Thanksgiving

What do the Holidays mean to you? Of course during Thanksgiving, I try to be a little more intentionally thankful... but some years, and some days, are harder then others. I will admit that this year I feel like every day is a struggle to be thankful for SOMETHING - and I'm glad that I have chosen to look at that more closely. Some of the things that I have been thankful for so far this month:

I am thankful for Books - I am a sucker for books. I'm thankful that I know how to read and that my children love to read.

I am thankful for friends -- for those far away, and those close by. For those who make me laugh, those I cry for, and those that I may only see once in a blue moon. Friends are dear to me, and I am so happy for all of mine!

I am thankful of my two, bouncing, healthy boys...They constantly keep my on my toes, and remind me that each day is a new day to start again.

I am thankful that I live in a country where I am free to think and express my opinion. There are limitations, and sometimes we may feel that we are not free to do this, however I can say that I am not happy with our government, or that I do not like a particular politician, and I will not immediately get thrown in jail. I am also thankful that because of the freedom of this country, and because of the bravery of many before me, I have the right to vote my opinions. 

I am thankful for my church family... What a day today!! I'm totally exhausted, but it was so great to be amongst everyone today, celebrating all that the Church of the Joyful Healer is about... i am so happy that I found this place going on 7 years ago.... and it has been there, through my moves, through my children growing up, through jobs, etc...

I am thankful for Humboldt Weather - always keeping me on my toes... one minute it's freezing and raining and I got all my winter weather gear out... the past 2 days, beautiful, sunny, fabulous 69 degrees! it's a heat wave! lol. LOVE IT! So happy to be living here!

I am thankful for the little things today... for my children's hugs in the morning; for a nice, warm shower; for a roof over my head, even though we have no flooring; for email notifications that tell me it's a family members' birthday or anniversary because my brain is too full to remember these things; for ways to communicate, like facebook, as flawed as it is. :)     

I am thankful to people who actually listen to the words that I say, and don't make me have to repeat myself 100 times!

I'm thankful that we have one working car, and that my mother in law has let Justin borrow hers for the day.

Thankful for a working washing machine and dryer, so when the cat pukes up on my bed, I can wash the sheets and blankets without going to the laundromat.

I'm also very thankful for Legos - those magical plastic bricks that pop together and make children use their imaginations!

I am thankful for all the loving and supportive people in my life! There are too many of you to name, but I love you!

Thankful that we have money for the things we need - food, shelter - some months it doesn't seem like enough, and we may end up eating a lot of cereal or pancakes that are super cheap, but we always have something, and that is enough.

Thankful for technology... as frustrating as it is, I'm glad to be a part of a world that has technology and is constantly generating new technology, of ALL kinds - not just computers.

I'm thankful my house has heat! everywhere I was today, seemed that there was NO heat - either because they were cheap or because it was broken!

Wow, that's a lot of things to be thankful for so far! There are more things I am thankful for, but on some days, I just don't feel it. I guess that is how life is.  

So, besides being thankful, what is this holiday we call thanksgiving?  

I have some favorite childhood memories - my all time favorite is my multi-cultural Thanksgiving - full of friends and family from all over the place - Australia, Bolivia, the deep south, Japan... I remember some holidays we would have with my grandparents - my grandpa calling the sweet potatoes "sweet spuds" - don't know why that is comforting, it just is.  And then there is the times with our Thai daughters - Noon and Supinda - celebrating a Thai festival that coincided with Thanksgiving, either on the day, or very close to the day... 

Now days it's always a bunch of organizing - who's going to be where for the holidays... It gets very exhausting.  This year I plan to combat some of those exhausting feelings by going to the Thanksgiving Service at my church on Wednesday night, and run in the Turkey Trot in Eureka on Thursday Morning.  I also plan to go out to Trinidad Pier with the boys the day after Thanksgiving, and spend a little time with them on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, hopefully hiking or something.  I want to relax this Thanksgiving so I can really, truly feel thankful!!

So may this thankful season touch all of you in a new way.        

Pumpkin Patch ... again.

Living right next to a pumpkin farm means that we go OFTEN! The boys went once with their school, and then we went once simply to play on the hay... This weekend, we went one final time for the year with Grammy and Granddad.  Always fun, no matter how often we go.

Spook-e-ree

The scouts up here in Humboldt County have an activity called "Spook-e-ree" - where the kids stay up virtually all night (they go to bed around 3 am and are woken up again at 6 am) doing fun, spooky, activities.  This activity is for Boy Scout Troops and Webelos II dens.  Xavier is a Webelos II this year (which means that next year he will go on to Boy Scouts - in February to be exact!) Well, Xavier had a BLAST!! Justin went with him on this one, and here are just a few of the pictures that he took.

 

My happy Boy!!

 

Webelos II Den from Pack 180 (only missing one scout!)

 

The rays of sun in the morning!!

Halloween Carnival

Tonight was the school's Halloween Carnival... Fun was had by all. Here are the boys - Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!! I love the dressing up and the fun that is had by all children!!

Creepy Crawl

First Creepy Crawl ever for our family. This is a fundraiser for the Humboldt Swim Club. Xavier was too tired from doing the Spook-e-ree the night before, so Quinn represented the Sousa Family!! 32 laps - 800 yards! Way to go!!!

Playing on the hay....

Today we went out to Christie's Ranch - pumpkin patch and let the boys play on the hay. It started out OK - but then they began to complain so we had to leave earlier then I originally wanted. It's hard to be the meanie sometimes. As they get older, they fight more, and less at the same time. Today was a little of both. However, I got some really good pictures of them playing... and no matter how big they are they will always have fun in the hay!

Hi... 

 

Did I mention we got slushies?

Busy Family

Yes, for those of you who know, we are a BUSY family. I just noticed that I haven't blogged since the end of July. Well, School started - and with the start of school started a whole lot more! First of all, a routine - so happy about that. Though the boys are in a lot, having a routine helps EVERYTHING. 

The boys are now in swimming.  In early August, they both tried out for Swim Club - Xavier got in, Quinn did not. Quinn worked hard, and in September got in, and now they both go to swim club 2-3 days a week.  It's a big commitment... one we are still working out. 

They are also still doing Scouts - Xavier is a Webelos II scout now, and Quinn a Bear Scout. Next spring, Xavier will go up to Boy Scouts.  They LOVE scouts, and we try to do what we can to support them in it. 

Also, during the After School program, the boys do a variety of things.  Quinn is doing Hip Hop club and is part of the film club - they are making their own movie! Xavier loves Disc Golf and also was part of a Salsa Club. In the below picture, you'll see Xavier with his friend Marissa at the culminating event of the Salsa Club - a competition at the Arcata Farmer's Market - with about 7 other schools. Blue Lake took first in professionalism (presentation, both visual and verbal). So proud of him!

Let see, what else are the boys heavily involved in? Quinn is doing drum lessons - really loving it. They both go with Justin to football games, and sometimes play with the band! 

Seems like all Justin and I do is work right now, but work is good.  I'm enjoying a few new endeavors, working at Blue Lake School as the Computer Teacher as well as the Librarian. I'm once again teaching music at Laurel Tree Charter School and leading a bell choir at the Arcata UMC.  I also am lucky to have 8 students this year!

Justin still leads the All Seasons Orchestra and also playing in other groups. He hopes to get back on his bike real soon - finding the time to ride has been difficult. I hope to get out running again soon.

That's the update for now.  Our October is crazy busy, which I hope that means I'll have things to post.

Local Bat Boy turns 10!

Xavier turned 10 on July 25th, and for his birthday, I was able to secure him a spot as Bat Boy for the Humbodlt Crabs (baseball team for those who don't know this). He was one happy little booger! Before we got there, he was telling me how nervous he was, but he knows a lot of the players from being at Crabs Baseball camp twice this year.  Well, as you can see from the pictures he had an amazing time! It was a double-header, starting at 5:30. The second game was only supposed to go 7 innings, but it was tied 2-2 at the bottom of the 7th inning, so the Crabs had to keep playing. It finally ended at about 12:30 AM on Thursday morning!! (Crabs lost, boo hoo) Xavier was having such a fabulous time, he didn't want to give up his bat boy privileges, and since this WAS my gift to him, I didn't feel he had to! WOW, my little man is growing up! Not sure how we'll top this next year!!

Camping

We finally went on a camping trip this summer. Justin worked his butt off so we could leave early on Friday and come home on Monday. 3 nights! it's the longest we have been able to go camping since having children, which was AWESOME!!  I did some research, and found an old CCC camp near Cave Junction, OR called Grayback. A creak goes through the campground... Here are our adventures.

 Xavier makes the point on his roasting stick..

 

The fire, night 1.

 Quinn wait with his roasting stick...

 Mom and Dad... enjoying the fire, night 1.

 Silly Boys

 Biscuit on a stick.

 Dogs came with us.

 The trail by the campground

One creak coming into the swimming hole.

 AAAAHHHHH!!!!

IT'S SO COLD!!

 The boys try out the swing too.

 The fun swing near the bridge.

 Night 3, leftover hotdogs and biscuit = piggies in a blanket.

Last day, getting ready to say goodbye to the camp site.

Mad River Fun

On Saturday, July 7th, we found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands... For once we had a day with nothing to do! AMAZING. So, we decided to spend the afternoon on the river! Took us a bit to walk there, but had a lot of fun. Took the dogs too, for their first swimming adventure.

 

Quinn playing in the water next to a little slithery friend. Look carefully, you'll fine him.