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!

I'm a Guitar Hero!

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.

Baby Log or Mrs. Butterworth's?

Yes, that is me in t he picture above at about the same age as Kiley below. I am holding my Mrs. Butterworth's "doll."

And yes, in the picture below Kiley is holding a log- her "Baby Log."

The "Baby Log" as she is now fondly called was created this past winter when Kiley decided to pretend that one of the logs we would have otherwise burned in our fireplace was instead her baby. So it got painted, and named.

My brother asks for Baby Log every time he comes over, which is about daily, and tells Kiley she might need to give her to him so he can heat his house.... My mom thought we had bought Kiley a log someone else had turned into a baby... "What will they come up with NEXT?" she said. After I stopped laughing I told her what exactly Baby Log was and she said it made sense.......

My Mom said I just started carrying my syrup bottle around like a baby and combing her hair.

So this weirdness of a log turned into a baby? Yes, it comes from me. I admit it, the weirdness started early. Kiley Jeanette what will you think of next?

4 Month Well Baby Check Up

It is official- Kalin Dawn is as healthy as a horse! We had her 4 month well baby check up yesterday and all is going so well! She is 14 lbs 12 oz and meeting all her developmental milestones. Kalin is in the 95th percentile for height, 75th for weight and 95th for her head circumference. In the last few weeks she has started to reach for everything and is getting closer and closer to rolling from her back to her front.

I have been back to work since August 1st, and Kalin is coming with me. So far it hasn't been easy, this is a crazy time with inservice and the preparation that goes along with it. I know it would be so much easier if Kalin would just sleep on her own for a while and/or just chill out for at least 20 minutes at a time..... but try telling HER that!

Happy Birthday Jon!!

Kiley decorated Daddy's cake all by herself!

Kiley helping her Dad blow out his candles.

Jon turned 33 on July 24th, yes we are the same age again. We celebrated his big day pretty quietly, going out to lunch (the girls, Jon and myself) and then had a quiet dinner at home. Kiley and I were busy at home baking a cake for dad, brownies and one of his favorite meals: beef enchiladas. Kiley was in charge of decorating her Dad's cake and she did such a wonderful job! I think our three year old has a chance at being one heck of a baker when she grows up, my girl can already crack eggs like a pro!

This month 3 is a lucky number for the Clouses: I am 33, Jon is 33, Kiley is 3 and Kalin is 3 months old!