I Am Thankful For....

The opportunity I had to run the turkey trot with Jared and my mom. After running a full marathon, half and now a 10k I am definitely thankful for a break this month!

For a daughter who can play the piano so beautifully. I love to hear Christmas music flowing through the house.

Boys who will go outside for HOURS at a time despite the constant fighting that goes on. If you aren't winning or the "king" you are pouting.

A husband who comes home straight from a bike ride just so he can fry up a turkey in order to bring a piece of New Orleans to Thanksgiving. For the record it was the best one yet!

In laws who spend hours and hours of preparation so that our entire family can

gather together.

This feast, need I say more?

Cute nieces and family

Brother in laws who still act like children as they build a fire.

Silly boys

And a husband who works countless hours for our family. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Turkey Coma

My yellow paper to prove I beat the turkey!

Okay, so on the week of Thanksgiving I have come to the conclusion that I some how stumbled into a turkey coma which prolonged until New Years. But, better late than ever eh? Because I like to be thorough it's important to start from where you left off. And I am good at back dating. First and foremost I beat the turkey this year at the turkey trot! Sure, he was slower than years past (that's not really important) but I was able to improve my time by a whole 2 minutes.

Doug, Duane, and Dad C.

We spent the day after running that morning over at the Clouse's. Doug decided to attempt a fried turkey. Man, I am SO glad he did. It turned out fabulous. And the 2nd one was even better than the first.

I think we realized what we will be eating for Thanksgiving in years to come. Cajun style turkey..... Yum! Not to mention bringing us back to memories from Thanksgiving in New Orleans.

I volunteered to make all the homemade rolls for Thanksgiving dinner, which included 4 dozen and staying up super late the night before. My hard labor did payoff since there wasn't a roll to spare following dinner.

It looks like Luke had one too many pieces of turkey as well. He lost not one but TWO teeth that week.

Besides consuming a TON of food, bearing crowds on black Friday Doug and I managed to hang my antique door that has been collecting dust in the garage.

Here is the door before painting. I did like the white, but for inside our house it definitely needed some color. Like a big splash of red.

Ta da! Here is the finished product. Merry Merry!

Living Up To THE Standard

The first two years of blogging I was pretty dedicated. It was a given that I would post each and every day. I look back and have so many fond memories I would have otherwise forgotten. At the beginning of this year, I decided things of more importance would take precedence over blogging. My New Years goal was to simply cut back. Never did I imagine I would become more of a periodic blogger that I am today. I am not sure if I am disappointed in myself or really set too high of a standard in the beginning. I am even slacking on my annual tradition of mailing out my Christmas cards the day after Thanksgiving. At any rate after talking with a few friends expressing how they haven't received their "standard" first Christmas card via the Clouse family (for the record I mailed them today) Phew. I decided I should probably try and be better about documenting our daily happenings even if I failed for the first time on a 13 year old tradition.

Hurray the clouds were clearing!

Before going into our annual turkey trot results. I must disclose that I pretty much had to beg my husband to run with me, I was about to spoil my 3 year streak of running, but thanks to my pleading Doug decided to run. Thanks honey!! (I must also add he wasn't even in running shape) Thursday morning running looked pretty grim. We had watched the weather knowing there was a chance for rain, but we live in Arizona. Lets be honest, rain NEVER happens when it is predicted. Wrong. We woke up to pouring rain. Not drizzle, not sprinkles, SHEETS OF WATER. Doug was pretty adamant that running in that stuff, just wasn't an option. I on the other hand, was thinking we made a commitment and rain or shine I was running. Lucky for us, it cleared by 9am and it ended up being one of the most beautiful days.

I had some what of a goal in my head what I wanted my time to be. I didn't end up getting the best time, but beat my last year run by about 1 minute 30 seconds.

We headed home to prepare ourselves for a day of feasting. And that we did. Doug's parents over did themselves yet again with not one, but three tables full of food. They also had to make new seating arrangements (we normally sit outside) They moved everything into the garage and it turned out so well.

My very own feast.
You bet I ate EVERY last bit of this food. Yummy!

Taylor, Jordan, Jared and Aaron

They also had intentions on renting a huge bouncy thing for the kids, but again due to weather they ended up playing guitar hero all afternoon. Truthfully, I don't think they minded at all.

Friday was of course "black Friday" Doug and I made the executive decision we would be one of those die hards and get up at 5am in order to get THIS deal. (it was more than half the regular price) Since we were really only on a mission to retrieve two items, we thought for sure it wouldn't be an issue. Wrong again. I even have a photo of the man that ruined our morning (the man in the blue in and out jacket) ended up buying not 1, 2 or 3 of the item we wanted, but TWELVE. We both left bugged and annoyed. Shouldn't they have a limit on such things?? Needless to say it's not the end of the world, but we both could have gotten a few extra hours of sleep! And did I mention I saw the above item on the shelf today at regular price of course.

The Costco Gals
Tiffany and Jenny

Later that day I went to work at Costco. Without going into a huge long story a friend of mine somehow got roped into working at this LDS roadshow and needed people to help fill in shifts. Tiffany and I gladly accepted since we basically worked in order to get a free piece of art work. Not to shabby for a few hours chit chatting with friends. And hey now I have something to hang above my piano.

Lights now a glowin'

As for the past 5 days in between it's pretty much a blur. Except, I did manage to decorate the house. I did the inside and Doug did the outside. Other than that, I can't even remember what I did on what day. But, one thing I know for certain, tonight I made some more Ranch. Because low and behold I started making homemade a few years ago and my kids won't eat any other kind. This stuff is liquid gold around here. Dang standards any how!

1 week worth of dipping!

Thanksgiving Recap

(left to right)
Keighley, Jamie, Haleigh, Jenny, Kiersten-- (cameron diaz look alike)
(front) Makayla

It seems like Thanksgiving was forever ago, but was just last Thursday. It was such a crazy day, I feel like I robbed one of my favorite holidays of the year with all of the chaos of events. We have gone home for the past three years to AZ and it has been such a treat. I love to sit and talk with my nieces who I see on such rare occasion. Since Doug is the baby of six many of our nieces and nephews are near our age (okay pretty close :) They are now all married except for a few of them. When Doug and I got married Makayla was only 18 months old. Now, if that doesn't make me feel old I don't know what does!

Hollister girls

I also love when we are around family, my kids are completely content and play with their cousins. Which means I NEVER see them. It's fun to see how Taylor and Jordan have grown up over the years together they are only 3 weeks apart.

me & Janet

I also got to spend more time with my sister than originally expected. Between her crazy work schedule and going back to school for her masters, her time is precious. It was fun to be able to hook up with her and Aaron on a few occasions for lunch and dinner. She is one of my favorite people to be around and my best friends.

Our favorite jewelry store

Doug and I have been on the hunt for a wedding ring for a few months. It has been about 9 months since he lost his ring and really wanted to replace it. Unfortunately, taste has gotten expensive and he didn't really want to settle for a cheaper ring. (very typical ala Doug) The one I bought nearly 12 years ago was engraved and actually pretty heavy. When we were home visiting we went out to again look at what Coffin and Trout had to offer. Of course he immediately found the ring he liked once we walked into the store. Again, so typical of my husband. He tried it on and decided it would make a good replacement of the first. (never the same as the original of course). I actually really like it and found myself drooling over anniversary bands behind the counter. Baby steps, baby steps. Since Doug didn't get much of a birthday this year we decided to take it and put it on layaway. So in a few months he will once again be married--ha.

Doug & Dad

Today also happens to be my FIL's birthday. He has supported and helped us out in so many ways we could never re-pay him. Dad C. has a great sense of humor and loves to tease us all to the core. I feel lucky to have him as a second dad and lucky that he raised such an amazing son.

Hope you have a great day Grandpa Dale!
We love you!!!

(even if you look like grandma Mary & Loraine with a hat on :)

good deed: mailed a just because package