Sometimes it is hard to match up our dreams of other people (expensive, nicely wrapped presents) and reality of them (two unwrapped boxes from last year :-) I have had similar instances with my stepsister and her large family who I only see Christmas every year. I keep inviting them out to my place during the summer (I live on the water, have a boat, etc.) and no one shows but they sound so sincere each year with the, "Yeah! That sounds great!"