Big xmas present! Need advice on how to give!

DaveLy

My mom isn't well, and I'd expect in a few years time this sort of thing will be beyond her ability. Nor does she have much money (been in a couple serious accidents! Neither her fault)

Anyway, on xmas day i'm giving a holiday to my mother and her fiancee (works very long hours to keep a roof over my moms head - i've made sure he's booking a week or two without knowing why and he's fine with it)

Holiday being Las Vegas, flights, 4* hotel, and a paid helicopter trip over las vegas down into the grand canyon for a champagne lunch (helicopter trips are expensive )
She'll also get to see dolphins and lions... another two biggies! (hell the hotel/casino has lions in it!)

It doesn't matter how I give it her, she'll burst into an array of tears regardless, this is her distant, distant dream that they'd never be able to afford on their own...

I wanted a funny way to present it, and thats why I'm here. (She isn't expecting this from me in the slightest as most 25 year olds would rather spend it on themselves =P)

loucam

DaveLy wrote: »

My mom isn't well, and I'd expect in a few years time this sort of thing will be beyond her ability. Nor does she have much money (been in a couple serious accidents! Neither her fault)

Anyway, on xmas day i'm giving a holiday to my mother and her fiancee (works very long hours to keep a roof over my moms head - i've made sure he's booking a week or two without knowing why and he's fine with it)

Holiday being Las Vegas, flights, 4* hotel, and a paid helicopter trip over las vegas down into the grand canyon for a champagne lunch (helicopter trips are expensive )
She'll also get to see dolphins and lions... another two biggies! (hell the hotel/casino has lions in it!)

It doesn't matter how I give it her, she'll burst into an array of tears regardless, this is her distant, distant dream that they'd never be able to afford on their own...

I wanted a funny way to present it, and thats why I'm here. (She isn't expecting this from me in the slightest as most 25 year olds would rather spend it on themselves =P)

Wow, she is very lucky to have you! Why not get a lovely box and fill it with tissue paper - in the middle put a single poker chip. Then when she opens it you can tell her she needs to start practicing for Vegas!

Or you could print out something from a zoo or safari park near you and put it in a nice envelope. Tell her you wanted her to see the dolphins and lions - then say, actually you know what, why don't you go here instead to see them and give her the vegas info!

Good luck - am sure she will love it, however you decide to surprise her!

Lou

kacy1988

DaveLy wrote: »

My mom isn't well, and I'd expect in a few years time this sort of thing will be beyond her ability. Nor does she have much money (been in a couple serious accidents! Neither her fault)

Anyway, on xmas day i'm giving a holiday to my mother and her fiancee (works very long hours to keep a roof over my moms head - i've made sure he's booking a week or two without knowing why and he's fine with it)

Holiday being Las Vegas, flights, 4* hotel, and a paid helicopter trip over las vegas down into the grand canyon for a champagne lunch (helicopter trips are expensive )
She'll also get to see dolphins and lions... another two biggies! (hell the hotel/casino has lions in it!)

It doesn't matter how I give it her, she'll burst into an array of tears regardless, this is her distant, distant dream that they'd never be able to afford on their own...

I wanted a funny way to present it, and thats why I'm here. (She isn't expecting this from me in the slightest as most 25 year olds would rather spend it on themselves =P)

WOW what a present!!!!
If it were me I would do a coupon book with half a dozen things like. I will hoover the car, do the dishes or what ever and at the back put i will water your plants whilst your on holiday. and have the tickets behind that!

Sallys_Savings

just one question............can I adopt you?

I think thats lovely....she is going to be so stunned.

The above ideas are just great and I dont think I could even match them, so sorry I cant help.

DaveLy

Nice ideas :-) keep them coming hehe

Another idea, I could give her a shoe box with the following all wrapped up individually: pack of cards, a dolphin, a lion and a helicopter toy in with the brown envelope underneath that'll she will get to open with a puzzled look containing flight tickets and a photo of the stunning hotel.

Be fun to see her fiancee's reaction too, has helped me alot in the past, his average xmas is some socks and maybe a bottle of booze (his family walk all over him). Thats it... he's been on a cheap holiday abroad once in his life, infact only a few months back to Greece (he is now 51 years old!)

Plus, a few grand for the years of my mom being my mom, hell she even delivered me sunday dinners when I worked 24/7 :-) Worth every penny :-)

Valli

aww bless you

(I'm showing this to DS - he's only 16 )

Have they got up-to-date passports? (and do you still need Visas for the USA?)

cdsmiler

Wow, what an amazing present!! I like your shoe box idea - how about do each item seperately, so you first surprise her with the trip itself (cards/poker chip) then once she' recovered, give her another pressie of the dolphin, and explain waht that is for, then the same with the other items. Granted, she'll cry all day, but it'll be one surprise after the other!!!

You are a star!

Clare x

DaveLy

Valli wrote: »

Have they got up-to-date passports? (and do you still need Visas for the USA?)

Neither will have problems getting in, but I'll apply for their visas without them knowing before I book anyway.

As for passports, yes, they went on holiday together in Greece. Plus they'll have time to sort out new passports as the holiday is for May. I would have done it for Feb but it's too cold, and March/April my moms partner is lambing (he is also a farmer + security guard + chicken killer or something )

Sweetsyd

I love you!

helping_hubby

If you're crafty, you could do a scrapbook of the itinerary of the trip...

Or a simpler option is to fill a box with helium balloons with the tickets etc attached to the end. Just make sure it's opened indoors so they don't fly off.

sunrise27_2

wow what an amazing present , you are one very special person , your Mum and her fiancee are going to be over the moon !!!