It's Winter

We've been having some strange weather lately here in SW Alaska- rain, icey rain, snow and rain.... well I guess it isn't that strange. Maybe just "yucky" is a better way to put it. We went to bed one night and had a temperature of around 20 degrees, when we woke up it was about 40 degrees. Four days of rain and all of our snow melted away, and now it is cold again. Regardless of the temperature outside- we do our best to get out there and at least get our cheeks rosy.

When we still had snow we took the snowmachine to one of our local stores to go grocery shopping- yes we did.Here's a picture from me in the sled to prove it.

We also took one of our weekly excursion to our local "waterfall" which is just a hop, jump and a skip from our house...... and not really a waterfall at all. More like water backed up in a creek, frozen on top- but the girls call it a waterfall and who are we to correct them?


I mean look how much fun they have when we go!


Our time outdoors is getting shorter and shorter- with less and less daylight out side. The sun rises at about 10:00 a.m. and sets about 5:00 p.m.

Feeding the Chickens

In honor of Thanksgiving, I shall blog about one of our favorite past times of late- feeding the chickens. I'm not sure why I am thinking it is in "honor" of Thanksgiving, but it has something to do with the fact that we eat a bird on turkey day and chickens are in fact, a bird.

Sis loves chickens, just like her Momma. So on a regular basis she asks to "go feed the chickens." Luckily one of my friends' daughters has chickens... so we save our food scraps and once the bucket is full off we go. They are enclosed in a fence and housed in a really nice coop.

These chickens are very well taken care of-- their owner, Alethia, is quite the chicken keeper. Her parents call her the "Chicken Whisperer." She's got a knack, a special way with them. Sis got her to pick them up a few times, so she could "pet" the chickens.
I know Bonnie will just get a kick out of watching her, and most likely the chickens strutting around in the snow.

Winter Walk

Winter is here-- we've got the snow and ice to prove it.

Kiley and Kalin were bouncing off each other and the walls this afternoon so we set off outside for a little walk down to the creek. It was a little colder than we thought it was, due to the wind, so we didn't stay as long as we had originally planned.

A nice walk that got the yah-yahs out, just what a winter walk needs to do.

Drive to Aleknagik

I spent half the day in Aleknagik earlier this week. I drove about 17 miles from my house to one of the most beautiful places on earth, I can never get over how beautiful this community is. It takes my breath away every time I go there- my little pictures never do it justice.



During my drive up and back I couldn't get over how the trees were twinkling-- the sun was shining just right on the frost to make me smile the whole way. I wish I could have capture just how pretty those little twinkles were....

Warming up....

Sis really seems to be warming up to Blake.

"Blake I wanna sit on your lap."

"Blake you know what? I saw a moose indawoods."

"BLAKE!!! It's time to waaaaake uppp!"

I didn't take the picture, but it looks like Sis got Blake to read her a beloved Clifford book. Yup, it's official. She's warmed up to him and he is definitely starting to fit into the House of Clouse.

It's a Tea Party

Kiley received a late present last weekend for her birthday, it was all she could think and play with for the entire weekend. A beautiful tea set, perfect for little hands and delicious tea.

On Sunday morning she wouldn't stop bugging me for Amma Bossy's phone number. I had to ask what she was calling for and she said, "Mom, Amma Bossy loves tea, so we need to have a tea party with my tea set!"

So by golly that is just what they did!

Mom my head's hurtin'

The picture says it all... its one of those kinds of days.

Too much candy?!

I'm not sure what exactly who/what the culprit is, but poor Sis woke up with a 102 fever and the pukes. Candy hangover? The flu?

Yesterday she was bouncing around like a typical 2 year old, laid down for a great nap and slept for at least 2 hours. I had big plans for a walk out in the crisp (aka cold and windy) November weather as soon as Kiley got home, and she woke up.... unfortunately that didn't happen.

She woke up telling me her head was "hurtin'." After much cuddling and soothing I ended up screaming for a "puke bowl" to Kiley and Blake and scrambling for Ibuprofin.

Ahh, such is life.