MERRY CHRISTMAS

The girls and I got up early and headed to the kitchen. We had a few things to prepare in advance for Christmas day --deviled eggs, more party mix (3rd batch!! we all love it!!), more sausage balls (2nd batch!!) and an applesauce cake. All of this was done by 10:30 and Jibbit #1 had helped by vacuuming and picking up stray toys. Now for a STRESS-FREE Christmas Eve--we had an early lunch (well, everybody except me which I realized about 2:30 when my stomach started growling) and when King Jibbit got off work (he only had to go in for a few hours) we headed to Knoxville to pick up a HoneyBaked Ham (King Jibbit loves them and this was a splurge for us --he normally gets a gift certificate for one but not this year) and then to the mall. We had to go to Build-a-Bear for Jibbit #2, because we had told her she could go if she quit biting her fingernails and I actually had to cut them. Well, 2 days before her surgery I had to cut her nails so, we had told her we would go as soon as she felt like it and we could get there. We also had them do some "heart surgery" on Candy. Candy is Jibbit #3's FAVORITE, FAVORITE, FAVORITE bear. Now, keep in mind she sleeps with a ZOO, but Candy (the pink bear with the heart on it's belly) is her pick. Candy has had a rough life, although loved dearly, she looked pitiful and she needed CPR because her heart no longer beat. (something about washing them too many times---)Keep in mind Jibbit #3 is 3 years old and you know how sometimes the diaper leaks in the bed or the Queen Jibbit might forget to put a diaper on her ooops!! and then EVERYTHING in the bed gets washed!! Her heart stopped beating after the last washing and her stuffing was wasting away to nothing. We took her in hopes that it wasn't "too late" and they were so nice they opened Candy right up took out the old heart and put in the new one, put more stuffing in her (firmness approved by Jibbet #3, of course) and sewed her right back up and only charged us for the heart!! LOVE IT!! I was afraid that the change in firmness would turn Jibbet 3 away from her --oh but no she is still the Queen of the Zoo! (the other members of the zoo are Fender, Molly, New Pooh, Muddy, Snow White, and Bunny--yep you counted right 7 animals in her bed every night along with her 3 'nite nites' (aka her very special blankets). Sydney picked out a puppy and had it stuffed to perfect snuggling firmness (not too soft but not so firm that it will stand on it's own) and then proceeded to dress it in a purple top and capris and pink fuzzy "crocs" and she named it Puffy. This puppy comes with the stipulation that if she goes back to biting her fingernails---Puffy goes AWAY!!! ok back to our day: After the Build a Bear stop, we went to the movies. Arriving a little earlier than we thought we would put a small crimp in things. Bolt, the movie we went to see, didn't start til 4:40 and it was now 3:50. So, do we kill time and come back or we could watch Madagascar 2. Everybody very easily decided to stay and watch Madagascar 2. Movie was just "ok" nothing great or horrible. Then on to supper at WASABI--only my favorite restaurant in Knoxville. UMMMM!! So good! Then we head home to go see Christmas lights only to find that Jibbit #2 is sound asleep--so we decided we would save this for another night before New Years (hopefully it won't be raining). We get inside and let the Jibbits open 1 stocking present and then to bed! What a fun and relaxing time. Christmas Day will start with the reading of Jesus birth by King Jibbit and then the Jibbits opening presents and having a family breakfast. Followed by much fun and play. The grandparents and Aunt R will come for dinner and somemore fun and play! Always keeping at the forefront of our minds what this time of year is a reminder of and thanking Jesus all the time for his willingness to come to this earth and live a sinless life and be crucified on the cross and 3 days later rise so that we can be with Him in heaven. Merry CHRISTmas to ALL!!!