Need some ideas...

shaylagirl

I know that none of you can give truly personalized ideas, but...I'm looking for something perhaps I haven't thought of (also have put my sister on this task too!).

So, FI and I, when talking with the man performing the service, decided to incorporate a section of our wedding to integrate our children into our new family.  As a part of this, we are going to be giving each boy a special gift or a token to commemorate the day.

FI's son is 11, and FI's going to get him a pocketknife.

My son, who is 15 is a bit trickier.  He JUST bought himself a VERY nice Leatherman tool, thus making a pocketknife pretty useless.

He doesn't wear a watch.  Doesn't seem big on necklaces or jewelry.

I thought about a set of dog tags (he's currently in the MCJROTC program in high school, and planning on enlisting with the Air Force or Navy once he's done with college so he can enter the service as an officer [kid's got his life planned out at least that far]), but...what would I put on them?  Also, that idea seems somewhat insulting to the men and women in service.

He's a trumpet player in band.  New mouthpiece? 

He's also a Brony (don't judge...I know, I know...but it makes him happy, and if the most 'out there' thing my son does is watch "My Little Pony" instead of running the streets knocking up girls, I'm good with it).  But I can't think of anything 'fancy' enough there.

So...any ideas? 

I considered a nice lighter, but that seems like an inappropriate thing to get him (he's always having to burn "Irish Pennants" off his cammies for uniform inspection).  He's too young for a flask just yet. 

So, I'll take any kind of idea; good, bad or off-the-wall!!

[Deleted User]

Is he big on the trumpet playing? (Does he plan on continuing to play after high school?) Does he have a NICE horn, or a student model?

ETA: If he plans on continuing to play, and has a nice horn, but could use some TLC, look into getting it professionally cleaned, and, depending on the state it's in, possibly relacquered. (Not something I'd recommend getting done if he's planning on being done once he's graduated from high school, though. It's definitely not cheap.)

SewInLoveWithDMB

Grooming supplies, something like this? http://gifts.redenvelope.com/gifts/mens-soap-shop-grooming-set-humidor-30109060?ref=HomeNoRef&viewpos=4&trackingpgroup=rclsg

(I went to redenvelope.com and that was the first thing that caught my eye)

shaylagirl

@alison - I dunno if they'd allow me to bring a gun to the chapel.  Plus, that'd be WAY over the budget FI and I set for gifts for the boys.  But, that'd be suhhhhweet if I could afford to let him go pick one out. 

@lplions - Right now, he's currently playing on the "family" trumpet.  It was his Great-Grandfathers, then his Grandfather's (I didn't play trumpet or it would have been mine), and now it's his concert horn.  He uses his coronet for marching season as the 'family' one is SUPER old, but still plays and performs well for him.  I actually had looked into a re-lacquer as a gift for my dad one year, and yeah...WHOOOO expensive!!  He says he wants to keep playing past HS and in to college, but he's not as driven as I was to music at his age. 

@SewInLove - That's actually SUPER cool!!!    Thank you!!  A little outta my price range, but a hella cool idea!!

[Deleted User]

An "of the month club" membership? There's a shave of the month club, or a bacon of the month club, or, something like that.

Clpapke83

A wallet, or the grooming equipment sounded nice too.

schellzinator

a) I've never heard of a Brony prior to this - but I love it.

b) I'm not well versed in military etiquette - so I was just curious why dog tags would be insulting to a member in the military?

c) As for a suggestion - I also was thinking of what @alisonmarie658 had said about concert tickets...Or how about a military prep kit - the lighter, a compass, the book the "Art of War" by Sun Tzu...

libby18bell

I know you said he has a knife, or something similar, but if he is serious about going in to the military what about a Kabar knife.  Those are the only knife the Seals and Rangers use, so they are a big deal and made in the USA.  Also they aren't insane on price but are insane on quality.  You could get both brothers one and have something nice engraved on them or what not.

shaylagirl

@Schellz - A)Lots of people think if you're a Brony, you've got issues.  My son says for HIM, he just likes to watch My Little Pony and hang out with others who do too.  His version of being a Brony, I'm cool with.

B)Because as they always point out to the JROTC kids, they are NOT in the military.  And, I personally feel those who are out fighting the wars overseas and making those sacrifices shouldn't be made light of, and I don't want to insult those who are out giving all for us at home.  I tend to err on the side of caution.

C)A military prep-kit.  Now THAT might be awesome. 

I also like your idea @libby18bell!  Not sure how okay FI'd be giving his "baby boy" *laugh* a serious knife, but I know my son'd love the HELL out of it!!  And it'd be something he could, in theory, use someday. 

Thanks ya'll for some hella awesome ideas!! 

And I also am digging on the "...of the month" club ideas.  Carnivorous plants?  My kiddo would TOTALLY dig on it.  He'd forget to feed them, but he'd think they were awesome. 

SwimGuppy

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