Well I guess I’m one of the crazies. I left the house at 11PM for Toys R Us, which opened at midnight. I was about a block and a half away from the entrance in line and it was coooold! Once we were let in, I maneuvered my overloaded tiny cart through the molasses-like masses, constantly apologizing for bumping people (fortunately I had some foam couch thingies at the front of the cart!) and gathering all my meager assertiveness to break into the flow of people where I needed to. I managed to get almost everything on my list, including some stuff that got grabbed up quickly. (None of the really big-ticket stuff, though)

After 30 minutes that seemed like 2 hours, I found the end of the line. It was marked with blue tape, wound around the store, and people were being told that was the only place you could get in line, not to queue up in the aisles like some ppl were doing. Well, nice guys finish last. I found out after 2 hours that they were in fact letting the “cutters” through, and I (and the other rule-followers) didn’t get to the checkout for 2 and a half HOURS!!! But at 3AM I sat in my van with my impressive haul and sighed in relief of feet and mind. And racked my brain for the location of the nearest Waffle House. Best hash browns I have ever tasted.

So 3:45, might as well park at WalMart which is already open but waiting till 5AM to check ppl out with their deals. I sat in my soft cushy seat with the heater on for a while and at 4AM dragged myself into the building on my last remaining shopper’s high. The parking lot was almost full. And the carts were all taken So I managed with my little blue basket and was happy to find that you could in fact pick up the (non-big-ticket) sale items ahead of time and just wait till 5 to purchase. I got everything I came for, grabbed the latest issue of Interweave Knits, and waited close to the front of the line for 45 minutes. I witnessed the only near-argument while waiting- somehow the line next to us forked and the forks were fussing over who was the real line. The whole rest of the night (before and after), everyone was polite and fairly happy- even helpful.

I checked out at WalMart by 5:30, got in the van, saw the sun coming up, and went HOME. I had to hide the toys, but after that I hit the sack. And actually couldn’t fall asleep for a whole hour. Curse that bargain shopper’s high. I woke up at 2PM today

I was tired of canned green beans.  So I went to the grocery store, bought some fresh broccoli, and steamed it with a little salt and pepper to go with our supper.  Luke loved it.  He ate floret after floret, amassing a growing pile of stalks on his little John Deere tractor plate.

After his fourth or fifth helping, Josh and I grew concerned that our child would suffer greatly from vegetable-induced gas.  And then came the moment that Josh’s face became a mask of perplexed disbelief, even as the words exited his mouth:

“Luke, you’ve got to stop eating that broccoli.  Here, I’ll give you a donut.”

I designed this tapestry years ago.  Since then the loom has made a trip to the attic and back, I’ve taken up knitting and spinning, and we’ve had our second child who is now nearly 3.  So I finally have all the pieces together; loom warped, yarn dyed, cartoon printed.  It is so gratifying to see even this tiny progress!  I plan to keep updating the progress (be it ever so slow) on this so I can have a record of it.

So February is almost over and I haven’t lived up to my own expectations for the New Year.  But what’s new?  I tend to overshoot.  And I am making progress.  Josh and I have managed to keep up with daily Bible reading, and really- that’s the most important goal I could have made!

I’m going to try and do better about blogging, and since I just downloaded Windows Live Writer, I think that might be easier to keep up with.

I have been learning and making stuff as far as fiber art goes.  My latest hand-dyed and handspun wool turned out really nicely; it makes me happy

So I guess that leaves me with FlyLady stuff- hmm, I think that’s taken a back seat lately.  It’s like I try to start up and then hit a roadblock.  Maybe someday I’ll get better at routines.

I love Christmas more than ever now that I have kids.  My boys are so much fun.  This year we got them something called a Giga Ball from Target.

I am so ready for the New Year!  Over the past couple of days I’ve been getting organized so I can get on with my resolutions for 2009.  I’m excited about having my studio all set up to make all sorts of fantastic fiber arts.  By the way, the doll is Elizabeth; I’ve had her since I was little.  She has trouble weaving because her fingers do not separate.

My studio ready for art-making

Today I cleaned up my horrific desk, so I’m not overwhelmed with clutter every time I sit down to work.  Now for the actual resolutions…

1. Daily Bible readings with Josh.  Have bought daily Bible to make it simple.  Plan to have hot tea and Bible study in the evenings.

2. FlyLady baby steps.

3. Start fiber art business; begin building inventory for Etsy shop.

4. Blog daily.

So that’s it!  I’m very optimistic for the New Year.  I know there will be ups and downs, but I’m hoping to focus on the ups and learn from the downs.

I’ve started teaching art classes to homeschooled kids from my home!  It’s so much fun.  I have three kids in my class for now, and I’m hoping more will join us as we go along.  We do all sorts of projects from drawing and painting to pastels to polymer clay.  Kids just have so much artistic talent to tap into!

Polymer clay necklaces of our solar system

Self portraits in acrylic paint

So I’m losing my mind this week.  My sweet, wonderful, house-cleaning, cooking husband is working far far away for the week.  It’s the best I can do to keep my kids fed and clothed.  I’ve attempted to keep dishes, laundry, cleaning up, etc. going but it’s next to impossible with taking care of the boys by myself.  Anyway, I thought I’d share the absolute worst room in the house- the toy room (cue creepy music).

It's not always this bad...

I have time on my hands.  I’m able to do things I enjoy, like knitting, reading, you name it!  I thought after my babies were born I would never have time to myself again.  And here I am, with a 4 and a 2 year old, and the light at the end of the tunnel is very close. 

I think, knock on wood, that my boys are beginning to really play together, entertain each other.  Of course, half the time they’re fighting over a toy or generally trying to kill each other, but at times I think they really love one another!  They even sleep peacefully in the same bed.

Sleepyheads

Sleep!  Glorious sleep!  I could not remember for the longest time what it was like to get a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep.  Now that Luke and Noah mostly sleep through the night, I have a brain again.  I have thoughts.  I don’t feel like the world is spinning out of control because I’m exhausted.

So young moms out there- it will happen.  You’ll be a real person again sooner than you think.

Threadless makes awesome t-shirts, and they all come from user submissions!  It’s one never-ending t-shirt design contest.  I loves it.  Anyway, this is the entry I’ve put in the running for their “Threadless Loves Lomography” contest.  I made drawings in Illustrator based on pictures from the lomography website.  Vote for it!  Give it a 5!  You know you want to!