Post 2-2-2 dedicated to Miss Kalin

This is my 222 blog post! Wow!!! That means I have blogged a total of two hundred and twenty-two times! Dang, that is good work on my part. I really enjoy blogging, it has been fun to look back on our archives and to remember what we have done. Blogging is great digital journal.

So this blog post is dedicated to Miss Kalin Clouse, aka Sis. She has been feeling a little neglected since the last few posts have been all about her big sister and Whiskers.

You ask what has Kalin been up to these days? Well, let's see here, our 18 month old has been a busy girl!

• Kalin can jump- she jumps on the trampoline, on the floor, the table, mom, dad, Kiley.....
  
• Kalin can poop in the potty! She has done her business about half a dozen times in the appropriate place. Now she has also pooped on the living room floor, in my hand (not on purpose), on Kiley's floor, in the tub, in the steam and most recently on the kitchen chair.
• Kalin can dance, and sing (we think she will be the next Kareokee Queen)
  
• Kalin can follow directions; "Sis throw this away" "Sis Mommy said get OFF the table!" "Sis go get a blanket for your baby" etc, etc.
• Kalin can say, "Dada", "Mama" ,"Ditder", "Conk-Conk" (big truck), "More", "Papa" and she screams like no ones business!
• Kalin thinks Kami, Oscar and Whisker's food is yummy.......
  
• Miss Kalin is so cute she just about melts your heart!

We marvel every day at how different our two girls are. Kiley has always been the Drama Queen- everything 120% and at full speed. Kalin is laid back, but not afraid to tell you NO, MINE, a watcher but still quite charming and energetic. We can't wait until she really starts talking, but then again we are a little nervous to find out what she will say!

Whiskers, Up Close and Personal

She just wouldn't sit still....

She doesn't seem to like to pose for pictures. I tried to command her to "sit", it didn't work. I also tried calling her name and doing what I do to the dogs to get their picture..... um, she isn't a dog. So finally Kiley grabbed her so we could get a close up.

The newest member of our family....

We were missing Matthew so much we had to do SOMETHING. Not that a cat can replace him or anything..... hmmm Anyway, :0 Glad he doesn't read this.

So for about two months all Kiley wanted to do was pretend to be our kitty- a kitty named Whiskers. That's it, every night. It would go something like this, "Mom, let's pretend I'm a kitty. I'm your kitty. My name is Whiskers. Ok Mom?"

And we heard at least 4 times a week, "I want a kitty for my birthday, a REAL LIVE kitty." (just so we wouldn't try to trick her with a fake one of course) So we came to the conclusion it was her heart's desire to have a cat.

We caved. I fortunately found a kitten waiting to be adopted. I am not a cat person, neither is Jon. So this is a big step for the family. Jon and I surprised Kiley on her birthday with a kitten. She named her Whiskers (in case you didn't catch the name) We told Kiley that she is responsible for scooping poop, and making sure that Whiskers has food and water. So far she has been doing a great job.

We are so impressed with this cat too- Sis carries her around by the neck and also by the butt and she hasn't been scratched once! Kiley, on the other hand has been scratched quite a bit. She tries to love her like a baby and Whiskers just doesn't go for that.

Our FIVE year old.....

Kiley had her big 5th birthday extravaganza on Saturday. We kind of had a lot of kids at our house... um, 17 little ones I think. It was a little crazy but we managed well; no crying until the very end of the party, honest.

We had the kiddos decorating felt bags for their pinata goodies, a very cool marble art project, pin the tail on the donkey, a parachute and then a pinata for the finale... phew! I'm tired just writing this... 5 year old parties are a lot of work!

It was absolutely gorgeous outside so the kids were stoked about playing outside. We had a lot of very happy preschoolers and most importantly Miss Kiley was very, very happy.

Kiley's First Day of School!

Kiley's first day of Pre-School! I think she will be very ready to go to Kindergarten after this year. She is one of the oldest kids in the program, I think she will turn 5 first. Her first day was fun and she made one new friend (even though she couldn't remember her name). Look at how big my first born looks in her snazzy new first day of school clothes! :)

The Toenail Fairy

Yes, you read that right. That's what I did. What did you say?

So Kiley and I were at the Dentist the other day, and she is strangely excited. Well maybe strangely isn't the best word. Ever since her first dental experience in which she screamed like a Banchee the entire time the Dentist looked in her mouth (so loudly the put a "note" in her chart to warn the others of this behavior) she has been quite taken to the whole experience. She gets excited about brushing her teeth, getting a new tooth brush and especially about getting a toy from the Treasure Chest.

She has her exam and our new dentist tells her how beautiful her teeth are, etc. and she has no cavities! Yeah! While we are waiting to get our green light to leave she leans over and whispers, "Mom the Toenail Fairly didn't come last night!"

Ummm, what did you say?

"Last night my Dad was cutting my toenails and he cut a REALLY big nail! So I took it and put it under my pillow for the Toenail Fairy!"

So I was about speechless, but I thought this was just about the cutest thing to come out of her mouth in quite a while. So I had to share it with one of my friends, which Kiley overheard.

"MOM! You aren't supposed to TELL anyone!"

Right, because we really don't want this one getting popular and catching on..... could you imagine?

Bubbles!!

The girls have been having so much taking baths with lots and lots of bubbles!!

Britni's Wedding....

Talk about a fun weekend! All the Clouses got to go to my cousin's wedding in Anchorage. It was a very fun family affair full of dancing and visiting! My parents were there from Washington as was my brother and sister plus other countless cousins, aunts and uncles. We had a great time but are glad to be home. Looks like our camera is working again, most of the time. It even got dropped again and somehow we fixed it. So here are some fun pictures from the wedding and the girls just having some fun.

Camera is Broken!

What is a blog without pictures? Our camera has been broken since Jon dropped it in the skiff on a fishing excursion :( in June. It works every once in a while... but here are some pictures from Jon's birthday bbq and live band adventure (thanks to Rhiannon). What a fun night!

Happy Birthday Jon!!!!!!!!!

He still looks smokin' hot!

The big 3-4. Happy Birthday to a wonderful husband and a one of a kind Dad. Kiley, Kalin, Matthew, Oscar as well as Kami and I are SO lucky to have you in our lives. I don't know what we would do without you!

I'll see you tonight, have a great day!

Missing my babies

Kalin 15 months

Kalin about 14 months (oatmeal face)

Kiley about 14 months

Kiley at about 17 months (blueberry face)

I'm going home today but I am missing my baby girls. I've been looking at some old pictures of Kiley and new ones of Kalin. Miss Kiley sure has gotten big fast!

In comparing the two of them at about the same age I notice Kiley had more hair than Kalin, and as you can see it sure is a lot darker! Oh but they are both so cute at this age.

I can't wait to go home.

Dress Up

Mom is gone and Dad is having fun with his girls. It doesn't sound like they are getting much sleep since Kalin has decided to get up around 5-ish every morning (ugh). Dad has been taking the girls on long walks with Kiley on her scooter (she has been very daring going down long hills and has asked me to pick her up a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads while I am here in Anchorage) and playing dress up.

This is the longest trip I have taken away from my girls and right now it is harder on them than me... although I miss them very much! Just a few more sleeps and I'll be home. I'll be taking a class from Monday through Friday, then I'm home!

Here are a pictures of the girls- Kiley in her mermaid outfit (and new haircut) and Kalin in a ballerina outfit (with her blonde hair).

The Texans leave the Alamo and head to the Nushagak

The first week has passed. We were afraid that the weather would work against us since it was raining, foggy and 40 some degrees when they arrived, we were so wrong! The Texans have been busy seeing the sights, the sole Colorado man has been busy with projects around the House of Clouse.

Here are some highlights:.

Stephanie- Incredible weather (she takes full credit for), lots of wildlife on the Nushagak (she's really enjoying the camping), Damon swimming in 40 degree water, Seeing, but not catching lots of fish....

Damon- 19 Moose, climbing the hill on the river, exploring at the local beach (the same beach that Sarah Palin was interviewed at with the Today Show last week), eating lots and lots of salmon, lots and lots of daylight (light out until around 2:00 a.m.)

Paul- Getting waited on by Willow Palin (daughter of Sarah and Todd Palin) at the local hardware store here in Dillingham. Sleeping.

More Pictures from Colorado

Our Internet is soooooooo slow at home. I don't know why but it has been a painful process to blog anything these days. I can blog, but I like to add pictures and that just takes for ev er!! So I am at work. Here are some new ones.
Me and my gurlz

Papa Paul, Kalin and Kiley

Miss Bella and Kalin

Dillon, Soren, Devin, Damon, Kiley and Kalin

We waited for almost two hours to get her face painted!

Home!!

That King is as big as Kalin!

Kiley got to go with her Dad to get the big Kings!

After a busy last week in Colorado we finally made it home. We filled every last day in Colorado with swimming lessons, sunshine, friends and family. Even with all that we were so happy to be home to Jon (aka Daddy).

We came home and have been so busy! Gardens, fish, flowers, weddings, bbq's, softball..... how are people ever bored? We are excited when we get to sit down and watch a movie and relax a little! Geesh.

So I will have to blog about our last week or so in Colorado because I have some great pictures to share, but until then I wanted to share a few of the pictures I've taken since we have been home.

Swimming with Toads!

By complete accident by children decided that swimming with toads was a very cool activity. Kiley has been collecting toads and putting them in a box... to just let them go again and as she was running by the wading pool she tripped and out they fell into the pool. Both girls were mesmerized by the toads swimming and got the biggest kick out them swimming around!

Dress Up

When the sun goes down we get a little craaaazy in these parts......

Colorado 2009- Having Fun but we Miss you Dad!

Mmmmmm... watermelon!

Swinging in the Park

Swimming Lessons

Playing in the "pool"

We made it into Denver with hardly a hitch... or sleep on my part. We had a great day in Anchorage with Uncle Max and Auntie Jeanette and the Johnson's. The girls and I caught the Red Eye from Anchorage to Denver just barely- with an untimely "accident" just getting us to our gate as the plane was boarding. I didn't sleep a wink but the girls did (thankfully) and we made it into Denver happy to see Papa Paul and GB. Nancy was nice enough to make us breakfast and let the girls run around a bit- I was a total zombie and not the best company, I'm glad we will get to see her and the rest of the family again on our way back.

So far we have enjoyed amazingly warm weather, which includes lots of sunshine and water for the girls. Both girls have eaten their weight in watermelon, strawberries and grapes, and any other fresh fruit they can get their hands on! Kiley has started her swimming lessons and is loving every last second (she is turning into a fish!)

We have gotten our fill of "Old MacDonalds" (as Kiley refers to it), Sonic, Subway.... all the fast food we don't get in Dillingham. We even got a trip in to Pueblo to see our newest cousin/ niece Bella and to see Uncle Ben and Aunt Jenny. Mom even got some shopping in (yeah for Mom!). My old college roommate Erin drove to see us with her little boy for a few hours and we got to catch up a bit, there is never enough time to catch up like you want to for sure!

This weekend we hope to head back to Mommy and Daddy's old stomping grounds to have some fun with the Alamosa Clouses. Yeah!