OK I know this is not boat related, but my OSO family canhelp me out.
I was recently, about 10 minutes ago, invited to a friends house for Christmas dinner.
We have been friends for years but I did not get them anything as for presents.
Is it rude of me to show without something wrapped?
What about the kids?
I typically do not do anything for xmass due to my single life so that is the reason for the last minute invite when they heard I was not going out of state like usuall.
They did not want me sitting home like any other day of the week.

What do I get? anything?
How do I tell the kids they do not have gifts from me?
or do I just get a few 10's and 20's and hand them out?

instant lottery tickets
gift cards to stores
gift cards for restaurants
gas cards

all of these are easy to get fast, and usually well recieved!

Yep, gift cards are the way to go.

Go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of little things (maybe $20 or $30 worth). Wrap them and put them in a bag. Let every one take turns "blindly" picking a gift out of the bag (don't make it easy for them to grab a present by shaking the bag a LOT). They then either keep the gift or trade it with someone else (with their permission). Makes it interesting and fun for everyone (and you get off relatively cheap)!!

For my friends that have kids I buy for the kids.
For my friends that dont have kids I buy a small token something....usually the bar tabs through out the rest of the year make up for it

I would buy something for the kids in your situation and maybe a bottle of wine for dinner.

Merry Christmas