Christmas - Gresham,OR

D.,

Because my husband's family is so huge, one sibling draws names out of a hat, then sends us all an email of who we have to buy for. Like your family, it's hard getting all of us in one place at one time. We then send out our wishlists to everyone to keep the "secret" of who "drew" who. For us there are more kids than adults, but we do everybody. The kids all exchange names with around a $10 limit, and then the siblings all draw for each other. I think that one's a $25 limit and it's for the sibling and the spouse. It works for us.

Melissa

My dad's side of the family does a gift exchange every Christmas Eve. We all get together that day and eat potluck finger foods and exchange gifts.

Before everyone leaves, my aunt puts each person's name it into a bowl, then she walks around the room and each person pulls a name out for next year. She writes down who every one has and keeps it in a safe place so by November when we have all forgot and need to buy presents, we can call her to see who we are buying for.

We used to do two sepearate exchanges, one for adults and one for grandkids, but as we grandkids have all grown up and there are only two little ones left and two great-grandkids, we just do a combined exchange now. The grandparents always buy a present for each grandchild too.

One of my coworker's family used to do this also, but they would do their name exchange over the phone in November. The grandmother would call each person and draw a name out of a bowl for them.

check out http://www.secretsanta.com/

I think it does the "hat drawing" for you so you don't have to have everyone together for it.
I hope that helps.

Merry Christmas

My guy's family buys for all the kids and then they put everyone's name in the hat idea. Limit is 25 bucks. The kids get the Christmas we all want them to have and everyone gets to open something. Everyone makes a list of things that interest them (ie hunting, games, etc.). It seems to work out really well.

C.