His do I make Christmas fun for 4 adults?

[Apolloanddaphne]

I usually host a big Christmas bash for about12-14 people and I love it. This year for a number of reasons there will only be 4 of us. Me, DH, DD2 who is 21 and my DM who is 79. My DF died in the summer so this is the first Christmas without him. DD1 and her OH are going to his parents this year so this is the first time she hasn't been home for Christmas. The rest of the family are going elsewhere this year through obligation rather than choice.

My question is: what can we do to make sure we have loads of fun and the day doesn't drag? Normally we all get stuck in to the booze, have a riotous meal then play board games for hours. DH is not a board game fan. Does any one do anything fun that I might not have thought of?

Maybe a none board gamey boardgame? Plenty of fun ones for 4 players (see codenames, coup, the resistance etc). Otherwise a party game for teams of 2 like salad bowl (everyone puts ten words into a bowl, in teams you take turns to get through as many as you can in a minute via a) charades b) articulate and c) one word description). Have fun, and sorry for your loss.

Those are all games we would play in our big group. Articulate is our favourite. DH hates them all. I can just see the day dragging endlessly with too much TV. I never usually watch any TV on Christmas Day as I am too busy with everything else. DM watches TV endlessly. Usually we have one room for the TV watchers and one room for the rowdy game players. I guess DD2 and I will just have to play games for 2 on our own! Scrabble anyone??

I would put the ball in DH's court if he's the one saying no to all the board games!!

Make a plan for no TV until a certain time, 8 pm, or something -when somethign is On that all want to see.

i would suggest making the day different
you cannot recreate past Christmases

A quiz? You could do a computer version, with buzzers etc. We like making cocktails and guessing the ingredients. Or invite the neighbours in? My mum is very set in her ways, but bloody loves coming to mine and interacting with random neighbours,

Also, I don’t know how your family does it, but presents ^after* dinner postpones TV watching. We also plan one film and that is all we watch.

How's your DMs mobility? Could you do a nice long walk and a drink in a near by pub perhaps? Then back for a rest (for some) before dinner. Move presents to after dinner to fill in some of the down time then charades or trivial persuit which is good for 4 adults?

Does DH do quizzes rather than board games?

DH can sort out the entertainment...

Could you manage a walk or even a wee drive ?
Could you go to your local church?
Might be too sad but we often get the family albums out and that sparks a lot of laughter and reminiscing.
Don’t compare this year to previous years would be my advice and sorry for your loss.

Quizzes are good. Maybe I could recreate a pub quiz.

No neighbours. We live several miles away from everything. We think we might go to the pub my DD works in on Christmas Eve.

We have a dog so walking her will be factored in. If it is a nice day we will drive to the beach in the morning and walk her there.

Presents will be done first thing. That is a ritual that will not be changed. It has been thus my entire 57 years!

I know we need to have a different sort of Christmas this year. I am just struggling to think about what would suit us all.

A walk? We wrap up warm and do a walk, ideally to the pub for a quick drink depending on where we are but anywhere will do. It then feels so nice getting home to warm house smelling of Christmas.

Sorry! Just seen your latest post!

Can you go out for a lunch instead?

We like "Exit the Game " escape room in a box. 4 is the ideal number and its not really a board game.
Go out for christmas lunch rather than eating in so it takes longer and there might be a more festive atmosphere than just the four of you at home.

I have never been out for Christmas lunch and never plan to do this. Cooking the Christmas dinner is a highlight of the day for me. I love cooking!

Why does he dislike board games? I hat the tension and arguments so a collaborative game is more tolerable than monopoly.

TBH DH always says he hates board games but once he gets sucked in he can quite enjoy them. DM lies a board game well enough but nothing with complex rules or too fast paced. I think the pub quiz idea is genius. dad and some of her younger colleagues want to reintroduce the pub quiz tot he pub where she works. I might get her to put one together and ask her to be quiz master. Or we can buy one

I find it a bit weird that you are looking to change things up and then people suggest changing things up and your response is that you will never change things... 🤔

I won't change when we open gifts or cooking at home but happy to change other things. I want to be at home. I was just looking for interesting things to do on the day that I may not have thought about. So is there maybe some sort of giant puzzle we can all do together? Something to engage us all together. I think I am asking the impossible. Sorry

Cards against humanity. You’d be surprised what the older generation will say out loud!

no , i wouldnt go out to eat either op.

I get that - some things will need to change, others should be kept as family traditions that live on.

How about everyone makes up 20 quiz questions - give everyone two categories and get 10 questions off them for each category.

Do you start with a big breakfast? We do half the presents, then a nice breakfast, then the rest of the presents. That should take you till 10 or 11. Then walk dog till 12.30. Then film for your dd, dh and dm, while you cook. Dinner at 3 - 4.30. Then quiz. Then an hour in the pub. Tv can go on at 7.

Oh god I now feel bad about rejecting any further ideas. However cards against humanity is a definite no. We have played that at our rowdy Christmas bashes. I love it as does DD, but DM and DH will not entertain it.

Do you all like jigsaws? That can fill hours!