Yanno, a functional relationship would go sort of like this:

MIL: "What do you think they'd like for Christmas?"

LW: "Oh, this or that kind of thing, or perhaps the other. And the younger really isn't old enough to express preferences, but tends to like these things.
Oh, and so you know, we're trying to stay away from this category of thing."

But, that ship sailed long ago. Hint, LW: it's not about the presents.