Werner Herzog

This is the funniest thing in the world to me.

What is your favorite Christmas Album?

It's that time of year...the annual choosing of the new Christmas music that Kyle will most likely hate no matter how carefully I try to find something he might like.

So what I want to know is...what is your favorite Christmas album?

As a child, the above album was my favorite because I thought "Please Daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas" was the funniest song ever. Then I grew up and realized its the saddest song ever. Whoops.

I wish I could say this one is my favorite, because it is awesome, definitely in the top 3. And it is Kyle's favorite, who is a scrooge and normally hates all Christmas music, especially the nostalgic ones from my childhood. (Amy Grant, the Carpenters, John Denver)

This one seems to be a favorite of nearly everyone and I do love it a lot. But not quite my favorite.

I am a traditional girl at heart and nothing ignites my Christmas spirit like Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, etc. There's something so fun, cheerful and classy about this album, it makes me dream of snow, holiday parties, fancy dresses and kissing under the mistletoe. mmmm.

busy busy

Oh wow, what a crazy busy few weeks it has been here!

1. Kyle was in Taiwan for 9 days and came home last Thursday

2. We had our bathroom dry walled, shower tiled, walls painted & flooring installed in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Almost done! (just have to figure out a mirror, pick a toilet, make our concrete countertop, find a cool pendant light, get a shower door installed....nevermind)

3. I spent a FABULOUS weekend in Seattle with some dear girlfriends. Two live far away now (Spokane & Portland) and it was our first time ever hanging out so long together without our children. Such a wonderful treat & we got lots of shopping done.

4. I am nearly finished Christmas shopping, except for Kyle. I am trying to get a lot done in advance so that we don't get so stressed out this year.

5. Something is wrong with Annika (sick? teething? earache?) and she hasn't gone more than 10 minutes without crying for a couple days now. Doctor appointment in 2.5 hours.

Magic

One sentence that changed my life forever:

"Try washing your paintbrushes in hot water, and be sure to use soap"

No longer will I be known as "Kari the Paintbrush Destroyer" because I despise 15 minute paintbrush rinsing sessions.

Tonite, I cleaned a 2 1/2" brush in 3 minutes. Not even a hint of tint in the water I squeezed out of it.

Thank you dear Sherwin Williams sales lady.

(did everyone already know about this except me? And I'm talking about big brushes for painting the walls, not artsy brushes)

A few more things I'm thankful for

1. Treasury of Memories paper store - I've found a whole new side of me, dabbling in paper crafts! The store itself is so incredibly exciting & inspiring, it makes me want to make stuff. (and spend too much money)

2. A house that gets toasty warm in the winter every time it is sunny. The awesome part is that when the sun is higher in the sky during the summer, an eave keeps the sun out so it doesn't get too hot. Brilliant early 1920's architects!

3. Artichoke hearts from Trader Joes - they never used to be very good, but the last can I got are the best ever. So good, I can eat them all by themselves.

4. Annika & her teddy bear - she recently "attached" to her big white teddy bear and its been warming my heart all week watching her hug it.

5. Annika running to hide in our bedroom closet when I call her. I know, its naughty, but its so funny and she is giggling as she does it because she wants to hide & then come out & say "boo!"

6. Saben's art projects - today he drew two beach balls, colored them in with crayon, then carefully cut them out and was trying to glue the flat pieces together to make them a 3 dimensional ball. There was glue everywhere, but he is so intense and working so hard to figure it out, I love it.

7. Friendly people in stores. I love clerks who are chatty and friendly and don't just fake interest in you.

8. Our nice dry wall guy who does not act like a crack addict. He's been working on our bathroom all week and is so nice & normal. A neighborhood creepy guy had been hounding us for weeks to do the job and I really didn't like him. I was so glad we found this other company.

9. Organized toys - I worked for an hour Friday organizing the kids toys and it has been so nice. They are actually finding things to play with again!

don't worry, we're still grateful

Saben: I am grateful for my friend, Kaiya who came over.

I can't even tell you how fun it is to see Saben playing with my friend's kids. Let me clarify - since we moved to Bellingham when he was only 3 months old, I've felt some sadness that neither of my kids has gotten to spend much time with the kids of my friends in Seattle. The friends I spent time with when I was still newly married and carefree. We LOVE our new Bellingham friends, but it really struck me today that it is SO FUN to watch him play with my "old friend's" kids. Saben & Kaiya had a blast coloring together, playing strange games in Casa Que Pasa and just chatting. Kari & I chatted (yes, we have the same name), but had to keep stopping because they were so darn cute.

Annika: Eleanor

Oh my goodness, i am sorry Roxxy, but I am ready to get a new dog. From the get go, Roxxy has completely ignored the kids and I don't think she really likes them that much. After Saben was born, she got a little weird & nervous and things have never been the same, even though we did try to keep her included. I realize now that if she had actually liked Saben & paid attention to him, I think I would like her a lot more than I do right now.

Anyways, we're watching Eleanor this weekend and Annika is madly in love with her. I laughed my head off all day. Annika loves sitting on animals in general and spent quite a bit of time this evening sitting on eleanor, who put up with it for a good 15 minutes, including the times annika was bouncing on her back. When eleanor finally stood up, Annika progressed to patting & hugging. During dinner time, Annika ran to eleanors food bowl and hand fed her most of the food.

Finally, to cap off the night, Annika would stick her face up close to Eleanor's nose and Eleanor would lick annika. Annika would giggle and run away and then come back and do it over & over. If Eleanor didn't notice her, Annika would grab her face and pull it towards her. It was really really funny.

Kari: I am grateful for kids who make me laugh, visits from friends and for a great new recipe for crudites & vinagrette that has me gobbling down lots of veggies. (all I did was blanche them instead of eating them cold and raw. Wow, what a difference)

Grateful: Day 4

Day three: Saben was thankful for Grandma & his new bedroom
Day four: Saben was thankful that I made him lunch.
(I tried to get him to think of more things and that is the only one he would say.)

Mommy is thankful for our warm house & new furnace, her adventurous crazy daughter and her devilish son who says really funny things.

Mom: "Saben, did you poop?"
Saben: "no"
Mom: "Did Annika? Do you smell her? I smell something"
Saben: "No mom. Maybe it is you. You stink sometimes too."

I am trying to watch the election, but none of the TV channels (canadian) are covering it and all the streaming videos are stuttering awful. But I do hear cheering all over the neighborhood, so even if I miss historic speeches, at least I know what is going on.

Thanksgiving

Me: "Saben, what are you thankful for?"
S: "Nothing!"
Me: "Isn't there anything you are thankful for? What do you say thank you for?"
S: "Nothing!"
Me: "Nothing? Really?"
S: "No! Grrrrrrrrrr"
Me: "What about a warm house? Are you thankful for Mommy and Daddy?"
S: "I guess so."
Me: "What about all your fun toys and having cereal for breakfast?"
S: "yes. That's enough now mommy."

Point of reference for my halloween costume

And he always always wears transition bike shirts & skate shoes.