My sister is going to be a grand-mother!

My niece is having a baby and she lives out of town. We are planning a shower for her in our town and then a sister and another niece are heading south to deliver the goods.

Any idea on the best way to do gifts? They are flying so they can't take big items, or wrapped items.

We were thinking of having the people attending the shower pick something from a registry and give us a check. Then my sister and niece would purchase the stuff when they get there, wrap and give it to her. That sounds so impersonal for the people giving the gift though. "Yeah, just hand over the check!" Know what I mean?

Any ideas on how to make it more fun? We love giving showers and want to make it fun for the poeple attending!

Did this one a few times myself! First time, had a huge cake, all the trimmings and told everyone to go to or visit online a baby store that had a place in the town where the mommie-to-be lived and get a picture of the gift they were going to give. We had the hostess open envelopes that contained the pic and the money for the gift and everyone could ooh and aah over it. Then we maiked the whole lot to the mommie-to-be.

Second time, we had the shower and collected cash or checks at the shower, then had the mommie-to-be let them know what she had gotten with it herself.

Third time, we had everyone bring their gift, and we had it UPS'd to the mommie-to-be in huge boxes.

Have lots of food and games and fun either way and everyone will be happy!!

Micki seems to have this out of town shower thing down to a science

Gift Certificates are always nice -- that way mommy and daddy can pick out exactly what they want -- colors, shapes, etc. -- or if it's to somewhere like Publix -- baby formula, diapers, etc. Registry is always good too -- and I like the picture idea. The only thing about UPS'ing everything is that the money you spend on that could buy them several more things for the baby

I also agree with Micki that the most important thing for YOUR shower is that YOU have fun ;-)-- take lots of pictures with lots of smiles to send along too (I happen to know this particular mommy and I know she loves pictures)

I wish you success and FUN with your shower

When my brother and his wife were expecting we had a huge shower and invited all of the aunts, cousins, friends et al. I brought a video camera and came to the front door and they all screamed surprise. The video camera became the surrogate for my sister in law. It was hilarious. We sent the tape and the gifts fed ex.

big shhhhhh the mommy does not know the auntie and cousin are comig to her town for her shower!!

No problem

no prob

We have decided to let people bring gifts and we are going to UPS them to Florida.

We are going to film the shower and someone is going to open the gifts.

The funniest thing we came up with is to tape everyone at the shower singing songs to the mother-to-be. We have written our own lyrics to some familiar baby songs and they are hysterical. We have included the father-to-be in the lyrics too. Some are for the aunties to sing...and others are just for the cousins. Should be fun. Any other thoughts or ideas? The shower is this Saturday.

dotsie make sure you keep all the bows to make her a hat at the end of the shower.see ya soon!!

Ladies, thanks for all of your comments. The shower was a blast.

Baby will receive lots of very cute clothes and much more. We played games, sang fun songs, ate way too much, laughed lots, and FILMED the madness. Gifts and all will be sent UPS this week (shower in a box)for the shower in Florida.