Happy 4th!!!

Every year for the 4th of July, one of our neighbors has a flag ceremony, bike parade for the kids, & yummy breakfast. So we dragged our sleepy little bodies out of bed at 6:45 a.m. They are in our ward, and since Kyle is in the E.Q. Presidency, he was asked to help out with it. We had a good turnout and the kids had a blast on the huge waterslide and just running around with all of the kids. But poor Kyle had a hard time staying very long & ended up leaving early because he was up at 3 a.m. helping his friends post political campaign signs in Mesa (for 3 hours, yuck!). So he had a good nap after the festivities:) We also went to the High School for fireworks, but they were horrible, so we ended up going back home & having a firework extravaganza of our own:) We had Jack on watch in case any cops came (we are such law breakers).
Hmmm, what else did we do...well, my dishwasher is broke (it's only 1 1/2 yrs. old), and we can't figure out how to fix it. Hopefully we can get someone out here Monday, because I really do not enjoy doing every single dish for 5 people by hand (but on a positive note, it has made me extremely grateful for all of the modern appliances I enjoy on a daily basis!!). And my mom helped me put up a stencil I have been wanting to do on the wall above our family pictures. It says "Home, the place your story begins". Every time I look at it, I smile...the simple things in life are the best:) I am also super sore today because last Saturday Melissa invited us to her gym. We did the kickboxing class, an entire hour long, which in my opinion is complete torture. I thought I would be able to handle it just fine, b/c I excercise five days a week. But boy was I wrong!!! It totally kicked my bootie...I guess I'm not in very good shape after all. So, I decided to do something about it. I drove my out-of-shape body over to Goodwill and bought five different workout videos (since I hate the gym). I did the first one yesterday, "The Firm". I was so proud of myself for lasting the full hour, but after I woke up this morning, I was second guessing my enthusiasm. At least I know it was a good workout! My goal is to do a different video every day until I am toned & sculpted (I can do it!?!?). I think next month I need to challenge Melissa to a workout showdown:) Let the games begin!!

Our First Baby...Flash:)

I started thinking that I haven't posted a picture of my other baby! Poor Flash...he was our first attempt at a "kid". We had only been married for five months, we were driving back to Chandler from Utah, and decided to stop by "Best Friends Animal Sanctuary" in Kanab. We were only looking (ha ha), but spotted Flash & I just loved him. He was so sweet & cute - they warned us that this type of dog was very hyper - but I ignored them & decided they were wrong. The first month he was the best dog ever, BUT then out came the real Flash (by the way, there is a reason they named him Flash...he is very, very fast!). He barks at anything that moves, & has a ton of energy, but we love him to death!!!! Especially my kids - I don't know what we would do without our Flasharoo. (This is a horrible picture of Shaylee with Flash, but it was the only one I could find.) And the other picture Caleb begged me to put in...we have been dog-sitting for over a week. His name is Jack, & he is an awesome dog (he even knows how to do tricks). We dog-sit him every-once-in-a-while for Kyle's Uncle Mike. We're always sad when he goes (well, a little happy because of the dog hair & slobber).

More Kids In The Clouse House?

These pictures are from Shaylee's birthday a month ago. Since Caleb is now 5 & Shaylee is officially a "big girl" at 3, we have decided to move forward with the Foster Care Program. We met with Kimberly yesterday, and she did an interview with us to see if we are candidates. I told the kids to be on their best behavior, and no "booty dancing", which my kids do all the time. It's so embarassing, they look like they belong in a strip joint or something! Well, of course right when she got here, there they go!! They like to show off, which I understand, but the dancing has to stop:) So I'm sure that made a great first impression. But hopefully we will be starting the classes in August to get certified. I'm really excited to be doing this, it is something I have wanted to do for a long time. Everyone wish us luck with the entire process, I'm sure we'll need it!!!!!

The kids love sugar...I have no idea where they get that from?! A couple months ago I was wondering why their little bellies were getting so pudgy - I'm quite strict with junk & I feed them really healthy stuff. THEN, I found out they had been climbing up my pantry shelves & hiding chocolate in their rooms. Caleb's stash was under his dresser, & Shaylee's was everywhere throughout her room. Sneaky little things:) I must admit they did a super good job at hiding the evidence!

Bear Hunting Trip in Northern AZ

Kyle is very proud of his bear. Before we were married, we had a deep discussion about how I do not want any dead animals in our house. BUT, somehow, this bear, which Kyle made into a full body mount, wound up in our den...it looks at me down the hall! How did I lose this battle??? We both agreed to put it at his office in Mesa - am I a pushover or what:) Not that I'm not happy that Kyle got his bear, & it is a beautiful animal, but in my house?! Man, I am a GREAT wife:)

The picture to the right is Kyle with his guide Vernel.

Father's Day 2008

For Father's Day we had to wake up early for church, so Kyle had to wait to open up his presents. Shaylee made this tie card in nursery... we were laughing so hard, this is her silly smile. And the tool card, Caleb helped make. They of course had many, many other crafts to give him, & I gave him two books and a DVD. Tonight we are going over to Melissa's house for a fish fry. Shane & their boys went fishing last weekend & caught 50 fish, mmmmm yummy:)

I am so grateful that Kyle is such a wonderful daddy - what would we do without him?!?!

P.S. Happy Father's Day to our Dads & Grandpas!!!!!

Playing in the Irrigation

Caleb & Shaylee love it when we irrigate our backyard, it's like a huge swimming pool. I tell them how gross the water is, but of course they could care less. I guess I did the same thing growing up in Delta (ditches & the rez - yuck!).

Swimming Lessons Begin!

This picture cracks me up... they are so entertaining:) They just started swim lessons last week. The past two years I have been taking them to the pool at the middle school, where there were six kids to one instructor. They didn't pick it up at all & were both terrified of the water. But this year, our neighbor two houses down decided to do private swimming lessons again after a two year break (yeah!!!!). After just two lessons, they are doing great! I'm sure that by the end of this month they will be little fish, which makes my anxiety much lower. Just about every single house in our neighborhood has a pool, and as a mother, it scares me to death. So, I am very relieved that they will finally learn how to swim, along with survival skills in the pool.