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.

Wolverine Classic 2008

Although Matthew was sick with the flu the Thursday before the Wolverine Classic, he still had an awesome weekend. His record at the end was 4-0. Before the flu he was overweight, after an easy 125. Before we know it wrestling regions will be here!

Trick or Treat!

We were lucky to have Camryn come for a visit this weekend. Kiley got to go Trick-or-Treating with her favorite cousin in the world two Halloween's in a row! Kiley opted to be a witch for Trick -or- Treating, and Camryn was a fairy. Kalin was still her beautiful bee self, and was a little sad she had to stay home with mom instead of going out with the big girls. I got to take the girls out around our neighborhood and Jon and Paul took the girls out and about to load up on candy. I stayed home with Kalin and handed out candy. We went to the Wolverine Classic later to watch Matthew wrestle, I'll post pictures later of his matches. Such a busy, busy weekend.

I'm bringing home my baby bumblebee....

Won't my mommy be so proud of me? Bzzzz said the Bee!

Miss Kalin is trying harder and harder to crawl. She gets into this position and rocks and rocks. One of these days (very soon!) she is going to figure out where those hands go. Then watch out!

Shopping in rural Alaska

We buy like this (a big cupboard about 2 feet deep):
Because prices in Dillingham are like this:

Yes, for a single jar!

$2.75 for two......

I was talking to my sister-in-law Jenny, in Colorado, about the crazy prices of baby food. We buy our baby food in bulk out of Seattle because Kalin's appetite would break the bank at these prices in Dillingham!

Happy Halloween from Kiley the Cat and Kalin the Bee!

Hellloooo Bella!

Kalin wanted to give a shout out to her cousin Bella Ryley in Colorado! She saw an adorable picture of her cousin the other day and thought, hmmmm I can use my sister's bow and look just as cute! So Bella we were thinking about you when we took these pictures. Oh and hello to your Mom and Dad too!

Some happenings at the Clouse House....

The flu bug (stomach) has hit our house twice this month I haven't been up for much blogging. It hit the day before we were going to spend some time in Anchorage (Miss Kiley) and then again on Matthew's birthday (me). We had to cancel our trip into Anchorage to see Lori, Jeff, Auntie Net, Camryn, Best Friend, Rikki.... and the opening of Target! Boo HOO!! I hope that the flu does not hit your house..... I'm sending you an anti flu bug vibe.

So Happy 18th Birthday Matthew! Hello my beautiful girls!
Just a few picture I have been meaning to post...

Kiley is such the pro when it comes to flash and smiling for the camera at 7:00 am.
Kalin, not so much~

Happy 18th Birthday Matthew!
His favorite cake is a pineapple upside down cake, birthday dish you ask? Lasagna!

Such a big girl going on a walk!
Teething you ask? Why yes she is, popping out four right now!
Opening her presents from Auntie Net- Thank you!
Yes, her auntie spoiled her rotten!

Riding the Bus!

The bus at Kiley's school finally got fixed, and Kiley is pretty pumped up about it! She got to ride her first bus home and you have never seen a more proud little girl. If it was up to me Kiley wouldn't be riding the bus at all, since a five minute ride to school ends up taking over an hour (due to all the drop off spots her bus has to take, being there is only one), but she looks at the bus as being one of the perks to being "big" so she won and gets to ride it home. So here are some pictures of my big girl riding the bus home from school for the first time.

Snow...... Kind of

Well not really but she had a lot of fun with the dead fireweed around our house! During this time of year we have "white" fireweed everywhere. Kiley and Jon had a blast picking them and swirling them around. There was so much white seed everywhere it looked like it was snowing!

Round 2 of Birthday Week

Enchanted Castle- approximately 4 hours to make!

Kid friendly unicorn pinata
Such joy! Robyn said she is the most expressive present opener..... :)
Kalin and I had fun too!

We had Kiley's kid party on Saturday. It was a much anticipated event. All her best best friends were there- well except for Olivia, Rikki and Ryn :(. But the day turned out to be gorgeous- blue skies and sunshine. We had fun playing "Pin the Horn on the Unicorn", since it was a unicorn themed party, and we had a kid friendly pinata (meaning we didn't have to whack it to get the candy out, we pulled ribbons).
I think I put in about 4 or 5 hours making the "Enchanted Castle" cake. Phew, what have I gotten myself into? These cakes sure are a lot of work- and Jon reminded me so kindly that I will be doing this for each child we have... hopefully I will be a pro by the time the last one is here! :)

Once we had cake and ice cream,and opened presents the kids were ready to head outside and play! The swings (tire and saucer, thanks again GB you have awesome ideas!) were a big hit as well as the swing set. They also enjoyed playing in the "Doll House", Kiley's clubhouse of sorts. Great memories, Kiley is lucky to have such good friends!

The Best Day EVER!!! Happy Birthday Kiley!

Kiley brought in her 4th birthday with a bang! It was the best day ever! She started the day by Skyping with Papa and Gram, they both sang Happy Birthday to her over the " 'puter ", and watched her open her present. THEN she got to open some presents and Daddy watched her from work..... it was awesome. One of her presents were "fizzies" that she loves, so her and Ryn had to take a bath- a TWO HOUR bath!

We got to take the birthday girl to the only restuarant in town that was open for her birthday, and she and Camryn got to have milkshakes and chicken strips. The phone seemed to ring on and off all day- Lori, Auntie Jeanette, GB and Papa Paul, it was awesome. Morgan got to come and play for a while, best friends need fun time! We ended the day with her favorite dinner of the week, tacos, and then had cake and ice cream with Amma Bossy, Uncle Max and Dean and Karen.

Kiley got her biggest, biggest surprise out in the garage- a new bike! Her daddy led her out to the garage blindfolded and you should have seen the look on her face, it was priceless!

Picking "ponanoes"

Kiley and I decided it was time to hit the garden and pick our "ponanoes" aka potatoes. I don't really have a garden of potatoes, but instead decided to use the tire rims that surround our driveway as mini potato gardens. It has been a long cold summer but amazingly our potatoes did grow! Most are pretty small, but all turned out delicious! Next year I am going to try to plant more and in a sunnier spot. Hopefully I will get more for my buck.

Darling Diva

I was on the phone with Aunt Jenny when Kiley shouted, "MOM, come look!" I ran to see, thinking the worst.... and this is what I found. Awwww!! Isn't she adorable? Kiley can dress her up anytime now!

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?

It's a boy!!

Kiley and Matthew- wrapping Kiley up to send to the grandparents.

Jumping on the trampoline

Will somebody please just hold me?

We are proud to announce the newest member of our family - it's a boy! A 5ft 5 inch 135 lb boy with dark hair and brown eyes. His name is Matthew, or "Wee Man" as he is called by his friends. He is a senior this year and a wrestling fanatic. He fits right in.

As you can see in the pictures Kiley is already smitten. Matthew is quite the social child and has friends over all the time, since Kiley loves the "older" kids as she calls them, she is their new best friend whether they like it or not! Somehow she manages to sneak into his room when they are watching movies, and the look on her face! Just pure joy, let me tell you. Kalin seems to have them all wrapped around her little fingers, she lets Matthew hold her so that is a bonus. Our little 5 month old is now able to sit up by herself, she is still a little wobbly but is getting stronger every day.

The phone rings more and we sure have a lot more traffic around our house, but it is really nice. It is different having a teenager in the house, but so far we like it!