Welcome Home, Grandma!

Well, after being in either the Hospital or the Care Center since the middle of June, Grandma is FINALLY going home! We are so glad that she has made enough progress to finally go be back in her own house with Grandpa again.
Although Parker loved visiting the Care Center he is looking forward to his next sleepover!
We love you, Grandma!

Bingham vs Tooele (W 21-0)

Look at that good-looking line.

GO BINGHAM!

(Parker is #90)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Caleb!

It seems like this was just yesterday!

Happy 2nd Birthday on Saturday, September 20th, my cute little Caleb!

DISCOVERY TOYS - New Catalog is here!

I usually don't post a lot about my Discovery Toys business on here, but I am so way excited about the new catalog and with the Christmas shopping season coming up (or, actually, HERE), I thought I would just mention to you all that the new products are HERE! As always, there are lots of great new products for all ages but I am espeically excited that they added so many new things for older kids and adults. Parker has already picked out several for my "birthday closet" for his friends upcoming birthday parties as well as for his own Christmas list.
You can take a look at the new catalog online at www.discoverytoyslink.com/jennbstoys or else I am happy to bring you a "real" catalog if you would like to see one. I am also currently having my "Inventory Clearance Sale" to get rid of some of the stuff I have on hand to make room for the new products so if you want a list of what I have on discount, let me know and I can email it to you!
Also, all of my past customers know that I usually have a "preferred Customer" Open House at my house during the Fall so you can come and get your Christmas shopping all taken care of. I am hoping to still do this but I am not sure when it will be this year (it is usually early-mid October). If you want to get your shopping done now, please let me know and we can do a personal shopping appointment or a catalog shop. I also have "Santa Pack" discounts this year - buy all of your Christmas presents in bulk at HUGE discounts.
Anyway .. I guess what I am saying is - My Discovery Toys business is still open for Christmas shopping - we may just be doing it one on one instead of in a big group party this year!
Let me know if I can help you with anything!
Thanks!

Birth Order of Children

This is pretty cute .. and Oh So True!

BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN
1st baby: You begin wearing maternity clothes as soon as your OB/GYN confirms your pregnancy.
2nd baby: You wear your regular clothes for as long as possible.
3rd baby: Your maternity clothes ARE your regular clothes.

Preparing for the Birth:
1st baby: You practice your breathing religiously.
2nd baby: You don't bother because you remember that last time, breathing didn't do a thing.
3rd baby : You ask for an epidural in your eighth month.

The Layette:
1st baby: You pre-wash newborn's clothes, colour-coordinate them, and fold them neatly in the baby's little bureau.
2nd baby: You check to make sure that the clothes are clean and discard only the ones with the darkest stains.
3rd baby: Boys can wear pink, can't they?

Worries:
1st baby: At the first sign of distress--a whimper, a frown--you pick up the baby
2nd baby: You pick the baby up when her wails threaten to wake your firstborn.
3rd baby: You teach your three-year-old how to rewind the mechanical swing.

Pacifier:
1st baby: If the pacifier falls on the floor, you put it away until you can go home and wash and boil it.
2nd baby: When the pacifier falls on the floor, you squirt it off with some juice from the baby's bottle.
3rd baby: You wipe it off on your shirt and pop it back in.

Diapering:
1st baby: You change your baby's diapers every hour, whether they need it or not.
2nd baby: You change their diaper every two to three hours, if needed.
3rd baby: You try to change their diaper before others start to complain about the smell or you see it sagging to their knees.

Activities:
1st baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics, Baby Swing, Baby Zoo, Baby Movies and Baby Story Hour.
2nd baby: You take your infant to Baby Gymnastics.
3rd baby: You take your infant to the supermarket and the dry cleaners.

Going Out:
1st baby: The first time you leave your baby with a sitter, you call home five times.
2nd baby: Just before you walk out the door, you remember to leave a number where you can be reached.
3rd baby: You leave instructions for the sitter to call only if she sees blood.

At Home:
1st baby: You spend a good bit of every day just gazing at the baby.
2nd baby: You spend a bit of everyday watching to be sure your older child isn't squeezing, poking, or hitting the baby.
3rd baby: You spend a little bit of every day hiding from the children

Swallowing Coins (a favorite):
1st child: When first child swallows a coin, you rush the child to the hospital and demand x-rays
2nd child: When second child swallows a coin, you carefully watch for the coin to pass.
3rd child: When third child swallows a coin you deduct it from his allowance!

Who is here?

We were talking and would LOVE to know who is reading our blog. Please post a comment and let us know you are here! We'd also LOVE to keep up with you so please share your blog with us, too! We have had lots of fun with our Family blog as well as keeping you all posted on Bailey's "journey" on her update log. Please post and let us know you are here!
Thanks!
The Blakes

Daybreak "Laws"

This morning Parker and I are driving home from delivering some Discovery Toys orders and we are passing the lake. "Hmmm, Don't feed the birds" he reads to me. "We sure have some crazy laws here. I mean, you can feed birds at public parks but you can't feed them at your own home????"
The way that boy's mind works. But he has a point.

Bingham Silver (40) - Riverton Gold (0)

Going into the game this week the boys were VERRRRY nervous. This was going to be a TOUGH Team and the Coach really, really wanted to beat their rival. Practices were hard leading up to this game - nerves were on edge - and emotions were high.

Outcome? Bingham Silver 40, Riverton Gold 0!!!

GO BINGHAM SILVER GREMLINS!

AWESOME blocking, Blake (#90)!

And he even gets a chance to kick off!

Chicken Wings

OK .. here is just an example of how different our kids are.

Same appetizer (chicken wings) but look at the faces!

Daddy did my hair!

Enough said ...

Modeling Portfolio

When Parker was 5 he did some modeling. I was going through some old pictures on my computer and found his portfolio and thought I would share some of his pictures.

What a handsome dude!




This is a copy of his first ad. It was published in the Salt Lake Magazine - October 2005 issue. (Not the very best copy since I scanned it in.) He is on the left hand side, second row from the top.

Caleb visiting Lily's "Condo"

Caleb decided he wanted to go to Lily's (our cat) "Condo" for a visit. I guess he didn't realize he didn't actually have to go inside to play!

Happy Birthday, Grandma (Mom)!

We celebrated Grandma's bday a little late this year due to the fact that she was still having some issues with her medication and didn't even realize where she was on her actual birthday (August 26th). It was so much more pleasant having her "back to normal" for the party that we had on August 31st!


It was filled with all the kiddos (Grandkids, Kids, Cousins, etc, etc), cake, presents, friends she has made at the Care Center, and lots of visiting and fun!

We love you, Grandma! Get better and come home soon!

My Sweet Parker

Parker just got home from school and was so excited. Today they had their auction in which they can use the "Dolphin Dollars" that they have earned for doing good work, being good, etc, etc to buy things (toys, candy, all that good stuff). He was so excited to show me that he had purchased a darling little Teddy Bear for his Sister, Bailey. It about broke my heart - I didn't know if I should feel bad, happy, sad ... I asked him how much it had cost him and he said "Most of his Dollars". He also got himself 3 pieces of gum.
What a sweet boy!!!!

Grandma's Jazzy ramp

Some of you have probably already seen these videos since they were on our blog months ago (before it got deleted - I'm still mad ... grrrr). However, I am going to slowly but surely try to remember what I had on here and try to add some of the posts back.

Looks like maybe there are more reasons to have a ramp at Grandma's than just helping her get in the house!

Brothers!

We had the futon mattress on the floor the other day and Parker decided that he and Caleb needed to have a "sleepover" together. Keep in mind that Caleb is still in a crib so he won't "escape" at night. However, I told them that if they were good all day they could give it a try on Sunday night since there was no school on Monday. It was the cutest thing. They got their pillows, blankets, "friends", nighttime drinks, etc and went and crawled right in. Parker even got a bedtime story that he could read to Caleb. Granted, it only lasted a little while but it sure was cute while it did.

Parker is SUCH a good big brother and both boys love each other so much!

10 years ago, I never thought ...

• I would have 3 kiddos
• I would be a Football "Team Mom"
• I would wish I could be a "Stay At Home Mom"
• I would be worrying about taking care of my Mom and Dad
• My "little" nieces and nephews would be married or have boyfriends/girlfriends
• I would still be working for the same Company
• I would be swimming in Hospital bills
• I would have traveled the places I have traveled and seen the places I have seen all over the World

Cookie Dough - YUM!

Hi y'all!
Caleb's Daycare/Preschool is doing their annual fundraiser to get some new things for their classrooms. We aren't SUPER worried about it since he is so young but I do know that some of you have told me that next time we sold cookie dough again that you wanted to get some.
These are the 3 lb tubs of cookie dough (makes about 96 cookies) for $13.00. They have Chocolate Chip, Nutty Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Raisin, Snickerdoodle Cinnamon, White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, Walnut Brownies, Sugar Cookie, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip, or Pumpkin Chocolate Chip.
They also have the "Happy Dough" which includes (4) 12 oz tubs of colored (looks like play-dough) sugar cookie dough (red, yellow, blue, and green) so you and the kiddos can create your colorful, creative cookies. These are $14 for the pkg of 4.
They also have soft pretzels (pkgs of 16 - microwaveable), Churros (boxes of 15 w/cinnamon and sugar included), and Funnel Cakes (10 per box - powdered sugar not included). These are all also $14.

All of these stay fresh in the freezer for up 6 months and in the refrigerator for at least 2 months. We bought a bunch last year and made cute, cute cookie plates for the Holidays!

Let me know if you want some. I will be turning the order in by September 15th and they will be delivered on September 30th.

Caleb says "Thank You!"

Bailey's Journey

Many of you have asked us to post some updates on our unborn daughters condition as we await her arrival in about a month. We did have a couple of updates posted before our blog got deleted but we hadn't included a lot. We have decided that we wanted to do a separate blog with her "journey" for those that are interested. It is still a work in progress, but for those of you that have been asking, you can get updates at http://babybaileysjourney.blogspot.com. (There is also a link from our Blake Gang blog.)
Thank you, so much, everyone for your prayers and calls/emails of concern. We know she is so loved and has many people anxiously arriving her arrival on October 1st!