How to make Xmas fun with very dull family

[Angelik]

After losing MiL in spring my DH invited his sister and DS (age 4) to us for Xmas. We are in South East. They're in NW. He has not had Xmas with his family for 12 years due to distance but largely because he didn't want to be in his alcoholic mum's company for too long. SiL did her own thing as a young woman and then with her own son. For context she has visited us maybe half a dozen times in 13years whilst we go up most school holidays.

Anyway, DH was really excited about his sister and nephew coming. Not only because of family ties but cos my family is very dull.

Now SiL is not coming. Citing work but really cos of new boyfriend. Dh is heartbroken and now not looking fwd to Xmas.

Leaving aside how bloody cross I am with my SiL who has form for this, how can I make my family flipping enjoy themselves?

What games/activities can we play? Mix of drinkers/non drinkers. Eldest 85. Youngest adult 30. I'm going to hide poxy tv controls.

I am happy to get very tipsy however!

Spoons! Always gets abit wild in my family. It's a card game with spoons.

Charades another family favourite

Who am I

Poker

You can get ecape room games. Think they cost a bit.
One year we had table top twister which was fun.
Dobble.
Last year I bought inflatable reindeer hoopla from tiger. Ds and dd LOVED throwing the rings at Granny.

Get some of those crackers with the whistles in!

We had everyone in hysterics one year. Basically everyone gets a numbered whistle, you appoint a conductor who points at people when it’s their turn to blow their whistle to make up the song.

Also think about background music, lively Christmas classics to start with and then some disco/party/whatever you know your guests will enjoy for later. We’ve got a disco bulb think it cost about £4 from eBay.

Best of luck!

If it's a nice afternoon, go for a walk? We play pass the parcel but put silly forfeits in the layers as well as treats, eg. dance until the parcel gets to the next person. Good luck.

There’s a great, simple card game called Bullshit 😆 I played it for the first time a couple of weekends ago, I’m sure if you google it the rules will be there!

I nearly forgot the "tacky" present game!!!

Everyone has to bring a gift wrapped up - set budget of £5 max but really it's a trip to the charity shop for the worst gift you can find for £2

First round all the wrapped gifts in the middle. Take in turns to throw the dice-

6 take a present from the middle
4 steal a present
2 give a present away

When all the gifts are gone from the middle the round ends and go around the circle unwrapping and showing off your gifts to the room.

Next 10 minutes the dice starts again but 6 is swapping a gift.

End of 10 mins what you have is yours to keep!

As you are in the know to the rules but a couple of decent gifts such as sweets or something desirable to most - scratch cards???

It seriously brings out evil behaviour

Another vote for the whistle orchestra crackers, put someone bossy in charge as the conductor.

anybody else bloody hate family games and enforced jollity? Fully prepared to admot i am a Grinch!

I like games, but many people won't be happy or willing to be press-ganged into them. I agree with the pp about "enforced jollity" and it could cause upset if it gives the impression that you're doing it because you feel that previous Christmases have been tedious.

Sorry to be grinchy OP - as I said, I love a game - but your lot may not.

Maybe a compromise - turn off the tv, up the tempo with music and booze and conversation, break the day up with a walk to the pub or the park. It's difficult I know.