Family/Friend Get Together Ideas

We play the game Tripoly (can be found at a Toys R Us). It's a card game with a (cloth) board. Both adults and kids can play this game and we use nickles instead of poker chips.

Details:
Everyone puts a nickel in each spot on the board (9 spots). You deal out the whole deck of cards (won't end up even, but doesn't matter). You start with the 2 of clubs and start laying in order by suit. If no one has the next card in order you start with the lowest card in the opposite colored suit. You keep going back and forth until someone goes out. To win money off the board you have to lay certain cards, typically hearts (all are posted on the board). Then whoever goes out gets money from the board and everyone who has cards left gets a nickle for each card in the owners hand. It's pretty fun and easy to learn. Directions should be included in the box.

Let me know if you'd like more details. We play once a month as a family (kids from age 9 through adults).

We do a once every other month Saturday Night at the Jones'. We come up with a theme. We do a pot luck and try not coordinate food. If we end up with everyone bringing chips and salsa then that all we eat for the night. It makes it really fun, we play board games, hang out and talk.

However when I was younger my family played Tripoli (sp?) They saved their pennies and bet with them and of course the winner got to keep the pennies they won. Not sure how to play it has been a long time.

I am part of 2 Bunco groups and the game is a lot of fun. It's a dice game similar to Yahtzee in some ways. It's super easy and only needs 4 people. You could have more than one table of four, too. If you want some help with it try http://www.buncorules.com It has all that you need to get started (rules, etc...) Tripoly is fun, too. We played that often when I was younger. Phase10 is a greeeeeaaaaaat card game ($4 @ Walmart) much like rummy that is a lot of fun. It might take a game or two to really understand it/ like it but once you get the hang of it it's a winner. I highly recommend this game! With any of these game nights, you can load up on snacks, drinks, dessert or potluck it and have a blast.
You might also consider something different each week. One week, everyone can bring some scapbook pages and use each others supplies/ideas. If someone isn't into the scrapbooking, they can make a collage to frame etc... Or find a cheap project that everyone can have fun doing; maybe one of those things that you're always saying you'll get around to when you have the time. You could print or buy some recipe cards, ask your friends to bring their 5 favorite cookbooks. Then, each look through the books and write cards for your good recipes that you found.
Cross stitching iand beading are both fun, too and can be done while sitting around a table. Each of you can work on your own project. My friends mom used to be part of a Sew & So's group. Each month, a group of women got together, rotating the house and work on individual projects (crochet, knit, cross stitch etc...). The hostess provided snacks and refreshments and they all sat together and talked while working (I'm sure many of them worked on Christmas presents throughout the year).

Have fun! What you're thinking about is a great idea and I hope that you find something that everyone likes.

Have you ever seen the show Minute To Win It? They have the neatest games done with household items and are really easy to put together. They look like so much fun. When I was watching it the other night I thought it would be really neat to do some of those games at a BBQ or a birthday party. I also agree with the others about board games. My mom's group gets together for Game Night and we have so much fun!

Good for you! I do a Party of the Month (POM) with my high school girlfriends. Everyone takes turns hosting, and whoever hosts, picks the day that works for them and decides on the food and entertainment. We've done potlucks, picnics, or dessert only. We've designated girls only, whole families, girls and just kids. We've played cards, board games, Scene It, or sat outside and watched the kids play on the jungle gym or made s'mores. I think it's a good idea to have a loosely planned activity, because half the time we just turned on music and talked.

Yard games are an absolute blast! Especially once the weather cools down a bit. We play bocci ball, bean bag toss, croquet....look at Walmart or Target in the toy section - we have a giant size bowling set with blow up pins and a giant bowling ball. I think it's supposed to be for the kids but the adults have way more fun!