Flat Stanley

First, since he offered, allow him to pay for part of the shipping. You can "give" him the difference. That way he doesn't have to pay for all of it, and still has the experience of being responsible for his offer.
About what to include, I have less idea. But since you are the only one from the states, you can focus on things that are different from Singapore. I bet their markets are nothing like King Soopers. And you can still include things that remind the kids we are still similar: sports, school, etc. And remember to get a photo of Stan looking at the Rockies - they are still impressive from far away. Good luck!

I would do something that focuses on our altitude here. If I'm not mistaken, most of Singapore is quite low and at sea level, so to have Flat Stanley a mile high (without being in an airplane) is pretty amazing. If you have time, run into Denver and take a picture of Flat Stanley on the capitol steps where it has the marker indicating 5,280 feet high. Or take a photo of Stanley near one of the highway elevation signs. That would be a good project for school kids - to understand how high we are here, even when we're not on a mountain, but just in our towns and cities.

And I bet they don't have snow! Just go around your neighborhood and photograph Stanley next to some drifts or piles of plowed snow or unshoveled decks or cars.

When you're ready to mail him back, go to one of those shipping places that offers all the carriers (not just a dedicated Fed Ex place) and let them help you choose the best method. They'll have DHL, international air mail, and Fed Ex, UPS, etc.

FedEX to Singapore charges a HUGE fee to the receiver on top of the shipping cost. USPS Express would be best.

I participated in this once.. except it was for a stuffed doll named Alonso the person made.

I didn't go all over the place, I just spent about 2 hours one afternoon and drove to a local park (like feeding ducks) and found a few cool little spots along the way to snap some really quick pics. Here are the pictures I took:

http://www.wheresalonso.blogspot.com/2010/03/greetings-fr...

Pictures can be in your living room, inside a Chik-fil-A, in front of your kid's school, with his sports team or a local statue or water fountain... things like that are totally different here than in Singapore. As for flat things to send. A flower or leaf or something like that, flatten it out and put it in the book, a postcard, a map, a penny, a paper menu from somewhere like Chipotle or IHOP. Those types of things are pretty unfamiliar in Singapore too.

My brother and sister-in-law did this for our son's Flat Stanley. What was really cool was a small photo album they included with shots of Flat Stanley all over the place (You could just do flat scrapbook-like pages). Even showing Stanley for a ride in a wagon was fun. Take pics of Stanley at your kids' school, take pictures with the entire sports team, pictures with your neighbors, etc. It doesn't have to show major sights in Colorado to be fun. Just show typical life in Colorado.

What about a postcard of the Rocky Mountains ? Or maybe something representing the Colorado Rockies baseball team ? What about taking a picture of him with a state or city sign (you know - the "Now Entering....." signs) ? I think the Flat Stanley projects are fun ! I would go ahead and Fed Ex it and see if they will pay 1/2 the cost (or all of it since they did offer and time is short). Have fun !

I like the idea of things around your house, neighborhood, and school/sports. You could also dodge into a gas station and get a couple of postcards of the Rockies and/or the river.

Since it's going back to Singapore just simple pictures of your home and neighborhood as well as the school and a shopping experience would be educational and interesting. Perhaps write down the description of a typical day. And you could send post cards of the sites in your state.

For my boys, my SIL took pictures of Stanley in the places we have enjoyed visiting near her in CO.
I would let your cousin pay for the FedEX since it is so expensive.

Send American money back (Penny, dime and a quarter)
Hold Flat Stanley up in front of an American flag.
Travel brochures work well too.

Also, you could email the pics to your cousin and let them develop them if time is a factor.

I LOVED Flat Stanley!! We did Las Vegas. My sister took pictures of some of the "famous" casinos!

Colorado - a picture of the Rockies?
Coors beer?
A picture of the Colorado River?
Colorado Rockies or Denver Broncos pictures...

FEDEX to Singapore? If it's flat envelope - most likely $30 for 3 day service. I don't know.

At MIchael's in the sticker section there is a Colorado sticker set. It has mountains, fishing, camping and COLORADO. We used it for a project

American flag
money, love this idea
postcards
pictures of Stanley with the kids at home, near their school, in the yard, at yoru favorite restaurant.

My sister's kids did this and my husband took Flat J to Iraq and then we sent him to a friend who was in Moscow. How fun!!

Maybe a post card and a small flag? Or maybe a ticket from a sports game or a receipt from a restaurant that you like? Good Luck!

Definately the snow! Hold him up and snap a picture with the mountains in the back, go online and print of some ski resort stuff, The Mint, our Capitol, online there is tons of stuff if you can't personalize everything with your family in the photos too.

I would just pay for it if it is not a big deal for your family, it is nice to extend good Karma, your kiddos may need something someday BUT if it is going to take away from you all, he did offer, so I would just put a note in saying you appreciate his offer to reimburse as times can be rough and thanks for acknowledging that, hope the kids enjoy what your family found for them.

Happy hunting.

We did this for my cousin in London, who sent us one of many copies of their Flat Stanley. We took pictures and emailed the pictures back. I think that should be good enough, unless this is the only Flat Stanley your cousin has. You could take pictures of him "standing on top of a snow capped mountain" (ie. even if you are far away, you can hold him up and make it appear he is standing on the mountain), near Sports Authority Field, in the snow with your kids, etc. You could also go and get post-cards to send (or scan and send, as the case may be). I hope that helps.

Singapore is an island nation - tiny, flat, mostly urban, hot, and wet. Things I'd take pictures of - mountains, snow, your child's school, a school lunch, your dinner, your house, a playground, a public park, some of the things in the produce section in your neighborhood supermarket, maybe a section of the supermarket shelves and what's on them, a school bus, your child's room, people skiing (if there's a convenient way to get that picture in a short time), your kids doing their sports. Our everyday life, the things we do, and the places we go would be interesting because some of them will be quite different from what you'd see in Singapore.

As mentioned the money thing would be great...even better would be to take Stanley to the Denver Mint and get a brochure and some pictures there...while down there you could visit the Capitol and 16th St Mall and maybe Coors Field and Mile High
There is definitly no shortage of snow right now so maybe Stanley could "help" you build a snowman or make a snow angel and you could send pictures. Don't forget to make him a flat coat and hat if he is going to be playing outside.

Wal-mart sells a mini book of 'Animals of Colorado' (10 pages or so, light and 4" by 3" roughly). I gave it to a 5yr old boy who was visiting from Australia and he carried it everywhere with him for two weeks.Think it was $4.

As an outsider not paying for Fedex to Singapore (LOL) I think it's a fun and educational project to be a part of. Anything that teaches kids to appreciate our differences in a positive way is great. I can understand why you might feel it was a little forward to give you such a short time frame and to just assume you will participate.It could be a good teaching opportunity for your kids too. Good luck!