The Clouse Girls Update

I haven't written about all the amazing things the girls are doing these days. ;) It has been a busy month for all of us for sure!

Kalin Dawn is just about to take off walking. She has taken about 7 steps so far; if we get her steady on her feet she takes off. Kalin is also very expressive and can tell us what she wants, and doesn't want quite loudly. Smacking her lips means, "I'm hungry", and a loud "AAAAHHNGH" means STOP THAT KILEY! amongst other dislikes. Kalin can sign "more" now, can tell us "no no" by shaking her head and also can wave "bye-bye" like a pro. We think "bye-bye" can also mean "hi" but we aren't quite sure.

Kiley Jeanette now knows her phone number and Papa and Gram's phone number. I think one of her greatest thrills these days is being able to call someone, "on my own!" She can easily count to 12 and sometimes 20.... although that high gets a little tricky. Kiley is recognizing words and can spell "boo", "mom", "stop", and "papa".

Jon and I are off to "the big city" and the girls are going to stay with Papa and Gram for the weekend. It will be Jon and I's first trip away from both of them together.... and speaking for myself I am very excited. I thought maybe Kiley would be a little sad but she's actually excited. She said something the other day like, "remember Gram I can have everything I want?"

Hmmm, whatever it takes huh?

Building a library in 2009!

It seems like people ask me what I do quite a bit, and when I tell them I don't think they really get it. I am a librarian (media specialist is my official title) and I am working towards a library science endorsement (one class away). This was a big step for me; a year off from teaching and then on to a new career/job. After a few months in this position I kept asking myself why I had never thought about becoming a librarian when I was getting my BA. Quite shocking since I have always loved books and libraries.

Recently I did something new as a media specialist that I have never done before, and it was quite rewarding. I got to go back to New Stuyahok (where I taught for seven years) and spend four days putting their gorgeous (that's right I said gorgeous) new library together. They had a new school built in the last year and it is finally almost ready for teachers and students to move into.

I spent about $90,000 on a new collection that included fiction and nonfiction books for students in grades Kindergarten to twelfth grade. We also integrated about 50+ boxes of books from the collection that was in the old school.

Ever wonder how many boxes this would be? Try about 200! But I didn't do this alone, I would still be there if I had tried! I had the help of our tech guys moving boxes and furniture, our curriculum specialist and also the state library coordinator came out from Anchorage to help coordinate the effort. Wow, what a job! A big, big thank you to all who helped. This was such a rewarding experience!

Before.......

During.....
AFTER!

If we look tired it is because we were exhausted!

My Girls- Do they look alike?

Here is a picture of Kalin Dawn at 10 months old. I think this is one of my favorite pictures of her so far....










Going back about 3 1/2 years here is a picture of Kiley Jeanette at about 10 months. Also one of my favorite pictures of her. I can't wait until Kalin gets to wear this outfit!




Yeah I think they look alike. Both simply adorable as can be, no hair, a few teeth- shucks! Of course I am a tad biased but I think Jon and I make some cute keepers!

Cruising Kalin!

Kalin is just a cruiser- you blink and she has moved into the next room. Right now she is pulling up onto everything she can reach, knocking things down and trying to move from place to place while standing up. My Dad says it won't be long and we will have a little toddler on our hands. Ack! Kalin has been so-so waving bye-bye but last night when Uncle Max was leaving she full on gave him the big Wave! Yeah Kalin! I was so proud- shucks who wouldn't be? Her favorite word is still,"Mama", actually, "Mamamamamamammama!" I told her the other day she needed to learn some new words!
We can't forget about Miss Kiley, our big 4 year old who doesn't want to go to school anymore or be a big sister (yes she has said that, Kalin gets into her "stuff" and she doesn't like it!). We think Kiley would rather just stay with Gram and play instead of going to school, some days are a little tougher than others. We will work on it. Jon told Kiley the other day that she couldn't turn five unless she memorized her phone number- so now Kiley can belt out the ol' 842-**** like a pro!

Here is a cute clip of Kalin cruising around the house.

"Tree Falls on House January 2009"

Gusts up to 70 mph in Dillingham and surrounding areas. Local family feels brunt of wind force when, very unexpectedly, a tree falls on their house. Luckily there was little damages and no one was hurt.

Kalin~ Laughing, Singing and Dancing!

Our baby is getting so big! This clip was taken over Christmas break, as you can tell by our Christmas tree in the background. We just marvel at the changes Kalin makes weekly- crawling, now cruising, pulling up onto everything and now walking with assistance. She babbles and we are all convinced she says "Mama" and "Papa" and knows who she is talking about (well I do anyway, of course she knows Mama!) Next Kalin will be walking, talking and then we will be off to potty training, pull ups, big girl panties..... and she will be four before I can blink.

Before we know it she is going to be a year old like her cousin Bella who turned the big O-N-E today! Happy Birthday again Miss Bella- we wish we were in Colorado to help you celebrate.

I look at Kiley and remember when she our baby, time really does fly by. I have to remember that sometimes when I am exhausted from our beautiful 9 month old who wakes up two or more times a night. I told Kiley this morning I feel old and she got mad at me! "MOM you are NOT old! You are YOUNG!" Ahhhh- she got a big hug and a kiss for that one. I might just let her watch a movie today..... :)

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!

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.