To be read to my dear 5-year-old on Christmas morning before she runs in to the living room in utter excitement and is overcome by shiny plastic things, dolls and other fun packages...
Dear Ellie,
Daddy and I are so excited that is it finally Christmas day! Mostly because we are very excited to see you open presents and play with lots of new toys. But, do you know why Daddy and I give you gifts on Christmas? It’s because we love you to the moon and back. We love you all the way to heaven and even past heaven. We love you more than all the candy canes in the whole world!! Ellie we are so proud of you. You are a girl who knows how to make other people feel happy and loved. You are a good friend at school. You are patient and kind to other kids. We love how kind you are. Ellie you are such a great big sister to Colin. You know how to be patient when he is being cranky or when he doesn’t understand about sharing. You take good care of him, especially at places like the gym. We are so proud of what an amazing big sister you are to Colin. Daddy and I have loved watching you grow this past year. We love your imagination and your creativity. We love how much you like school. You are a smart girl who practices her letters, listens to her teachers and tries over and over when something is hard to do. Christmas is a time for Daddy and I to celebrate how much we love our family, and one way to celebrate is to give each other fun gifts. For each gift you receive try to remember that the real gift is how much we love you.
Love,
Mommy and Daddy
