riding a bike

I'm doing chores, and I go into the boys' room to put some laundry away. As I'm doing this, I happen to be looking out their window. I see Xavier riding his bike. Nothing new, that child LOVES to ride his bike. But then, what do I see? Quinn, riding his bike, by himself, with NO training wheels on it (we had to take off the wheels becuase they were broken... and we hadn't gotten much to teaching him). Well, he basicallly figured it out by himself. I had lowered the seat so he could completely touch the ground while sitting on the bike, and he just practiced whenever xavier was out there. he's a bit wobbly... but balancing REAL good!! I can't believe it!! Both my boys can now ride BIG BOY bikes!! I know, simple things amuse and amaze me!!

Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

The Sousas go to the Pumpkin Patch!!! 2008
Xavier sings a song!

Quinn waits for the Hay ride.

Justin contemplates life!

Xavier and his pumpkin.

Justin and his pumpkin... 555+++

Mommy and Noon

Quinn and His pumpkin.

The Hay ride!!

How i'm becoming a part of Sousa family?

My name is Rinrada Kanjanawongpaisan. You can call me Noon, it's my nickname. This is my second year of being here in USA. I'm living with Sousa family, they are very nice to me. They take care of me, they always ask me are you ok? when i feel not very good.
Last year, Sousa family hosted Supinda who came from Thailand. She went to Arcata High with me, we hang-out together, so i got to know her host family. I went to her house so many times. They invited me to go to camping, baseball game, etc. So many things that we had done together. It was very good time, i had fun.
My host mom couldn't host me again this year, so Sousa family told me that they want to host me all the rest of three years...if i didn't meet Supinda i don't know where i'm gonna be. I'm so lucky that i met her and this family. Supinda said that this family is going to be perfect for you, and they're a perfect family. I love them, and i'm having a good time with them.
There were so many possible reason that i couldn't stay with Sousa family; move the house, couldn't stanslate to Fortuna high school, couldn't come back, and such. But finally, i'm becoming a part of this family!

This is how i'm becoming a part of this family.
Today i'm making Thai food for dinner after mommy comes back from horse back riding, and daddy is going to make some curry!

Quality time

Woo hoo, it's the weekend, and this morning i got some quality time in with my boys. oh, how nice that feels!! Quinn and I made chocolate chip pancakes. Xavier and I read a book. I love my boys!!

the rain has stopped for a min. Justin's outside working on the deck some more. Next time you talk to him, give him some kudos for doing a good job!! he ROCKS!!

my spiderman

we got this costume for 25 cents at a yard sale. Quinn loves it, and wants to be spiderman for halloween. when he wanted to try it on, he did, a little backwards, and was so proud, he came out to me, just like this.

Cards

Many of you know I love to do crafts. A friend of mine recently (ok, 2 years ago) got me hooked on Stampin Up. Well, my mom loves my cards, I made her a bunch to send to people last year for christmas... and i'm doing it again. here are some pictures of them.

Noon and Supinda

Oh, and I can't forget Supinda or Noon.
Supinda, our first Thai Daughter. She lived with us for 10 months, but I know she will be with us forever. We have learned so much from her... about thailand, about culture, about ourselves. I am deeply indebted. And we would have never met Noon if it wasn't for Supinda. Noon was here last year with another family who couldn't host her for the next few years while she finished HS. We offered, and we aren't backing down. She's a part of this family now, and I'm so glad that she doesn't mind taking the bus for 1 hour every morning and every evening just to go to school. It makes for long days, but she is always such a good sport about it! We are looking at hopefully visiting Thailand this summer, God willing, and when we do, I will look forward to seeing the people of that beautiful country. Of learning more about the culture and of course seeing all those wonderful thai students who we have gotten to know over the last couple of years... Supinda, Tle (dunn), Ming Ming, Noon, Nan.... and more!!

Justin

And now an ode to my most wonderful husband. I don't give him enough credit for all that he does for this family! He works his butt off every day to provide money for us to live. He has been working his butt off on our house project, making sure that we have a secure home to live in for the rest of our house. Yes, we've been hitting a lot of snags along the way, but he has been taking care of them.... taking care of us. He is a good Dad, my boys look up to him immensly. He is a good musician (playing at a rehearsal tonight and has a big concert coming up tomorrow night!), a good conductor (I wish he would get more opportunities because this is where his true musical passions lie!), and well, quite sexy when he's bald! ha ha 555+++ He has so many talents that I can't even name them all, and I am so happy to be married to him for going on our 10th year!

Quinn

And now it's time for Quinn's Talents. These days I spend more time with Quinn, since I am also his teacher, and I see this as both good and bad. I get more interactions with him. I also get to see him be naughty more often. But, all that being said, my youngest son sure has some amazing talents, just like his brother.
Quinn is a very loving child. He is always giving hugs to familiy and friends, saying I love you to me or his dad or other family members. Quinn has an amazing musical rhythm. I can already tell that he is going to be the next musician of the family, which is probably going to be on the drums by the way. Quinn is a good listener. He helps out when asked. Quinn is very concerned with making sure his big brother is ok, and that tells me he is a caring individual. He loves animals, and is surpisingly good with our small dogs.
I love this kid. I love both my boys. I am probably the luckiest mom in the world!!

Xavier

Sometimes I get bogged down with all the negative, I forget to look at the possitive. Xavier is such an emotional child, and many days I look at that in the wrong light. Emotions are great, and when he's happy, he is so very happy. And, he's happy most of the time. I get compliments on him being the most smiley kid present at school and other functions. When he wakes up in the moring, 9 times out of 10 his first words to me are "mommy, I love you." It can't get any better then that!!
So, what are some other talents of Xavier's? (I got this from a friend's blog who stated her boys' talents, and I just had to start thinking of my boys' talents.) Xavier is a good sport. In any sporting event he's in, he congradulates everyone on his team for a goal, or a good pass, instead of sulking that he didn't get the ball. He is a great artist. Xavier is good at reading. He reads most of the accelerated reader books at school for his grade. Xavier is a leader. Xavier is loving and just. He is already concerned about fairness and justice in his own little world, which makes me think that he will continue these great thoughts as he goes from being the center of his own world, to thinking about being a part of a bigger world. And there are so many more talents that my oldest son has that I can't even name them all right here. I am truly blessed to have him in my life, and be a part of me!