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WADE: Born November 10, 1971, in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. He joined a family of three older brothers, Dan, Dave, and Matt. Wade grew up in Eagle River. In 1976, Wade's little brother John joined the family.
Wade graduated from Northland Pines High School in May, 1989, and his future wife, Kim, just happened to be there. Their first date didn't happen until June, 1989, and they soon officially became a "couple" June 20, 1989. Who knew that the wedding would be exactly three years later?
KIM: Born October 1, 1969, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Kim was an only child until little brother, Bryan, came along in November, 1972. She was a city girl until 1976, when dad and mom uprooted the family from the city to the northwoods of Michigan, where her dad grew up. Kim's parents purchased a resort in the middle of the woods, on a beautiful lake. Kim graduated from Watersmeet School in 1987.
Afraid of the world and afraid to leave home, she spent the first year after high school working. In July, 1988, she decided to try college in Wausau, WI, only two hours from home. At the end of the school year, Kim moved home for the summer in May, 1989. Who knew she would meet the husband of her dreams just weeks later by chance?
WADE AND KIM TOGETHER: Taking a college break, in October, 1989, Kim moved back to Wausau, to live with family friends to be their nighttime nanny, go back to college in January, and continue a long-distance relationship with Wade.
Wade lived with his parents, then a friend, then his parents, worked with his dad and lived the life of a 17/18 year old (crazy!).
Eventually, Kim talked Wade into moving out of Eagle River to the "big city" of Wausau in November, 1990. Culture shock to the small town boy. Wade finally asked Kim to marry him in 1991, and marriage came June 20, 1992. True married life began!
Dakota Wade was conceived in July, 1993, and was born April 10, 1994. We became three. Never did we think life could be so wonderful.
After five years of living in the city (first Wausau, then Weston), Wade had had enough and wanted to move home and work in the fresh air again. So, Wade moved back to Eagle River in May, 1995, and Kim and Dakota followed June, 1995.
In July, 1995, we bought land to build a house. Home construction began October, 1995. The home was finished enough for us to live in the basement in January, 1996, where we lived while we finished the house ourselves. July, 1996, we could move upstairs and *really* live in our home. Five years later, I don't think that we can even say our home is done.....there is always something that can be completed, fixed, changed....you know!
SCHOOL: Well, Wade went to Northcentral Technical College for one semester (while working full time) in the automotive program. His main teacher told him he was too smart to be there, so he completed the semester and did not go back.
As for Kim's school, let's just say the looooooong college track was to be and graduation finally did come! Let's just say Kim began college at Northcentral Technical College in the Medical Secretary Program, attended the University of Wisconsin-Marathon Center, and then graduated from Nicolet College in Rhinelander with an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing Degree.
Kim did her coveted nursing internship in the OB Department of St. Mary's Hospital in Rhinelander. After graduation, they hired me! My ultimate career goal---helping to deliver babies.
In the meantime, I also wanted to add to our family. Wade wasn't very sure and wanted me to work more. We compromised (more on my part, of course!) and began trying to have baby number two June 1, 1997.
We suffered a very long, drawn out, depressing secondary infertility and could not get pregnant. After 25 months of trying to conceive, it happened! But not without the help of the fertility drug, Clomid. Jeb was conceived April 18, 1999, and was born December 24, 1999. Jeb's birth was a bittersweet birth and can be read about on a different page. He has been a wonderful addition to our family, which now makes us four. I would LOVE to make it five, a third boy to add to our Klessig-clan would be ideal, if only Wade would agree.
WORK: Kim worked in labor and delivery for a year, took a year off, went back for a year and then quit for good. At this point, I do not believe I will go back to work as a nurse. Family first. I do work at home doing medical transcription on my computer on my own time, while caring for the boys.
Wade works with his family....they used to do BIG logging jobs, and still occasionally do, but mostly cut trees down in yards, hanging over homes and that sort of thing. Wade is the climber. He climbs trees and cuts them from the top down. I refuse to watch him do this. Apparently, he loves the adrenaline rush of this type of work and is a hard labor kind of guy. His muscles show it!
DAKOTA: Dakota just finished first grade and will begin second grade in September. He has lots of friends and plays baseball, soccer and hockey. He loves sports and is a very social little dude.
JEB: Jeb is flourishing day by day. For a little boy born so sick, he is doing wonderful and is very healthy. He is in our local Birth to 3 program and has physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy weekly. He learns new things every day.
Dakota loves his brother more and more as each day goes by. The more mobile Jeb becomes, the more fun he is to play with. Even though they are six years apart, Dakota is so happy to finally have a little brother.
Being the only girl in the house (besides our dog, Simba), I have become Mommy Princess Queen. Nice title, hey?
This is us! Mom and the boys....Dakota, Kim and Jebbie. 
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