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going to spice up the christmas party with the in-laws...
I have decided that the christmas party with all the in-laws (about 30 ppl) is dull and boring, and everyone is just waiting to leave. Everyone feels this way. Soooo, I am going to institute some drinking games, prizes and overall some fun! I am certain it will be well received. We have all adults in the family 18-85. The women are always thinking of a new game or grab bag idea for the holiday.
What do you think of these ideas? Do you have others?
'Reindeer Pong' - spin on beer pong set up in the garage or basement. I am going to decorate the cups as reindeer with red fuzzy noses and felt antlers & googly eyes.
'Canes' - spin off from the game of Spoons. Each person sits around a table and gets one less candy canes than people in the middle and the object is to grab the candy canes and not the be last person out.
'Don't say Christmas' - I will start wearing a $1 store antler headband (or Santa's hat). If I say Christmas, I have to pass the headband/hat to the person on my right. This continues until a timer goes off (every 1/2 hour probably). When it goes off, that person wins a nice prize! (TJ Maxx has cute things like serving dishes, candles, mixed nuts, etc.)
Not sure about this one, but Future SIL thinks we should. She thinks it'll be funny....
'Grab bag switch-a-roo' - we do a grab bag each year with everyone, so as they walk in the door I will take the grab bag gift & put it in a bedroom. Those in a gift bag will be swapped out with a rated PG-13 sort of gag gift. (we'll write down what's originally inside to make sure the recipient gets the real gift). So when that person opens that gift, everyone will get a big laugh since we don't write down names.
Re: going to spice up the christmas party with the in-laws...
I think the beer pong and sex-toy switch game is in poor taste. But, if you think you're family would like it, even an 85 year old grandparent. Go for it.
A game thats played at Christmas with my inlaws is like a gift swap dice game. There's a bunch of wrapped gifts on the table, small things like towels, rolls of quarter, candles. Nothing expensive. And a pair of dice get passed around, if you roll doubles you get to pick a prize.
At the end, anyone that didn't get a prize, gets to pick from the person/people with the most prizes.
I like the candy cane spoon game idea.
I don't like the idea of a drinking game or the sex toys at a family event, especially thanksgiving. H's family are all adults too and like to drink and such but these things would not be well received, I think they sound tacky and really who wants to open sex toys with family?
I do like the 'cane' idea, I think you can also do a santa grab bag thing but just not with sex toys, use the original gift but encourage people to get creative, and you can get something fun too but less sex more "whoopie cushions, funny tasteful movies, tacky santa statues" that would make them laugh but not have them feel awkward or disgusted.
i think the sex toy and the reindeer pong games are both in bad taste. no matter how wild/fun the crowd is..thats just not appropriate for a family event celebrating christmas. think about what christmas is really about.
i do like the candy cane/spoons game
I understand not everyone knows the family, so not to worry, there would not be sex toys at all. Just one or two of the gift bags would contain a funny boobie prize, something super tacky and awful would be funnier actually.
Oh forgot to add, me & an Uncle always come up with a signature drink for the evening, too. We've done chocolate martinis, peppermint schnapps sort of drinks with a candy cane garnish, pomegranate martinis, etc. And we nickname it something fun or festive. Anyone have a suggestion for a drink?
If you think it would work for your family- do it! My family would think those ideas were great. I mean, I told my mom of a gift exchange idea where you pick a letter every year and you have to buy gifts that start with that letter. The first thing out of my mother's mouth: "Well I can't wait for the letter V because someone's getting a vibrator". Not everyone's family is full of prudes.
I don't have any suggestions for a specific drink, but what about doing a bloody mary or martini bar? We did a bloody mary bar at a family Christmas last year and everyone really enjoyed it.
I think these sound great. The only one I'm not big on is the cane's game. It just doesn't sound that fun and just seems like a different version of musical chairs basically. I think my family would love the reindeer pong and gag gift switcheroo. You know your family and if you feel like these things will be well received then go for it. No one else can really tell you how to celebrate the holidays with your family. Remember...part of the meaning of the holidays is to spend time with one another and enjoy each other's company...there is no taste factor involved when your with family...if you can't relax and have a good time with them then with who can you relax?
Hope all goes well and enjoy!