abe's nativity

we got our first nativity this year. it was only like $10 but it's perfect! i'm sure i'll buy more over the years, but i love love love that this is our first one. for one, they all have smiles. the other ones had mortified faces on them. haha! they were all traditional, but geez! mary is kneeling, leaning over the baby, looking up with her hands raised with a look that says, "WHHHHYYYY MMEEEEEE?!?!"

i don't know what other people do, but when explaining the nativity to my three year old, he doesn't quite find it entertaining for me to read the bible or anything... here's how the conversation went-

mom: *holding baby jesus* this is baby jesus! and here's jesus' mommy and daddy.
abe: ooohhhhhh!
mom: christmas is jesus' birthday
abe: presents
mom: haha, well, abe, guess what? these three guys came to give him presents for his birthday

*took the three wise men, acted out them giving them gifts and kissing baby jesus*

mom: the wise men say, "thank you, jesus! thank you, thank you, thank you!"
abe: *kisses baby jesus* thank you, jesus!
mom: and here is an angel that came to celebrate jesus' birthday too!
abe: no, mom. that's a butterfly!!
mom: ok, well the wise men and the angel-butterfly...
abe: ...no. just butterfly...
mom: k, the butterfly are going to sing happy birthday to jesus

*we sing happy birthday then give jesus a kiss*

mom: all the decorations in the house are for jesus' birthday party!!
abe: presents.
mom: jesus gives us presents all the time. everything in our life is from him. like family and our toys. do you want to give jesus a present for his birthday like how you get presents on your birthday?
abe: no. i want a present.
mom: but it's jesus' birthday. don't you want to give him a birthday present
abe: um. a movie!
mom: you want to give him a movie?
abe: yes. jesus watch a movie on the t.v.
mom: what movie would you like to give him on his birthday?
abe: he watch the trees... (the lorax. one of abe's favorite movies right now)
mom: that's a great present! guess what? baby jesus is going to grow up to be a superhero!! he saves the world!
abe: ooohhhhhh!!!
mom: and he's a warrior like you!
abe: yeah, like me!!
mom: he's brave and strong
abe: yup.

*i take baby jesus and pretend to have jesus talk to abe*

{jesus}: thank you, abe, for my movie! i love you so much!
abe: i love you too, jesus!
{jesus}: i want to give you a honi honi (kisses)

then i had abe help me put the nativity back the way he wanted. (see above pic)

we will continue to talk to abe about christmas and its meaning. it's fun! and honestly, he totally doesn't get it all. right now, abe's world consists of what abe wants. but he's three. and my job is to be patient and loving as we help him realize through time the world around him and how much jesus loves him.

right now he's asking when we can have jesus' birthday cake. because obviously if it's someone's birthday they need a cake!!

see ya! enjoy your day and those around you :)