What we do at -20 degrees.....

We had a tropical heat wave for the past few days- it was at least 20 degrees (above zero)! We woke up yesterday to temperatures hovering around 18 degrees (above zero) and through the day they plummeted slowly down. By 5:00 p.m. it was below zero. This morning we have a whopping -21 degrees (that's below zero). So anyway, we are used to it... to some degree. Here's a clip of some of our fun out in the winter sun.

Frosty Walk....

We have had the weirdest weather here in SW Alaska.... well I guess its only been atypical for the last week or so. Dillingham got a ton of snow and then some seriously cold temperatures fast this year. Over Thanksgiving break we had temps down to -20, this week we have had temps in the mid + 30's, and RAIN! That is weird, and I don't like it very much. Both extremes make it hard to get out and about... especially for this pregnant Mama. My winter clothes are getting awfully tight and the rain gear has been packed away, for a while now.

So anyway, even though it was freezing cold outside we got out to take a walk. It was hovering around -15, but we managed to dress in enough layers to stay warm for a little while. Jon's 'stache got a little frosty as did Sis's hair.


Kami and Oscar had a blast running around.... the cold doesn't seem to bother them much when they are with us! Jon rigged up the sled to Oscar's collar and he pulled the girls for a bit, as long as Jon was running with him. Winter fun... that's what we are about!

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.

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.

Walking in Winter

She was carrying her gloves around like they were her babies

Oh man what a gorgeous weekend! In the teens with nothin' but blue skies! We had to take advantage. So we got all decked out and went walkin', or sledding, whichever way you want to look at it. We walked as far as we could and then decided to be at home and start the bonfire. We finished the day with a nice, hot steam. Can you get any better than that?
Kalin doesn't think so....

Sledding at Nerka Hill

It warmed up to a whopping 8 degrees (eight, above zero) in Dillingham, and it felt down right tropical! So we had to get outside and celebrate. After what seems like MONTHS of below zero temperatures we were happy to go outside and not freeze to death.

We luckily got to have Mr. Graelin David visit us for the day and him and Kiley decided that going sledding on Nerka Hill would be the best way to celebrate our "warm" day. So we bundled up and headed to the Hill. What fun! Jon and I got a taste of what it would be like to have a little boy.... and we liked it!

We sent Kiley and Graelin down on the fast "bue" sled by themselves and they unfortunately crashed. Graelin was not impressed- he cried and kept saying, "Big crash, no more, SNOW....." but when we asked him if he wanted again he said, "Yup" with no hesitation. But not on the "bue" sled.....

Dreaming of Warmer Days......

I'm curled up with a blanket and a roaring fire. It is currently -15 (yes 15 below zero) with a wind chill temperature of -30 (yes that is BELOW zero!!!). So I am thinking of warmer days when there was green grass, flowers and sunshine and a breeze that would turn our faces red with sun burn and not frostbite. Bare feet, dirty feet, flowers, tire swings, four wheeler rides and lots of warm sunshine...... *sigh* I can't wait!

Every day we are getting more and more sunlight (finally), with our sun rising at 10:30 a.m. and setting at 4:50 p.m. We are getting there! Spring and summer here we come!

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.