5 Gallon Bucket Seats For Your Camping Reunion

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Aunt Mo

Making and decorating their own 5 gallon bucket seat is a great ice breaker activity for your family reunion.

5 Gallon Bucket Seats for Your Family Reunion

If your family reunion is held at a campground you might find these 5 gallon bucket seats a fun and useful addition to your reunion. They’re easy to make and handy for storing anything you might want to access quickly such as flashlights, sunscreen, bug spray, gloves etc.

What you’ll need:

5 gallon bucket (Have everyone bring their own bucket. If you have family that will be traveling long distances to attend your reunion, purchase their buckets for them.)

Fabric-I like using bandanas

Polyethylene foam or quilt batting for the cushy part of your seat.

Particle board or for a more economic solution use cardboard.

Scissors

Sharpies

Staple guns

NOTE: Be sure and have plenty of scissors and staple guns so that people are not standing around waiting to use them.

Step 1. Cut the circles out of particle board or plywood scraps

Trace the lid for your pattern then use a jigsaw to cut circles from particle board or any scrap wood you may have. You will want to have these cut in advance if you are camping. Of course,if you are using cardboard they can be cut at the campsite.

Step 2: Add The Padding.

For the first buckets we made we used very thick (2- 3 inch) foam but we found that any padding at all makes the bucket more comfortable- even a couple of layers of quilt batting works well. Our best buckets were made with 1/2 inch Polyethylene Foam.

Place the wood circles on the foam and trace them. Cut the foam to fit.

NOTE: Be sure the handle of your bucket can move up and down. If your foam is too thick the handle won’t be able to move.

Step 3: Attach the fabric

Lay the wood piece on top of your fabric and add three inches to the circle. Cut out the fabric and then using staple guns attach the batting and fabric to the wood circle. Pull the fabric tight before stapling it on the board.

Step 4: Decorating Your 5 Gallon Bucket

Here’s the fun part! If someone in your family has a vinyl cutting machine such as a silhouette, ask them to cut a variety of shapes and designs that can be used to personalize buckets. Supply alphabet stickers, glitter glue, sticky jewels, buttons, ribbon and permanent markers so family members can decorate their buckets in their own personal style.

How to Pay For Your Family Reunion

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Aunt Mo

We’re blaming it on the economy but whatever the reason, our family reunion fund raising auction last year was not as productive as in years past so we are faced with some new money challenges this year. How are we going to pay for our family reunion? We always joke about plugging our “money tree into the “currant” bush but this year I think we’re going to need some new ideas.

To find a solution to our money concerns, I talked to everyone I knew and did a lot of research on the internet and these are the ways I found that you are paying for your family reunions:

Hold a Family Auction

A family auction is a pretty typical way that families pay for their reunions. We’ve been holding reunion auctions for about 15 years now. Everyone brings something to donate to the auction. Some family members work all year to make a quilt or other special item for the reunion, some offer services such as haircuts and some bake cookies, brownies or bring produce from their garden. The best sellers at our reunion are always the crocheted dishtowels Grandma makes ($40.00- $80.00) and the hand-stitched heirloom quilts that Grandpa makes ($200.00- $400.00). Other popular items are restored and framed photos of ancestors and photo memory books- anything with sentimental value. No one counts the items someone brings or judges them on how much they bid, everyone does the best they can, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Divide Up the Costs

Divide all expenses equally (save receipts), or have everyone pay individually for expenses as they incur.

Family Recipe Book

Collecting recipes and producing cookbooks and many other publishing projects such as directories, scrapbooks, and history books to sell at the reunion. Many will purchase family recipe books to give as gifts to neighbors and friends during the holidays.

Pass The Hat

Pass the hat- let family members donate what they can to your reunion fund.

Fund Raising Sale

Food, beverage and white elephant sales. Food sales can net a nice profit if you consider carefully your reunion customers. A bake sale could feature desserts to eat right there as well as whole bakery specialties to take home.

Reunion Yard Sale

Family yard sale- hold a yard sale either individually or collectively, perhaps as part of your reunion. Money raised goes in the family fund.

Personalized Family Products

Order personalized (imprinted) products such as t-shirts, caps, coffee mugs, pens, pencils…and many more items to sell.

Charge a Reunion Registration Fee

Charge a traditional registration fee to families. Some families charge per family unit and others charge different prices based on age and family size. Average cost families are charging for their reunions are adults (ages 13 and over)- $70.00, children- $40.00. Pay electronically or elect to pay with a bank check or money order.

Provide A Services Alternative

If some families can’t afford to pay then give them opportunities to provide service in exchange for paying fees- for instance could type in recipes for a family cookbook, maintain a family website or do family history research.

Cut Back on Reunion Time

The easiest way to reduce reunion expenses is to cut back on the time your reunion lasts. If you normally have a three day reunion cut back to two or just get together for a Saturday afternoon and evening. Make your meals potluck and enjoy the time, however short, that you have with each other. With finances in mind, some families opt not to have reunions every year.

Family Reunion Dues

Ask for reunion dues and ask family members to send a portion of their dues on a quarterly basis so that it isn’t a one-time large payment.

Reunion Raffle

Hold a raffle of donated items from companies or family members during the reunion. Plane tickets or electronics are good money generating items.

Donations

Collect corporate donations or pledges for a fundraising event like a bike or 5K race. Corporations sometimes donate to large reunions where knowledge of the company’s name and contribution reaches many people.

Family Reunion Pocket Change

Ask family members to save their pocket change during the year and bring it to the reunion. Count money by hand or take to a counting machine. Announce the grand total at your reunion.

Reunion Gifts

We are fortunate that we are able to go camping for our Stewart reunions and on the Wells’ side of the family we stay at the family condo. Location can be a huge expense but even that can be taken care of creatively. My parents rent condos or motel rooms for family members instead of buying Christmas gifts- they’re giving the gift of family.

Punch Board Game

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Aunt Mo

Punch Board For Your Family Reunion

You’ve seen punch boards on the popular TV game show, The Price is Right, but a punch board can be a fun addition to your family reunion. A punch board can be an exciting way to award prizes at your family reunion. You can use a punch board to make assignments or choose what activity you will do next.

A larger board can also be a fair way to divide into teams- for example- write families names on slips of paper (Aunt Geri’s family or Uncle Dan’s family etc.) Punch two or more holes- those families join together to make a tug a war, softball or family skit group. You can use the same strategy to assign seating for meals to mix things up a bit.

Creating Your Punch Board

To create your punch board you will need:

sturdy poster board or a piece of cardboard
tissue paper
Plastic disposable bowls, lunch sacks or sandwich bags
prizes
tape & hot glue
The first punch board we created we used one sheet of tissue paper to cover the entire back of the board. Since then we have found that covering each hole with individual squares seems to work best as punching one hole may pull the paper from around other holes. Tape each square securely around individual holes.
Behind the Punch Board

There are several options for hiding prizes behind your punch board. My favorite option is plastic bowls. Carefully run a line of hot glue around the rim of your bowl and attach it to the inside of the tissue covered holes, with the prize inside. Be sure and put your prize or secret message inside the bowl before attaching it to the board. Other options include taping a lunch sack to the back of each hole or plastic sandwich bags.

Punch boards also make fun advent calendars. Create yours with 24 holes and 24 prizes. Punch out one prize each day to help count down days until Christmas or your favorite holiday.

Giant Activities for Your Family Reunion

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Aunt Mo

”Miscellaneous” Activities for Your Family Reunion

I considered calling this post ”Miscellaneous” activities for your family reunion because they aren’t theme driven but have proven to be great time fillers for small groups of people during our family reunions.

Giant Checkers Rug

I have had this giant Checkers Rug for more than 20 years. We set it out at every family reunion and you will always find two people playing Checkers no matter what time of day it is, usually with a small crowd gathered around cheering for the underdog to win.

Giant Coloring Pages

Giant coloring pages are always a huge hit at our family reunions. Of course, there isn’t room for a lot of people to sit around coloring, but it’s a great activities for someone looking for a little down time. Coloring pages come in different themes that would go along with your reunion theme- jungle, circus, Medieval etc. Some pages come with markers for coloring but you’ll need to bring extra. When your page is complete, roll it up carefully and then enter in your county fair or have it framed for Grandma.

The giant Checker rug and giant coloring pages are both available at the family reunion helper store for under twenty dollars.

Remote Control Car Racing for Your Family Reunion

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Aunt Mo

We attended a party sponsored by my husbands company this summer and when we walked into the huge warehouse all the boys faces, young and old, lit up with excitement at what they saw. A simple remote control race track had been set up in the warehouse and party goers were able to organize their own races against family and friends. What a great party idea and what a fun idea for a family reunion! Here’s how it works-

The Cars

If your reunion committee has the funds, purchase a few cars and at the end of your reunion auction them off or have a prize drawing. Another option is to invite family members to bring their own remote control cars to the reunion. If you’re planning in advance, a good time to purchase remote control cars in during the Thanksgiving Black Friday sales.

The RC Track

First you have to decide if you want a dirt track or an inside track. As far as size goes, you won’t need more than a 20-foot by 20-foot area. You can chart out the obvious oval course or focus on hard turns to make it more challenging. If you are racing on a hard surface, you can easily chart out the borders of the track using chalk or tape. Use 2x4s to make a sturdy track. A garden hose may also be a solution to keep the RC cars on the track. Depending on how many cars and racers you have the track should be within 5 to 7 feet wide.

A barrier in the center of your track helps keep cars roaring around the track and may help keep younger racers from getting stuck in the center. It can also be used as a control central for racers.

RC Jumps and Obstacles

Now it’s time to have some fun adding obstacles and jumps. If your car is a cheaper model, add only slight jumps but medium cost remote control cars can fly right over jumps without being damaged. You can use 2 liter bottles that you spray paint bright orange as obstacles. Put a little sand in each bottle and use them for obstacles to weave in and out off. (You can use orange cones but the smaller ones get pushed out of place.) Another fun obstacle for your track is a tunnel made from plastic or metal that a remote control car can fit through. If you are creating a dirt track the pipe can also double as the base for a jump if dirt is piled around it. You will have to experiment to get the dirt at the right angle. Tunnels can also be made out of cardboard boxes.

Race Day!

Have your track set up when reunion goers arrive. Invite them to practice racing cars around the track then choose a few cars to race for prizes at the end of the day. Gift bags of “Hot Wheel” and “Cars” goodies are fun awards.

Race Day Party

You can find race day printable invitations, decoration ideas,printable Pit Passes, water bottle (fuel) labels and award certificates in the familyreunionhelper store at Race Day Party.
Whether for a family reunion or birthday party it’s a great party theme with plenty of ZOOM!

Gentlemen, start your engines!

Brain Games For Your Family Reunion

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Aunt Mo

Planning Activities For Everyone

I always plan lots of physical activities for our family reunions- there’s no sitting around when I plan a reunion. However; not everyone is able to join in on a game of “Whiffle Ball” or run an obstacle course so I like to plan some “brain games” for them.

You can incorporate brain games into every reunion theme- Boot Camp, All Sport and Olympic themes are perfect themes for brain games. If you are giving awards for your activities be sure to include awards for your “brain games”.

Listed below is a one of my favorite brain games –

Brain Game

1. How many outs are in an inning of baseball? (6)

2. We celebrate Independence Day on the 4^th of July in the United States. Is there a 4^th of July in England. (Yes, there is a 4^th of July everywhere.)

3. Some months have 31 days, some have 30, how many have 28? (They all do)

4. You have become lost in the woods at night. It is winter and getting very cold. Spotting an abandoned cabin, you go inside. By the moonlight you see an oil lamp, an oil heater and some kindling wood in a fireplace. But you discover you only have one match. What do you light first? (the match)

5. Your doctor gives you three pills and tells you to take one every half hour. How long do they last? (One hour. Example: 12:00, 12:30, 1:00)

6. In the state of Mississippi, is it legal for a man to marry his widow’s sister? (He can’t; he’s dead)

7. Take two apples from three apples. How many do you get? (Two, you took two)

8. You’re a school bus driver. At the first stop in the morning, you pick up an eight year old and a six year old. At the second stop you pick up a third grader and two fourth graders. At the third stop you pick up the Gibson twins who are 11 and one five year old. At the fourth stop you pick up one 12 year old and three children who are seven. How old is the bus driver? (Your age, you are the school bus driver.)

9. Divide 30 by ½ and add 10. What do you get? (70)

10. How many animals did Moses take onto the ark? (None, Moses wasn’t on the ark, Noah was)

11. You build a house with four southern exposures. A bear walks by your living room window. What color is the bear? (white, it is a Polar Bear. You are at the north pole.)

12. You have two coins that total 55 cents. One of them is not a nickel. What are they? (Half dollar and a nickel)

13. Billy’s mom has three kids. One is Penny and one is Nickel. What is the name of her third kid? (Billy)

The Family That Eats Together Stays Together

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Aunt Mo

Or Forcing Your Family to Mingle

One difficult part of a family reunion or party can be getting your family to mingle during meal time. We usually have each family group sitting together- the Maddox family, the Wynnes and the Stewarts all sitting in their own little group. It’s not that we don’t like each other or don’t get along-we just gravitate to our own family group.

Here’s a fun way to mix things up. Put a pieces of colored tape or ribbon on each chair or seating space (if you’re dealing with picnic benches) When everyone has begun eating announce that everyone sitting on a yellow space must switch places with another yellow. A few minutes later have pinks switch and so on.

DO NOT make it too complicated! If you have green switch with pink and yellow with red, nothing will happen- everyone will remain in their original seat. If you’re family is compliant and seems to enjoy the mixing up you could try switching two colors at a time but for the most part it’s best to focus on one color at a time. You don’t have to mix people up all in one meal- keep the colors on during your entire reunion and only do a couple of swaps per meal.

Towards the end of the meal you can announce “Rainbow Mixup” and everyone has to switch places.

HINT: Choose a meal that doesn’t have a lot of plates and silverware etc. to be moved.

Party Games 411

Posted on March 2, 2014 by Aunt Mo

What Game Should We Play?

If you’re looking for a game to play you should check out this new game site- Party Games 411. It’s a very simple site to use and a marvelous resource for party planners.

I plan a lot of parties and family reunions and I am always looking for a new game or activity. I search the web trying to find ideas but this site is the easiest way I’ve found.

Search for a Game

There are several ways to search for a game at Party Games 411. You can:

1. Enter the number of players and the location (inside or outside) that the game will be played. For instance, I searched for an indoor or outdoor game for 80 people and it gave me 40 possible games we could play.

2. You can also search for games alphabetically.

3. You can search for particular game by entering the name of it.

Each game gives you recommended ages and game requirements and easy to understand rules and instructions.

Games, Games, Games

You will find ideas for card games, team building games, tag games, mind games, party games, large group games and so much more. So next time you ask, “What game should we play?” check out Party Games 411.

Jugball

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Aunt Mo

Jugball is a game that the Stewart family “invented” about 20 years ago and has become a family favorite at our annual family reunions. It doesn’t matter what else we do or what our reunion theme is, we always play Jugball.

Jugball Milk Jugs

The most difficult part of Jugball is getting enough jugs for everyone to use. We ask family members to bring their own jugs and then an extra jug for someone who forgets theirs. We just cut the bottom out of old milk jugs. If you wanted to be creative you could decorate them with duct tape and markers but we play with our jugs just the way they are. A note about the ball- bring several types and sizes of balls to see what works for you. You don’t want a ball that is too bouncy or it will be difficult to keep in your jug.

Jugball Rules- sort of

I’ve never played Jugball but those that do assure me that it is an easy game to learn. It’s pretty much like football with goal being to get the jugball into the end zone in a teammate’s jug.

First mark off a large field, with boundaries and two end zones.

The game begins with a(throw off), and the receiving team may either catch the jugball, and move it from there, or drop it, or let it hit the ground upon reception. Then, the receiving team works the jugball forward, toward the other team’s end zone. The ball may move only through the air.

Upon catching a pass, a player must stop running (you are allowed to be carried two steps by the act of the catch), and try to find a teammate who is trying to get open. This game continues until a point is scored, at which point the scoring team throws off.

If, at any point, the jugball hits the ground (not during a throw off), the team who was not in possession before the fault assumes control.

A score happens when a player catches the jugball in the other team’s end zone. If an out of bounds pass happens, the other team throws in from that spot on the boundary.

The defense may cover the player with possession of the ball, like defenders in basketball (but the jugball may not be knocked out of a players jug, it must be allowed to be thrown). Also, if the other team is on offense, it is worth simply knocking down the jugball if catching it is difficult, as this will also result in a change of possession.

My favorite thing about Jugball is that our family just made it up at family reunion. It doesn’t take a lot of expensive equipment or extensive planning- you just do it. If you’re family tries Jugball it might become a family tradition at your reunions or maybe… you’ll make up your own game.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Party

Posted on February 17, 2014 by Aunt Mo

This is a guest post by Sarah Brooks. Sarah is a Houston based freelance writer and blogger.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Party

Playing host or hostess is an extremely rewarding experience; especially when bringing loved ones together to celebrate family ties. But it can also be a daunting proposal for party planners faced with coordinating the wide variety of details involved in carrying-off successful parties.

You are out to have a good time too, so getting a firm handle on your party plans allows you to relax and go with the flow. Use these proven tips to take the stress out of the equation, launching trouble-free fun for your entire family.

Plan Ahead for Success

Start your party planning effort with a wide angle view; roughly deciding when you’d like to host a gathering. Certain times each year, like holiday seasons and summer months; when kids are out of school, are heavily scheduled for many families, so choosing prime-time dates may limit your guest list. On the other hand, advance notice gives friends and family plenty of time to mark the date for your special event.

At the very least, craft your timetable much as you would for a wedding or other occasion, supplying at least a month’s notice for your guests. As you firm-up plans, consider other things that might be happening in people’s lives. Graduation season, for example, furnishes built-in commitments for families, who may not be able to attend your party during this busy period. Major, isolated events can also hinder attendance – don’t try to compete with sporting events or religious holidays for your guests’ attention.

Keep it Simple

Hosting festive gatherings immediately pushes your own expectations higher. After all, you want to put your best foot forward, staging a memorable event. For successful parties, resist the urge to take on more than you can reasonably handle – despite your desire to impress your guests.

Ambitious menus, for example, quickly spiral beyond manageability, taking all the fun out of host and hostess duties. Instead of trying new dishes and calling-on exotic ingredients, stick to simpler fare, using proven recipes and sure-thing crowd-pleasing dishes. And don’t forget to project your menu selections to the scale of your party. While elaborate canapés with detailed presentations are manageable by the dozen, you may find it unreasonable to produce hundreds of them for large parties.

Though variety is the spice of life, you needn’t prove it with sprawling menu selections. Instead, focus on a few well-prepared offerings with mass appeal. And whenever possible, include items you can prepare ahead of time, reducing your commitment on the big day.

Call-In Reinforcements

Family gatherings are all about having fun and reconnecting with loved ones you don’t see as often as you’d like. When working out the details of your party, remember others have walked before you, facing the same host and hostess duties on your plate. To ease your own burden, enlist the help of friends and family willing to contribute to the party-planning effort. Each aspect covered by helpers checks a responsibility off your own list; leading to a well-rounded event and less stress for you.

Mobilize volunteers in ways that help you most. If you need a decorating committee, for instance, tap creative contributors for ideas and input fostering festive ambiance. Or if the party grows beyond numbers you generally accommodate, request spare chairs, tables, and other needed items from helpers, rather than buying or renting them yourself.

Hosting parties can be fun, as long as you don’t become overwhelmed. For sure-fire success, start with a reasonable game plan, using advance coordination to rein in the details. And don’t be afraid to use helpful volunteers to pull-off entertaining, worry-free events.

Author Bio:

This is a guest post by Sarah Brooks from Freepeoplesearch.org. She is a Houston based freelance writer and blogger. Questions and comments can be sent to brooks.sarah23 @ gmail.com

5 Gallon Bucket Seats for Your Family Reunion

What you’ll need:

Step 1. Cut the circles out of particle board or plywood scraps

Step 2: Add The Padding.

Step 3: Attach the fabric

Step 4: Decorating Your 5 Gallon Bucket

Hold a Family Auction

Divide Up the Costs

Family Recipe Book

Pass The Hat

Fund Raising Sale

Reunion Yard Sale

Personalized Family Products

Charge a Reunion Registration Fee

Provide A Services Alternative

Cut Back on Reunion Time

Family Reunion Dues

Reunion Raffle

Donations

Family Reunion Pocket Change

Reunion Gifts

Punch Board For Your Family Reunion

Creating Your Punch Board

Behind the Punch Board

”Miscellaneous” Activities for Your Family Reunion

Giant Checkers Rug

Giant Coloring Pages

The Cars

The RC Track

RC Jumps and Obstacles

Race Day!

Planning Activities For Everyone

Brain Game

Or Forcing Your Family to Mingle

What Game Should We Play?

Search for a Game

Games, Games, Games

Jugball Milk Jugs

Jugball Rules- sort of

Tips for Hosting a Successful Party

Plan Ahead for Success

Keep it Simple

Call-In Reinforcements

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