1. Animal Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches: Kids will love helping make these bite-sized beauties. Sandwich ice cream or sorbet between two animal crackers using a melon baller to make mini scoops. Wrap each sandwich in plastic wrap and freeze. Decorate a plain round tin with circus animal decals and layer the wrapped sandwiches inside. Since the full can will need to be stored in the freezer, you may want to present Dad with a card with mystery clues that will eventually lead him to his gift in the freezer.

2. Tree of Promises: Buy a ready-to-plant potted tree, like Dogwood, at a nursery or home supply store. Buy fancy labels at a craft supply store (or make your own on the computer). Ask each family member to think of two or three chores or favors they are willing to promise Dad. Younger kids might promise to shine her shoes or read her a story, while teens might promise to wash the car or babysit little siblings while Mom and Dad have a night out on the town. Write each promise on a tag and hang it on the tree for Dad to tear out when he needs a special gift. When all the tags are gone, Dad can plant the tree outside and use it to store tags for family celebrations for years to come.

3. Daddy Dossier – You Tube has turned us all into amateur cinematographers. Get your siblings together and make a memory movie for Dad. Visit the places in your area where dad earned his reputation as the best dad in the world… The local baseball field where he fearlessly and without the aid of controlled substances taught you how to drive… The 40 Row – standing walnut trees that you and dad planted as seedlings for a 4-H school project… The Wishnik troll doll (am I dating myself?) that dad bravely rescued after he accidentally flew out the car window on the I -95. Record each other on the spot to document the events in your lives that shaped Dad’s cherished memories.

4. King for a Day: Plan a full day of activities dad loves and write a fancy itinerary on his computer. Tickets can include breakfast in bed, followed by a round of golf, followed by a picnic in the park, followed by your choice of movies, etc. Put the itinerary in a box and wrap it with pretty paper and ribbon. Present it on a tray along with breakfast in bed.

5. Grill Thrill: Mix up a couple of barbecue spices for grilling. Here are two good recipes:

CURRY-CAYENNE RUB – A curry-based rub for chicken, beef or pork

In a large bowl, combine 1/3 cup curry powder, 3 tablespoons sugar, freshly ground black pepper, onion salt and dried, crumbled thyme, 2 tablespoons garlic salt, and 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper. Mix well and store in an airtight container.

SWEET & SASSY RUB – A sweet and spicy rub for fish, poultry and meat

In a large bowl, combine ½ cup paprika, 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon each freshly ground black pepper and garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon onion powder. Mix well and store in an airtight container.

Put the dressings in airtight bottles or jars and add pretty labels. Buy a large tub (which can then be filled with ice to chill drinks), a bag of charcoal, grilling tools, an apron, and maybe a 6-pack of beer. Arrange all the items in the washtub and add a big bow.

6. Storytime: This is a great gift for grandparents. Pick one day a week or one day a month, depending on your availability, to read aloud to your recipient. Pick a book you both like and read a chapter at each visit. Sure, you could buy a couple of books on CD, but that’s not the point. In reality, this is nothing more than a commitment to spend time with a loved one. Also, with a book on CD you can’t stop and discuss the plot with the reader, or share a cup of tea, or a hug.

7. Cookie Emergency Kit: Nothing tastes better than freshly baked cookies, still hot from the oven. Mix up cookie doughs in three or four flavors that you know Dad will like. An assortment of chocolate chip, oatmeal, peanut butter, and sugar cookies is a good combination. Form the dough into logs and wrap them in parchment paper. Attach a label with baking instructions to each roll of dough. Buy a nonstick baking sheet, an oven mitt, and a metal spatula. Place the dough logs, mitt, and spatula on the cookie sheet and tie with a pretty ribbon. Dad can store the dough in the freezer and cut off a piece whenever he has a craving for homemade cookies. He can bake an entire dish or just cut enough dough to make one or two cookies at a time. (As if someone ate one or two cookies at a time!)

8. Young Wine: This is a great gift for a young dad-to-be. Ask the folks at your local wine shop to help you pick out a wine that will need to be aged for several years before it becomes truly spectacular. Give it to dad with a note that says, “Drink this wine to celebrate your baby’s 13th birthday” or “Don’t open it until the day you write your first school tuition check.”

9. Tub-o-Treats: Maybe Dallas Cowboys season tickets aren’t in your budget, but you can still surprise Dad with an awesome gift that keeps on giving. He collects lots of little things that Dad can wear while he watches his favorite sporting events on TV. Wrap each one in pretty paper and ribbons and place them in a large bucket or canvas bag. Let Dad open a present every time he sits down to watch a sporting event. Items may include a large can of gourmet nuts, a baseball cap with your team logo, a Rubik’s Cube, a beverage can, a box of microwave popcorn, a stadium blanket, a controller stand TV remote and a book about his favorite sport.

10. Cook the Book – If you like to cook and your dad lives nearby, this is for you. Buy a cookbook with recipes for foods Dad likes. Wrap it in fancy paper and include a special handmade coupon with the card. The coupon entitles the bearer to one prescription of their choice per month, prepared and delivered by you. For example, if Dad likes sweets, you could give him a book of dessert recipes. The card might say something like, “Real men eat dessert first. Here’s a coupon for one piece of candy a month for the next year. You pick it and I’ll make it.”