IDAHO - FEBRUARY 2011

Shoot! I did it again! These two top pictures go a lot further down. I deleted them when I became over confident in my editing and don't know how to get them where they belong. (Yes Tracy, I tried that.) When you get to that part, and you'll know it, just scroll up for a second.

Thank you!

I was really looking forward to this trip - it had been about 7 months since I had seen everyone - way way way too long!

I knew it would be a great trip when I was greeted with this sign in the room I stayed in.

First day out was a trip to the Boise Zoo. I was pretty surprised at how many animals were actually out. I thought I was going to freeze when Kelley told me that we might not see many animals because if might be too cold for them. Too cold for the animals??? What about the PEOPLE looking for those animals? As you can see though, it was warm enough that goat spit did not freeze on your hands. I don't see anyone being surprised at Eleni having the courage to let the goats eat out of her hand.

The best part of the zoo was watching Eleni watch the animals.
You will notice her color coordinated pink mittens, pink boots and pink lined jacket?

One would never know it because her parents aren't into pink and she doesn't wear it all that often, but she does pink really well!

Ilai can still get his butt kicked by dad!

(Yes, that is a pink cast that he is wearing.)

Upstairs with the X Box Knect dance program everyone starts to rock out.

Long long ponytails and basketball mix very well!

All of the action shots were quite blurred or waaaay too dark. Actually, the only action there was of Eden dribbling, guarding or shooting.

We won handily.

After the game we went to a candy shop that made your tooth ache by simply walking through the doorway. They had it all. Brought some bacon flavored bubble gum home to Dave.

Yes, it is gross.

It is a lot colder there in my head than it actually is outside. You can kind of tell that by the big, warm jacket that Anela is wearing...... She is wearing boots however!

When it comes to being sweet, kind, loving and helpful, there is no one that fits the bill better than Miss Hannah Beth does! No way that Eleni (or any other little person) will get hurt or in trouble if Hannah is around.

Hearing these ladies sing together just gives you the chills.

They harmonize beautifully.

It was truly delightful just listening.

And then the whole family gets into the act!

The clarinet, the clarinet goes doodley doodley doodley doodley det!

Everyone has their part and it's great!

Watch out Osmonds!

One of the things I like doing best is helping with homework

Hannah and Jack both had homework that needed to be done so we did it!!

(As you've probably guessed, Jack doing his homework picture goes here)

Ilai caught in the act of eating something purple - I'm sure it's good for you!

(Ilai eating purple stuff picture goes here.)

Did I tell you how beautifully these ladies sound together!?!

Saying goodbye is always so hard.

Don't cry 'cause it's over. Smile 'cause it happened.

~Dr. Seuss

Dust Collectors

Another fun and successful Dust Collectors!

Wendi Tesimale - wherever you are in the world - we love you for introducing Dust Collectors. Too bad you weren't able to patent it, you'd be a rich woman today.

It was at my house this time, and as you can see, there are lots and lots of leftovers. If you see anything you want, speak now or forever hold your peace.

So glad the D.I. bin was delivered to our parking lot just this week.

I did find something for most of you though, and I bet you can hardly wait to see what these treasures are and so, in no particular order here they are.

(And no fighting over what someone else got!!)

Mitsi - this is the cutest little shirt for William, but you have to iron it, so I won't take it personally if you say, "No thank you Auntie Faye."

Tracy - had you in mind on this one. It is one of those pillow things (complete with suction cups on the back) that you put in the bathtub so you can lean back and relax after a long, rough day with Ella. (Is she still as busy as ever?)

At first, this might look like a cross between a game of Jacks and Pick-Up-Sticks. Bit it isn't. Guess what they are before you read any further.

Wrong!

When I asked what in the world they were, I found out they were chopstick holders! Now, does one put both chopsticks on the same holder or does one need two holders for two chopsticks? Didn't ask that. Janet and Mitsi - you guys can arm wrestle for this one because I know that you both use chopsticks to cook with.

This is a tray of one gazillion beads (carefully Saran-wrapped so that no more beads would get on the former owners mom's floor) that I though maybe Kendall and Morgan would have fun with.

Don't worry Jody, I came to my senses the next morning.

Beth! Even the best teacher in the world must have those days when all doesn't go as planned.

So, if you ever have one of those days, here are two signs that will get the class back on task in no time! You could even let Tracy borrow them on weekends just in case her singing time in Primary ever gets out of hand.

I know you're all saying, "Now why didn't I think of that? Another million dollar idea taken!"

Janet has this beautiful new georgeous kitchen. She also has this box full of clever magnets that she can no longer put on her refrigerator because it is stainless steel and magnets won't stick.

Problem solved, but whatever you put on your fridge it better be good because there was only one of these.

On the back of this little thingy, it says, and I quote:

Happeez Clipper
Finally, a product that sticks to stainless steel refrigerators, mirrors, glass and more!

If you guys ever need a killer salad made that everyone will want the recipe for then Jody's the man!

So I figured her killer salads would need some killer tongs!

There was also a killer bowl that went with them that really was a killer.

Kelley - This is so you can teach Eleni how to play "Not Yet"! Unlike Legos, these don't hurt so much when you step on them (they're cardboard) and after you step on them enough times they won't be square anymore and you don't have to feel guilty about tossing them.

As usual, we can all hardly wait for the next dust collectors.

Question: What do you do when one lady takes a solid hour to show her stuff. (*Yawn*) We want to prevent this in future meetings!

Also, if you haven't collected your things by next FSAG, they too will be taken to the bin!

Christmas 2010

Christmas morning begins with the traditional "picture in front of the tree" - except that you can't really see much of the tree in this shot. Austen is annoyed and not much on tradition, but then he is always annoyed and has never been much on tradition.

I think I am standing in a hole. Either that or Austen has grown. As you can see, he is still annoyed.

We really do need to read the directions on how to take a picture using the timer. We did get everyone in though, so for now, it will have to do.

Using a timer?

You might remember us using a timer in pictures we have taken in the past. That was before we LOST our camera about six or so weeks ago. Held out buying a new one, knowing that we would find it. Held out some more (and some more) and then finally gave up and bought a new one. About one week later, we found the old one. Didn't get any pictures of the BBD Family Christmas Celebration on the 19th of December. These are all pictures of actual Christmas on December 25th.

Life in the fast lane.

Moving right along though!

Santa was practical this year.

Mr. & Mrs. Clause went to Costco.

Santa saw these and put them in the cart and Mrs. Clause saw a set of drinking glasses that she wanted and put them in the cart.

No fuss, no muss, no regrets and no returns. Not much excitement, but like I said, practical.

Now this is excitement!

After her other top got broken and no one was able to make it spin and hum like a proper top does, Gramma and Grampa came to the rescue. Lilly now has a spinning, humming top and she seems pretty pleased!

(Shoot! This is where that cute little picture of Lilly goes but I can seem to move it!

So, scroll up to the top, take a look at that sweet smile, and then come on back down to continue on.)

You needent even guess what is making Ethan smile. A dinosaur, of course. He has quite a few and knows the 8 syllable names of each one of them and couldn't have been more pleased to add another few "saureses" to his herd.

Both of them concentrating deeply on leveling up.
It worked.

They both leveled up.

Morgan is figuring our her little present-topper peg game. Has anyone ever won that thing?

Kendall is pleased to have a camping set for her Liv dolls. I am pleased that it is all at her house. The coffee pot for heating water is no bigger than a small thimble and the knives and forks are as big around as a stick of spaghetti and about 3/4 of an inch long. It was a suggested gift though and I've come to realize that grandparents don't worry half so much about pieces as we did when we were parents.

Then there is the ever fun part of being a parent on Christmas and reading the directions so you can figure out how something is put together. Kendall is being ever so patient and Jody is being the perfect mom, as usual!

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

-Santa Clause

BABIES & SOCCER

It sure is fun to have a baby in this neck of the woods again. This is William, my little great nephew. As you can see, he won't be little for long. He almost doesn't even look like this anymore, he is growing and changing so fast!


It's especially fun to have William because we don't get to see this baby half enough! Eleni is taking a break here at her 1 year old birthday party, getting in a quick nap with her snake (no teddy bears for this girl!) as her nap-mate.


Not to steal Jody's thunder or anything, but she won't get this posted until the girls are in high school anyway and you will have forgotten all about my post by then.

Is this not the neatest, most creative banner you have ever seen in your entire life!!?!? (Mom's can still brag about and be proud of what their adult kids do!)

Kendall and Morgan, coached by their dad, are on the Sparklers. Kendall is #4 and Morgan is #8. Can you see them writing their names with sparklers on a 4th of July evening? Have you ever seen anything so neat? Ever!?!


And then Grandma's can brag about their grandkids, too.

Have you ever seen a better looking crew at a soccer game?

This year is a breeze for Jody and Scott - both girls are on the same team. Next year they will have 3 games a Saturday and 3 sets of practice during the week. Then the fun will really begin! Beck is a little more enthused to play now. We went around looking at banners and when he realized that there are teams with names like The Ferocious Tigers and The Storm Troopers
with cool banners to match he felt a little better. All he had ever seen were things like The Strawberry Shortcakes and the Pretty Purple Princesses.

Go Lightening McQueens!

SUMMER'S END 2010

Summer is quickly wrapping up for the Kossub Klan.

We know that we won't make any headlines for the most exciting family on the block as we are pretty happy with what most people think of as small potatoes, that is if they were even going to give it any thought at all.

Consider.

Every summer we like to go to the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach. This year was no exception, except that we did buy season passes this time(which will get us into the winter festival too!). First trip we made, we looked a lots and lots of neat things and kind of made a list of what would be fun to have. $2000.00 later, we knew that wasn't going to happen, so we went home and decided which of our heart's desires we could afford.

Not much, actually.

Did I mention that the Sawdust Festival takes place at what is known as an artist's colony in Laguna Beach?

Bit I digress.

After careful thought and discussion, and since we had passes and could get in for free, we went back a few weeks later and bought.........

A doorbell plate!

Like I said, we're pretty easy to please.

We are still working on landscaping the house, so this time we went to Batavia Gardens (in nearby Orange) and bought a Carribean Copper Plant. It has beautiful red leaves that will be even brighter because we planted it in a location that gets full sun.

And that is about all the excitement we had while Austen was on his

Scouting High Adventure Trip.

High Adventure Scouting Trip you ask??

Austen paddled down the Colorado River in two man canoes for 51 miles. It took them four days. Each evening they would unload the canoes of the equipment they carried with them and camp overnight. They carried tents, sleeping bags, clothes, all their food, stoves - you know what it takes to camp!

Then each morning, they would break down camp, load the canoes and head off again.

Austen's first description of the trip upon returning was that it was row, row, canyon. Row, row, canyon. He felt it was a bit boring but I'm sure that he will remember it in years to come as a pretty neat adventure!

Here he is, beginning the delightful chore of unpacking and sorting. Sorting, meaning this is Isaiah's plate and a lot of the stuff that should have been in his backpack isn't - it's in Isaiah's.
Other than the fact that he has a pretty good cut on the bottom of his foot (didn't think his water shoes would be necessary that time), they arrived home at 4:30 a.m. and his sunglasses got stepped on it was quite a successful trip.

And with tomorrow being the first day of school, yup!

Summer is pretty much over.

Great Auntie Faye

Since my sister (a.k.a. Gramma/Janet) doesn't have a blog, and neither does my neice (a.k.a. Mommy/Mitsi) I feel that I can post this and not be accused of stealing any thunder.

I am officially Great Auntie Faye.

Blessing day for William (Japanese name) (Hawaiian name) Kekouhah. (Geez, I hope I at least got the last name spelled correctly...!) He was so handsome in his argyle sweater vest and gray slacks. He was really cute in his dress black shoes until he pooped big time and his socks were in no condition to put back on so he had to go the rest of the day Polynesian style - barefoot. (We were all jealous.)

Proud parents and handsome baby boy.

Mitchell doesn't let go of him very much.

Proud grandparents, too!

It was a great day and he received a beautiful blessing from his dad. Scott and Dave were asked to join the circle for the blessing. We then had a yummy luncheon at Mitchell's parent's home and had a warm and friendly time visiting with them.

Lots and lots of people sure do love you William!!!

Formal BBD 2010 Pix

Somehow we accidentally got Austen to smile. Shadow was looking away, but Austen smiling was such a rarity that I had to post this one.

Eric and Leanna and kids. Ethan is a little camera shy (he is 3). This is one of the only pictures we have of him sort of looking at a camera. I could say I used it on purpose so everyone could see what the backs of our beautiful BBD tee shirts look like? Lilly is 18 months. She truly became one with the dirt this trip.


Tracy and Chip. Taylor is 15 (yes, 15 YEARS old), Aubrey is 13, Hannah 10 and Jackson 8. Gunner - well Gunner is loveable and like the rest of the family, has learned to pose for pictures perfectly!!

Beth and Fo'ou. Ilai turned 10 about a week after this picture was taken. Eden is 8 (and coming to California in August for her cousin's baptism!) and sweet little Anela is 4.

Jody and Scott. Morgan is 7, turning 8 and being baptized in August! Kendall is 6 and Beck is 3.

Ellen and Danny. Waiting for an announcement. Any day you guys, any day.

Kelley and Tyler. Eleni is 10 months old and already a pro at dirt campin'! Duke was everybody's friend. (Broke two water bowls while there - or was it three?)

Gramma Janet (William couldn't make it being only 7 days old and all) and Papa Mario.

The Lord really had a good idea when He organized families the way He did. Makes for lots and lots of happiness!!