Canon Rebel XT?

Hey Guys! K well lets see I am the most amature photographer ever as in I have been using disposable cameras all my life. Well I love to take pictures we do have a digital camera that me and my sister use all the time. I am VERY interested in getting better in photograpy. I want a realy good camera for Christmas and don't know what to get. I like the Canon Rebel xt and hear it's great for beginers but I know it's an SLR camera and i'm not sure if I'm ready for that. What would you sugjest and make sure it's in dumb people terms because i'm not sure of the photograpy lingo! Thanks!