write their contact information in.  We already had a Navy flag (her father and I were both in the Navy) and set that out with the American flag. I also purchased small navy flags for guests to take home.  I served her favorite foods (pasta salad and nachos).  Everything took place out on the deck.  We had karaoke and a fire for make smores.  The adults sat back and enjoyed watching the kids party it up on last time.  It was the most enjoyable day of the summer.  She shipped out on August 10 and her PIR is Oct 10; then she will be off to Virginia. 

[Ericuts]

Great ideas! Thanks SO much! Just ordered personalized wristbands to give out to keep her in their thoughts and prayers, red white and blue bunting for party, Navy flag is flying, will order cake emblem now . Can't decide on red/ white/ blue plates or Navy blue and gold? Having a margarita machine, s'mores by fire pit and burrito/ taco bar!

[garrett'smom]

We bought blank notecards and envelopes and nav stickers at hobby lobby to decorate. We asked everyone who came to his going away party to write something and we mailed throughout his time at boot camp. I know he enjoyed hearing from other people besides us and it was nice on the days I didn't have time to write to have something ready to go