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!

Classes of 2009 and 2023.....

We started with a Head Start Graduation~ for Kiley of course. She doesn't get to go to Kindergarten next year because she misses the deadline by about a month, so it was a ceremony for her. It was quite the experience- we'll be prepared next year! Kiley got some nice presents and pictures from BBNA and her teachers, but I don't think it quite made up for the fact that she doesn't get to go to the "big school" next year. The returning kids wore the tie die shirts and the "off to Kindergarten" graduates got to wear the cute cap and gowns.


So last night was MATTHEW'S Graduation from HIGH SCHOOL!!!!!!!! Whoo hooo, what an event that was! It started off like any other Dillingham graduation I have ever been to, and then the fire alarm went off. I thought to myself, "Who is the jerk tat pulled the fire alarm? Geesh?" Then as we all ran outside I saw the smoke! Yes, smoke as in there really WAS a fire. Someone had put a box on the stove in the student store and started a fire in the process, I know who but I won't mention any names to save her from further emabarassement (no it wasn't me). Anyway Matthew had a great ceremony- he even had his own little bit in which he got to do a welcome speech. It was very nice.

Ready for Summer!

I am not above bribery! This is kind of how it went "down":

Mom: Kiley I think you should get your hair cut.
Kiley: NOOOOOOOO! I like my hair long!
Mom: It would look so cute if you cut it, and then it will grow fast.
Kiley: NOOOOOO! I like it long!
Mom: But you never want me to fix it and you cry when I brush it.
Kiley: But I like it long! (sniff, sniff and a few tears)
Mom: Kiley if I buy you a DS will you cut your hair?
Kiley: YES! (absolutely no hesitation!)

Ok, so Kiley had no idea we already had a DS for her, from Matthew, and were saving it for our trip to Colorado. What? It worked didn't it! And look at the results. Isn't she adorable with her new haircut?

Prom 2009

"I'm not going to Prom..." that statement became a challenge. Jon told Matthew he should wear a tux like on "Dumb and Dumber"..... and then Matthew said he would go to Prom if Jon found him one. Ten seconds later (thank you Google!) a tux was found and Matthew was going to Prom!!

Matthew and Blake dressed up as Loyd and Harry from the 1994 classic "Dumb and Dumber" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109686/. They were the hit of Prom, they said everyone wanted a picture (of course... only the coolest kids dress up like Loyd and Harry! LOL.)

Kiley decided that they must be the "coolest kids in ALL of Dillingham!"

No Kalin... you don't eat rocks!

What do you mean Mom? There is all this new hard dirty stuff everywhere and I can't put it in my mouth? You must be joking! I'm waiting for her to poop out a rock.... she has already pooped an entire can of mandarin oranges as well as the pit and stem of a cherry ($12 for a small bag, FYI).
Yes I think spring has finally hit Dillingham. We have had unbeatable, gorgeous weather for about 2 weeks now. I am not kidding. Jon is calling this our "summer", I so, so hope he is wrong.

Waiting for Spring... Summer or just NO SNOW!

Good bye Narnia....

She was bound and determined to get it to the road......

This is hard mom!

I had to help and of course the dang thing had a flat!But the girls had fun in the wagon anyway- more exercise for me. :)

If you don't read then you won't get the Narnia reference, but finally our world is melting! Yes!

So after a month of major sickness in our house I am proud to say that we are all healthy. Kalin turned one and decided to be sick, sick and sick some more. It first started with her puking up hot dogs.... that Jon tried to feed her again the next day (no not the regurgitated ones, gross! Those were fed to the dogs....) So Kalin doesn't like hot dogs anymore- FYI.

Next my poor baby had an ear infection in her right ear (first one ever) fluid in her left ear that developed into a double ear infection over a few days.... with a 102 fever too. On top of this she had to have three X-rays to see how bad the fluid in her lungs was getting- so after our FOURTH visit enough was enough and she had been sick for as many days as we could take it. Finally Kalin was put on a series of three shots and that did the trick; her nose cleared up, she was finally eating again, sleeping, and allowing us to put her down for more than two minutes at a time.

Phew. Feel sorry for me, it has been a rough month. We are finally getting some warmer weather- and I hear that the sun might show up today or tomorrow. Even though we are getting a ton of light- from about 7 am until 11 ish, it has been doing a lot of raining and snowing so we aren't out to enjoy it. But I broke out the wagon and Kiley's bike and we took a short walk in between snow and rain showers.

Spring Alaska Style......

I think Mother Nature has forgotten that "April Showers Bring May Flowers..." because yesterday when I woke up it was TWO degrees at my house. Today it was snowing, as in a BLIZZARD snowing. Not just light flakes here and there- snow like I had to brush off a foot of snow from my car kind of snow. We have the reverse of Global Warming- we have Global Freezing, or something like that. Seriously- even in Alaska we deserve some rain and mud, don't we? Well enough griping, I'm going to Colorado in May and I will hopefully soak up enough sunshine to last another cold winter!
So the Clouses took advantage of a beautiful spring day (even with all the snow) and we semi bundled up and went for a gorgeous walk. We have so much snow it is crazy! We have snow almost half way up our windows- I am starting to feel like a little clausterphobic..... Kiley had fun climbing up "mountains" and jumping off of them (and just getting outside!). She even got her Dad to pull her in the wagon instead of a sled, with Kalin on his back. What a man!

BFF's in our House!

Kiley and Jon traveled to Washington and visited Papa and Gram for a few days. Kiley lived it up going to "Old McDonalds", riding her bike and scooter, and swimming with her dad. She really enjoyed spending time with her grandparents and taking a special trip with her Dad. BUT.......

She was excited to come home - especially when she found out that Rikki and Oliva were going to be at our house! Karen and the girls flew to Dillingham for about a week and stayed with us- we had so much fun while they were here. Through pukey flus, Fifths Disease, runny noses, coughs, and fevers we still managed to enjoy a great week. We miss them now more than ever though.... :(

Happy First Birthday Kalin!

It was just about the BEST DAY EVER for Miss Kalin Dawn! Wow- waffles for breakfast followed by Sgetti for lunch with a cupcake for desert (head to toe mind you, immediately into the tub afterward) then a wonderful family dinner with cousins and uncles and aunties. Gotta love it! It was a fun day for Kiley too- she got to go to two parties! By the time it was Kalin's turn Kiley was sugared up and pooped out. She was a trooper though and didn't crash until about 8:00 pm and then there was an explosion of mass proportions. We survived though and can't believe our baby is one!

What is she doing these days? Let's see......

• Walking, turning and trying to climb on things.
• Screaming and grunting when Kiley is teasing her or trying to take things away from her (or sometimes even if she thinks Kiley is about to do these things)
• Dancing whenever she hears even a chord of music.
• Eating everything and anything that is put in front of her (she is an excellent eater!)
• Waving bye bye to say good bye and also to end something
• Saying "hot" "Da-Da" "Ma-Ma" and trying to get "dog" out but not quite getting it
• Showing me "cheese" for the camera
• Eating lippa.....
  

Another day at the hill....

We took advantage of some sunshine and temperatures about 0 and took off to Nerka Hill. I even bundled Sis up and got her outside to enjoy some sunshine and "warmer" weather. She didn't get to take any trips down though, but she was content to just watch.
How we love that hill (as did quite a few other people). Camryn was staying with us while Max was on a trip and Jon and I realized how much more fun sledding is when Kiley has a companion. There are only so many times I can "take jumps" and lug my old behind up and down that hill!

Spring Break/ Beaver Round Up

It was another great spring (if you over look the rain and snow of course) for Beaver Round Up, and we were so thankful that we had spring break right after. We needed the week to rest and get better! Our week was full of volunteering; breakfasts, carnivals, concessions and dog shows oh my! Spring break was all about getting wood, 4 truck loads (Matthew and Jon), sleeping, sledding, snow machining, organizing and playing Wii.......... it was sooooo hard to get back to work!

Kalin's Got Moves People!

Kiley is quite the DJ these days and loves to pick her "favorite" songs to dance to. Lately the numero uno song on our four year old's list is "All the Single Ladies" by Beyonce. So we listen to this song on average of about 6 times a day! Yikes. But anyway Kalin also loves music and especially this song, and I captured some of her moves in this video. She is quite the little dancer as you will see.

Sorry for the funky format, I thought I could switch the video around but couldn't. :(

I'll have to get a few of Kiley- she can actually "do" some of Beyonce's moves from her music video.

Kalin's "Sgetti" Face

So it looks like we have another Clouse girl that loves her "sgetti". I took this video for you GB~ I know how you love to see your grandkids with the spaghetti mess all over their faces.

Kalin enjoyed every bite, slurp and gobble. I stripped her down to her diaper for this meal, and as soon as she was done into the tub she went! She had sgetti (as Kiley likes to call it) from her head to her toes. I think she must have eaten more than Jon, Kiley and I put together.

What do you mean I'm done?

AAAAH, that hit the spot!