Hoping some grandmas can help here! My husband wants to do/get something special for our mothers who have been extremely helpful in babysitting our DD and picking up our DS from school (hubby's new job allows him to be at home with our DD and get our son from school except for one day during the week - our moms help out then and lately some additional work days have come up and our moms have been unbelievably helpful!) Any ideas for this kind of thank you gift? What would Grandmas like?
One year I did a personalized tote bag from lands end with my son's artwork on it for his nanna - it was easy to order and it came out great - she absolutely loved it because anywhere she went with it people would comment on it and she could proudly say "oh, my grandson designed it for me!" :)
Two words: Photo books
MAKE them a photo book online with digital photos. Not only will it become a one of a kind brag book for them, but you can write it simply and in such a way to thank them for all they do and tell them what they mean to you.
Most grandparents now a days don't seem to really "get" the digital/online photos. There are tons of photos of their grandchildren "out there on the web somewhere" that they don't know how to access, print and show their friends.
Photo books are an amazing way to make a "real book" that doesn't involve glue and photos falling out all over the place.
Next best choice, a digital photo frame with an extra memory card. Give them the preloaded frame with pictures and a thank you card. Then every month send them the "other" memory card to pop into their frame. It will have the most recent pictures. They can send the 1st card back to you to be refilled for next month.
What about a personalized tote with their initials on it and put inside some of their favorite treats, or even better yet, make some treats with your child to give to them...grandma's love that. A personalized greeting card with your child's picture can be made in minutes at www.tinyprints.com (I love them and use them all the time to make personalized photo cards).
UPDATED: I just found another site that had the cutest photo frame for grandparents and thought I would update my response for it. http://www.abbeytrade.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_54625
Good Luck!
VillageMom
www.ittakesavillagedallas.com
I 100% agree with previous poster. Photo books are the way to go. Last year for the grandparents for Christmas I made photo calendars on shutterfly and they were a huge hit. Everyone was dissappointed that I am not doing them this year, but I am due with baby #2 in Feb and I don't want the whole year to not have pictures of her in it. They will get their calendars again next year.
Shutterfly has tons and tons of items that can be made with your little ones pictures on them. Check it out I'm sure you'll find the perfect gift.
I agree with pictures... For Christmas last year my cousin and I put together a collage frame of pictures of our family... She cried. She said it was one of the best things she has ever gotten. You might do something along the same lines... maybe let each your kids decorate a frame and put a picture of that kid with grandma in it... OOOR if she isn't really the sentimental type, or already has a ton of pictures, you might look into taking them to dinner, or a massage or something.
What we do every year for the Grandmas is make a personalized calendar with the kids pictures on it. They love it and look forward to it every year! I like Shutterfly...but Kodak is good too. It does take some time uploading your pictures and puting all of the birthdays on there.
the photobooks or a photo calender are great ideas! I use Shutterfly and love their site. Also, a digital picture frame is a fabulous gift! Just upload your photos onto a flash drive and have it ready for them :)
Or one of those picture frames where you can record something into it and have the kids say something special.
Depends on the grandma. I personally like gift certificates to my favorite stores: for me it's Catherine's, resale shops; Frisch's, Red Lobster, Steak n Shake, Bob Evans, etc. (I'm a 60-year-old grandma of one 2 1/2 year old.) I'm not against Cheesecake Factory, TGIFriday's, etc. either! If she likes to do puzzles or crafts or scrapbooking, etc., gift certificates to Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's, or the like are good. Book stores have wonderful gift items this time of year. Craft shows offer different types of gifts. Have fun and good luck!
Gift certificates to spas, Starbucks, or restaurants!
I, as a grandma, would appreciate a giftcard to my favorite restaurant, or for a haircut, or movie tickets, or for the grocery store, or a bookstore or whatever their interests are! Or have my photo taken with my grandchildren!
