Shilpa & James
Meet the family
Kusum Bothra
Shilpa's Mom
Kusum is persistent, strong, and always puts her daughters before everything else. She loves to learn and studies everything from religion to English - which she knows the basics for but is still building her knowledge and confidence! She is the official family date-keeper (birthdays, anniversaries for the entire family) and if anyone says they like a particular dish, rest assured, they will get a LOT of that dish every time she sees them.
Sanjay Bothra
Shilpa's Dad
Sanjay is a kid at heart and very resilient. He has worked hard all his life to give his family everything they needed to be successful, even running behind Shilpa every morning to feed her breakfast until she was 15! A self-taught English speaker and a social butterfly, Sanjay was recently voted as the "backbone" of their apartment complex - he has a knack for bringing people together!
Sweta Bothra
Shilpa's Sister
Although Sweta is technically the elder sister, she has also played the role of 'second mom' throughout Shilpa's life -- ensuring Shilpa stayed in line while they were both studying in Bangalore. Sweta has been always there when Shilpa needs her, from shopping for pajamas to making career decisions, and is the best elder sister Shilpa could ever have!
Preetham
Shilpa's Brother-in-Law
Preetham is the nicest, silliest, and most lovable person you will ever meet. He has a "guy" for everything in India (e.g. food, drink, land, apartments, sugarcane, car parts, etc.) and is an amazing storyteller and salesperson. The Bothra family is grateful to have him as he takes our craziness to the next level. Also, good luck trying to match his energy on the dance floor (or anywhere else)!
Mary Souza
James' Mom
Mary is a wonderful mother and the best Nana to her grandchildren! She is an inspiration for many and always puts family first. And she is an excellent cook, makes a mean Mai-tai, and her Irish coffee will have you speaking with an accent and telling tales about County Cork.
Rick Souza
James' Dad
Rick's many talents include spontaneously breaking into song and dance, grilling foods of all sorts, fixing anything that needs fixing, telling stories about the olden days in Hawaii, and being the cutest Papa to his grandchildren. Rick has taught us all the value of hard work and creating fun family memories together!
David Souza
James' Eldest Brother
Dave is always up on the latest happenings for our favorite PNW sports teams (Seahawks, Zags, Mariners), has never seen a Seinfeld episode he couldn't quote, and is in his happy place while relaxing with family in Hawaii (with a hearty portion of fresh poke at his side). Dave is such a fun and silly uncle to his niece and nephew (even if it means ketchup coffee tastings), and has always been an amazing role model to James and the rest of the family!
Matthew Souza
James' Elder Brother
Matt is a ringer on the golf course, a dedicated negotiator in any situation (and we mean ANY), and a skilled remember-er of old song lyrics. It has been a pleasure to see Matt grow from being a brother to a husband, and now to a Dad to Avi. James, Matt, and Dave are always having conversations about sports and playing catch with random objects no matter where we go, but they seem to enjoy it!
Malia Mapston
James' Sister
Malia is by far the most thoughtful gift-giver in the Souza family and is endlessly supportive and welcoming! She is a loyal Kirkland Signature customer, a sunrise Lanikai hiker, a frequent user of blow dryers to stay warm, and has always been the smarter, cooler, and stronger elder sister to James. P.S. James is looking forward to his 6 pack of apple sauce :)
Deedee Souza
James' Sister-in-Law
DeeDee is the most easy-going and welcoming person! She brings the chill factor in any and all situations. She is a great baker (makes a delicious and swift batch of cookies), decisive when necessary (we need that a lot), and the ultimate person to have a drink with. Cheers to DeeDee - we are so glad to have her in our life.
Rylie Mapston
James' Niece
Rylie is Malia's daughter and is the kindest, most helpful, patient, and most generous seven-year-old. You can always trust her to be your helper girl for all sorts of chores - baking sugar cookies or pies, organizing, cleaning, and counting pine needles. She is such a joy to be around.
Avi Souza
James' Nephew
Avi is Matt and Deedee's son and it is the cutest toddler on the block. His latest fascination is trucks of all sorts and his favorite word is "excavator". He is a hilarious kid and we may just see "Super Avi" or "Spinning Avi" or "Astronaut Avi" on the dance floor.