JESUS: what Christmas is all about

On the way home tonight I was talking to Addison about the presents she got and how Santa Claus was going to come to her house tonight. Trying to explain (over and over) the whole Santa Claus thing is pretty exhausting, but I asked Addi if she had been a good girl, cause Santa only brings presents to good boys and girls. She immediately started to whine and said she had been a bad girl! Of course, I felt bad and explained to her that she had been a good girl and Santa would bring her presents. Then I started feeling bad because I don't want Christmas to be all about presents and Santa Claus.
I was telling Addi how tomorrow is baby Jesus' birthday and that is why we sang "happy birthday" to him tonight. Then she asked me where baby Jesus was and if we were going to have a cake for his birthday. I told her that he was in Heaven because he lives there. She said, "I want to go see him!" After explaining that it is really far away and we will see him when we are older, I told her that we could talk to him. So I told her that we could pray. So we prayed for our sick friend to get better (because Jesus can make sick people feel better) why? (because he loves us and he is smart and strong). Then all of the sudden Addi started to cry (we are driving) and I asked her why she was crying. She says," I want to take Holly with me to Heaven". I told her that when it's time to go to Heaven she can take Holly (her stuffed cow) with her "{by this time I am crying...driving in the dark rain!} Then she asks when she is going to see baby Jesus (I say he's gonna come again one day) she says (I think he should stay at our house). I laughed and said that would be okay (she says she will give baby Jesus crackers, play ponies, and they can play Angry Birds). I can't remember how it came up, but she she said something about wings and I said when it was time to go to Heaven she would have wings... she says "good so me and Holly can fly to Heaven and see baby Jesus".
This year has had some big "ups" and some big "downs" and we have lots of wonderful presents and a big wonderful family that we have shared many memories with, but I think my favorite part of Christmas this year was having that conversation with my 2.5 year old. She might not fully understand CHRISTmas but she has such a big sweet heart and no matter what happens I know that one day she (and Holly the cow) will be in Heaven with baby Jesus...maybe they will be playing Angry Birds...who really knows... I'm just thankful that my family loved me enough to tell me about baby Jesus, so that I can tell her about him.

May you all know the real reason for the season, Merry Christmas.