Christmas at the Clouse House

Kalin on Christmas morning in her new rocking chair

The girls on Christmas morningOur new dining set!~ seats 8Out for a winter walk~ all bundled up!

Camryn and Kiley on the Go-Go! Ready for a ride!

Jon and Kiley on our Snow-Go ride Christmas Day

We had a great Christmas Eve and Day this year. Jon, Kiley and I went to the Candlelight Service at the Moravian Church, which was a new experience for Kiley and myself. Kiley enjoyed the singing and when it came to lighting the candle she did ok until a little wax burnt her and she threw the candle........ Luckily she didn't catch anything on fire and everyone was singing so her wails weren't too loud! I can chuckle about it now, but it was a bit mortifying when it first happened. We went and said Merry Christmas to Papa and Gram, Uncle Max, Camryn and Auntie Angie and then went back to our house to get ready for Santa Claus. Miss Kalin took a long evening nap with Auntie Net, and she woke up just before we got home.

Christmas Day was a whirlwind with opening presents and breakfast, snow-going and then Christmas dinner. Kiley was in hog heaven (of course) and absolutely reveled in opening all her presents and the attention she got. I am guessing her favorrite present is the Leapster (if you have a four year old, this is a great investment!) and her new clothe, and of course all her new Lippa. Kalin was a bit overwhelmed, but she did ok. She got some great new toys, and was loving her new doll and rocking chair. Luckily Camryn came over when she was done opening her presents at her house and helped Kalin finish up opening her presents.

As a family we would like to say a very big thank you to all our friends and family for thinking of us and giving us many wonderful gifts. One very special thank you to GB and Papa Paul for our new dining set, it looks f-a-b-u-l-o-u-s in our new kitchen!

And speaking of our friends and family- many of you have made comments about how you love to read our blog..... yet I only have three followers. ?? What is up with that? Please get a Google account and start leaving me some comments for crying out loud! It really isn't that hard, you can do it! Make it one of your New Year's resolutions!

Bath and Bubbles!

Christmas Par-tay..... Family Style

Our district Christmas party was fun again this year. Well not quite as much fun as last year because I was prego with Kalin and could (and did) eat with out remorse...... this year I ate my full and had to unbutton the top of my pants, geesh. Will I ever learn?

Kiley is a "big girl" this year and is NOT scared of Santa anymore! She has put two and two together and realized that Santa is a good guy because he brings her presents. Dave, who she sees at least weekly, was our Santa for the District party. He came in with his "ho-ho-ho's" and "Come and sit on my lap" comments, which Kiley obliged. But the whole time she was staring at him, then she piped up, "That's not Santa Dad! That's DAVE! I can see his NOSE!" Well we had to explain that Santa is so busy this time of year that he has to have "helpers", and Dave is one of them! So the party was a success, and we got some great pictures out of it!

Matthew~ State Wrestling 2008

I have not been to a wrestling state tournament since 1995. That was the year when my brother became a State Champion his Senior year for the second timet- in the 145 lb weight class, in Fairbanks. That was a tournament to remember, I was on pins and needles the entire time!

Turn the clock 13 years and here I'm at another one....... Jon, the girls, and I went to Anchorage to watch Matthew at his State tournament at Bartlett High School. What a tournament! Matthew did a wonderful job, and wrestled his heart out. He won his first two matches, lost two (heartbreaking!) and then won his last match to get fifth place. We are very proud of him, he has had an outstanding season and should be proud that he got 5th place in the STATE in the 125 lb weight class.

I told his Mom I don't know how she does it, Matthew isn't even my son and I had a hard time watching during some matches! Jon and I were in knots through the whole thing.... we are going to be crazy parents when Kiley and Kalin's turn comes around! The team did very well too- Dillingham got third place over all and had four boys in the finals, with two becoming state champions. There was only 1.5 points between Petersburg (first), Bethel (second) and Dillingham at the end of the tournament.

Messing with Big Sis

This is movie week! Jon finally got some time to make clips from movies we have been taking at home, and here is another one of Kalin crawling. This time she is messing with her big sister when she is trying to play her "game".

Kalin is cruising all over the place, she is getting faster every day! I think she is going to be an early walker like Kiley was. She is just tickled pink when she can pull herself up onto something or discovers a new area in our house or Uncle Max's house she hasn't found before.

This has been a crazy week with traveling to Anchorage, Christmas shopping, State Wrestling at Bartlett High School (screaming, sitting, watching), Chuck E. Cheese, swimming, new "hair-do's"..... ahhhh it was good to finally get home. We had a great time seeing people we haven't seen in a long while and catching up with them. I got told a lot how much Kalin and Kiley look like me, and even had a few people call Kiley my "Mini-Me".

Kiley l-o-v-e-d swimming at the pool and asked NON STOP to PLEASE go to the "ho-tel" to swim. She is part fish, I swear. Another highlight was the "alligator" aka the escalator. Yes, up and down and up and down. Very fun. Kiley was done with the gym after the second day and instead got to go and spend the day with Rikki and Olivia. They got to go and watch "Bolt" (her new favorite), go watch her best teenage friends Mindy, Rachel and Ginny get third place at state in Volleyball, and just play, play and play some more. I think that was the best time ever.

I will post some pictures of Matthew wrestling when I finally get a chance to upload the pictures from our trip.

Kalin Dawn, the Energetic Crawler!

I'm a Guitar Hero!

Our 125 lb Regional Wrestling Champion!

Championship match against Chevak opponent

125 lb Regional Champ!

After the tourney was over and Kiley was watching Kung Fu Panda, the entire weekend wore him out.....

He did it! Matthew is now western Alaska's 2008 125 lb Regional Champion! Wooohooo!

Each match was nerve wracking for Jon and I, but Matthew seemed confident during each one. His dominance was evident as he pinned every opponent. We are so proud of him and this accomplishment.

The Clouses are off to the State Championships next week in Anchorage, where we hope for the best!

Happy 35th Anniversary!

They were totally surprised, and didn't have a clue about the party!

It was the surprise party of the season! We decided since Max, Jeanette and myself would all be in town that we would throw a surprise party in honor of our parents 35th Wedding anniversary.

Boy did we! They had NO clue we were surprising them! We invited some of their good friends and had a very nice evening full of laughter and good conversation, what my parents love most of all.

Happy 35th Mom and Dad!

Turkey Day at the Clouses

Jeanette and Shawn

Max and Matthew

Kiley, Dad and Mom

Triptofan kicked in right away!
More triptofan....

We had a great Thanksgiving here in Dillingham! My sister came home from Anchorage and brought her boyfriend Shawn. We ate until we couldn't eat anymore. Turkey, stuffing, shrimp cocktail.... all my favorites. Plus Jon added a new dish of sweet potatoes and they turned out pretty good! We all have so much to be thankful for, and it was so special to share all our blessings through the year.Kiley decided that Pumpkin Pie is now her favorite pie (which she has never had before!).
We also used the weekend to surprise my parents for their 35th wedding anniversary- Jon said our vacation was a non stop party and he was so right. We had so much going on all weekend long- it flew by! I think I was more tired on Monday than on the Wednesday before Turkey Day.

Kalin~ I'm Hungry!

Papa Paul visits Dillingham....

Papa Paul came up for a visit and our time with him just flew by! Before we knew it he was heading back home. We kept him busy with just small projects this time- getting wood for the stove, putting up our lights in the kitchen (what a difference that makes!), weather-proofing the windows and other odds and ends. Jon and I enjoyed just sitting around talking, telling stories and catching up. Paul got to celebrate Halloween with us, play some poker and go to a fancy schmancy dinner in which he had to buy some new pants and for which I made him wear a tie! I thought for sure that Kalin would be full on crawling while he was here, but she decided to wait a while before she performed that trick. (FYI- she is crawling now but is only doing it backwards, hasn't figured out how to go forward yet)

Miss Kalin, Papa Paul and Kiley J

Don't be jealous Bonnie, she's family!

How I love this man....

My dear husband had a bad dream about his loving wife last night.... something about me wanting to leave him?? Of course he has nothing to worry about, in the 15 years I have known him he has changed only in good ways. He makes me so happy, I am quite the lucky woman. I don't know if I tell him enough how thankful I am for him and all that he does for me and our family! (there is rarely a dull moment......scroll down)

Who could ever leave someone who is their own action figure? Honestly, there is never a dull moment around the House of Clouse!

Jon Action Figure

New and Improved!

"Sure hands and articulated shoulders"

How I love this man!!

Cheeese!

I finally got a good picture of Kalin Dawn and all her teeth! She looks so different with all six of them- 4 on top and the two on the bottom. Kalin is trying harder and harder to crawl every day, getting up on all fours and rocking. Just last week she figured out how to move her hands and kind of scooted backward, but hasn't quite figured out how to put it all together and go forward.

Wolverine Classic 2008

Although Matthew was sick with the flu the Thursday before the Wolverine Classic, he still had an awesome weekend. His record at the end was 4-0. Before the flu he was overweight, after an easy 125. Before we know it wrestling regions will be here!

Trick or Treat!

We were lucky to have Camryn come for a visit this weekend. Kiley got to go Trick-or-Treating with her favorite cousin in the world two Halloween's in a row! Kiley opted to be a witch for Trick -or- Treating, and Camryn was a fairy. Kalin was still her beautiful bee self, and was a little sad she had to stay home with mom instead of going out with the big girls. I got to take the girls out around our neighborhood and Jon and Paul took the girls out and about to load up on candy. I stayed home with Kalin and handed out candy. We went to the Wolverine Classic later to watch Matthew wrestle, I'll post pictures later of his matches. Such a busy, busy weekend.

I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee....

Won't my mommy be so proud of me? Bzzzz said the Bee!

Miss Kalin is trying harder and harder to crawl. She gets into this position and rocks and rocks. One of these days (very soon!) she is going to figure out where those hands go. Then watch out!

Shopping in rural Alaska

We buy like this (a big cupboard about 2 feet deep):
Because prices in Dillingham are like this:

Yes, for a single jar!

$2.75 for two......

I was talking to my sister-in-law Jenny, in Colorado, about the crazy prices of baby food. We buy our baby food in bulk out of Seattle because Kalin's appetite would break the bank at these prices in Dillingham!

Happy Halloween from Kiley the Cat and Kalin the Bee!

Hellloooo Bella!

Kalin wanted to give a shout out to her cousin Bella Ryley in Colorado! She saw an adorable picture of her cousin the other day and thought, hmmmm I can use my sister's bow and look just as cute! So Bella we were thinking about you when we took these pictures. Oh and hello to your Mom and Dad too!