During the Christmas season, grandparents often go over the top when it comes to buying presents for their grandkids. They end up buying lots of presents that their grandchildren don’t need, and that the parents of the kids don’t have room for.

That’s why this grandmother came up with an ingenious gift giving idea that you will want to try yourself, and she calls it the adventure box!

Darlene Waller is grandmother to four grandchildren, and over Christmas of last year, she gave her oldest two grandchildren something that they were not expecting. The 11- and 9-year-old unwrapped a chest that had envelopes in it as well as a note explaining that their grandma was giving them the gift of family time this year.

Each of the boys had twelve envelopes labeled with one month each with a specific theme. Each envelope contained a preplanned and paid date for them with grandma, them with their parents, or them with their aunt and uncle.

“Some you choose, some I choose. But they are all fun as a family activity for us to do together,” Darlene wrote.

At the beginning of each month, the boys will open their envelope and see what surprise is waiting for them.

“The older boys don’t need a thing. They have every toy and electronic made,” Darlene explained. “I’ve always enjoyed making memories and a lot of the stuff I put in the adventure box was activities we would have done this year anyway.”

The activities in the envelopes include everything from laser tag and bowling to baseball and movie tickets.

“The boys loved it and the parents loved it too because they didn’t need more toys. They live on a budget so it was nice for them to be able to take the boys to the movies or bowling when they opened that envelope,” the proud grandma said. “I took pictures every time we did one of the adventures, and I’m making a scrapbook for them to give to them this year.”

This grandmother’s thoughtful gift to her grandsons will surely create wonderful priceless memories that will outlast any toy!