Alta Rose

Alta Rose, she is just so beautiful. Alta is our niece and we just love her so much. She has gotten so big since we last saw her. She has her own personality now and is just so full of life.


There is nothing more beautiful then holding a sleeping baby in your arms. Well there is one thing that makes it a little bit better...your the one that got her asleep!


I promise it was not the beer that got her to sleep! Katie made me do it!!!

New Look for a New Year!

So I decided to get my hair chopped off! I was tired of pulling it back in a ponytail and not doing anything with it. The grays were out of control so I needed some color. I decided today was the day! I stopped on my way home from work and sat in the chair and told the lady to go for it. It was just what I pictured and am very happy with it. Let's just hope I still like it at 6am when Im trying to get ready for work!

Christmas

Santa came to the Clouse House!!! This year our Christmas was filled with family and friends. We were able to spend Christmas with our mom's and even Pat's sister Erin, Rich & Alta were here. We were so happy to see everyone and be apart of Alta's first Christmas!!!

In Memory of James Patrick White

June 28, 1920 - December 21, 2008 Loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, soldier and friend to everyone he met along his journey. Survived by his wife of 66 years Marjorie Jean; daughters Suzanne Chesney and husband Richard from Ankeny, IA; Judith White from Park City, UT; Kathleen Adams and husband Robert from Waterford, MI and Laura Edwards and husband Jeffrey from Brighton, MI. Also survived by his sister Eileen Hanna and husband Howard from Grayling, MI; 12 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his parents James Patrick White and Lillian M. White (maiden name Galliers), sisters Lillian Harrington and husband Jack from Rockford, MI, Renee Simpson, from Parker, AZ; brother-in-law Charles Davidson, grandson Chase Edwards from Brighton, MI and great-grandson Jaden Ciccarelli from Plymouth, MI. "Pat" will be missed not only by his family, but by the many people whose lives were touched by his happy demeanor. He had a sense of humor that was quick witted and dry. He was an artist and enjoyed oil painting and sculpture. Pat wrote a Sci Fi thriller called 'Thaw' in more recent years and had it published and sold in shops country-wide. He loved golf and boating on Fonda Lake in Brighton. Always the life of the party. Basically...he loved life! He was President of Henry McCurry Insurance Company in Southfield for many years and was a salesman extraordinaire. As a medic in WWII he saved not only American soldiers' lives but German soldiers. He received the Bronze Star, the Good Conduct medal and one for faithful service along with combat stars. He turned down the Silver Star stating "...I'm only doing my job..." Pat's death was caused by complications from Parkinson's disease. Viewing will be held at Keehn Funeral Home, Brighton, 706 W. Main St. on Friday, December 26 from 2-8 p.m., 810-229-9871. The Funeral will be at First Presbyterian of Brighton, 300 E. Grand River Ave., 810-227-7411, December 27 at 11:00 a.m.; Rev. Michalek will perform the Service. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that you feel free to donate to the Red Cross of Livingston County. Address: American Red Cross of Livingston County 1372 E. Grand River Avenue Howell, MI 48843 Attn: Armed Forced Emergency Services In remembrance of James "Pat" White

Snow, Snow, & More Snow!

We know it's going to happen every year, but boy were we surprised with the amount of snow we got this weekend. A little over 6 inches in one day and this morning we woke up to 2 more inches of the white stuff.

Poor Turbo wants to go back to Mexico but we had to break it to her that she's stuck here with us in Michigan. To make life a little easier for her we put on her special sweaters and winter boots. She is the best dressed dog in Ypsilanti!



We shovel a special little path for her in the backyard so she can walk around. We have to go back out there and shovel some more since Emma likes to push the snow over the path. It puts a smile on your face when you see the two play in the snow and Turbo in her outfit! The things we do for our pets. Only a pet owner would understand the love when its 5am and your sitting on the kitchen floor half a sleep dressing a chihuahua!

Just Because

So many things have happened to our family this week. Illness, job security, incomes are sparse, health is a question. What do you do especially with the holiday season right around the corner.

Pat and I were sitting together tonight in the living room watching the snow fall and talking about all the hurdles we have had this week. One song that struck a tune with us, especially Pat. The song - Lost by Coldplay.

Pat has a hidden talent to us all. He can listen to a song and then play it on the piano. As I type I am able to listen to the same song (Lost by Coldplay) that moved me to write this...this time it's my husband playing it.

We have been through some hard times this week. I know we all handle things differently but when we break it down, we are all human and need something or someone to lean on. Thank god I have my husband and he has me. Together we will get through this no matter what we face.

Our Life Broken Down Into Simple Words

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Tis the Season...

Tis the season for snow! Tonight we finally got a good snow fall! We should wake up to at least 3-4 inches. According to the weather channel they said up to 6 inches in some places. I'm hoping when I wake up in the morning it will be gone!
In the picture above Emma is playing with her Frisbee. She loves the snow! Poor Turbo ran inside...she didn't have her boots and sweater on.


Tis the season for work holiday parties! This year the department I work in...Pediatric Nephrology, hosted our work holiday party at Putt n Glow. It was an indoor miniature golf where everything glows under black lights. We had a really good time. Everyone came and played games. Pat even won a free pizza on the last hole! Hole in One Baby!!!! After playing miniature golf we decided to play a little air hockey. It got a little competitive and my pinky finger is now a nice shade of purple.



Tis the season for Holiday dinners with friends. This past year Pat had season tickets to Comerica park to watch the Detroit Tigers. While being a season ticket holder he became friends with many others. Last weekend all the season ticket holders got together for dinner at Leonardo's for dinner in Romulas. We went to this particular restaurant because John is a chef there. We had a wonderful dinner and even did a white elephant gift exchange. It was pretty simple and the only one's to cause a little friction of course with stealing gifts were Pat and myself. I have to say in the end we walked away with an awesome set of plates and teapot designed by Carrie (John's sister).




Tis the season for birthday party's. Pat and I went to his old roommates house to help celebrate his buddy's birthday. They had 2 bands that played. It was interesting. They had lots of music, a heater in the garage, and a keg. I woke up the next morning with the shakes & a headache. Guess I could take it we had a fun night.





Tis the season for a little friendly competition with the co-workers. My department at work had a door decorating contest. So my boss and I decided to team up because we are both the winning type and decided to decorate a door together. Here it is! We took everyone's face and stuck it on a holiday figure. We came in 2nd! Bummer! Oh well what can you do. I guess I shouldn't have tried to bribe the judges...the kids that are patients on the floor :)

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today Pat and I said I Do. I cant believe our first year is already here. It feels like just yesterday Pat and I met, then before I knew it we were engaged, then the wedding. Here we are a year later. Our wedding was great. We took the easy road and decided to get married in Las Vegas. It was wonderful. All of our family and friends flew out to be apart of our special day.

To celebrate our anniversary, Pat and I are going to go down to the MGM casino in Detroit to hang out for a little bit then have dinner at the steak house. MGM is where we stayed in Vegas and so we thought since we couldn't fly back out to Vegas to celebrate our anniversary we could drive 20 minutes to Detroit.


December 1, 2007




1 year later, 2008