{{Michelle Cochran-Wells}}

My, oh my, where has the time gone?

Well, here I am again not blogging for a few days.  You would think that since we took the month of December off that I would be able to blog every day.  Slacker!  However, I'm not just lying around eating bon-bons folks!  I've got a two-year old to chase.  Wow.  I must say that he is most definitely two here lately.  This week has been crazy to say the least.  So, here is a random recap of our week.  I mean, I know you all are just so bored that you can't wait to hear about my day, huh?  Grab a Starbuck's and get ready for an earful...hope you can make it through the entire post.  If so, congrats.  And, of course, we'll do this in list fashion since I just love making lists.

1)  Jack is two.  Yes, two years old.  TWO...terrible two's?  I will plead the fifth on this one.  Yesterday he played in the toilet three times while I was feeding Eli in the other room.  You know when the house is quite and you hear, "swish, swish, flush" that it is probably not a good thing.

2)  Jack's new punishment for being naughty is to take away Thomas the Train privileges (Thomas DVD's, trains, anything related to Thomas).  It's about the only thing that works here lately.  After begging to wear his Thomas PJ top all day he got it wet while inspecting the toilet (see #1 above) and I had to take it off to put it in the laundry.  You would have thought I broke his heart.  I figured that was punishment enough.

3)  Caught Jack squatting down to chat with his little brother in the swing and then giving him a big push and yelling, "WEEEEEEE."  Cute, but heart-stopping.  Again, he's two.

4)  Stepped out for one little bitty second to change my diaper (sorry, um, had to potty) and heard Jack go, "Ugghhh."  He was trying to lift Eli up around the waist.  Not good at all.  Oh, yeah, did I mention that he's two?

5)  Caught the cat in the X-Mas tree yesterday.  Jack alerted me to the fact that the cat was being a bad kitty.   Sorry, blurring picture.  Barnaby cat is always naughty.  LOL.  See Jack pointing at the cat?  I swear that cat is a total dork.

6)  I have read Dr. Seuss's  The Lorax so many times that I think that I'm going to dream about it tonight, but so glad to see Jack really getting into books here lately.  Great book for teaching kiddos about the importance of taking care of our worldly resources.

7)  Having a play date with Jack's little friend Counsel tomorrow night.  The parent's are going to enjoy dinner together while the kiddos play.  Cool.

8)  I am an on-line shopping fiend.  Hoping to finish all the shopping this weekend.  Wow.  That's gotta be a record for us.  Speaking of shopping,  merchants must be hard up for business this season as I've been getting special discount emails from everyone here lately!  Anyone need 20% off of Old Navy or $25 off of Ann Taylor Loft?  If so, email me and I'll send you the checkout codes.

9)  Anyone been able to find a Wii lately?   They just look like fun.

10)  Stayed up late last night and today to finish up some scrapbook projects that I hope to post soon.

11)  Grey's Anatomy is ruining my life.   Sean and I are obsessed.  OBSESSED.   We are currently finishing up season three and I'm a bit sad that we are almost caught up.  Thank goodness that Sean has a flexible job as he's been late more times than not this past week after staying up much later than I care to admit watching "just one more episode."

12)  In reference to #11 above, Jack woke up sick the other night with a terrible cough and while I was trying to wake Sean up to help me get the meds down Jack's throat I hear Sean say this to me, "Just give him 3 cc's and make sure that he stays stable through the night."  Okay, total reality check that we have DEFINITELY been watching way too much Grey's Anatomy.

13)  Eli is growing soooooooo fast!  He is such a laugher and will laugh at anything.  Picked Jack up at school today and put him in his carseat and looked over at Eli and saw him just smiling like crazy at his big brother.  He follows EVERY move that Jack makes.  So cool.

14)  Eli started eating baby food.  Apples good, green peas yucky.

15)  Eli is all about trying to crawl (already!) and can't stop rolling over and getting an arm stuck under him.

16)  Jack is two.  Caught him running through the house unrolling a roll of toilet paper with the cat chasing after the toilet paper...Jack cackling at the top of his lungs with laughter.

17)  Thank God for Starbuck's.  After a long night of Grey's and chasing a two-year old it is my relief and gets me through the day sometimes.

18)  I wouldn't trade my two-year old or little one for ANYTHING! Ahhhhhh....

19)  Here is a very bad picture of a great kit that is now shipping...love, love the Scenic Route rub-ons and arrows!

20)  I'm looking forward to the CK monthly kit that is supposed to debut today.  I think that if I remember correctly that it is going to have some awesome stamps in it!  EDITED:  Here is the link to the product.  Cool...75 stamps that I think that I can get a lot of use out of.  Let me know what you think.  Santa doesn't know yet, but I just scored one.  Don't tell.

21)  It is 1:16am and I'm just getting started.  You know when you get a project in your mind and just gotta do it before you forget?  Off to spray paint some frames...I'll share later.

So, did you make it through the post?

Holy Moly!

There is a flood here...in my INBOX!  I send out one email last night with the add-on specials and you guys totally overwhelmed me this morning!  You guys are all about some scrapbook supplies, huh?!  Oh, and I'm loving the hubbies that are emailing and telling me to add on some goody bags for stocking stuffers...that is just too darn cute!

I will post here when the add-ons are gone.

Have a great day!
Michelle

November Add-On to Kit

Hi, everyone-
Just a quick note to let everyone know that we will be releasing kits for shipment this week.  We've been waiting on the newly released Scenic Route paper to arrive.  I've already been playing with the fun embellishments in this one!  Can't wait to get my hands on the paper as I've already got several layouts planned out.  Anyway, there WILL be an add-on for this kit if you are interested.  The add-on will consist of the following:
1-  Scenic Route Chipboard Letter set (Berkley)
2- 12" white cardboard stars
1- Pack of River City Rubber Works Coasters (12 per pack)
1- Holiday Embellishment Pack (ribbon, etc.)
The cost is $10.00. 
This is a great addition to the Monthly Paper kit.  The coasters work great for mini-books for those quick homemade holiday gifts. :)

Also, don't forget that we have some goody bags remaining, too.  They are $5 and the contents retail for around $15-20.  Great stocking stuffers! 

If you are interested in any of the above, please email us before 4pm EST, Wednesday of this week (is that the 28th?).  These items will ship for free with member kits.

Oh, and for those who were wanting the instructions for the Halloween coffee sleeve book, please check here (scroll down the page).
 

So, on to the holiday news...
Did everyone have a fun Thanksgiving?   Any of you luck up on some great bargains on Friday?  The kiddos and I stayed in bed while Sean did a bit of shopping in the wee hours on Friday.  I did get out and grab a few good Thomas the Train deals at Toys 'R Us later in the day so I'm sure that Jack will like that!  Well, off to clean up the office (woohoo...don't you just wish you were here).  I'll chat more later!  Have a great week everyone.

Turkey Lurky

Thought you all might get a kick out of some pics from Jack's Thanksgiving party today at Mother's Morning Out.  It was downright hilarious!  I can not believe that Jack wore the Indian hat the entire time.  He must have been threatened.  Ha.  Enjoy.   Oh, and what are y'alls plans for Thanksgiving?  And, more importantly do you hit the sales bright and early on Friday?  :)

Each child had nicknames...Jack was "Roaring Thunder" and I can tell you that they hit the nail on the head with that one!!!!

And, one last one of Mr. Smiley.  Eli just smiles ALL the time!!

I'm Still Alive (and Kit News)

(my new favorite pic)

Geez, I can't believe that it has been soooo long!  I've been working my booty off with this month's kit!  The website has been updated with the November kit contents and the November add-on.  I decided to go ahead and do a holiday kit for the November kit because if many of you are like me then you usually do not get much scrapbooking accomplished during the month of December due to all the shopping, entertaining and enjoying time with your friends and family.  Right?  Anyone else like that?  So, with that said, I thought that it might be nice to give the SIAB staff (and myself!) the month of December off for a change.  Yep, you heard me right.  There will not be a December kit (unless for some reason I get totally bored and finished with all my XMas shopping...yeah, right...not gonna happen!).  We will resume normal kit operations with a very exciting January kit.  You're going to love this kit, too!  I do hope that everyone is ok with this.  I simply need a break.  I need to sit back and regroup, and simply spend some much needed time with my family and these two amazing little ones that are growing up way, way too fast in front of me.  I've never taken a vacation from the business before so this is a bit weird for me, too!

Here is a picture of the October Project kit using the coffee cup sleeves to make a Halloween album:

I'll try to have a link to the instructions up and running by tomorrow evening. :)

The Worst Hotel in the World

That's where we have been.  The most terrible hotel in the world and probably the most expensive, too.  Yep, we've had an extended stay at the hospital.  Like most folks I simply hate going to the hospital; especially with a little one.  However, this was our first experience with one of our own in the pediatric wing and I must say that I would remain a happier person if I never have to see it again.  As I told you all a few days ago, Jack and I have been really sick with some kind of bug.  The cold that won't go away and simply makes you feel like poopy.  Jack ended up going to the Doc on Monday and they immediately admitted him.  Poor little guy.  It took SIX attempts before they could get the little dude's IV in...two in the left hand, three times in the ankle and eventually striking gold in the right hand.  I was allowed to "hold him" to comfort him.  Man, that was TERRIBLE.  He had no idea what was going on and I wish so bad that it had been me instead.  On top of all that, of course, they had to have bloodwork and such, too.  RSV is going around here so they wanted to rule out all of the options.  Turns out that he had a bad case of bronchitis and upper airway restrictions....so, a bunch of breathing treatments and that wonderful 'ol IV. 

I have to give him credit though, he was such a trooper and minded us sooo well while we were there.  He rode around the pediatric wing this morning in a red wagon and thought that was super cool.  He also started to notice what all of the "people in white" were up to after the IV incident so as soon as a doctor, nurse or anyone he didn't know walked in the room he would lift up his hand, wave at them and say, "BYE!" in his most demanding tone.  In other words, get the heck away from me.  It was pretty hilarious actually. 

So, that has been our week so far and I'm happy to have that over with.  However, I'm feeling a little down tonight because our Pediatrician wants me to stay as far away from Eli as possible as he is so tiny and heaven forbid that he get what I have.  So, I haven't seen him in two days and it's killing me.  Poor little guy is not even four month's old and I can't even bond with him.  That makes me sad.  I know that it is for the best, but I feel like a terrible Mommy.  I know that our parent's are taking super care of him and he is receiving great attention, but still...

Well, Sean is off to the market to stock up on groceries since we have none. ;)  I'm supposed to be resting in bed and watching old movies (On Golden Pond at the moment) according to Dr. Sean, but I can't resist the laptop sometimes.  Don't tell.  I'll be back hopefully sometime later this week, but first I gotta kick this crud!  Have a great rest of the week and stay away from the sick people!

Halloween

So, not much to say today except that we have been knee-deep in kits and hopefully ALL of them will be outta here by Monday. :)   Hang tight, folks...it was a rough month.

We are sick at the Wells' household today.  Jack has the croup and I feel it coming on.  Not good.  Nobody needs a sick Mommy.  Anyway, he's just pitiful.  Eli doesn't have anything yet (knock on wood) and I hope that it stays that way.  Sean is still in the non-sick zone, too.  You guys know that if a man is sick in the house then there becomes a lot of whining and we just don't need to deal with that right now. :)  That could possibly just push me over the edge.  hehe

Thought that I'd leave you with some uneditied Halloween photos...enjoy, and happy Saturday.

Jack and little cousin Asher

Mother and her co-worker Natalie

Jack and my Mother.  He wasn't quite sure what to think of the green nose, wig and green-tinted skin.  She looked COOL!  I barely recognized my own Mother!

Little Mr. Eli

Jack giving Eli a pumpkin

Brothers

Because every good pirate needs bananas

A little pirate who would really like to have a bottle now, please!

Mommy is the only happy one about the pirate outfits, obviously.

Argh, matey.  Much better with a pacifier!

Just lucky to have a group shot and all of us still for more than 5 seconds (well, sort of)