You should try asking your children what they would like to do with family, both with you as the parents and with extended family.  I think that kids often feel like they are being dragged around to places that they don't really want to go.  It is also only fun if there are people there who are their age.  Maybe this means that you could let your kids bring a friend to certain things.  They would still spend time with family, but maybe they would see it as a more interesting and fun event.  Just some ideas.