I agree with Sugar. They are going to take you to dinner instead of bring you back a silly pair of dice that you will never use.

I think a dinner out is a much more appropriate thank-you than a tacky vegas gift.

Next time, if you really want something from Vegas, tell her to bring you back something! I don't think that's out of line between family members.

First of all I noticed how you blamed your daughter in law for not bringing back a gift, your son was right there with her and they made the decision together. I think they were trying to do something EXTRA special by taking you guys out to dinner! Who wants a cheesy Vegas gift especially if you go there once a year? I wonder what you would of said if they bought you some Vegas trinket and that was all they did to thank you. I'd rather the dinner personally. First of all if your looking at cost I'm sure taking 4 people to dinner was WAYYY more expensive than the little souvenirs they gave to their friends! Lighten up a little, they are so lucky to have parents like you who go out of their way to give such a great gift! I think they were thoughtful and trying to do the right thing by spending time with you at dinner. Family time and bonding is more special than any of the crap that I seen sold in Vegas!

I agree with Stella,... I think dinner is a definitely a better "gift" rather than a shot glass from vegas...and seeing you go there every year... I would have thought to have the same suggestion.....

I agree... going out for dinner is a better deal. Order lobster LOL!

I agree with the other posts. I would have done the same thing if I was in your daughter - in- law's shoes. I don't think she did anything wrong and I believe that your son and daughter-in-law are thanking you by taking you out to dinner. I would much rather be treated to dinner than recieve a t-shirt that says, "My son went to Vegas and I got was this lousy t-shirt."

It amazes me how shallow some people can be. I hope this isn't the attitude your future daughter-in-law will have to put up with forever.

My main questions is why is the daughter-in-law getting all of the blame? I mean, your son is just as much at at fault -- if there were any fault at all. I think that their offer to take you for dinner is MUCH more thoughtful. I've gotten token gifts from Vegas before and let me tell you, I would have preferred a dinner out!

Exactly! Why is it the daughter-in-law's responsibility to get you a gift from Las Vegas? And since when did we start giving gifts, expecting something in return? You go to Las Vegas every year, so buy your own GD trinket. Suck it up and have a nice dinner with your son and daughter-in-law.

I agree with hotstuff and marthalilian126 - why don't you blame your son? why is it your daughter-in-law's fault? it was HIS gift for HIS birthday, therefore it would have been HIS responsibility to thank you; either by purchasing you a tacky vegas gift, or treating you and your husband to dinner. Personally, I think the dinner is a much nicer gesture than a silly t-shirt or key ring would be...but thats just me! I think if it bothers you this much, you should talk to your son and ask why HE didn't think of you...you didn't buy the trip for his wife's birthday and personally, I don't feel like this should be blamed on your DIL at all.

I agree as well.

I agree, Dinner is better. Do you really need a another key chain? (cause you know that's what you were gonna get anyway).

Its not that serious and wait...why couldnt your son gotten you something? I think you really have an issue with ur daughter - in - law.

...I really feel a little something would have been a nice gesture.

How does a nice thank you dinner not qualify as a little something? And how are you pinning this whole thing on your daughter-in-law? She made entirely the right move here. And if anybody should have been aware of the fact that you have a tendency toward petty childishness, it should have been your own son!

So, no, you have no right to be annoyed.

ha nice call indigo..i certainly feel for your daughter in law, if this is what the future holds for her...

I think a dinner is a much nicer, more personal way of saying thank you. Do you really need more material things? I'd say take the dinner as an opportunity to bond with your daughter-in-law.

dinner is much nicer. really good food..or a shirt that will prolly shrink in like three washings that says 'las vegas'

I'm with Sugar on this. A dinner is much more pleasant than a trinket. Especially since you go there often enough to get your own trinkets.

As long as they actually do take you out to dinner then it should be fine... what are you going to do with a trinket anyway, especially since you've already been there.

Recently my mom when on a trip to Colorado and brought me and my bf (and my bro and sis-in-law) little gifts and t-shirts. I thought it was weird since we had already been to Colorado. So I spoke up and told her it wasn't necessary but that I appreciated. It made my mom feel good to get us all something. So what i'm saying is it probably would have made your son and DIL feel silly buying you a gift from Vegas where you visit yearly.

if you had never been to vegas before then perhaps it would have been appropriate to bring back a gift, but you go there yearly so I understand their viewpoint and, afterall, they are doing SOMETHING. I think you're jumping the gun on this one.

What a lovely gift for your son! I agree that dinner is better than a gift, particularly since you go to Las Vegas frequently. Try to let this issue die and go enjoy that night out with them.

agree with everyone on here! dinner!!!!!!

i agree with...well...everyone.

how does that saying go...? "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth."

You gave a very generous gift, your son and DIL want to thank you in a very sweet and personal way and you...get annoyed? Sorry, it just doesn't make sense to me! Let it go and enjoy your thank-you dinner please.

I agree with the others. I feel bad for the DIL. Please don't place all the blame on her (and remember that in the future).

As far as the gift thing...I love souvenirs as much as the next guy, but one from a place I go annually would be a waste.

I'm sorry, but this made me want to smack you! You'd rather have a tchotke than quality time with your son and daughter in law? It's all your daughter in law's fault you didn't get your tchokte? Shame on you. It sounds like you're the kind of person who is NEVER happy.
Not to mention, but you should NEVER expect a return gift for a gift. Tacky!

I posted when you posted this to group therapy.

You were the one who offered them this vacation and now you're making it a big deal? I just don't get it. It also seems like you're just trying to find a bone to pick with your daughter in law which just isn't fair. If it's not this it will be something else. It wasn't her responsibility to get you something and why would they get you something when you go there once a year? Do you really want a tacky glow in the dark stripper replica?

The dinner was a very nice gesture and it sounds like they're trying to show you how much they appreciate the trip.

Look, they're taking you to a nice dinner, and I'm assuming they offered you their sincere thanks for such an amazing gift. So, unless you sent them on the trip to get something in return rather than as a nice gesture for your son, what's to complain about?

hahahaha Tchotchke .... i didnt think anyone still used that word... thats awesome

Stop blaming the DIL your son was there. To be honest I would have expected dinner not some tacky thing from Vegas. I know when I take trips the gifts I buy my co-workers are stupid, tacky things to play with at their desk. In answer to your question yes you are wrong to feel disappointed.

i would have done the same. You dont need some token crap gift. no kidding i would have done the exact same at your daughter inlaw. no crappy gift and a nice dinner. i dont understand why your hurt.

onesong- "Not to mention, you should NEVER expect a return gift for a gift. Tacky!"

agreed.

this post pisses me off.

remindes me of some hard times with boyfriends mothers.

get a clue.

You sound like a nightmare as a MIL. If you were my MIL and this is how you behave I'd rather you keep your gifts. Be careful - my husband barely tolerates his mother because she's a miserable person. Since this is the second place you've posted on this site you also sound like you don't want to listen to what anyone has to say on the matter. You were looking for validation but you're not getting it. I hope that message gets through.

Holly crap. You gave your SON a gift for his birthday. If this is how you feel, like you are owed something in return (and something crappy at that), then next time keep your generosity to your self. I hope your daughter-in-Law doesn't know your are feeling this way. If she does she's probably feeling embarrassed (at no fault of her own) and feels regret for even going on the trip. I hope you enjoy your unwanted dinner.

Agreed with everyone!

i can understand maybe they thought diner with them would be a nice gift because maybe they didn't know what to get you. a lot of times it's hard to pick out a gift for a mother, let alone a mother in law.
they didn't mean anything against you by it, surely they are thankful for a lovely trip.

No, you don't have a right to be annoyed.And as far as your DIL,like the others, i don't see why not bringing you a gift was only her resposibility.What's wrong with your son? Your his mother and IMO he should be the one to think of it first. You did a really thoughtful, nice thing and they're showing their appreciation by taking you to dinner so what exactly is the problem?My advice to you woulb be to stop being so petty, and instead be gracious ,accept their gift to you with a smile, and go enjoy a nice evening with your son and his wife.

Sorry you feel that way, but I don't think you should hold practicality and thoughtfulness against your DIL.

What are you going to do with a Poker chip or a snow globe with a miniature Casino inside it? seriously?

okay, let's not ATTACK mother in law. we don't even know her! she is posting for an opinion and asking if she has a right to be annoyed, not just saying "im annoyed" as if she is totally confident that she's right.
No where in there did she specifically target her daughter in law, either, except to point out that she was the one who made the decision. some posters have read a lot of things into it that this lady may not have meant.
I agree, dinner is nicer. Way nicer than giving you some cheap souvenir. Maybe you were expecting something more, with some sentiment attached to it? Maybe they plan to give you a souvenir at dinner???

Now, I am even more annoyed finding out that she posted the same question somewhere else. Grow-up lady, they want to buy you dinner instead of a cheesy gift.

Dinner is much better ! Come on ! you go regularly, don't you have enough things from Vegas ? Why would you want the same thing as everyone else ? Your husband and you, gave them the trip so why not have something special from them ?

I would rather be taken out to dinner then get a piece of token crap from a place I visit once a year anyway.
You're being silly.

Jeez! Why in the hell are you paying for their vacation? They're old enough and married.

I agree with Jinx, and besides why give something with the hopes of getting something in return..i find this completely selfish!

I think you have no right to be annoyed. I would have thought it silly to bring you back something since you go every year, been there done that, and have seen it all anyway, the dinner was a good idea... well at least until you got offended. Who knew?

They did do "a little something" - they offered to take you to dinner. You'd rather some cheap shot glass that requires no thought over an evening with them?

Even if they didn't offer dinner, you shouldn't be disappointed at all. A simple "thank you" is all you should be looking for. Did you get them this gift just for the return gift? Of course not. I can't even remotely understand what you're upset about.

It sounds like you should be proud of raising your son in such a way that he would go beyond the obvious and decide with his wife to do something MORE for his parents than he did for any of his friends. Usually parents are disappointed that their kids do more nice things for their friends than them. It also sounds like you raised him well enough to choose a mature and sweet wife who thought that you and your hubby would enjoy a nice dinner as opposed to a present.

I doubt they were planning on taking you to Burger King.
It sounds like you've already driven yourself crazy. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and be grateful you have a mature son and DIL who are thoughtful and have proper etiquette!

This is the time of year to be especially thankful for what you have, not mad about what you don't.

What did you want them to bring you back? A plug in Welcome to Las Vegas sign? A dice sucker? Perhaps a classy bottle opener key chain? Your son and daughter-in-law clearly assumed that you would not want any of the crap souvenirs from Vegas, especially since you go so often. You should be RELIEVED that you are being given some crappy little junky thing that you will throw out anyway. A nice dinner is a far better thank you for your generous gift.

Wow. I def. wouldn't wanna be friends with you!