I personally like consumables. Tickets to a play/movie or family membership to a museum.

Family memberships to local museums or zoos are nice. Some cities have "city passes" that can include memberships to lots of local museums, gardens, zoos, etc.

I second a family membership to a museum, or garden, or something like that. For something a little less spendy, there are jigsaw puzzles designed for families--bigger pieces for littler kids, smaller for the grownups, one of those with some consumables would be fun.
You could also make a donation to charity in the family's name and give a holiday decoration/ornament to commemorate the gift.

I too was going to suggest a family membership to a zoo, etc. Also, family films on DVD, board games ... anything that will bring them together.

huh. that's a good point. i should probably let my sister-in-law that she can just get presents for our kid, and fore-go the ones for us. especially as last years gifts to use were pajamas. and frumpy ones.

i like the consumables gift ideas.

Babysit for a night and let the parents enjoy a night on the town while you get the kids a pizza and ice cream.

I would recommend a family movie night (put together some microwave popcorn, candy, and an oldy but goody DVD).

Or a family arts and crafts caddy filled with new play-doh, crayons, paper, glitter, glue, whatever! Have fun with it!

depending on your budget: family memberships at the local , tickets to a family friendly event, basket of board games.

I agree with kjdecoteau. Anything that brings them together, especially board games. I'm getting my sisters' families the Apples to Apples Junior game (1 per family). $15 for hours of fun and they might accidentally learn something in the process!

• Stuff for baking (recipe book, fancy sprinkles and sugars, cookie cutters -- the fun "extras," not the mixing bowls they already have)
• Gift certificate for photo website (like Kodak or Snapfish) and/or picture frames
• Board games or trivia games
• Gift certificate to a bookstore, or books you know the whole family could enjoy (a big chapter book to read aloud, books related to an upcoming vacation, etc.)
• Outdoor play stuff -- crazy sprinkler, jump ropes, lawn darts (if it won't be too cold for them to enjoy it for months yet)
• Give of your time or expertise -- I would LOVE it if someone could help me do something with my little home movies, or babysit, or sew some curtains. Perhaps your brothers' families have similar needs that match up with your talents?

I love the board game idea! Or a Blockbuster gift card and some popcorn and stuff like that.

Talk to them about just buying for the kids, I'm sure that they would understand. I know that I was so thankful when my family decided (with a suggestion from me) to just concentrate on the kids. It's more fun to shop and do I really need more place mats or candles?

If they aren't open to that idea, I also agree with the zoo passes. My sister in law gives us a family membership to the zoo every year (It's for both kids). It is by far the best thing we get every year, and the most used.

Institutions like zoos and museums have had their municipal, state and corporate funding slashed, and many are struggling to survive, so a membership and/or donation would by very appreciated by the institution as well.

Apart from that I would suggest special board games (or other games) that family members of different ages can participate in.

Another idea would be a package of special dvds that could appeal to a range of ages. We love to snuggle in and watch a good story on dvd as a family, especially at Christmas. Here are some of our favourites.

For example, for a family with younger children (preschool and early school grades), these are wonderful:

http://www.amazon.com/Azur-Asmar-Princes-Sean-Barrett/dp/B001DJ7PY6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256581159&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Water-Horse-Legend-Two-Disc-Special/dp/B0012IWO0I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256581204&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Jim-Hensons-Storyteller-Definitive-Collection/dp/B000EU1Q5E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256583162&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/UP-Two-Disc-Deluxe-Digital-Copy/dp/B002LK3DUQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256581248&sr=1-4

Other options would be golden oldies, like Bedknobs & Broomsticks, Singin' in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and so on.

Some of the best stuff never makes it Stateside, and so a multi-system dvd player might be a nice present with a selection of fun dvds -- like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roman-Mysteries-Complete-One-DVD/dp/B0014E918S/ref=pd_bxgy_d_h__text_b

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stig-Dump-Complete-BBC-DVD/dp/B0015083W6/ref=pd_cp_d_h__2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Complete-BBC-Box/dp/B0009AK57Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256582791&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asterix-Obelix-Mission-Cleopatra-DVD/dp/B00009P9ME/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256582861&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Box-Delights-DVD-Devin-Stanfield/dp/B00067IEGY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256582986&sr=1-1

And if anyone speaks French...
http://www.amazon.fr/Trois-Brigands-Tomi-Ungerer/dp/B0018KW3VU
http://www.commeaucinema.com/bande-annonce/81238

I do this all the time since I have a large family and a small budget. We've done the following:
- a favorite family game (Snorta, Sequence, Apples to Apples, Settlers of Catan, Uno...there was a post on AT about more)
- book set (something like a Harry Potter set so they can read aloud...lots of ideas here)
- my favorite: a movie set. I love getting sets like Pink Panther, Thin Man, and other classics for myself or family. This will vary on age, but it's something we like to use over and over.
- If the family is older, something like the collected works of a favorite comic might be appreciated. My family would love that! I keep looking at the Calvin and Hobbes Collection...

One Christmas, I got my young niece and nephew a book each, then made an audio cd of me reading the book, and sent both to them. My sister's family lives too far for us to see each other often, so this was a good way to stay close. My sister liked that, and the next year I got her a membership to the art museum for the whole family. (She had mentioned that specifically earlier in the year, so I wrote it down.)

I actually blogged about giving family gifts last year... http://noragriffin.typepad.com/ndg/2008/11/12-weeks-of-christmas7-to-go.html
Pretty sure that giving a collection of holiday movies has been my favorite idea.

Boardgames are not what they used to be - seriously Family membership to local sites can get quite pricey but Board Games are a brilliant Gift... Any Games by Cranium are fabulous for the whole family and movies plus some microwave popcorn is an excellent gift!!! In fact off my head I can think of a bazillion family gifts - this is one of my pet topics - with eight kids I would so much rather have one good quality gift we can enjoy together than having to find place for eight niknaks or eight toys that we have to treasure. Frankly gifts have to be consumable in the world of stuff it is just nice to give a consumable gift or a memory!!!

Look for nice editions of classic books that the family could read aloud together, like Stuart Little, Little Women, etc. Maybe something you and your siblings read when you were small?

Personally, I would love it if someone in my family would put together a book with updated photos of all the aunts/uncles/cousins/grandparents.

In general, aim to give them an experience rather than more stuff.

I was similarly situated these last few years and I got the family one of those huge chocolate and caramel and nut covered apples. They were a huge hit with my aunt, uncle, and their kids, lasted quite awhile and were less than $20 each. Also, if I remember right, they didn't require overnight shipping.

All of the gourmet shops (like Williams-Sonoma, Stonewall Kitchen, etc.) do something along these lines.

I love the idea to purchase a museum or zoo membership for the families. The board games are a good idea as well. I don't know how young the kids are, but I bought a Scholastic classic books on DVD set last year for my kids. I got it on sale for $50 on amazon. It has Where the Wild Things Are, Make Way for Ducklings, Harold and the Purple Crayon, etc. It has saved my life on some long car rides. And my boys were already familiar with most of the books.

wow, a whole lotta good suggestions. especially the consumables. that makes memories, and doesn't perpetuate more stuff.
i was going to say maybe a game {bocce? uno? cranium?} or what about some family stationery that they could all use for thank you notes

Games (We love bananagrams), or a gift certificate to a local takeout place so the whole family can enjoy a night in. A basket with an assortment of goodies might also work well. Mini Golf certificate, a movie.

If you're tight on a budget, try organizing a Christmas dinner or a pot luck -- this beats eating out as that can become costly depending on the size of your family. It's also a great way to spend some quality time together, which is what matters most. Another great thing you can do is get a gift for the family, like a personalized family ornament. We have one of these (http://www.ornamentsandmore.com/familymembers.aspx) hanging in our house and it's a daily reminder that family and togetherness are the most important in life!

I have two children and married my wife who had five children 4 years ago. Since being together we have tried to make sure they all have a few thing to enjoy individually for christmas plus one big present that the whole family can enjoy.
Year 1: huge trampoline
Year 2: wii game system with games and extra accessories
Year 3: season passes to Kings Island
Year 4: ? Still undecided, lol. Ideas?

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