Sorry - Christmas first world problem

[hohohumbug]

So - gifts for grandparents have been a point of contention (internally) for me for the past couple of years. In laws have said they don't need specific gifts but some keepsakes from the grandchildren would be nice. DH's sister in the past years have pretty much monopolised the gift ideas - they've done mugs, calendars, photo books, ornaments, hand/ foot prints, aprons, cards, canvases, you name it, they've done it. In laws don't really like clutter, so couple of bits we've made/ bought haven't seemed to have been displayed. But theirs have been. The calendar that she makes only have their family in it. I would also love to give them a calendar with our kids pics but it's become their thing now so don't want the in laws to end up with 2 calendars?
It's obviously up to In laws what they want to keep/ display, but aibu to not bother as it's just our stuff that are put away, and I don't want to give them more clutter. In my opinion, the gifts were tasteful/ at least similar to what SIL have given. We all order from the same online retailer pretty much.
More important issues in life than this obviously but it does make me a bit sad.
Has anyone got any unique ideas for mementoes that I might be able to get? Thanks

Get them a voucher for a meal or theatre tickets

I really dislike those calendars etc., I am very particular with my house.

A day out would be lovely - maybe you could take some photos of the day and have them printed afterward?

I know it is hard, but please don't feel that you have to give that perfect gift or compete with anyone over gifts. We put so much pressure on ourselves to have that perfect idea or present that it can really spoil what should be a lovely time.

My son drew a picture of my Dad one year. I put it in a frame and gave it to him and it is still on the wall.

Photobox also do boxes of chocolates with your photo on the box. I did that using a picture my son had done and it meant it was a personalised gift which they could eat and then didn't have to keep.

For her birthday, we got my mum a digital photo frame from Nixplay. It is connected to the internet and if you have the account details you can upload the photos remotely. We all have the login and add photos when we have time. So you and your SIL can both upload pictures. I am one of 5 kids and my mum loves it when a new photo she hasn't seen pops up of one of her children or grandchildren! We also gave the login details to my aunt (mum's sister) and she has uploaded a few from when they were kids or from when she and my dad were first together (she was widowed in 2015) and she loves that!

I tried to do the calendar thing but some of my siblings didn't send pictures and felt that the gift should be from them too if they did because they had provided photos. Then those who didn't send pictures got n a huff because they weren't in it. Gave up in the end!

I think sometimes people say "give me a keepsake" because they can't really think of anything they want so maybe an experience would be the way forward.

Presence not presents ;-)

I'm having the same dilemma. In laws don't seem the type to keep "memento" type stuff, only things from their travels etc. but they have soooo much money they can buy themselves whatever they want. We don't have much money to spare, though who does really with small children. But FIL freely admitted this weekend that he loves getting presents and all the other in laws said how much he likes opening and getting presents! So I too am feeling the pressure of what to buy but some good ideas on this thread so far.

A voucher for a couple's afternoon tea never fails to impress! God I hate them, I've still got one from last Christmas and I feel so guilty that in the next few weeks I am going to have to drive to the arse end of nowhere to "enjoy" a pot of weak tea, some tiny sandwiches and a scone. I've given them away before now.

@grannytomine you must have had some vouchers for really bad places then!

Like the pottery idea

What about asking them to take the kids to see Santa and a Panto

Two hits in one go!!

Why don’t you say (assuming you are near to each other) ‘SIL, I’ve a great idea, why don’t we get all the kids together and take a photo for each month with props etc for a calendar?’
So Jan - Chinese New Year, dragons etc
Feb - Valentine’s Day
Mar- st Patrick’s days.
April - Easter
May- ?
June- picnic
Jul- holidays
Aug - beach
Sep - back to school
Oct - Halloween
Nov- fireworks/bonefire
Dec - xmas

Salt dough christmas tree decoration? They are quite easy to make. Or do you have any pottery shops near you? We took ds when he was young and put his handprint on coasters. They even did baubles you could put handprints on. My mil only has out 2 dc but she doesn't display any of the stuff we make with them. I leave it up to dh now to sort out presents for her.

Our 2 dc not out!

Now I'm spoiled for ideas!
Although @BrieAndChilli I really like that idea! I'm a bit hung up on the calendar thing, aren't I?

Notonthehighstreet have some tasteful keepsakes that can be personalised and needn't take up space.

Last year we bought a personalised Christmas tree decoration that might become a tradition because it was very well received.

We also made a key ring that has fingerprints from all of the grandchildren - you could look like the bigger person by including your sil's dc!

Ok i am not a grandparent yet but surely there is so much of kids on things that they can give them before it gets a bit much however much they love them. Ask your sil if you can go halves on the calender and take the kids shopping to buy things for gran and grand dad give them a few quid to buy chocolates or something from them

@MrsJayy that's the point as well! Their house is already filled with crap gifts with kids faces on, when I do it as well, it seems to be overkill i.e already have 4 "personalised" mugs, sets of coasters, hanging ornaments, canvases and framed photos. She's done everything. I like the calendar idea as it's useful, decorative and you don't have to keep it after the year. But of course, it's always been created and bought before I even get a chance to think about it. This year I will ask, as I have now remembered to do something about it early enough!! (I think!)
I mean another sad thing about it is that the calendar was always DH's gift to his parents before kids. He really took time choosing them and I think he enjoyed buying just the right one for them. He's not exactly losing sleep over it but he did wistfully say one year "oh, that used to be my gift to them".

How old are they

A selection box.... Of sex toys

@grannytomine you must have had some vouchers for really bad places then! I've had them for some very expensive places but I am fussy about tea, like a nice plain sandwich maybe some nice ham or tuna and don't like the mustard or horseradish or whatever and when I look at those dainty little sandwiches with no crusts I just think what a waste. I used to like cream but it tends to make me feel a bit queasy now so cream cakes or scones with cream don't appeal to me. The places I need to go to in the next few weeks has a lovely restaurant and I asked if I could pay the extra and go for lunch instead but they won't do that. I can't see why but there you go.

I think the point is that what seems a wonderful idea to some people isn't at all appealing to someone else. My favourite gift in all the world is Amazon vouchers, I have an expensive reading habit and filling up my kindle without spending money gives me joy. If people ask me what I want and I say Amazon vouchers they always say things like Oh that's not very imaginative and buy me something else.

I do like photos of the GC but I have so many I have to rotate them and I have to be careful that it is fair to all as you can see the mums checking them out.

We got some lovely coasters done with kids faces for the folks and the poses were all funny little ones and they loved them

Placemarking for inspiration

My parents are like this, I'm buying them a key ring with a personalised sound wave drawn on of my DS saying I love you grandma. There's a phone app you can get to read the sound wave.

Or, since they are DH's parents / he knows them best, you ask him to sort out a present.

A few years ago I bought a digital photo frame for an elderly relative that didn't want more 'stuff'. I put a memory card in it that had lots of photos that I had of relatives, events, etc. Each year I give her a new memory card with updated photos of the year on it. She absolutely adores it, and puts it on in her bedroom at night and lets it play whilst she falls asleep looking at it (I bought one that had a sleep timer on it).

If you want to get a calendar, then buy one. I have a calendar in the hall and another in the kitchen. Many people have more than one.