My Uncle Jack is a Firecracker. That is to say he shares a birthday with someone very special...
Happy Birthday, America!
~~~And, Happy Birthday to my Uncle Jack!!!
~~~The birthday boy worked hard to blow out his (trick) sparkler patriotic red and blue candles, and in the end, he succeeded in extinguishing ALL of the flaming wax tips on the cake!
~~~Today, to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday and the day Uncle Jack was born, a variety of family members gathered in the park in Pepin to have some summer picnic fun. The food was plentiful, the company was great, and there were Multiple McDonoughs attending the party, so the "McDonough Cackle" was often-times heard in stereo from different corners of the park shelter!
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Grandma Lila was looking stunning--and a bit mysterious--in her movie star shades...
~~~Grandpa Ken was his usual entertaining self today! Not sure if he is showing off his muscles here, or doing a demonstration on the proper execution of the "Chicken Dance".
You Decide...
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The weather was beautiful for spending the day outside--not too hot, and not too cold. We only saw a few sparse sprinkles, but not even enough to cause us to budge from our lawn chairs as we observed all of the various summer activities going on around us.
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The Game of the Day had to be Lawn Toss--the game where you toss bean bags to boards with holes cut into them to score points. This was a big hit for young and old alike. 
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Grandpa Ken also was in on the fun with the kids. But Grandpa's fun didn't stop with this game! More on THAT later...
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Chad and Ethan were on the other side of Grandpa Ken and Abby tossin' the bags.
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Andrew, Brett, and Dane were taking their competition pretty seriously...
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Bradley and Carter had fun running up and down the hill from the shelter to the playground equipment and back to the shelter where we were all having our picnic.
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Bradley
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Carter Mike
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After the teenagers were done with the Yard Toss game, they moved on to Bocce Ball.
~~~The weather was beautiful for spending the day outside--not too hot, and not too cold. We only saw a few sparse sprinkles, but not even enough to cause us to budge from our lawn chairs as we observed all of the various summer activities going on around us.
~~~
Jamie and Ethan played catch for a bit with the football. I didn't capture Ethan with my camera, as he was pretty quick on his feet!
~~~The Game of the Day had to be Lawn Toss--the game where you toss bean bags to boards with holes cut into them to score points. This was a big hit for young and old alike.
Here is Austin, Hunter, and Abby during their games of Yard Toss.
(Ann is looking on in the background...)
~~~Grandpa Ken also was in on the fun with the kids. But Grandpa's fun didn't stop with this game! More on THAT later...
~~~Chad and Ethan were on the other side of Grandpa Ken and Abby tossin' the bags.
~~~Andrew, Brett, and Dane were taking their competition pretty seriously...
~~~Bradley and Carter had fun running up and down the hill from the shelter to the playground equipment and back to the shelter where we were all having our picnic.
~~~
Bradley
~~~Carter Mike
~~~After the teenagers were done with the Yard Toss game, they moved on to Bocce Ball.
Here, Dane, Andrew, Brett, and Austin are surveying the possibilities as Andrew gets ready to throw...
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Brett and Austin
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Who knew that Bocce Ball could be so much fun?!?
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There was a lot of sitting around and relaxing and "visiting" after our huge potluck birthday meal. Even Woody and Maite called on Grandpa Denny's cell phone during the party, so they had a chance to chat with several people in their one call. Here is Jamie taking his turn...
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The Klimie Kids brought a few firecrackers, smoke bombs, and bottle rockets along to the picnic. Of course, that was a highlight for the kids today--especially little Bradley! He was VERY excited about the fireworks and had a hard time staying back away from all of the excitement of lighting things on fire.
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Bradley tells Austin an animated story about the last blast-off!
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Andrew getting ready to launch some bottle rockets--don't worry--we kept him FAR AWAY from the toilets today.
~~~Brett and Austin
~~~Who knew that Bocce Ball could be so much fun?!?
~~~There was a lot of sitting around and relaxing and "visiting" after our huge potluck birthday meal. Even Woody and Maite called on Grandpa Denny's cell phone during the party, so they had a chance to chat with several people in their one call. Here is Jamie taking his turn...
~~~The Klimie Kids brought a few firecrackers, smoke bombs, and bottle rockets along to the picnic. Of course, that was a highlight for the kids today--especially little Bradley! He was VERY excited about the fireworks and had a hard time staying back away from all of the excitement of lighting things on fire.
~~~
Cousins watching bottle rockets...
(l to r): Hunter, Abby, Brett, Andrew, Carter, Austin, and Bradley
(l to r): Hunter, Abby, Brett, Andrew, Carter, Austin, and Bradley
~~~Bradley tells Austin an animated story about the last blast-off!
~~~Andrew getting ready to launch some bottle rockets--don't worry--we kept him FAR AWAY from the toilets today.
(see previous post if you have NO IDEA what I am talking about...)
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Jamie offered his expertise on the proper way to launch a bottle rocket (it flew right into the grass) as Andrew, Brett, and excited little Bradley look on...
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The Klimie Brothers going for a DUAL LAUNCH!
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Abby, Carter, and Bradley enjoying the fireworks.
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Andrew teaching the Dorwin Cousins about fireworks. Hopefully he is well-educated on what NOT to do!
~~~Jamie offered his expertise on the proper way to launch a bottle rocket (it flew right into the grass) as Andrew, Brett, and excited little Bradley look on...
~~~The Klimie Brothers going for a DUAL LAUNCH!
~~~Abby, Carter, and Bradley enjoying the fireworks.
~~~Andrew teaching the Dorwin Cousins about fireworks. Hopefully he is well-educated on what NOT to do!
:-)
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Bradley couldn't wait for the fireworks to "blow"! He would then give a moment's hesitation before darting off after the spent casing of the just-burned firework. He was fascinated with the smell and the smoke that was left behind.
~~~Bradley couldn't wait for the fireworks to "blow"! He would then give a moment's hesitation before darting off after the spent casing of the just-burned firework. He was fascinated with the smell and the smoke that was left behind.
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Finding a smoke bomb "carcass"...
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Examining the evidence...
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"I had better blow it! This one is still smokin'!"
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The Klimek Grandchildren watching fireworks--
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Cousins
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Meanwhile, back at the Yard Toss "Court".... 
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LaNita and Bill played a few rounds--on opposite teams!
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But, the real excitement came in the final matchings when LaNita and Chad took on Ken and Denny in a "Best Two Out of Three" Contest! Man! That was a competitive, sweat-inducing game!
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Grandma Lila and Grandma Pat
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After three matches, much gnashing of teeth and pulling at hair, and after lots of "trash talk", Ken and Denny came out as the reigning Yard Toss Champions!
Oh, and just a little F.Y.I.:
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Jamie and Don took the kids down to Lake Pepin for a bit to try their hands at fishing.
Finding a smoke bomb "carcass"...
~~~Examining the evidence...
~~~"I had better blow it! This one is still smokin'!"
~~~The Klimek Grandchildren watching fireworks--
All lined up in order of age (by accident!)
Austin, Andrew, Abby, Carter, Bradley
~~~Cousins
~~~Meanwhile, back at the Yard Toss "Court"....
Uncle Jack had gotten in on the fun...
~~~LaNita and Bill played a few rounds--on opposite teams!
~~~But, the real excitement came in the final matchings when LaNita and Chad took on Ken and Denny in a "Best Two Out of Three" Contest! Man! That was a competitive, sweat-inducing game!
~~~
There were plenty of spectators to cheer on the respective teams and to make sure no one was cheating on their scores.
Grandma Deb, Grandma Pat, and Sondra enjoying the fiasco of the contest.
Grandma Deb, Grandma Pat, and Sondra enjoying the fiasco of the contest.
~~~Grandma Lila and Grandma Pat
~~~After three matches, much gnashing of teeth and pulling at hair, and after lots of "trash talk", Ken and Denny came out as the reigning Yard Toss Champions!
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Enjoy this picture of Ken and Denny posing and gloating over their victory. Imagine their dismay to realize that LaNita was stealing their limelight by showing off her "pipes" in the background of their pic!
Oh, and just a little F.Y.I.:Not sure who is "due" first...
~~~Jamie and Don took the kids down to Lake Pepin for a bit to try their hands at fishing.
Here, Don gives fishing instructions to Abby, Jamie, Denny, and Ken. Don was kind enough to string and bait all three of the Klimie Kid's poles today--thanks, Don!
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What a fun day for a picnic with family!
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On our way home, we once again saw some strange birds in the field across Dry Coulee Road by mom and dad's old house. If someone (like DON) could identify this bird to quench my curiosity, that would be GREATLY appreciatied! We saw about 12 to 15 of these in the field on our way to Pepin this morning, and on our way home, there was still 3 birds left that we were able to see...
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~~~What a fun day for a picnic with family!
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After our afternoon in Pepin, we stopped in Nelson to visit Grandma Bonnie. We were glad to find her home, and we had a nice visit with her...
~~~On our way home, we once again saw some strange birds in the field across Dry Coulee Road by mom and dad's old house. If someone (like DON) could identify this bird to quench my curiosity, that would be GREATLY appreciatied! We saw about 12 to 15 of these in the field on our way to Pepin this morning, and on our way home, there was still 3 birds left that we were able to see...
Take a look!
~~~Once we got back home, Austin headed off for a night of fireworks in Chetek, and Andrew and Abby dug into the stash of fireworks their dad bought them yesterday. Enjoy the pics of them setting off their display... 
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Sophie wanted to come outside to see what all of the comotion was about. She was a bit nervous about the whole thing, and stayed pretty close to "dad" during the display...
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Jack, of course, was no where to be found. But, this not being his first Fourth of July, I had a pretty good idea of where to find him...
~~~Sophie wanted to come outside to see what all of the comotion was about. She was a bit nervous about the whole thing, and stayed pretty close to "dad" during the display...
~~~Jack, of course, was no where to be found. But, this not being his first Fourth of July, I had a pretty good idea of where to find him...
(and if you are a regular reader, so do you!)
Yep! Same place as last year! Hiding behind the toilet in a bathroom with no windows!
Dumb Dogs!
Yep! Same place as last year! Hiding behind the toilet in a bathroom with no windows!Poor, gun-shy Jack!
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All of the excitement outside eventually got to Sophie, too. She decided to join her dad in the bathroom where it is safe!
Dumb Dogs!~~~
Hope everyone had a great Fourth of July and remembered to be THANKFUL for the INDEPENDENCE we celebrate!
2 comments:
We sure did have fun....great pictures to remember the event.
At your fireworks at home, I like the first picture with Abby standing in front of the sparkles. It looks neat!
I think those birds you saw were cranes.
Happy 4th of July and Happy Birthday to Jack!
Fun day and too much good food...and the pictures are great to remember it all.
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