To think I have drawn the Christmas task short straw?

[BeanInMyBelly]

We are going to my Aunt and Uncles this year for a big family Christmas. My mother emailed my aunt asking if she could bring anything, to which my aunt responded, cc'ing me in as well, saying that my grandparents were bringing some ham, her sister is bringing {insert other random food item here}, and could my mum and dad bring some wine for the toast. Then came my request. What, you may ask, have I been asked to bring? Nothing...
I've been given the 'amazing' task of arranging entertainment for the evening, to include games that both the kids and the adults can join in, as well as games to keep the children entertained. I'm allowed to use the whole of the house in my plans, and I'm allowed to let the kids run around.
AIBU thinking that I have drawn the short straw? Don't kids just amuse themselves on Christmas Day? There is only 3 kids, 1 6 year old boy, 1 9 year old girl, and 1 10 year old boy. I am currently 6 months pregnant and keep passing out and having fits once or twice a week (seeing a specialist wednesday) and I seem to have been given the most stressful job!
I was under the impression that by the end of Christmas day, kids would play with their abundance of presents, play Wii and shout stuff at the remote, eat chocolate and pass out on the sofa while watching disney movies etc?
However, I am trying to get into the spirit of things, and wondered if anyone had some ideas to help a poor gal out? So far I've come up with games like 'Wink Murder', 'Blindmans Bluff', 'The Giant's Keys' and Christmas Bingo. Any advances? Also was thinking of doing a scavenger hunt, so any items you think would be fun to find (and easy to source), as well as a riddle to go with each item, I will be forever grateful if you could share your wisdom!! x

[bigchris]

Just bring whatever board games you've got
I think it's a lovely idea
if you're feeling all pissy about it why don't you stay home and make your own Xmas dinner ?

[MorticiaAddams]

YANBU and have definitely drawn the short straw.

Headbanz is a good one for everyone to play but I too would expect three children to amuse themselves.

[fel1x]

God, that sounds shit.
I'd email back to your Mum and cc her and say 'Hi Mum, do you mind if we swap? I'll bring some wine and you can do the games. With the fits I've been having I've been told to rest up as much as I can so it would be a bit much for me at the moment. I know you'lll understand! Thanks!'

[PerpetuallyAnnoyedByHeadlice]

not very thoughtful of them!

charades is a good one for all ages, or download a quiz?

[gingernutlover]

we always used to play hunt the thimble at dh's nan's house. That took ages depending on how good the hider was! And no preperation.

What about a pass the parcel, but instead of having treats in each layer you have a silly dare for the unwrapper to do. Obviosuly this entails some preparation.

My year 6's last year likes to play "sausages" where one person turns their back and someone says sausgaes - the person who is it, stays it until the guess the name of the person saying sausages.

Do you or any of the family have a wii? That would keep everyone happy and again nothing to get ready.

[gingernutlover]

but, no YANBU to think it would be easier to buy the wine LOL

[Deliaskis]

Agree that it's not really on a par with 'bring some ham' as there is the feeling that if everybody is not having an amazing time the whole evening, then somehow it will be your fault.

However, it's also one of those tasks that I think can be as much or as little as you want/or are prepared to make it. TBH, if someone was asked to arrange entertainment at this kind of gathering and I was attending, I would think they had done their 'duty' if they had a couple of boardgames, and maybe a Christmas themed quiz out of the newspaper/TV guide/off the internet etc. Other people would probably think they had done the job if they brought the TV guide and a DVD. Others would no doubt completely go to town with a schedule of activities that would probably annoy those who wanted to fall asleep on the sofa.

I think your plans are fine (and plenty), you probably don't need to bother with the scavenger hunt although it sounds fun. Perhaps you could do a quiz type thing instead as it won't involve hauling yourself (and bump) around the house setting it all up?

D

[healthyElfy]

Murder in the Dark or a Murder Mystery kit, they will all hate it so much they will never burden you again! Make sure your super keen and wont let anyone rest, even for a second and tut if anyone goes to the loo etc.

Seriously, swap with your mum or bring momopoly :)

[BeanInMyBelly]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, Christmas quiz sounds good although are the children old enough to be able to participate in a quiz properly?
bigchris - I wouldn't say that I am being 'all pissy' about it, as I've come up with quite a few ideas already, its just that with my fainting spells combined with an ever growing bump, and still a full time job, I'd just rather have been given a 'could you bring....' task.
fel1x - I would do a return email, and if it was anyone else I would but honestly my Aunt is a real sweetie, and I'm sure she hasn't meant to give me extra work on purpose. Just wanted a rant and to see if anyone had some good advice. And yes am slightly worried that if i do to much then it will be boring, but if i don't do enough it will be a bit naff - and if no-one has a good time its all on me! My Aunt and Uncle are very rich and very 'countryhouseliving' if that makes sense -- think of one of those magazines with the perfect family frolicking in pictures in a photo spread, thats them. They are the sweetest lot but have very specific ideas on how things should be. Does that make sense?!
What is Headbandz, by the way?

[BeanInMyBelly]

Ps - have found out they have got a Wii, but no accessories, so will def take my balance board and some sporty games so we can have 'competitions'.
Is there any games that could be done via a white board, maybe boys v girls, that both the kids and the adults could play together?
Whats that one were you draw something and you have to guess what it is? x

[BigTillyMincepie]

If they have a wii, then that could last all night

[LadyViper]

hide and "seek"

[Helenagrace]

I'd be really evil and bring along lots of games which required children to be in teams with adults - like pictionary or cranium - and devise a quiz which would involve adults being pestered repeatedly for the answers to the questions (like "where was Aunt Maude born" or "where did Uncle Roger go to school"). They'll be so fed up you'll never be asked again!

[MorticiaAddams]

We have the kids one

www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=hed%20banz&index=aps&hvadid=6521599745&ref=pd_sl_v0qbumqzn_b&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[moomaa]

If you are allowed the whole house how about putting a puzzle out on a table somewhere and anyone that feels like it can do some? I bet lots of people will each do a few pieces if it is in a place where people pass.

Other than that I would bring a couple of board games like pictionary and do a short Christmas quiz. The kids are not too young. Do a name the person round where you cut pictures out a magazine or print off the internet (because people can chat and drink during that), do a round on family e.g. what is MIL's maiden name, only 10 questions and 2 other rounds.

That mr and mrs game is quite good when it's family, it doesn't have to be couples that play together, where you ask one a question e.g. how old is the other person and one writes down the real answer and the other writes down what they think then you see if they match.

[LabMonkey]

If you look at scoutbase at the games directory www.scoutbase.org.uk/direct/games/ they have loads of games.

I think I'd rather bring the ham!

[WherecanIhide]

Sorry to be mean, but I think you should suck it up and stop moaning and be grateful you have family to have 'a big family christmas' with.

[fruitful]

Email around all the people who are coming and ask each person (including the children) for one suggestion of something they'd like to do.

If anyone comes up with something really complicated to organise, swing it back to them and ask them to do it.

[fruitful]

Who said the OP wasn't grateful to have a big family?

( Me, I'm busy being grateful that I'm not 6 months pregnant and having unexplained fainting and fits )

Does your Aunt know you're not well, btw?

[Marlinspike]

Guess the flavour of the crisps is a great game, and really quite tricky with some of the more obscure flavours - can be played by young and old alike.

How about which team can build the tallest freestanding structure from marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti? Once again, harder than it sounds, and great for budding civil engineers!

[BelligerentGhoul]

I think a couple of people are being a bit mean to you on here and that whilst, yes, you have undoubtedly been given the 'hardest' job in a way (in that you can't just nip to Sainsbo's), you are actually trying to get into it and have come up with some good ideas.

Tbh I think the Wii (and a couple of group games for it), a boardgame like Pictionary (good for all ages), a silly quiz - eg: get a load of photographs of stars before they were famous (have a mix of older and modern so the children might know some and the oldies might too) and the jigsaw table idea mentioned below would be great.

[BelligerentGhoul]

Oh and maybe one of those Spot The Intro games?

[tinselthechaffinch]

Hide and Seek for everyone, adults included!

I love a good game of hide and seek and even toddlers can (kind of) understand the rules.

[BelligerentGhoul]

I do the spaghetti thing - or similar - for classes at school.

I give them some sticks of dried spaghetti and ten jelly babies and ask them to create a work of modern art and write the 'blurb' for it in teams, then each team has to do the spiel for the 'visitors to the gallery' with a prize for the most up itself creation.

[SantasENormaSnob]

We played one last year where everyone had a piece of card stuck to their forehead, on the cards are famous people chosen by the other players and you have to ask questions to get the celebrity that you are 'wearing'.

Also the one where you have an after eight stuck on your forehead and you have to get it into your mouth without using your hands.