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SIL parents

Posted: Feb 10, 2011

My son in law and I have a pretty good relationship. My daughter and her family spend a lot of time here, driving in to visit quite often. The granddaughter is going to be turning 6 next month and they want to have her party here at my house.

My SIL's parents called and said they would like to fly in and surprise him for the party, arrive a couple of days before to do some shopping and help getting the house ready. They asked if they could stay here, and that's fine, I've got room enough for everyone, but I'm like every other MT here and am always short on money!

without coming off and poor and pitiful (which I am!! haha) I'd like some suggestions as to what to do in the way of entertainment in the couple of days that they were be here before my daughter and family arrive?

I've met them for the usual events, the wedding, the birth, a couple of parties, but we live on opposite ends of the states and the kids are much closer to me than them, so I see them more often and they feel they miss out on a lot. I understand and want to accommodate. They seem to be more "partiers" than my husband and I and they are smokers, we are not. We hardly ever keep any liquor in the house and they seemed to always have a drink in hand! I hope it was just these few times we've seen each other, but its on my mind...

Anyway, without a lot of disposable cash on hand, any ideas as to how to entertain and have fun before the kids come in? (We're in our 50's, they are in their 60's, the dad is retired for medical issues and she is a self proclaimed "lady of leisure") Any ideas would be appreciated.

;

What I like to do with my MIL and family when I go to visit - Violet

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't care for lots of things that cost money. My MIL lives on a fixed income so money is always scarce, which is fine because it's always scarce with us too.

Anyway...this is what I love to do. I love to see pics of DH growing up, listen to stories about him and his siblings. If they have slides I love to see slides. We play cards and games, cook things, watch movies and just hang out and relax. If it's nice out we will sit outside in the backyard and BBQ. Actually visiting is the most important thing for us and we never get bored talking. Sometimes the cheapest things to do are the most fun.

re: Violet - Gemma

[ In Reply To ..]
THATS what I'm taking about! Thank you! What simple and yet meaninful ideas. I DO have tons of slides and movies, even of times when my daughter and SIL and the baby came down that I'm sure they'd LOVE to see! My husband also told me that a barbecue and gathering up family they hadn't met would be fun also.

Thanks so much.

Your most welcome - see message - Violet

[ In Reply To ..]
I'll bet whatever you do will be fun. Slides are absolutely fantastic. After DH's grandfather died we took all his slides and I'm scanning and making photo albums for all the siblings. My MIL actually taught me how to make some of DH's favorite meals when we visit. Of course they don't taste like hers but they are pretty good.

Have a great time.

How about a tour of local places of interest. Here would - include a drive down RiverRoad. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Busy with the In-Laws - The Analog Kid

[ In Reply To ..]
Here's what we've done-cards, dominoes, trivial pursuit at night. That way they can drink and it's easy to dump them in bed when the evening is over. We have an enclosed patio so we can be out there most of the year, and BBQ when weather permits.

You could ask them if there are any movies they'd - like to see, then rent them, make - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
a bunch of popcorn, maybe vanilla or cherry cokes with real vanilla or cherry juice, homemake Chex-mix, and have Movie Night.

Once I was at my SIL's house with some other people and we played "Fictionary". I had never heard of it before, and it was something everyone enjoyed.

I play scrabble with my mom, even though she always beats me at it.

Are there jigsaw-puzzle doers in the group? Sometimes a big table with the puzzle pieces set up is a good group thing to do.

One lady I visited once was having a 4th of July party, and people of all ages were there. She had a lot of big round river-rocks all over the property, so she gathered a bunch of them, and then set out a whole lot of different colored acrylic paints (which are permanent, but water-based - the best of both worlds!), and lots of inexpensive paint brushes. Anyone who wanted could decorate a rock, and it would be added to a special decorated-rock-garden that they had on the property. So little kids painted stick-men, and everyone else painted whatever they wanted. Turned out to be a fun thing, and now she has all these beautiful hand-painted, colorful rocks in her garden.

Partiers/Smokers - Old MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Re the smoking issue, I am not shy about asking people to please not smoke in the house. There's a way to do it without coming off as offending the guests. I just say, "I hate to do this to you, but we prefer people not smoke in the house." Then, I set up a little outdoor area that doesn't encroach on any open doors leading into the house, and I have an little table, chairs, and an ashtray out there.

As for the alcohol, just tell them you're not alcohol savvy and would they mind bringing what they want to drink. OR, if you want to pay for it, ask them what their favorite drink is, then just buy the fixings for that. You are not obligated to stock a full bar, nor are you obligated to supply all their alcohol.

That little table and chair outside will be useful for their drinks, too.

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