Drivers Start Your Engines...

Yep! Austin passed his driver's exam--he is now recognized by the State of Wisconsin as a licensed driver!~~~

Here is the little piece of plastic that makes it official...
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Austin thought he was quite fortunate to get "the guy" to give him his driver's exam--the lady, whom we "affectionately" call "Crabby Carol" was not giving the behind the wheel exams today. His exam lasted all of 10 minutes, and then he was back at the DMV to get his photo op! He didn't even need to demonstrate his prowess in parallel parking!!!
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Tonight, we had the Barron Boy's Basketball Banquet to recognize our high school boy's basketball players. Austin received his certificate for his season of JV basketball. He was also one of five recognized for playing all four quarters of all 19 games. If I do have to say so, I am quite certain that he played the most minutes of all of the JV players. Hey, I'm just sayin'...
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Here is Austin with his basketball certificate...
Congrats, Austin!

A History of Badger Women's Basketball

Abby completed her fourth grade Wisconsin project last night. She had to pick a topic that intrested her and that somehow impacts Wisconsin history.

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Abby chose this for her topic...The History of Women's Basketball at University of Wisconsin-Madison!

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Here is Abby's completed project...

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She included several pictures of ladies from the late 1800's and early 1900's from UW Madison playing basketball.
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Here is a picture she colored of Bucky Badger...

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This "team" was from 1902, although the team wasn't officially recognized by the university, and the women only played amongst themselves, and occasionally against local high schools.

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Abby wrote several cards of information to post along with her pictures...

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Another picture of an early women's basketball game at UW Madison--check out the skirts the ladies wore!

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Abby even made a replica of a basketball court out of popcicle sticks!

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Abz had a great idea to suspend basketballs by springs above the rims on her basketball hoops!

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One tired girl after working hard on her Wisconsin project!

Good Job, Abz!

Television Star...Or not!

Today I took some time out of my "busy" schedule to watch the WIAA Boy's State Basketball Tournaments on TV--specifically the Division 2 semi-final featuring the Northwestern Tigers from our very own Heart 'O North Conference.

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I also decided to take some pictures of our TV while I was watching the game...~~~

Okay... Jamie called me and Andrew texted me to let me know that Andrew and Neil had seats directly behind the announcer's table for the Northwestern game. I don't just randomly take pictures of our TV!

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A few seconds into the broadcast, Andrew was scanning the TV in front of him, searching for his face to show up on air...

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WOO-HOO! Andrew sees himself on the big screen! (or little monitor, as it may have been)
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Andrew quickly gets Neil in on the fun as they pose for the camera...

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Andrew's mom calls him to let him know she sees him on TV!

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Andrew graciously gifts the entire state of Wisconsin with his lovely mug--multiple times!

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Later, after the game, Neil decides it is safe to show his face again after Andrew has exited the area.

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Austin and David inherited the golden seats for the next Division 2 game, but, unfortunately, I didn't know until it was too late. I was off getting Abby from school and running some errands while that game was being played, so I missed Austin and David's television appearance.

I am so bummed.

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Also, Northwestern lost by only 3 points in a VERY close and exciting game--a HUGE bummer.

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring! It is a lovely spring day here in Barron....Yep--this is what I am seeing off of the front porch this morning! UGH! Will "spring" ever come to Wisconsin???

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Of course, I should have anticipated snow, as it IS WIAA Boy's State Basketball Tournaments, and it ALWAYS snows on State Basketball weekend. State Basketball Tournaments, by the way, is where Jamie, Austin, and Andrew have been since yesterday. They will be hanging out in Madison until tomorrow to watch three days of highschool basketball!

There are four "local" teams at tournaments this year. Eau Claire North, Fall Creek, Blair-Taylor, and Northwestern. Unfortunately, the first three teams I mentioned have already lost their first games. :-(

Northwestern is a team from our conference--the Heart 'O North Conference. We are cheering for them to win it all this year--they play today at 1:30. Good Luck, Northwestern!

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Abz and I are going to take advantage of our boy-free house (sorry, Jack, you don't count), and go see the high school musical production of Show Boat tonight.

That should be fun!

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On a totally random note--this crazy dog doesn't seem to know she is a dog. It seems she is too "good" to lay on the floor, as this is what I found when I turned around from the computer today. I don't know how she crammed her big butt into that little chair, but she made herself comfy and took a nap while I was surfing the 'net.
Dumb Dog!

The Results Are In...

Well, here it is! The long-anticipated results to "Who 'Nose' Who's Nose is Whose"! Thank you to those who played--all two of you! I am happy to announce the winner...

(drum roll, please...)

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Mrs. Heather Borowski Lewis!!!

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Yes, Heather guessed ALL SEVEN Klimek snouts correctly to win the prize. What prize, you ask? The prize of notoriety--her name being mentioned on the Klimek Chronicles!!!

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Congratulations, Heather!

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Nose #1--Austin (voted most symmetrical nostrils)~~~

Nose #2 --Andrew (voted hairiest nostrils)
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Nose #3 -- Sophie (voted wettest nostrils)
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Nose #4 -- Jamie (voted most in need of a shave)
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Nose #5 -- Shana (voted most in need of an eyebrow-plucking)
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Nose #6 -- Jack (voted most snootiest nose)

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Nose #7 -- Abby (voted smallest nose of the family)

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We hope you enjoyed our game. Join us again when we try to decipher whose armpit is whose...

Who "Nose" Who's Nose is Whose?

It was a slow night for news at the Klimek House. Time for Family Fun Night!!! We fell back on an old favorite--one we haven't played since we have added Sophie to our family.

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Welcome to "Who's Nose is Whose?"

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All you have to do to play along is guess which member of our family belongs to which nose!

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Let's begin!

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Nose #1~~~

Nose #2
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Nose #3

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Nose #4

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Nose #5

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Nose #6

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Nose #7

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Simply leave a comment by clicking on "Intelligent Insights" at the bottom of the blog, and leave us your guesses, numbered one through seven. The official results will be posted in a day or two so you can check your answers.

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Good luck sniffing out the correct answers!

Frosted Worms

Recently, the boys frosted their hair.

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We thought it was hilarious when we pulled off the "cap" and found these frosted worms that were left behind...
Andrew wished his could have stayed like that!
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Ahhh, my metro boys!

Sixteen Years--Where Did the Time Go?

Today, our family celebrates the day we became a family of three. Sixteen years ago, on March 14, 1993, we welcomed little Austin Craig into the world, bald head and all! It was such an exciting day for us as we became new parents to this new little baby. It was also very overwhelming to realize that this tiny little 7 lb 6 oz baby was depending on us to meet all of his needs from now on. What were we doing?

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Well, I guess we managed to do something right, because our "experiment kid" grew and flourished and became this handsome guy...Here is our Austin, pondering the last sixteen years.

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As Austin reaches this milestone in his life, he will no longer be driving cars like this one, which he received for his first birthday...~~~
Today, he received his "new" car, complete with Vikings-colored bows, a new air freshner, and a home-made birthday card under the windshield wiper, compliments of his little sister!

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Tonight, Austin, Andrew, and I had Austin's birthday supper at Red Lobster in Eau Claire. Red Lobster is just across the street from Sacred Heart Hospital, where we were sixteen years ago tonight and I snapped this picture...

Isn't he cute!!! I tried to talk the boys into going over to the hospital for a "trip down memory lane tour" of the maternity department, but for some reason, they declined my offer...

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Austin's first birthday

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First day of preschool

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Sixth Grade

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Sixteen Years Old

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Congratulations to Eddie on sixteen years! We are proud of you--proud of the athlete you are, the student you have become, the brother you are to Andrew and Abby, the son you are to us, and, most of all, the young man you are becoming!

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Austin!

We Love You!!!!