What's Five Hours Between Family?

Two of our favorite guys in the whole world will soon be moving away...

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We are sure gonna' miss these little guys!

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Good luck on your move to Lake Geneva, Dorwin Family!

Leap Frog Logs

Because I took about 176 photos last Saturday at Carter's birthday party at Wakanda Water Park, I still have a few unpublished pics.

The following pics were taken at the "Leap Frog Logs"--a series of floating foam logs that are anchored to the bottom of the pool by a chain. The object is to try to navigate over these ridiculously mobile logs from one edge of the pool to the other--WITHOUT falling into the water!

Bradley got in on the competition--with a little help from mom! Check out the last picture in this collage--Bradley raises his arms in victory after he successfully makes it across the logs! Mom obliges him by raising her arms to help him celebrate...

(did you know you can view a full-sized image of any of my blog pics by just clicking twice on any image...)

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Carter making one attempt of many throughout the day of crossing the logs. He was at a slight disadvantage when compared to those a bit taller than him--he wasn't able to reach the hand ropes that were just above arm's reach for him.

He ALMOST made it across...

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Abz took her turn on the "Leap Frog Logs" and made it look pretty easy!

(She gets her athletic prowess from her mom...)
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Of course, Auntie Nicky had to show us all that she still has the touch!
(She successfully navigated the logs last year, too!)

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Grandpa Ken made it from one side of the other--but I didn't say it was a graceful performance!

More proof of more fun!

Happy 8th Birthday, Carter Mike!

Happy Birthday to our nephew/cousin, Carter Mike!!!

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We went to Menomonie on Sunday to help Carter celebrate his 8th birthday with family and some friends. It was a great day for a waterpark birthday!

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Carter's mom and dad brought cupcakes and snacks for everyone to enjoy for the afternoon...

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Everyone had a good time visiting.

Jamie had a good time terrorizing the little kids...
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It was a good day to spend with family.
Abby and Grandpa Ken had fun swimming together!
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Abby always has fun spending time with Grandma Deb...

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Bradley kept his mom and dad busy as he ran back and forth from the pool to the sand area.

I think he was trying to step on his shadow here!

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Bradley had lots of fun climbing the "tower" in the sand play area...

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Carter brought his two friends, Olivia and Maddie, to celebrate his big day...

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Bradley loved the curly slide!

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After present-opening, the obligitory picture of all of the party-going kids.

l to r: Olivia, Maddie, Abby, Andrew, Bradley, Austin, Dylan, Evan, Paige, Cruz, Autumn, Carter

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Blowin' out EIGHT candles!

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The chocolate cupcakes were a HUGE hit!

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Time for some swimming!

The Klimie Kids head off for the pool...

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Carter takes the plunge off the big slide!

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Abz does a 360 off of the diving board...

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Andrew performs a flip off of the board...

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Austin executes a perfect dive...

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Paige took the plunge off the board, too!

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Of course, the day wouldn't have been complete without some good, old-fashioned competion between Kenny and LaNita. Last time they met, it was the lawn games at Uncle Jack's birthday party. Today, it was flips off of the diving board!

See for yourself!

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"Leapin' LaNita" showin' those young 'uns how it's done!

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Not to be outdone, "Kannonball Kenny" follows with a big splash of his own!

I hope those two could walk today...

:-)

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Of course, there is always something funny to see everywhere you go. This time, it was pointed out to me by Nicole, and we all had a good laugh at this poor lifeguard's expense....

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Happy Birthday, Carter!

We Love You!

Undefeated in 2009

The Barron Maroon 14 and 15 Year Old Babe Ruth Baseball Team completed their season on Saturday after taking home the Championship Trophy from the league tournament.Back row: Coach Bruce R. , Neil R., Elliott B., Johnny H., Tyler C., Isaiah F., Coach Jim K., Coach Jamie K.

Front row: Tyler D., Tyler H., Jacob P., Zach T., Andrew K., Jed K.

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The Fourteen Year-Olds

Neil, Andrew, Isaiah, Tyler H., Elliott, and Zach
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Cole H.--our number one fan!
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Congratulations, Barron Maroon on a perfect season!

Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall...

...Someone's another year older, I recall!

Happy 24th, Heather Nicole!
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We love you!
love,
the Klimies

M.I.A.--The Week In Review

We have been busy.

Yep, I know. We usually are busy. It just seems lately we have been exceptionally busy. And, I guess I have been exceptionally lazy when it comes to my blog. Sorry.

Here is the condensed version of what we have been up to--sans pictures, since I am at work! :-O

Abby

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Abz went with Grandma Pat to Nelson last Wednesday night to spend the night with her. The next day, she went to Durand to spend three days playing with Carter and Bradley last week/weekend. She had a great time with the Dorwin cousins and spending some time with Auntie. She also spent a night in Independence with Grandma Deb and Grandpa Ken and their new kitty, Tiger. She wasn't sure she wanted to come home, but realized she missed her puppies and needed to come home for some puppy love--she could take or leave her mom love...

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Andrew

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Happy to be done with his grounding, Andrew has wasted no time in getting back into his social life. He has had various sleepovers at our house, and he has spent the night at some friend's houses, too. He was happy to have spectators at his last basketball game last Wednesday when Grandma Pat, Jordan, and Brittany came to watch his team win their final two games of summer league. His regular season of baseball has come to an end, and his team is undefeated this year. He has a tournament this coming weekend, and then baseball will be done for the year. Nothing else exciting on the Andrew front--thank goodness for that!

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Austin

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Austin has been a working fool. He spent five days (last Wednesday through Sunday) at the Barron County Fair working at one of the gates checking wristbands to make sure no one was trying to gain illegal admission to the fair. He worked 13 hour days--and it was COLD! He and 3 other boys slept in Kyle's camper during the weekend, so he was pretty tired when he finally made it home on Sunday afternoon. He has also been coaching soccer, finishing coaching golf, and doing some driving for his dad. He likes to spend his money as fast as he makes it!

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Jamie and I

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We have been going to baseball and basketball games, as usual. Our big outing was to go to Rock Fest on Saturday night to meet the nephews and Brittany. That was a fun night, but we couldn't keep up with the "young'uns", and we ended up going home before Journey even started!

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Jack and Sophie

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The dogs are busy leaving "presents" in the yard. Jack's fur is slowly growing back, and Sophie got a tiny trim the other day after Andrew gave both dogs a bath. They are both enjoying the kids being home these summer days.

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Well, there you have it. The week at a glance.

I will try to be a better blogger from now on!

New Haircuts--The "Buzzer" Strikes Again!

On Saturday, Andrew said good-bye to his mohawk. It was one of the steps for him to complete to move toward getting off of "House Arrest". Although I still don't like the short hair, he does look much better without his "landing strip" down the middle of his head! Just see for yourself...

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Well, there I sat in the backyard with the hair clippers in my hand and no hair to clip. My friend, Joey from work, had just been telling me about shaving her Golden Retreiver, Odie, and it sure sounded like a great idea--less hair means less shedding and a much cooler climate for the dogs, right?!

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Well, two clippers and two days later (boy, does that dog have a TON of hair), poor Jack looks like he has cancer!

Not one of my better ideas, I admit it!

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Here is Jack, all depressed that I am putting his picture on the blog with him "naked"...

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His fur is soft like a puppy, but his head looks abnormally big, and his tail and head are still red, while his body is now very white in color...
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A Golden Retriever with a Yellow Lab body!

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No one should have any difficulty telling the two apart for a while!

Jack is hoping dog hair grows fast. In the mean time, he is enjoying his cool, new look!

It's A Dog's Life

Last week on Friday, Abz was getting ready to head north to get in touch with her inner cowgirl. She was invited again this year to go with her friend Bailey and Bailey's family to the Spooner Rodeo. So, Abby dug deep into the back of her closet, found her cowboy hat, packed her sleeping bag, and got ready to "ride the dusty trail into the sunset". (That was cowboy-speak for "go campin'")

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Here is Abz modeling her cowboy hat...

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We played with the dogs for a bit outside before Abby had to saddle her mount (bike) and ride over to Bailey's to load up the covered wagon (camper) for the trail ride.

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Sophie enjoyed fetching the stick--but not as much as she enjoyed EATING the stick...

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Abby and Jack spent some time snuggling...
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Abz and I made a trip to Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone. This usually ends in a scrumptious treat for Jack and Sophie, and this day was no exception. Abby was "sharing" with the dogs... two licks for her, two licks for Sophie, two licks for Jack, two licks for her... You get the picture. It was absolutely DISGUSTING!
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The dogs always seem to get our cones when we are done with the ice cream. (I do miss the taste of those crunchy cones...)
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Here is Abz giving Sophie her turn at a lick on the cone...
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Now Jack's turn--aren't they polite dogs to wait their turn?!?

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Yeah, well, that didn't last long! They were both too worried that the other might be getting more licks than they were, so they began to eat the cone together! That was when I ended up sacrificing MY cone, too, to keep peace in the family.

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Sophie LOVES summer days of sticks, sun, and ice cream!

Summer Basketball League--Sweltering Gyms and Sweaty Pits

Both boys have been playing in the summer basketball leagues for Barron this summer. I have been having so much fun being back in the gym watching my boys play my FAVORITE sport! The drawback to summer basketball, however, is the lack of air conditioning in most of the area gymnasiums.

F.Y.I.:

Hot, sweltering gyms plus sweaty, adolescent boys equals a stench beyond belief!

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In spite of the overwhelming odor, watching the boys play in their various summer leagues has been a blast!

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Andrew has been playing in the Rice Lake Wednesday night J.V. League. (This does not necessarily mean he will be playing J.V. when the season starts, but we don't have a C-Team summer league...) The boys have been having a GREAT time playing together and just having fun pounding the ball up and down the court. Andrew plays his last summer game this Wednesday...

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Here is Andrew bringing the ball up the court...

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Andrew working it past the defense.
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Austin has been playing in the Clayton Varsity League--also on Wednesday nights. His team has also played in a few tournaments in Bloomer, Cameron, and just last weekend in Rice Lake. This has been great experience for their team to get used to playing with each other. They have won more games than they have lost--but Cumberland has been a thorn in their side this summer! Barron won the Cameron Shootout Tournament, and they only lost one game last weekend in Rice Lake. (Grandma Pat and Grandpa Ken came to watch that one...)
Austin's team does have one more Wednesday night game, also, but he will miss that game, as he will be working at the Barron County Fair to earn some CA$H that night and through the weekend!
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Here is Austin playing the awesome defense he is known for...
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D-ing up!

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The little sister "gets" to come with me to watch all of the games her brothers play in during the summer. She LOVES sitting on the bleachers watching the boys run the court, sweat all over, and stink up the whole gym. You can see the appreciation written all over her face...

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She's a pretty good sport most of the time!

:-)WE LOVE BASKETBALL!