Christmas with My Parents

I get it. You want to involve the kids in the white elephant. BUT be sneaky.... Tell the grandparents that only the adults will do the white elephant, that way the kids can still get their gifts. Iinvite over another couple (who have no kids) as to not overwhelm the night. Tell them about the white elephant. Stash away 4 kid friendly white elephant gifts and allow the kids in (as if it were a last minute idea).

I suggest that you talk with them to clarify your meaning. You could start it out by saying, What do you think about giving the children gifts as always and we do the white elephant thing as something extra? That way it's a discussion with you and them giving input.

I think this is a fun thing to do and it sounds like your step mother likes it too. Could you bake cookies together? Rent or buy some holiday movies. Will the zoo have special displays? Or a museum? The weather is so nice in your area. How about going for a walk to see the decorations in your neighborhood?

I would definitely talk to your dad about this and try to clarify. I'm sure he will want to do something special for the Grandkids.

You seem very stressed about how to "entertain" them. What kind of time frame are we talking about here? Are the staying with you for a few days? Are they visiting for a few hours?

My parents aren't really into games, either, but there are plenty of things we do together. Take walks, go to the park, build a fire in the fireplace and roast marshmallows, watch a movie.

Have you asked them what they would like to do with you?

Make Christmas cookies all together one day.
Host a Christmas party and invite some of your friends over one evening for appetizers and drinks.
Go to any winter/community Christmas events. (Here we have breakfast with Santa (a fundraiser), sleigh rides by the horse stables with Christmas crafts for the kids and hot apple cider afterwards, the polar express train ride in Santa Fe, Photos with Santa, etc.
Go out to a coffee shop, get fancy holiday coffees and read the newspaper and talk (my FIL loves to do this)
Each evening serve wine and appetizers before dinner to be festive.
Go cut down a tree together (here you can get a permit to do this on Forest Service land) and decorate it together (even if they just watch it'll be something to do)
Take the kids ice skating. They may only sit and drink hot cocoa but you and the kids will have fun!
Take the kid sledding.

Well if your son opens a Barbie I'd guess your daughter would steal it. But if your daughter opens a cool game, then what's to say she won't pout if brother steals it? Maybe if you clarify like this, and mention that the white elephant was going to be something fun to do the night before, then they should have no problem with it. Mention some ideas you had - a dvd, light-up cups, a funny gag gift (search "Fred and Friends" on Amazon), legos, a cupcake decorating set, etc......

My only concern with white elephant is that you will have few 'players' so I don't think it would be quite as fun as you anticipate. Not unless you have a few "funny" gifts (huge box of 24 rolls of toilet paper...) plus a few "great to steal" gift that everyone will want (iTunes gift card/Target gift card)...

Other ideas:
- Christmas Mad Libs
- Make a gingerbread house (or nativity scene) using fudge piping as glue. Here is a pic of the manger scene (that's coconut dyed yellow for hay) http://74.220.215.62/~firstci6/blog/wp-content/uploads/20...
- Pop Popcorn and watch The Christmas Story movie or any other flick
- Get to know Step-MIL and ask about her traditions - tell her yours for your family (ie, church service, lights, etc) and invite them. Who knows they may say yes!
- @Gigdet's ideas - make SMORES!

I don't know, but this is the reason the ER is busiest around the Holidays.

Why are they even coming if they don't believe anything in the holiday? Why don't they just stay at home and make each other miserable all day, instead of making you guys miserable and killing the spirit of Christmas for your kids... when they don't even believe in "the reason for the season"? Sorry if that's harsh. I'm so frustrated with families right now. I mean, at least shut your face and go to church so you don't have to explain that whole thing to the kids. I mean, is your face going to melt off if you sit in a church pew for an hour of your life, ON CHRISTMAS? Sheesh.

I say they are the "guests", they are the ones crashing your party, and they don't get to make the rules. They are the non-believers, not you. I would clarify.

With my husband's family we all buy gifts for the kids, let them open first. While they are playing with their new gifts we do the gift exchange/white elephant with adults only. Everyone brings a gift that wants to participate - so, you can either bring a gift as a couple or each bring a gift. Maybe you can just run that by them and see what they think. Just tell them that way they don't have to worry about the kids getting the right gifts.

Maybe you need to better explain that the white elephant is for fun, not the main attraction. It doesn't seem like they know how to have fun! What a bummer!

LOL!!! I had a similar question last year concerning my in-laws. If the holiday is at your home, you set the tone for fun. If they participate great. If not, great. Don't let it spoil the fun you want to have with your kids and the memories you want to create. My in-laws allowed themselves to have fun last year (instead of just sleeping as they do whenever they visit, BIL & uncle included but take them to the river boat to gamble and they're wide awake!!!! Sorry for the rant!!!). My kids and I started playing Michael Jackson Experience on the Wii and before you knew it, it was a party!!! Even my MIL had a Wii controller in one and had while holding on to her cane with the other. LOL

You set the tone and they will join in. Don't worry about the White Elephant game at this point. Just enjoy it and they will join in.