Posted Dec. 15, 2008

This time last year, Guy Ritchie revealed that he and Madonna had "canceled Christmas a few years ago [and] stopped all the presents. And ever since ... we're actually enjoying it."

Of course, their enjoyment level dropped off precipitously over the course of the year, and with Santa likely to stuff their stockings with a framed copy of their preliminary divorce decree and a scrapbook filled with clips of their tabloid mud-slinging, there are rumblings the exes could call a cease-fire in order to make things a mite more festive for kids Lourdes, 12, Rocco, 8, and David, 3, this holiday season.

"Madonna and Guy want the best for the kids," a source tells London's Mail on Sunday, "and so she has decided to come over to the UK so they can be with their father."

Madonna's personal umbrella-holder shields her during a rainy show in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 14. (©AP)

The big-bicepped pop icon, who has been in South America with her soon-to-wrap Sticky & Sweet tour (she suffered a spill Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro while performing in sunglasses on a rain-slick stage), will allegedly wing to England with the tykes on Dec. 23.

The paper says they'll spend Christmas with Ritchie at Ashcombe, the sprawling country estate she's handed over to him as part of their split settlement.

"Guy is happiest with his kids and in the countryside," explains a snitch. "Because of what the kids have been through this year he wants to treat them to a really special Christmas with stockings of presents and a big tree."

And it looks like that big tree will have big money stuck under it. While there was speculation that Ritchie would receive about $47 million in cash and property for sticking with Madonna for almost eight years, her rep told the Associated Press on Monday the number is actually between $76 million and $92 million.

"I'd assume it's one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce settlement," spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg points out.

Feature: All Madonna wants for Christmas is ... A-Rod?

The news comes on the heels of a Madonna confidant kvetching to the Daily Mail over how Ritchie has been wrongly portrayed as taking "not one penny" of his ex's estimated $500 million fortune.

"He is not like some monk running around saying he doesn't want money. You don't get money unless you ask for it," huffs the source. "And he asked for it. This is one of the biggest celebrity divorce settlements. It is said she is being horrible to him but he is hardly poor Guy."

Continues the fed-up, suspiciously PR-savvy snitch, "You can imagine how Madonna feels. She has been very generous to him. It isn't about being acrimonious. It is just so inaccurate and unfair and people believe he walked away with nothing. The sums are huge. It is much bigger than the amount paid to Heather Mills by Sir Paul McCartney. Madonna just wants to make that point."

The high-priced settlement should make things interesting if they do end up coming together for the holiday, especially as Madonna would probably avoid joining in on any of Guy's ostensible reindeer games.

"He is planning on having a traditional turkey dinner, although all the food will be organic at Madonna's insistence," maintains the Mail's mole, before dubiously adding, "Madonna doesn't really like Ashcombe, but she thinks it's important that they put on a united front for the kids. She will, however, be eating a different meal as she will only eat fish. She will also be working out on Christmas Day."

But while the Kabbalah-devoted Big M, who supposedly served steamed fish and veggies last Christmas, will be in London for the holiday, her rep downplays that it's "doubtful" she'll be with her ex-hubby.

According to the paper, Ritchie also wants to spoil the kids rotten, but not necessarily with gifts galore. Instead, he'll let them watch TV and have sugary treats, all of which are on Madonna's naughty list.

"Guy hasn't seen the kids for weeks and he is desperate to be with them over the holidays," the source informs the paper. "They have been traveling a lot and he just wants them home."

Besides, "Madonna is aware that she has come out worse than Guy as far as coverage of the divorce is concerned and she didn't want headlines about them rowing over the kids and Christmas," explains the spy. "She has decided to be the bigger person and bring the kids home to Guy."

And perhaps they'll be moved by some holiday good cheer and will hammer out the remaining issues related to their joint custody agreement for sons Rocco and David.

The London Daily Mirror claims they're still tussling over where the boys will live, with Madonna expected to settle in New York and Ritchie staying in London.

"Guy dotes on Rocco and wants to see all the children as much as possible," a source tells the paper. "He is even considering buying a place in the States."

Guy films "Sherlock Holmes" with Robert Downey Jr. in London on Oct. 11. (©Retna Ltd.)

Madonna's flack confirms that custody arrangements are still being negotiated.

Ritchie, who remains hard at work on "Sherlock Holmes," has reportedly been crashing in a studio apartment above his office since moving out of the family's palatial London pad (Madonna is said to be paying him the value of the house).

As for Madonna, she's rumored to be considering going public with self-described good friend Alex Rodriguez on New Year's Eve. The two were previously spotted together in Miami over Thanksgiving before popping up in Mexico City a few days later.