I'm hoping for some good ideas, but sorry for the long post detailing the background.
My MIL will be turning 70 on Christmas day. She originally had the idea that she would like to go somewhere special over Christmas this year with her son (my husband), me, our 2 kids, her daughter and daughter's son. She was looking at special holidays like safaris which we were ok with doing as we can afford it but her daughter doesn't have the money for. MIL is fully understanding of the situation and would never want her daughter to spend money she doesn't have so she put that idea to rest. I was speaking to her last night about what the latest plans are and she told me she didn't think we would be able to do anything now. She just said it factually but I could see the disappointment in her eyes.
She is the most lovely woman and has never put herself first and never had her birthday be about her as it's on Christmas day and would never complain.
Her daughter is suggesting we do something at a different time of year when it's cheaper, which I'm up for, but I would really like to do something to make this Christmas day special for her. I suggested to my husband that we could perhaps pay for a nice cottage for all of us in this country and I will make Christmas dinner (which I would have done at home anyway) but we can just make it a bit more special. He's not sure if that's special enough and some sun would be preferable. My worry about that is that we wouldn't want a tacky resort type trip and hiring a house somewhere I would be unsure as to how I would ensure a good Christmas dinner (doesn't have to be traditional British but needs to be special). Plus we can't really afford a full expensive holiday for seven people.
Any other thoughts/ideas? Thanks