THE YEAR THE KIDS ASKED FOR LESS
If not for financial setbacks, the Cota family of Sunapee, New Hampshire, might have missed their most memorable Christmas. Two years ago, Tanna Cota and her husband, Tom, were talking about ways to scale down the holiday as their daughters, Mackenzie, then age 6, and Keagen, 8, watched a Christmas episode of Little House on the Prairie. At the show's end, Keagen looked up and said, "I wish we could have a Christmas like that." Her wish sparked a unique holiday celebration. The family set to researching prairie life in the late 19th century and crafted homemade decorations, such as popcorn and cranberry chains, salt dough ornaments, and gingerbread men. They made most of their gifts by hand (ordering kits online to cut down on fuss) and wrapped them in brown paper tied with raffia. And on Christmas Eve the girls received Little House-style bonnets to wear on Christmas morning. Reflecting history, gifts to the girls were simple -- a doll, a quill pen set. "That year," says Tanna, "we didn't spend a lot of money, but we spent a lot of time -- together." Which turned out to be the most lavish gift of all.
THE GREAT REGIFTING
The first year of their marriage, Karen and Dan Chambers were low on Christmas funds. So they came up with an ingenious no-cost gift-giving solution. On Christmas Eve, each searched the house for things that were particularly precious to the other -- a favorite CD, a beautiful poinsettia -- then wrapped them and set them under the tree. On Christmas morning, they opened their "regifts" and talked about all the good things they already possessed, especially their new life together. They never forgot that first Christmas as a couple, and today they continue the tradition with their kids, Andrew, age 10, and Delani, 8. Over the years, it's yielded some memorable surprises, such as Delani's Easy-Bake Oven, which had been stashed away and temporarily forgotten, and Andrew's guitar, with broken string replaced. And then there was the Christmas Eve that Karen rushed home before Dan to wrap up Delani and Andrew. "After all," says Karen, "they're our most precious gifts."
