When I started dating my future husband, his children were seven, five, four, four, and 2 ¾. I had met each of the kids maybe once or twice when I found myself in line to see Santa at the Nordstrom flagship in downtown Seattle. Now, if you live in a city with kids, you totally know the chaos of waiting in line to see Santa at a department store. It takes forever. Forever. Like best ride at Disneyland forever. And here I was in a new relationship with a man with five children under the age of eight waiting to see Santa. It was a bit surreal.

lagniappe, kids, Christmasadrienne robideauxDecember 16, 2014family holidays, kids, christmasComment

family holidays: book-a-day

Years ago, my friend Sharon shared several of her family Christmas traditions that I thought were just genius. My favorite was her story-a-day tradition. As she packed up Christmas decorations after the holidays, Sharon would wrap all of the kids’ Christmas books in leftover paper. The wrapped books were pulled out at the beginning of the following December and her kids opened one book per day to read together before bedtime. Brilliant. Wrapping things the kids already owned? Reading a Christmas story together at the end of the day? What’s not to like?

Christmas, kids, lagniappeadrienne robideauxDecember 4, 2014kids, family holidays, christmas, booksComment

family holidays: stockings

For the last several years (read: since we got married), my husband has been trying to get me to tone down the Christmas gifts. I try, really, I do. But sometimes I forget what I’ve already bought then feel like I have to “make it even”. Sometimes it isn’t even me that makes the tree look like Santa has dropped his entire toy load in our living room. It’s simply the fact that we have seven kids and they have five grandparents on our side of the family alone plus cousins and aunts and uncles and godparents. It isn’t much different than when I was growing up. Lots of kids equals lots of gifts, even if you personally don’t buy a whole lot.

kids, Christmas, lagniappeadrienne robideauxDecember 1, 2014kids, family holidays, christmasComment

family holidays: elf on a shelf

The Elf on a Shelf is everywhere these days. It makes me kind of sad to see all of the products on which our elf’s face have been plastered. My kids, of course, think it is the coolest thing ever. “Look, Mom! I just saw Felix!” I still love our elf. I’m thrilled to introduce you to Felix Navidad.

lagniappe, kids, Christmasadrienne robideauxNovember 26, 2014kids, christmas, elf on a shelf, family holidays Comments

family holidays: washi tape advent calendar

I am kind of obsessed with advent calendars. Advent is by far my favorite time of year. For me, advent is about slowing down and spending time with family. Wait, what? Did she actually just say that? Yes, I did. I wasn’t always this way. I spent many years missing the whole season, stressed with all the things that I “needed” to get done. The shopping, the mailing, the lists.

kids, lagniappe, Christmasadrienne robideauxNovember 20, 2014kids, christmas, family holidaysComment

family holidays: creating traditions that aren’t (all) about stuff

I have seven kids. I get a lot of questions about that, especially during the holidays. Most people want to know how I can possibly get all the shopping done. I start early. But there is another reason that I start early. I love Christmas. But five or six years ago, I had begun to dread Christmas. It was all about the presents. It was all about everyone else’s schedule and agenda. It didn’t look anything like the Christmas that I grew up with. I really loved that Christmas.

kids, Christmas, lagniappeadrienne robideauxNovember 13, 2014kids, christmas, family holidaysComment

Introducing Felix

lagniappe, Christmasadrienne robideauxDecember 4, 2013christmasComment