In quite a contrast from the lavish holidays she spent as a celebrity baby in her own right — complete with Santa Claus and a reindeer — Nicole Richie joked Saturday that she’s anticipating a "very boring" Christmas this year with boyfriend Joel Madden as the couple await the birth of their first child. Joel echoed the sentiment, saying that the holiday will be "very low key." It will be celebrated with family, as Joel and his twin Benji are new uncles this month — their sister Sarah recently welcomed daughter Clementine.
Joel, 28, and Nicole, 26, made their comments in the midst of hosting 200 underprivileged kids from Beyond Shelter at a Christmas party thrown by the Richie-Madden’s Children Foundation in Los Angeles. The event was just the latest instance where the expectant couple gave back to the community and Joel says that their charitable acts will continue, telling People that the foundation "is really important [to me] and really important to Nicole." Added Joel,
It’s fun for us to be with a bunch of kids who are having a good time. They make you smile. Hopefully for today they’re feeling special. We’re just really happy to be a part of the community and celebrating with these kids who haven’t been as fortunate as us.
Nicole and Joel gifted the children with Stride Rite shoes and Cloud B Cuddle Cub teddy bears, among other items, and treated their young guests to face-painting, hot dogs and balloon animals. Said Nicole,
We really wanted to give these kids a really wonderful and special Christmas. It’s our favorite holiday. It was a no-brainer for us to pull this party together for them…
We want to do much more to address the homeless issue, especiallywhere it puts children at risk. But for now, we can at least try tohelp them have a merry Christmas by giving them teddy bears and gettingthem fitted for shoes. That’s something we can do right now, today.
Nicole and Joel expect their baby in early January.
