Coffee during day time, tea at night

Hello! Please forgive me taking so long to rebound after the GREAT COMMENTERS APPRECIATION (echo, echo, echo) hooplah.

Life around here has been pretty normal. I'm trying to work on some new art projects. I need to be more diligent and productive with my free time. This is something I REALLY struggle with. After all of the dishes are done and crumbs swept... I just seem to blank out in front of the computer screen. Reading whatever. Blogs, mostly, but occasionally something stupid like "Where are they now" celebrity updates. GRRR. It's strange how something that seems so mindless and, at times, harmless, can really be such a suffocating passion.
There are so many other hobbies that are at least fruitful and edifying.

Susy is teething. I had my suspicions of this over the past few days... but I didn't know for sure until today when she was refusing to eat when I offered. If you've seen my child, there is no hint of food refusal whatsoever. So after a frustrating morning when nothing seemed to work in the way of soothing her, I finally just popped her in the sling and held her close to my chest while I finished up chores. I don't usually "sling her" while we're at home (*groan* I think I just got kicked out of the AP club for saying that), mainly because she's a tank and I fear for my chiropractic health when I wear her for too long . Normally I only wear her in the sling when we're out of the house with errands or church or going for a walk. But, it was so good to have her close and she was so happy there. I'm just happy it worked!

I had to get a package in the mail (Marfa's winning package, to be precise) by 2:00 pm at the university's mail room (which is just a hop, skip and a jump away). Then we walked to the coffee shop, where I treated myself to a blended iced grasshopper (mint mocha) in honor of my sister and brother-in-law's anniversary. CHEERS, sis and bro! (Grasshoppers are Christy's favorite!). It proved to be a delicious indulgence... I rarely buy such a fancy drink, but it hit the spot on this warm day, and it helped sooth my frazzled nerves a bit from everything else.

We then walked to my MIL's house to help with the dog while she was at work. We stayed for a little bit and I let Vasi watch some little kids' programs on her uber nice tv. I know it's bad, but there's just something so darn cute about watching her sit in her little chair and stare pie-eyed at the screen. So innocent and trusting. Which is why I'm glad we don't have a tv, since it makes watching it at Grandma's house all the more of a "special treat."

So we made it home in time to clean up the hurricane of a mess that I left behind. I started dinner and managed to keep my sleep-deprived 2yo (and 4mo, too!) sane while I got food in order. I was happy to see my husband arrive home out of the kitchen window. Wahoo!!! His energy and enthusiasm is contagious, and we're always so glad to welcome him home. BUT... today? He came home feeling really sick. Sore throat, exhaustion, headache... Off to bed, Job! Somehow he managed to crawl into bed, admidst a sea of rainbow-haired trolls (where I dumped them, because I had to use the box they were living in to use for the package I sent to Marfa, of course!) and a chatty and persistant toddler beckoning at his bedside. A toddler who, mind you, never took a nap today. Not because of any resistance on her own part, but simply because I got a late start in my day and had to do my errands during her usual nap time.

Fortunately she held it together fairly well, despite her sleep deprivation, and it helped her nodd off to dreamland without any delay or struggle. Huzzah! Victorious.

Such a full and demanding day... and yet it helped me rely on God more. Oddly enough, such a crazy day occurred right after I realized I needed to be LESS dependent on the internet. To re-prioritize. So many times I rely on "breaks" (checking e-mail/blogs, etc.) to get me through the day, bit by bit. But today I held back... I took real breaks instead, by cuddling my babies. Taking walks. Interacting with other people. Getting changes in scenery. Talking to God, singing.

So if my apperance here on my own blog and within the blogosphere is a bit spotty, then don't worry. It's a good thing. I don't plan on deleting my blog or anything (because at least writing, I find, is much more productive than just mindlessly browsing). But I'm going to try to face my inner demons and start fighting these weakening impulses. It's been a struggle for a long time now. Really, I want to take a stab at my dreams and just create. Illustrate, scrapbook, write poetry, paint, draw, etc. Time is so precious, and I need to use mine better.

:D Cheers to you all, and enjoy these first days of autumn!