The Bird Cage

Garbage Sale

2009-05-31T10:35:00.000-07:00

We had a couple of garage sales to earn money for Jordan to go on his scuba trip to Bonaire.

He got scuba certified last year and joined my sister, Bobe and her family in their scuba post.

We had to come up with 650 dollars. Which is a great price for flight, food, and lodging for 8 days.

Jordan sold almost everything from his room and talked his brothers and sisters into selling their
goods too!

What's a garage sale without TONS of shoes?

Everyone with their favorite Sonic Drink!

And Adam with his spidey man mask!
We tried to make him sell it, he just couldn't part with it!

Lots of fun was had, lots of laughs were heard, and Jordan was able to go on his scuba trip!
Check back soon.....
.....Scuba Pics are coming soon!

Are you ready for some Football?!!

2009-05-25T18:05:00.000-07:00

Carson has been playing flag football. He really has been enjoying himself and doing a great job of playing it. His last game came last week. It was a very bitter sweet ending. For instance, when the first 4 games were played they started at 8 am!! It was quite chilly. Then Arizona got hot and all of a sudden the next 4 or so games were at noon!! (I don't know about you, but I just heard that great little bit of old western music from a Clint Eastwood movie, like someone is about to die!!) Anyway, we all survived. I think that Carson's favorite part of the game is that he "gets" to wear a mouth peice, which he says is very comfortable in his mouth!! I love this kid, he comes up with the funniest things, like when the other team makes a touchdown he says, they think they are all that!!

Carson, YOU are ALL that!

Grammie loves you so very much!!

MY KY

2009-04-20T21:02:00.001-07:00

Happy, Happy, Birthday Kyle dear!!

After experiencing childbirth with Jessica, I said NEVER AGAIN!!

I stuck to it for 6 years. When I found out that I was pregnant again, I cried for the full 9 months!

I know! What a big cry baby I was!!!

Kyle was the easiest baby to have!!

I went into labor, 2 hours later he was out, not even enough time to even think about any kind of pain killer.

There was no need. BUT WAIT!!!

The pain killers came AFTER the delivery. I was hemorrhaging and they had to INDUCE (there's that word again!) me to try to stop the bleeding.

All was well after 3 more days in the hospital with a fever and an infection.

Then the fun came!!!

Kyle returned the favor....

...he cried continuously for about 9 months!!! Okay, maybe 3 months, it just seemed like 9 months.

Does this little guy look very sweet?Looks are very deceiving!!

This little guy was the silent, sneaky kind!

One day, just like all the others, I'm running through our upstairs, 2 story apartment, which was a mere 800 sq feet, searching for Kyle and frantically saying his name--okay, YELLING his name. Could not hear him, could not see him. Found him up in the bedroom window sill leaning against the glass, eating a cookie.

Another time, same thing but found him on the counter, in the kitchen, huddled in the corner by the microwave, yep, eating a cookie.

If there was something to get into, Kyle was there!! He found anything and everything that he shouldn't have. Jessica was the perfect big sister. With her dancing and singing through the house he could get away with anything. Kyle didn't have to talk. If there was something he wanted, he got it for himself.

Everyday was a new adventure with Kyle. Those few short mischief years seemed like forever. All of the trouble he got into as a little guy was worth it. He turned out to be quite the kid. Very loving, and very kind-hearted.

This sweater vest makes him look like a choir-boy! He'll love me for this one!

Kyle, Happy 22nd birthday!!! You have always made me very proud to be your mom. Thank you for all your love and kindness! You have always been such a great example to our family! It is so awesome to see how you have grown in the gospel and I'm so very grateful for your testimony! You are an amazing son, brother, husband and father!! I love you bud!!

Easter Baby

2009-04-03T16:05:00.000-07:00

28 years ago on April 19th it was Easter Sunday.

My water had broken the day before and I was headed to the hospital.

My doctor, an elderly man, friend of the family, was on his way to Easter Services.

Bolo tie in place, he made his way to what was called back then, McKay Dee Hospital.

Because I was not in labor, they had to induce, this word from here on out was a cuss word!

About 6 hours into the pain I was begging that sweet doctor of mine for a "C section". He looked at me with those sweet grandpa eyes and said "you will hate me if I do that to you". Unfortunately this went on for 6 more long horrible hours. Then finally they gave me an epidural. Life was good and they could barely keep me awake!

After pushing FOREVER and not feeling a thing, out came the cutest papoose ever!

Weighing in at 8 pounds and 19 inches long, black hair sticking straight up, pudgy cheeks and beautiful skin!

What a great Easter present!! Jessica was the best baby, and ever so fun to show off.

She has had personality plus from the beginning. Loved the spotlight and still does.

At 14 months old she won the Cherry Days Baby Pageant in North Ogden, Utah. She performed for the judges as if she knew what was going on. She got crowned the Queen and there was also a King. He was about 20 months old and when they put the crowns on their heads she reached over and took his off. He cried like, well, a baby. She didn't care, no one was sharing the stage with her! She OWNED the spotlight!! We had the priviedge of riding in the Cherry Days parade on the 4th of July. IT WAS SNOWING!!! Freezing cold! Jessica's cute little button nose was as red as a cherry. She was as happy as could be bouncing to the music from the band and smiling and waving at everyone. She knew how to steal the show.
11 months old-her first perm!

Jessica was the sunshine in our home. She sang and danced all through the house from sun up to sun down.

Jessica will always be my sunshine! I love my Easter Baby!

3rd grade
P.S. You should hear how she dogs on me for dressing her and doing her hair like this.
9th grade

Happy Birthday Jessica! I love you!

He's NINE!

2009-04-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Carson!

Carson turned 9 on March 12th!
We had the best birthday party.

Lots of family,

A never ending salad bar,

A rocket pinata, stuffed full of candy!

Cupcakes!
and presents!

But best of all, we had great entertainment from Bobe and Carson!

I think they should take their act on the road!
What do you think?
Carson--Grammie LOVE, LOVE, LOVES You!!

The "T's" have it!

2009-04-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Alex gave me the letter "T" to blog about!

To Tell The Truth i Totally Think T's are Terrific!!!

T is for Trolls!

Not that I really love them, but I put it on here
for my friend Becky! Because she makes me laugh
and I'm trying to return the favor!

T is for Twighlight,

I've read each book 2 x's,
Seen the movie 5.
I can't even begin to pick a favorite character,
but if I was forced,
Jacob would have my vote.
Although I did get a vampire fettish after I saw the movie!

T is for Tanning!

Nothing like the feel of the sun on your skin,

toes in the sand,

and listening to the waves!

T is for Temples

Click here for an awe inspiring moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLXYxmaHWQs

About 8 years ago, a little girl, about 6 years old, got up and bore her testimony.
She said that she would be going to the Temple when she grew up, if she behaved herself!
That is my goal too!

T is for Tulips!

Who doesn't love flowers? I love all flowers,
but I think tulips fall somewhere in my top 3.
They are such a beautiful display of nature's creation!

T is for Treadmill

Which I have a love hate relationship with!!
I dread getting up and getting on it in the mornings,
But love the way it makes me feel afterwards!!!

I'm sure I've missed many more "T's" that I love,
but I can't think of anymore. If you would like to do a letter blog, just let me know, and I will assign you a letter, like Y!! JK!

Pay it Forward

2009-03-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

The Rules:*Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!*Winners must post this challenge on their blog, meaning that they will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on their post about this giveaway!*The gift that you send to your friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the Spirit and the Thought That Counts!*When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate pictures and comments! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenter's on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!!

Tweety Bird

2009-03-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

Do you love the "Tweety Bird" cartoon?

I do!

I love it because that sweet little Tweety always gets the best of Sylvester.

Okay so I hate cats.

We have 50 billion cats in the neighborhood.

Half of which lives across the street.

When I see a cat crouched down to attack a bird, I scare the bird away so the cat can't get the bird, unless it is a pigeon. I figure that any cat that catches and eats a pigeon is going to die anyway because pigeons are almost as sick and wrong as a cock roach.

Anyway, back to the reason for the blog...

...On Saturday, Carson and I were out weeding my flower garden, for those of you that have seen my "flower garden", yes, I do call it a flower garden!

Anyway, we were weeding, Carson is a great weeder. One of the small cats from across the street comes up and sneaks up on Carson. I told him, "look who came to visit you". He turns and jumps because it kinda scared him. Being the sweet, kind hearted person that he is, he starts talking to the cat and petting it. The cat gets squirly and starts to roll around on the ground so Carson, not knowing why the cat is doing that, pulls his hands away. The cat jumps up and makes a flying attack for Carson's arm. I stomp my foot and scare it away. I tell him, "oh that silly cat wanted to play with you."

A few minutes later the cat walks over to me. I put my hand down to pet it, not because I like it, but to show Carson that it is okay, and as I was finishing my whole 2 strokes over the cat, it puts back its ears and tries to bite me. I pull my hand back and it literally makes another flying

leap for my hand which was about 3 ft up. So I stomp my foot and scare him away again and tell Carson not to let the cat near him again!! Psycho Cat!!

An hour later, Jessica and Kelsie show up and we are outside talking and the cat comes back. Jessie loves kitties and starts to talk to the cat. So I tell them the psycho cat story. Jessie says, it just wants to play. She picks it up and lays in her arms like a baby, purring the loudest purr I've ever heard! Then it starts to meow this horrible, Psycho Cat, yeeeowww, and the cats, 3 big cats come running, yes running, from across the street. The big ones are acting bugged but don't dare get too close. Jessie puts the cat down and bends down and starts petting it. One of the big cats make a run past her. I thought it was going to attack. But it doesn't. The kittie rolls around on the ground all squirly and puts it's ears back and HISSES then bites her!

I tell her to go wash it and clean it up.

On Sunday she can't bend the finger closest to the bite and it's red!! Psycho rabid Cat!!!

I had a dream last night that Jessie came over yesterday with Carson!

She came flying in the house with a cat outfit on, looking like this:

Needless to say, I woke up. Pretty scary!!

Carson, Happy 9th Birthday!!
You are such a good grandson!
Grammie loves you sooooo MUCH!!
I hope that you will always enjoy pulling weeds with Grammie!

Something to Crow about!

2009-02-16T13:59:00.000-08:00

20 years ago I was trying to tell the nurses and doctors at St. Joesph hospital, in Phoenix, that "this baby is coming!" They were so calmly telling me that "it" probably wouldn't be here for another 12 hours!.....

...... Less than an hour later they were having me walk from a regular room to a new fandangle "labor, delivery, recovery room". Yes, 20 years ago, this was a NEW thing.

Feeling like "it" was going to drop out onto the floor at any time, I stopped when I got half way across the hall and said "How much further?". Nurse replies, "just across the hall". Trying to keep my legs together and squeezing to keep the baby in, I take tiny baby shuffles to the room "just across the hall". I sit on the edge of the bed to take a breather before trying to put my body in the bed, I say to "its" dad, "it's coming!" He looks down at this time to see the baby crowning! He then yells, "it's coming," to the nurse that was walking out the door. She comes back to see the baby crowning and starts to yell, "We need a doctor in here!"

Needless to say my little Kelsie Lou was not waiting for any doctor. She was born with a little owie across the middle of her nose where I sat on her face!!!
Pretty cute for having her face sat on!!

Happy Birthday my sweet Kelsie Lou!

I love you more than I can ever express!
You have been such a great blessing to me. I feel so fortunate to have called you mine!
You have always brought joy to our family. Thank you for being you!
Here's to another 20 years!

Kelsie wanted Pazookies for her birthday cake. Needless to say I could not find 6" round pans anywhere. We had square Pazookies. Each candle is a decade!

The Bird Flu

2009-02-10T19:27:00.000-08:00

AHHHHH......

CHOO0000oooo!!!

All kinds of flu's fluttering, fleeing, flying, by.

One just happened to stop by my work and hit 4 of us.

Snuffling, Sneezing, Coughing, Aching, oh wait...

...That's a commercial.

But that's pretty much how I feel!!

Tissues all over the house.

Cough drop wrappers thrown everywhere.

Dishes stacked to the ceiling, yep, Mom is sick.

Eating Like a Bird!!

2009-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Kelsie makes this oreo cookie look sooo good--as if you have to make an oreo look good!

Especially a chocolate one!

Our family is doing our own version of "The Biggest Loser". There are 10 of us involved with $250 at stake and our contest is going on for 12 weeks.

We are on our 2nd week! Right now there is alot of fun and excitement. With a bit of sabotage mixed in! (Alex)!

I'm hoping this will give me the incentive I need to diet and excercise. 10 days into it and so far so good! One day at a time right?!

Alex won the first week but only half of us weighed in--I believe the other half were scared!!!

Curse you Alex! I will get you next week !!!

Cardinals!!! WOO HOO

2009-01-20T16:09:00.000-08:00

How bout them Cards?!

Benson is showing you that the Cardinals are #1.

We were all hopping up and down in our seats.

Well, not ALL of us. Bryce, Bobe and I were putting together a puzzle.

In this pic is Jack, in the black recycle shirt, standing over Jamie and Alex, Jack is Bobe's Australian exchange student. He is not a big sports fan and he kinda kept popping in and out of the room with the look of "What the..." on his face.

Frank was very happy--yes, this IS Frank's happy face!

Settle down Frank, try not to get so excited!!!

And there again in the background is Jack, with another "What the..." look on his face!

Jessica and Benson are sporting their Cardinal attire.

They are huge Cardinal fans.... Well, I know that one of them loves the Cards!

The other one had no say what-s0-ever in what he wanted to wear Sunday.

We are looking forward to Sunday February 1st!!!

Bobe's birthday!!! Forty-Something Woo Hoo!!

Benson gets blessed!!! Double Woo Hoo!!

Family in town from Utah!!! Major Woo Hoo!!

This Should be better than the Super Bowl!

2009-01-16T13:46:00.000-08:00

ive been tagged. Thanx Kelsie Lou!!! You know I can't ....

.....answer with one word. ready.... set.... go!

1. Where is your phone? Desk

2. Where is your significant other? Playing?

3 .Your hair color? Beautiful

4. Your Mother? Awesome

5. Your Father? Witty

6. Your favorite thing? MiKids

7. Your dream last night? Nothing

8. Your dream/goal? Eternity

9. The room you're in? Office

10. Your hobby? Crafting

11. Your fear? Loss

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Healthy

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. What you're not? Skinny

15. One of your wish-list items? Time

16. Where you grew up? Liberty

17. The last thing you ate? Chicken

18. What are you wearing? Shabby

19. Your TV? Off

20. Your pet? Birddie

21. Your computer? Sucks

22. Your mood? Ecstatic

23. Missing someone? Yep

24. Your car?GrandmaVan

25. Something you're not wearing? Jeans

26. Favorite store? Joanne's

27. Your Summer?Exciting

28. Love someone? Always

29. Your favorite color? Green

30. When was the last time you laughed? Now

31. Last time you cried? Today

32.Something you crave? Benson

33. Why you blog? Fun

2009-01-09T10:14:00.000-08:00

What does winter look like in Arizona???
Kind-a like the fall in Utah, without the beauty of the multi-colors.
That's what I miss the most about my hometown in Utah. I love when the trees turn colors. I love to look at the colors all across the mountainside. It makes me want to get out paint and a canvas and start painting. But since I was not blessed with that talent. . . .
Anyway, this is a pic of what happens in the winter in Arizona. Then the leaves drop.... and shortly after they bud up and blossom.

Benson....Again!!!

2009-01-09T10:09:00.001-08:00

I need to call this Blog:

Benson Blog!!

I just can't seem to

get enough of him!!!

I love the rainy days!

2009-01-09T09:55:00.000-08:00

Who says in never rains in Arizona!

I love the clouds and rain. It is such a nice change from our usual clear, blue skies. It is a rare thing and so when it happens I soak it in!

This was actually on Christmas day. It was great. We have had quite a bit of rain this last month. It makes my flowers and lawn look so much better!

Bird Feeders

2008-12-31T07:52:00.000-08:00

Little Benson definitely is as tiny as a baby birdie!

Uncle Jordan got to feed him. Jordan's first baby feeding.

Last week Benson turned 6 weeks and weighed 8 pounds.

He's getting big!

Do you see the shade of auburn hair?!

What a cutie!! And the big kid is pretty cute too!

Birds of Prey (Pray)

2008-12-09T09:04:00.000-08:00

I have THE most amazing Sunday School class. And adorable too! I'm supposed to be the teacher, but, there is not a Sunday that goes by that they don't teach me something. They are all very smart. There are a couple of kids missing from the picture, and the Sunday School Secretary got into the picture. (Better him than me.) I Love you guys!

New Camera!

2008-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

I have a new camera!! It is awesome!! And as soon as I learn to use it, it will be even better!! All the pictures are coming out pretty blurry. I can't seem to hold it still. Besides the fact that it's blurry, isn't he the cutest little boo ever!!! Of course, I'm a little bias. He is doing very good, and so are his Mommy and Daddy.

The Hatching!

2008-11-17T07:13:00.000-08:00

He's Here! He's Here! He's Here!!

What a long week. Probably much longer for Kyle and Jamie than Grammie (me).He arrived Friday the 14th at 4pm. He came 5 and a half weeks early. After hours of labor and over an hour of pushing for an extremely exhausted Jamie, you finally hear the awesome sound of a baby crying! Remember all the pacing that Kyle did all week around Jamie's bed side....

....by Friday morning at 3am he had a stomach bug and went home to die!! So when the baby came he heard the birth via telephone. I was with Kyle and that's why I say the "awesome sound of baby crying". Kyle was kind enough to put it on speaker phone so grammie could listen in. Weighing in at a whopping 6 lb 3 oz and 18 and a half inches long, much bigger than expected.

Yesterday I went to see my second grandson for the first time. I found him in his mamma's arms, both fully content, and both looking beautiful. Jamie is so beautiful and as you can see from the picture, he is PERFECT!! and BEAUTIFUL!!!

Early Bird gets the worm!

2008-11-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

I've got a grandson coming 6 weeks early!!!

Jamie has been in the hospital since Monday. She has been poked and prodded and still says, in her sweet little tiny voice, "thanks for coming, I love you!"

Kyle is wearing the floor out around her bed. Waiting on her hand and foot! What a sweet, sweet man!

Kelsie is accommodating her brother with food, and bringing survival needs for Jamie. Kelsie is SOOO compassionate, which I truly believe she inherited from her Aunt Bobe!!

I will keep you posted on the arrival of the newest Sprouse member.

Random Things

2008-10-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the tag Alex!

I'm supposed to tell 5 to 7 random things about myself.

Well, I've thought about it all day at work.
Like you, Alex, I too rub my feet together when I'm falling asleep. But if there are other feet in the bed then rubbing my feet on theirs is nice!
My OLDER and much wiser sister, Annette and I slept in the same bed in our teenage years. It drove her crazy. She would get so mad cuz my feet would go over toward hers and start rubbing, she would FREAK! She would draw an imaginary line down the bed and if any part of me crossed the "line" she would start hitting! Which was quite a rude awakening when I was almost to sleep.

I sucked my thumb till I was 11!! And no, my teeth are not bucked!!
I just have to fill my mouth with something at all times.
Hence the weight problem.
Maybe at 40 something I should go back to sucking my thumb!!!
Hummm.....New Diet!!! Cheap too!!

Woo Hoo! I'm a blogger!

2008-10-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's about time!

Even my little sister Bobe beat me to it!

Put me to shame, she's really good at doing that!

I guess if you do great and exciting things,

then you have great and exciting things to blog about!

So this is a pre-warning!

I have really nothing to blog about.

Except my children and family, pictured above.

That would make this a brag spot.

Not a blog spot.

So bear with me--

With a little help from my beautiful niece Alex,

I might be able to post some pics and fun things on here!