Anyone have any new ideas for fun things?  We send water balls/bombs in summer and yoyos in winter as well as Koosh balls and magic card tricks.  They're just kids at heart and it seems to give them an outlet.  What else do you send?

Getting ready to send out my first package...I found some $1 brain teaser books at target, and squirt guns for the guys!

I like to shop at the Cracker Barrel's Country store.  They have brain teasers and other various games that I think the troops enjoy.  They also have old fashion candy that I like to get to put in my care packages. 

I've included some nerf footbals, small superballs, and some weird little balls that are like a soft jelly porcupine ball that they seem to like.  This weekend I bought a few things from the Party Store that I'm going to include in my next boxes.   One is similiar to horse shoes (has portable rings to hit), one is a portable badmitten, etc.  I also found a bad of party favors that were the little miniture paddle balls that I put in one box....haven't heard from them yet.  They were just putting their summer fun stuff out so they may put out more. 

Anna

Hey, has anyone ever sent a pinata?  If so, how was it received?  I'm guessing that they'd have something to whack it with,eh?  I saw one the other day and am thinking this could be a good way to let out a bit of aggression.

Kathy

Seems to me like a pinata would have been a good choice for a Cinco de Mayo box, but it's a little late now for that.

 I have sent puzzle books and got a bunch of sudoko books at the half priced book store today  (all they had on the $2 shelf )   But I also just found baton shaped bubble sticks.....the size and shape of a police baton but there is a loop inside the bubble soap that is almost 8 inches long to make HUGE bubbles!!!.....looks like SO much fun, and only $1 at Wal Mart.  Gotta send those to my MP guys......LOL.   I hope they have as much fun playing with this stuff as I have finding it for them.

Donna

Peachycor and others looking for fun things...........go to the dollar store and go down the children's aisle.   I'm not saying they are children......but who doesn't like silly string, bubbles, playdough, water balooons  and gag toys (like the funny nose and glasses).   I have  sent silly boxes.......with all of the above items along with a Groucho Marx and Lucy Ball dvd (the king and queen of comedy to me).   I also included a disposable camera.   They returned the camera to me (I put postage on an envelope for them to send it back) I processed it and  sent the pics back.   The pics were priceless.......esp. when they got "creative" with the playdough.   They told me it was by far the best package.....and most fun.    After all......they do need to unwind a bit......... 

I know many of us go to the dollar store....and why not.....more stuff for the $$$$ which means more we can buy!!!!

Love peace and blessings.......Anne Marie

Sending a camera with return postage is such a great idea.

How much $ did you put on the envelope or what kind of envelope did you use?

I don't remember what amount of postage I put on........probably a few dollars worth of stamps.   I used a bubble envelope so that it would be protected.   I had gotten that idea of the camera and the return envelope from an OLD post about theme packages.

Love peace and blessings...........Anne Marie

I love the camera idea!!  I'm going to have to do that with one of my contacts or two.  So you just put the camera with a little note and an addressed and stamped envelope into a package?  Just want to make sure I got it straight!

MontanaKatrina........Hello......been awhile..........

Yes, I put the camera in the package along with a padded envelope with postage on it (went to the PO and asked them to weigh it).    As I said......it was inside a box along with a lot of fun silly things......funny face with nose and glasses, silly string, play dough, fishing pole, etc.   They took turns with the nose and glasses thing and the pics were priceless on all of them.   I had read this on a very old post of what to send (I believe it was the post of THEME packages).    HAVE FUN......

Love peace and blessings.....Anne Marie

I've sent several self inflating "whoopie cushions" over the years.  Two years ago I sent a contact (family friend, not AS) a "fart machine" that was a great hit!  Unfortunate he was only able to play with it for a few days before it was discovered and "borrowed" by his SGT, never to be seen again. I'm sure it moved up the chain of command and all across Iraq before it finally gave out.  At least I hope so.

This doesn't really fit into the same group as water balloons and fart machines, but Cracker Barrel has a section of 4th of July stuff and in it is a book of letters kids have written to soldiers.  I flipped through it and some of the pictures are adorable and a couple of the letters  cracked me up.  I thought it might be good for a smile or 2.

I just ordered some "Love Lotto" cards from Amazon for some of my guys to put in their letters to their sweethearts and wives. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Lotto-Romantic-Scratch-Win/dp/0811863298/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242798185&sr=8-4

Also, Zymetrical has a nice selection of silly prank gifts. www.zymetrical.com  and their shipping charges are quite reasonable. They also offer a discount if you buy certain quantities.

I sent the Judy doll last year to a squad in Iraq. They sent back hilarious pics of them posing with her but made me promise I wouldn't post them on my Facebook page.

Nerf guns are a big hit too.