Summer's End ...

As an enjoyable and eventful summer comes to an end, my family and I will soon
be trading in our shorts and flip flops for sweaters and jeans and the kids
have already traded in their ball gloves for volleyballs and football gear.
The season itself has packed up its sun-filled days and blossoming fields to
make room for colorful trees and cooler nights.  As I sit on the front porch,
I wonder where the summer has gone, and as I think back, I recall exactly how
the Kleve family summer went ...

Of course, as many of you know, our summer consisted of baseball games and
dance competitions; but our summer also involved much more than that.  It was
a time of shared family moments and memories to last a lifetime.  Throughout
the summer, we shared simple moments including many evenings grilling supper
on the porch and we even found a night or two to roast hot dogs and
marshmallows around the fire pit.  We had a few movie nights when it was too
hot and we were too tired to go outside, and we had a number of family ball
games in the back yard when our busy schedules and the weather would allow. 

The kids and I found time to add an item to our bucket lists (and check it
off) as we spent an eventful evening eating supper with my mother at the
Japanese Hibachi Grill in Prairie Du Chien.  Although sitting around a hot,
flaming grill is probably more suited for cooler weather, we enjoyed watching
and participating as the chef did his grilling and we enjoyed trying new foods
and spending some quality time with "Grandma Net".  

Shawn and I and the kids especially enjoyed our annual family vacation the
last week in July.  The six day trip was too long to describe in detail, but
we had a wonderful time making family memories and checking a variety of items
off of our bucket lists.  The items included attending a Kansas City Royals
baseball game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City; attending a St. Louis
Cardinals baseball game at Busch stadium in St. Louis, Missouri; and touring
Arrowhead stadium where the Kansas City Chiefs play professional football.  We
also enjoyed eating at a Brazillian Steakhouse for the first time; watching a
Urinetown production in a Theater in the Park; touring one of only 12 federal
reserve banks in the US; riding a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch; touring
the Anheuseur-Busch Brewing company (our second brewery tour on our bucket
list) and climbing around on a ropes course 19 feet in the air.  We enjoyed
quiet, family moments hanging out in our hotel room, swimming in the hotel
pool, playing simple games like air hockey, and ordering pizza to be delivered
to our room after a long day of adventure.  We also partook in some traditional
vacation moments such as taking a riverboat tour on the Mississippi River and
going to Build a Bear Workshop where Karissa made her fourth Build-A-Bear
souvenier of our vacationing career.

Throughout the summer, we found time to attend two family reunions -- the Koch
family reunion on my mother's extended side of the family as well as the Bohr
family reunion with many of my aunts, uncles and first cousins from my Dad's
side.  We also enjoyed an evening of Kleve family bonding when my
sister-in-law, Nikki, came home from Chicago. 

Recently, we enjoyed some family bonding time with my brother, Rob, and his wife,
Jessica, when they came home from Arizona so our family could put on a successful,
scholarship fundraising event in our brother, Adam's, memory.  Last weekend, we held
the 2nd annual, Adam J Bohr Celebration and Casino Night.  It was an excellent way to
spend time honoring Adam, celebrating his life and raising money to continue funding the
Scholarship set up in his memory.  A lot of work went into planning and organizing the event throughout the summer and it culminated into a memorable event with lots of
socializing, casino fun, and a successful silent auction and great raffle
give-aways.  I am grateful to all who participated in any way and look forward
to another successful event again next year.            

Lastly, as the kids started back to school this week, we gave our summer one
last hurrah as Shawn and I and the kids headed to Des Moines yesterday for a
bonding, family weekend and an Iowa Cubs minor league baseball game.  We
enjoyed a four-hour-or-so drive to Des Moines since we forgot our tickets at
home and had to turn around and get them (good thing we had left early).  In
Des Moines, we checked out the Iowa Hall of Fame before heading to the hotel.
It was a rainy day and the hotel had an outdoor pool, so we didn't
spend any time swimming on this excursion.  Once checked in, we had a nice
meal at Mescotti's, an Italian restaurant not far from the hotel.  We shared
good food and some great laughs as we enjoyed our time at the restaurant.
Luckily, the rainy day subsided to simply a cool, damp evening as we headed
into Principal Park for the game.  We enjoyed watching the game and hoped for
extra innings (or at least not a rain-out) as the Cubs beat the Oklahoma City
Red Hawks 4 to 1.  Around 10 pm, we headed back to our hotel where we settled
in for the night, watched a little TV, and called it a day.  This morning we
slept in, grabbed a bite at Perkins and headed back home and back to
reality once again.

Now tonight, as the kids work on their homework for tomorrow, I peel a
few cucumbers and slice a couple tomatoes as we anticipate Shawn coming home
any moment for supper.  We will be grilling hamburgers once again and enjoying a
few laughs on the porch.  Although summer may have "ended", we are simply beginning
the next season as we look forward to an autumn filled with more family fun. We did have an
eventful and enjoyable summer ... now I better go start the grill so it's ready when Shawn gets home ...  

Reaching for the Stars

When children are small, they dream of becoming famous singers, dancers and performers, professional athletes, astronauts, doctors, published authors and even the President of the United States.  Well, why not?  It never hurts to dream big and aim for the stars!!

Yesterday I watched a number of talented performers compete in the Bill Riley Talent show at the Iowa State Fair.  Karissa and her partner, Brooke, had a successful year at area county fairs winning first place in both Winneshiek and Howard Counties and placing second in Fredericksburg as well.  Because of their accomplishments, they were chosen to compete at the Iowa State Fair.  I would say simply having the honor of performing on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage is a major accomplishment and I am very proud of the girls!!  The girls should also be proud of their own accomplishments and proud of their hard work, courage and talent ... but they should keep aiming for those stars as well ... and a first place win next year at the Iowa State Fair!   

Throughout the summer, I have enjoyed watching a number of talented and brave performers attempting to tackle their dreams.  Whether officially winning or losing, all of these performers are winners of some sort ... destined for greatness ... achievers at attempting to reach their goals ... at facing their fears ... trying their hardest to do their best at the things they enjoy ... and inspiring others to have the courage to do the things that they dream of as well.  You never know, the singer that sang off key because she was scared, may be the next American Idol ... the gymnast that lost her balance and fell may learn how to pick herself up and continue on when she fails ... and the dancer that continuously places second or even sixth may learn that life does not always work out as you planned and be determined to work even harder each time.  These performers are ALL winners ... even if it is simply at finding a pride in knowing that they gave their dreams a shot.

In my opinion, one key to aiming for the stars is remembering to keep your feet firmly planted on the ground as you climb up that mountain!  So you want to become a major league baseball player ... well by all means aim for it ... but always remember to keep "realistic" ideas in check as well.  It is important to continue your education (maybe you can be a walk-on for the college baseball team).  In the end, if you don't quite make it as a major league star, you may have at least managed to climb up a mountain to be a successful coach, or sports writer, or a farmer who plays softball in his spare time  ... or perhaps you may be the best parent coach for your son or daughter's little league team some day!  Those would all be successes to be proud of!

To speak from experience, for an English class my sophomore year in high school, we each wrote a hypothetical letter to ourselves about 15 or 20 years after graduation.  In my letter, I indicated that I was happily married, had two children and lived on the beach front.  I was a famous, published novelist and was well on my way writing a book of poems.  Well, in reality, it is now just over 20 years since I graduated from high school.  I am happily married and have two children.  I am in the process of publishing my first coffee table book, have written a plethora of poems and have begun writing a blog to share with the world.  I do not live on the beach front (though I have visited it at least) and the Turkey River runs not too far away from my house. :)  Although I am certainly not a famous, published novelist (yet), I would say I have succeeded at climbing at least a small mountain.

So my advice to you is simple.  Keep aiming for the stars ... find your passion ... live your passion (whatever makes you happy.)  Climb up the mountain ... you can do it ... you just have to give it a try!  Don't let anyone tell you that you can't or that your dreams are silly or unattainable!  Although you will win some and lose some, it always pays to keep on trying ... don't give up!  If it is your passion, keep aiming for those stars with your head held high and your feet firmly planted on the ground.  With each step, you will be that much closer to the top of the mountain and ultimately closer to the stars ... I know in my heart you can do it ... you just have to believe ...