{{Michelle Cochran-Wells}}

TGIF

Boy, oh boy.  This little guy is definitely keeping Sean and I on our toes here lately.  The two's are just around the corner and he is certainly starting to test the waters.  Today my Mother came over to hang out and was getting Eli a bottle in the kitchen.  When she walked into the den this is what she found.  My little cleptomaniac.  Ladies, watch your purses, men watch your wallets.  He's a sneaky one.  hehe.  I swear that I didn't teach him this!  I can say that I owe this one to my mother-in-law, however, because she allows Jack to play with her lipstick and phone which is in a pocket on the outside of her purse.  So, I guess that Jack feels that all purses are fair game.  To make the situation even funnier he ran into the kitchen with a full pack of gum that was in her purse and shook it so hard that all the little gumballs flew into three different rooms. My Mother and I neither one could stop laughing!

And, what is it with the Daredevil mode that we are now entering?  He must climb on anything that will stand still (and sometimes not...the cat).  I think that my heart falls to the floor at least twenty times a day.  I'll find him on top of the coffee table, pulling the cat by the tail, running from end to end on the couch, pushing on Eli's tummy because he thinks that he is Tickle Me Elmo and that it will make him laugh, totally re-programming the dishwasher this morning and starting it numerous times, dragging the cat by his tail through the kitchen with his back paws off the floor, walking down his swingset slide...the list goes on and on.  I'm sure that little Eli is definitely taking notes and that they are going to conspire against me when the time comes.  What ever will I do?

But, ahh, at the end of the day would you trade these moments for anything?  Heck no.  What little thing made you smile today (or this week)?  By the way, I loved reading your top 5 things last week!  It's so nice to hear positive things!

Happy Friday!

My Little Secret... (edited)

So, remember that I told you all yesterday that I had a little secret?  Well, here it is...

I'm getting a Sister-in-law!  Yep, it's true.  My little brother is getting married.  I'm so excited!  Plus, it's about time, bro.  I mean, you aren't getting any younger.  hehe.  Thank goodness that the right one finally came along and we as a family love her.  They look adorable together, too.  :)  He kidnapped her from school yesterday (she's finishing up college) and headed for the North Carolina mountains to propose.  Who would have known that she would get motion sickness on the drive up?  Oopsie!  Anyway, I guess it was worth getting sick for, huh, Brittany?  He proposed under this waterfall and I have to admit that I think that he did a great job picking out the bling bling (the pic above is him picking it out).  Of course, as a good sister should, I helped.  We went several weeks ago and perused the ring selection.  So, you can only imagine that I've been holding this in for a while and it was killing me.  So afraid that I was going to let it slip; especially to Brittany!  Wouldn't that have stunk?!   I love the ring he chose as it has a vintage/antique feel to it.  Anyway, we're excited and are looking forward to a June '08 wedding.

*EDITED...new pics that Brittany's Mom and Dad took yesterday:

Congrats to you guys!  I love you.

*Sorry for the darkness of the pics...I tried to lighten them up to no avail.

Think quick...

Name five things that are making you happy on this Friday!

1)  My two little monkeys (one of which is into climbing EVERYTHING these days).  Oh, and how appropriate that said monkey actually said, "banana" for the first time yesterday?

2)  I actually cooked dinner tonight...don't get excited, most of it was out of a box (meat in a box, veggies in the microwave, etc.).  :)

3)  House rearranging is almost done.

4)  Duh.  Today is FRIDAY!  Yea!

5)  A little secret to share tomorrow...don't ya hate that!?

TGIF!  Enjoy the weekend.

Ta Da...

I'm here!  I'm still trying to stay cool.  I do feel sorry for all of you that are in this heat like we are.  Holy moly.  It's horrible.  Becky P., I can totally agree about having cabin fever with the kids.  I'm just itching to get out and play in some grass and let Jack run wild, but I'm certainly not going to subject him to that heat.  Kim O.,  you were in Nashville and you didn't call me?  hehe.

I haven't posted in a day or two due to the fact that I got a wild hair.  If you know me then you know that I get them quite often.  Maybe it's those new red streaks in my hair that makes me do this.  We'll blame it on Melissa the hair gal.  Anyway, I got the bright idea that not only do I need an office/studio in my house, but that I also need a scrapbook nook...you know, something that I can just close up if it's not being used.  Someplace that I can scrapbook that is close to the youngins' when they are sleeping, etc.  So, we have a couple of walk-in closets in our master bedroom and up until today one of them housed Sean's HUGE comic book collection (my scrapbook addiction=Sean's comic addiction, get the idea?).  Long story short, we now share an office/studio and I have a scrappy happy nook in that closet.  As soon as I finish "decorating" the space I'll post a pic.  There's just something cozy about it.  Plus, it's the only way that I'm going to get ANYTHING done scrapbooking wise with two little monkeys around.  Oh, and I must thank my dear, darling, adorable, nice, cool (it's getting deep in here) husband for helping me move furniture and also carried all those heavy comic book boxes down the stairs yet again.  He just loves it when I say, "let's rearrange something"....not!

Got to spend some time with Little Bro and his best gal today...fun for all!

Just thought I'd say hi.  What are you doing today? 

Dang, it's busy!

So, I know, I know.  I've been a horrible blogger these days.  Can I use the "I'm getting used to two babies" card for just another week or two?  I promise that I'll get better.  Luckily, you guys are still coming to visit the blog according to the stats.  Thanks for your loyalty.  I promise that once I get things under control I'll be back in full force.  It's been so dang busy around here!  Kits are everywhere.  However, I think that all the membership kits actually got shipped early...now there's a word that isn't normally in my vocabulary.  Early--man that feels good.  I'm still a bit behind on emails and updating some things on the site (gallery, home page, etc.). 

Eli had his one month checkup today.  Doesn't time just fly!!!???  He's up to 9 lbs. and 8 ounces now.  Growing like a weed.  He's sleeping great (well, we won't count last night, will we?).  Little stinker thought that Mommy needed to hold the pacifier in his mouth while he slept.  No can do, buddy.  Mommy needs her sleep, too.  Jack never had a pacifier and now I know why.  Might have to nip that one quick.  Speaking of Jack, he's doing super.  He keeps coming up to me saying, "Mom Mom Mom Mom."  Isn't that just the coolest?  Yesterday he actually came up to Eli and said, "baby brother."   You go, Jack!  We knew you would eventually let loose and talk! 

Well, we are off to get beautified with a new hair cut.  Actually, Melissa said that since I want my hair to grow out (missing those pig tails!) that she wasn't going to cut my hair until December even if I begged for it.  hehe.  We shall see.  It is so dang hot here that it's hard to imagine long hair right now.  Is it hot where you are?  If so, what are you doing to stay cool?  We've got around 104 degrees every day and it is getting very old!

Happy afternoon. ;)

Update and a Video

*First real bath*

Hi, everyone-
First off, I've updated the SIAB site with the August kit contents.  No picture up yet, but it should be any day now.  What am I enjoying about this kit?  I like the color combinations and the little cardboard albums.  They'll come in three different shapes and the shapes will vary per kit.  I'd be happy with any of them! 

On a different note, did any of you watch that show the other night called "I-Caught" on ABC?  It was pretty cool the things that folks are capturing on their own cameras/videocameras nowadays.  Anyway, here is the link to one that I found fascinating.  Totally fascinating what animals will do for survival.  Make sure to watch it with the sound turned on and to the end as the events in the video are even more bewildering at the end.
I-Caught Battle at Kruger

Happy Whatever Day it is!  I have no clue as to what day of the week it actually is...totally out of reality after chasing Jack all day! ;)

August Customer Love

It's that time again...tell me your favorite thing about summer in the comment section and you'll be qualified to win the August customer giveaway.  I can't remember what all is in it at the moment, but it is good!  I promise.  Also, remember that most of our customers don't even know we have a blog so you've got a pretty darn good chance of winning just for coming and reading about my mundane life everyday.  ;)  You can also win more than once if you've already won in the past.

On the home front it seems that the baby swing is a popular hangout around here.  Everyone but the baby is enjoying it.  LOL.  It gets real exciting when the cat is snoozing and Jack decides to push him really high.  The cat about jumps out of his skin.  Funny, funny.

Finally some peace and quiet in the house (kind of lonely actually) as the two little ones and the one big one (Sean) are down for the count.  I'm hoping to get a bit of work done and then turn in myself before another busy day.  Friday was my last day of having a house full of help for three weeks.  That only means that everyone thinks that I'm capable of staying at home on my own now with the little people.  God help us all, but I think that I can handle it...at least I think I can.  We shall see.  I will let you know after tomorrow if I am in a psych ward or not.  If so, please send me scrap supplies and dull scissors to play with.  hehe.  I am also allowed to drive again tomorrow.  We might just go out for a joy ride to Starbucks just to get out of the house.  I got my shopping fix with my Mother on Friday so I'm not up for that again any time soon.  Thanks for getting me out of the house, Mom.  You wore me out.

Happy Monday!

Stay tuned...

Jack  is doing super with Eli.  Today, however, Eli was crying uncontrollably and Jack couldn't take it anymore so he picked up his snack and sippy cup off the coffee table, proceeded with his bowl of grapes to the kitchen table, climbed up in a chair, ate his grapes and started coloring in his coloring book.  Such a big little boy here lately.  So independent.  Love him (and Eli, too).  Jack affectionately refers to Eli as "EEEEEEEEEEEEEE."

I promise to blog more very soon.  We're still getting into our routine and now I've gotten either a cold or some very serious allergy issues...pretty much feeling like crap.  Again, thank goodness for my lovely hubby, Mom and Dad.  As a matter of fact, I've got an entire post coming on my Mom and Dad hopefully later this week. :)  They've really been a life saver for me this week.  Anyway, just wanted to say hi and hope you are having a great week.

SIAB news...hope to have a sneak up soon for the August kit. 

OK, off to tend to a very little one that is about to wake up and want a diaper change (let's hope it's the number 1 and not the good 'ol number 2 that awaits me).  hehe