My husband is gone…..again. So, it’s time to put together some deployment care packages!
This time, he’s on a 9-month European Rotation for Operation Atlantic Resolve. And while this isn’t technically a combat deployment, he’s still gone for 9 months.
We made yet another deployment wall and another deployment bucket list. And one of the items on our bucket list is to send him some deployment care packages.
So here are 6 unique care packages that we sent him while he was gone!
Deployment Care Packages
Box #1: Christmas
“Wish you were gnome for the holidays!”
Unfortunately, my husband left right before Christmas, so this was the first box that we sent. The girls picked out the gnome wrapping paper and I found a saying to go with it.
In this care package, we put:
- 2 video games (he took a Nintendo Switch with him)
- a box of pecan spins
- a box of blueberry doughnuts
- pictures
- drawings from the kids
- command hooks
- lotion for his hands (the manly kind)
- cough drops
- candy
Some of the things he specifically asked for, like the Command hooks and cough drops, the other things, we picked out for him.
Command Medium Utility Hooks, Damage Free Hanging Wall Hooks with Adhesive Strips, No Tools Wall Hooks for Hanging Organizational Items in Living Spaces, 20 White Hooks and 24 Command StripsSnackBOX Graduation Snacks BOX Care Package (50 Count) Fathers Day Variety Pack Candy Treats Gift Baskets Guys Girls Adults Kids Grandkids Men Women Food Sampler Student Birthday Cookies Chips Finals Snack Packs Office Military and Gift Ideas
Box #2: Valentine’s Day
“Just some cupcakes waiting for our stud muffin!”
It took almost an entire month for his Christmas care package to arrive! I’m hoping it was because of the holidays and that they won’t all take that long.
But just in case, we put our Valentine’s care package in the mail around mid-January so that it will hopefully make it there in time!
The girls loved getting to make ‘their cupcake’ and they picked out the bright pink paper!
In this box was:
- a new sweatshirt
- warm socks
- several kinds Valentine’s Day candy
- beef jerky
- a candle
Bronco Billy’s Beef Jerky Old Country One Pound Resealable BagJack Link’s Beef Jerky Variety Pack – Perfect Father’s Day Gift, Includes Original, Teriyaki, and Peppered Beef Jerky – 96% Fat Free, No Added MSG- 1.25 oz (Pack of 15)
Box #3: We Miss You Deerly
“We miss you deerly!”
My husband loves deer hunting, so we couldn’t resist a hunting-themed care package while he’s deployed, especially after we found camo wrapping paper!
This care package included:
- 3 bags of beef jerky
- cookies
- a late Christmas gift from my parents
- thermal shirt
- nerf football
- hand warmers
- body wash
- dried fruit
- notes from the kids
Grabber Hand Warmers – Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers – Up to 7 Hours of Heat – 10 Pairs,one color,HWPP10DISPLAYUSAMavuno Harvest Organic Dried Fruit Variety Pack | Dried Mango, Papaya, Pineapple, Banana, Jackfruit, & Tropical Mix | Healthy, Vegan, No Sugar Added, Non GMO Snacks for Kids & Adults | 2 Ounce, 6 Pack
Box #4: Irish You Were Here
“Irish you were here!”
This box got to him just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! We don’t celebrate the holiday, but it was still fun to decorate with the green gingham wrapping paper and a lucky 4-leaf clover! And he always likes it when I add pictures to the box!
In this box, we put:
- individual cereal boxes
- nutty buddies (by request)
- shampoo
- boiled peanuts
- dried fruit
- deer jerky
- candy
- pictures
Kellogg’s Cold Breakfast Cereal, Single Serve, Variety Pack, 10.94oz Tray (10 Boxes)CRAVEBOX Snacks Box Variety Pack Care Package (80 Count) Treats Gift Basket Boxes Pack Adults Kids Grandkids Guys Girls Women Men Boyfriend Candy Birthday Cookies Chips Teenage Mix College Student Food Sampler Office Final Exams
Happy Father’s Day
“Happy Father’s Day!”
We didn’t send any packages during April or May because my husband was gone TDY to a class and couldn’t receive mail there.
So, we jumped back into package sending with a Father’s Day care package!
We kept this one simple by using poster alphabet stickers that we found at Wal-Mart. Lainey drew him a picture on one of the flaps (and even included the ‘future dog’, you can tell she’s campaigning hard for a dog right now, lol)!
Inside this package was:
- football
- cookies
- lots of dried fruit
- pistachios
- candy
- pecan spins
- Father’s Day cards/drawings
- pictures of the kids
- a ‘somebody in Texas loves me’ sticker
NERF Vortex Aero Howler Foam Ball – Classic Long-Distance Football — Flight-Optimizing Tail — Hand Grip – Indoor and Outdoor Fun (Blue)People’s Choice Beef Jerky – Jerky Box – One of Everything – Gift for Dad – Protein Snacks Military Care Package – Best Father’s Day Gifts for Him – Meat Snack Sampler Gift Basket – 12 Bags
Hurry Home, Sparklefarts
“Hurry home, Sparklefarts, we’ve got chaos to spread!”
My kids heard the trending audio on Instagram that says, “Get in, sparklefarts, we’ve got chaos to spread,” and thought that it was the funniest thing ever!
So, we made their dad a package calling him Sparklefarts and honestly, it’s made their whole year!
I used letter stickers that came from a Happy Planner set to spell out the small words and glittery, foam scrapbook stickers to spell ‘Sparklefarts’. (Finally, my hoard of unused scrapbook supplies is good for something!)
This package contained:
- lots of candy
- beef jerky
- gag gifts from 5 Below
- a candle
- mints
- rubber band guns
BigMouth Inc. Tiny – Hilarious Realistic Looking 3” Plastic Hands for Costumes and Pranks, Tricks to Keep Up Your Sleeve, Little Hands Toys with Handles – Funny Gift Idea for All AgesManly Indulgence Last Call Jar Candle 16.5 oz – Woodsy Vetiver, Oakmoss – Citrus & Spicy Hints – Eucalyptus – Up to 60 Hour Burn – Soy Blend Wax, USA Poured
Sending deployment care packages is fun for us! We enjoy the creativity and my husband seems to enjoy them too.
You can follow along with our deployment and military journey on Instagram!
