Understanding Christmas

What happens when a 3-year-old knows knows ***almost everything***, and just needs her parents to fill in the gaps? The intellectual circus that was understanding Christmas this year!

Elaina: "Is Jesus coming to His birthday party?"

Parental Unit: "Of course."

Elaina: "Will He be driving His car?"

Parental Unit: "Not until He turns 16."

Parental Unit: "Look Elaina, that man is supposed to be Saint Nicholas, a generous old man who people like to remember."

Elaina: "Actually, that's Santa, Mom. Most people just call him Santa, but it's ok. You can call him Saint Nicholas if you want."

Parental Unit: "Well, Santa is supposed to be like Saint Nicholas who was an old grandpa and died a while ago. So he's not really real, because people just like to remember how generous he was."

Elaina: "Mom. I saw him at the mall. I think he's real."

Parental Unit to Parental Unit: "Hey honey, do you think we should let Elaina open her (spelled out) S-T-O-C-K-I-N-G on Christmas Eve?"

Elaina: "All I know is, the sooner, the better!"

Elaina: "Mom, I can't believe we made this whole cake and Jesus didn't eat any of it."

AJ: "That's because the cake in heaven is much better than ours."

Oh, she's kept us on our toes alright.

The other day we were out on errands and wandering the Christmas aisles when she said, "Mom, don't you think it's sad that Jesus had to be born in a barn?" I responded how it was sad, and telling - of men's ignorance, and our Savior's humility. And as we turned the corner in our cart, I realized that of the 8 sections of aisles dedicated to "Christmas", there was one lone endcap filled with anything relating to Christ's birth. An end cap. The very essence of Christmas ... a meager offering on an end cap. And I, too, was reminded how sad and telling this was. Good News, Great News, inhabiting the most unassuming of places. How deep the Father's love for us ...

The last few days have been utterly relaxing. We spent Christmas Day fireside at home. Later, we caught up with dozens of other friends from Church at a little celebratory dinner/games night out. Elaina was caught red-handed there with a GIANT hunk of peppermint back that she had slathered with a half-inch of butter on top. (like father, like daughter). Really? Milk chocolate plus white chocolate plus candy needs butter?! Oh yes.

Christmas Eve we slumber party under the tree in sleeping bags. This year, we snuck back in for a good night of sleep on our mattress, but Elaina got to fall asleep under the twinkly lights. When she woke to find presents under the tree, she exclaimed, "Holy Mackerel!!!" at the top of her lungs, and then, in her complete amazement and thrill, proceeded to pee, yes, pee, on the floor. She then shrieked, "Oh no! I have to pee!" as she left a trail of her "excitement" on the tree skirt and even a few of her presents. It was her first accident ever. We got a good laugh out of it :)

She also got to watch Frosty the Snowman for the first time this year. She was horrified. When Frosty melted and Karen began crying, Elaina had a complete meltdown on Frosty's behalf, and we had to turn it off she was so crushed and upset.

While we didn't have a repeat of last year's "Lipstick on the Nativity Figures" incident, we did wake up to find that all of the angels and shepherds were lounging in bright purple doll-sized beach chairs, in the shade of the nativity. Just chillin.'

Hope you and yours got to enjoy a good dose of "just chillin'" too ... Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year!