We returned yesterday from a great week at the Temecula Farmhouse with my in-laws, Chris, Victoria and Maddy. I’d heard a lot about the vineyards in Temecula, but had never been there. It’s gorgeous wine country … and so close (only about two hours’ drive away). The farmhouse was situated in a valley about 15 miles from the highway. Every window afforded a breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and vineyards. There was a lot of land for Atari and Murphy (my in-laws’ dog) to run around on, and the three-story, five-bedroom farmhouse provided all nine of us with the right amount of privacy and common space.

Some shots of the interior and exterior of the farmhouse.

We all had a fantastic time and ate too much. Jack and Maddy particularly enjoyed running around together. Of course they had the typical “learning to share” moments, but it was adorable to watch them play little pretend games and chase each other through the house while squealing with delight. Derek and Atari also loved all the outdoor play space.

Christmas morning was lots of fun, of course. We had already given Jack and Derek their big Santa gift (a play kitchen), but they still had plenty of other things to open at the farmhouse.

I got some great stuff, too, including a Keurig mini personal brewer (yay!) and cute new pajamas from Pink. Oh, and Johnny also got me three new Mickey vinylmation figurines from the holiday collection! Very exciting. We spent the rest of Christmas Day chilling with the kids, playing horseshoes, and eating the yummiest dinner ever, prepared by my father-in-law. Johnny’s cousin, Patrick, and his wife, Kelly, joined us for the meal. I also got to play some Christmas carols on the farmhouse piano.

Jack and I playing with his new Moon Dough “pizza making” kit; Johnny and I on the porch that extended all the way along the main floor.

My mother-in-law, Victoria and Maddy; my father-in-law and I playing Christmas carols together.

Jack accompanying us on Maddy’s “flute”

Now we’re back and unpacked, and today my in-laws arrive (they spent the night in San Diego after leaving the farmhouse yesterday) to stay for three weeks. Tonight we’re doing New Year’s Eve dinner with my parents and June, so that should be fun. I’m looking forward to 2011 — no resolutions, just a pledge to make this year the best it can be!

Edited to add: I just realized that my Christmas Day outfit is the same as the outfit I was wearing in one of the pics from my previous entry. I promise I do have more than one special outfit!

We had a very busy, but fun, weekend. I may be in the minority here, but I love the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Even jostling the crowds while out grocery or gift shopping makes me feel festive! (Well, most of the time.) And I love how everyone wants to get together and is generally more social around this time of year.

Friday night, Chris, Victoria and Maddy came over to spend the night. We had dinner, some wine and some chocolate-covered strawberries after the kids went to bed. While Johnny and Chris played their nerdy role-playing card games or whatever it is they’re doing (sorry, guys, your secret is out!), Victoria and I talked. We had so much fun that we forgot to take pictures! It was adorable to watch Jack and Maddy playing together. Jack was really excited about his cousin coming. He helped me set up the travel toddler bed, and even flipped down the blanket on top of the bed so that “Maddy would know how to get in the bed.” Saturday morning, we pigged out on monkey bread (curses to my friend Ann for introducing us to that stuff. If there were a way for me to transfer five pounds from my hips directly to yours, I would!). It was a cold and rainy day — perfect for huddling up indoors and eating fatty foods with loved ones. Ha!

Saturday morning, after Chris and Vic left, I went for a three-mile run. It was drizzling slightly, but it felt fantastic to run in that weather. I didn’t feel all hot and sweaty, and the light rain was refreshing. I almost didn’t want to stop, but well, it was close to lunchtime by the time I finished, and we all know that food comes first! While the kids napped after lunch, I went out to run some errands. By the time I came back, it was time to prepare for our second round of guests. Donna, Scott, Madi and baby Josh (same age as Derek) came over for a laid-back dinner of pizza, wings and beer (obviously, no beer for the kids. LOL). Again, not sure what I was doing, but I forgot to take pictures!!! Derek and Josh were adorable, toddling around together. After they left, Johnny and I rolled ourselves to the couch and caught up on our DVR’d shows.

Sunday morning, it was time for me to pay for my digressions from healthy eating. I went to the brand-new Bar Method studio in Palos Verdes (I cannot even say how beyond excited I am that they’re now 10 minutes from my house!). My friend Kanako joined me. No one else was signed up for the 9:30 a.m. class (I guess if you don’t have kids, 9:30 a.m. is early?! I vaguely remember those days), so she and I got a private lesson. I was OK with the arm toning exercises (my arms and calves are pretty toned, from lifting the kids and from running, respectively), but oh, man, the thigh work and ab work killed me. I am still sore today. Then again, that’s the beauty of Bar Method … since running does nothing for your inner thighs and abs, I need this class! It yielded such great results for me when I was going to the West LA studio, but after 2.5 years, I’m afraid I’m starting back at square one. That’s OK, though … now there’s a studio close to me again. It’s pricey, but I’m going to put some of my tutoring money toward it, and go on weekend mornings. After class, Kanako and I hobbled over to the Starbucks across the way and chatted for an hour or so over coffee. Then I ran a couple of errands before heading home to join Johnny and the kids for lunch (a very healthy meal of, uh, leftover pizza). While the boys napped, I went over to my mom’s house to practice Christmas carols on the piano. (Where we’re going for Christmas — more on that later — there’s a piano, and even though I played for 12 years, I’m quite rusty these days, so I’ve been practicing at night after tutoring — from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. — and on weekends.)

Then it was home to chill with the fam until the boys went to bed. Look at my adorable boys!

It was rainy and we couldn’t go outside, but Johnny and I kept the boys entertained by chasing them through their new tent. At one point, Johnny went out to the comic book store, and the boys and I used the time to make Christmas presents. (Well, they made Christmas presents while I supervised.)

After the boys went to bed, I went out to a moms night out “date” with my friend Tomomi. We had a four-course meal at the Melting Pot. I love fondue!

Here I am with Tomomi during our cheese fondue appetizer course. Mmmmmmmmm.

I think I must have ingested 10,000 calories on Sunday alone. So perhaps the Bar Method class didn’t do as much good as it could have. But when New Years rolls around, I’m back on the wagon! I’m going to Bar Method again on Thursday (Johnny’s not working that day), in an effort to combat the massive calories I’m going to ingest over Christmas.

Tonight, my dad comes back from Taiwan for the holidays. Charles is also arriving on the same flight. He’s been working in China since October. We’re all excited to see him, but of course June is most thrilled! Tomorrow night, we’re all going to my dad’s company Christmas party. Should be a fun time. And then starting Thursday, Johnny is off of work until January 3! It’s our year to spend Christmas with my in-laws, and Chris, Vic and Maddy. Since both of our families have little kids, Johnny’s parents rented an awesome vacation house down in Temecula, which is a manageable drive for us and Chris’ family. We’ll be there for a week. Since it’s no one’s house, it will be very relaxing (no one has the stress of hosting). After that, my parents-in-law will be staying with us for three weeks (which means delicious wines and help with the boys!). So, some fun times coming up. I’ll try to update and comment regularly!

It’s been so long since I’ve updated my blog that I almost forgot my Xanga password! These days, thanks to the boys and Facebook, I rarely feel the urge to blog, and I’ve seriously considered just deleting my Xanga account (or at least stopping altogether, even if I keep the page up). But, in the end, there are some things that are too wordy to share on Facebook, and more importantly, blogging friends whom I miss. So, here I am with a long-overdue update, mostly about the funny things Jack says (“Jackisms”) and some pictures (all of which are also on Facebook).

OK, the Jackisms. Some of you know from personal experience that Jack talks from the moment he wakes up to the moment he falls asleep at night. He loves to provide a running commentary, and some of the things he says are hilarious. I’d hate to forget them all, so I’m going to document some of my favorites.

Johnny: Hey, Jack, I got some chili cheese fries!
Jack: Oooh! [Eats some. Pause.] Hey! These aren’t chili cheese fries! They’re warm fries!

Jack: [Looking at a picture of me from when I was pregnant with Jack] Look, your belly is big!
Me: Yeah, do you know why?
Jack: Yes, that’s because I was inside your belly! [Lots of giggles]
Me: That’s right! I was pregnant.
Jack: [Pats my stomach] And now you’re not pregnant, so your belly’s not big anymore! [Pause, then puts his hand on my chest.] But wait, you’re still pregnant here! You have a baby inside your chest!

Nice lady at Trader Joe’s to Jack: Here’s a sample of sparkling blueberry juice for you!
Jack: Blueberry juice?! Can I have it?
Me: Yes.
Jack: [Takes a sip, then spits it out and screams] Oh, no! What’s happening in my mouth?! This is SPICY! I don’t like it!

[While watching a video of a mother bird feeding her baby birds]
Jack: Awww, the mommy bird is so nice. She’s feeding her babies!
Me: Yeah! Does it remind you of anything?
Jack: Yes! [Turns around on my lap to look at me sweetly]
Me: What? [Thinking that Jack's about to say something really nice about me]
Jack: It reminds me that our bird feeder is empty! We need to put food in it!

Finally (well, not finally, but the last one I remember), last night, as Jack snuggled on the couch with Susy while Johnny and I attended a holiday party:
Jack: [Patting Susy's chest] What’s that?
Susy: It’s a breast.
Jack: Huh? [Side note: He has seen me topless plenty of times, and I have told him that women have breasts!]
Susy: All women have them. Your mommy has them, too.
Jack: No she doesn’t! [Ahh, the blows that a three-year-old can deliver to your self-esteem!]

I’ll share more as he comes up with them. Now, for those pictures!

In November, Johnny participated in Movember (mustache-growing contest to raise money for men’s cancer research). The results were hilarious (this was his final trident-stache):

Johnny and the boys being adorable

Jack and Maddy at Maddy’s birthday party last month

Derek’s really becoming quite the expressive (and mobile) little man!

Johnny and I at his work holiday party last night at Pink Taco in Century City
 

In terms of general updates, the biggest news is that Johnny left Mattel in late November to go to Spin Master, a competitor toy company located in West LA. He was recruited to be a Senior Marketing Manager there, and while it was definitely a difficult decision to leave the Mattel job (which he loved, and which was great for him), he’s very excited about toys he’s managing at Spin Master. I’m very proud of him — in just 2.5 years since graduating with his MBA, Johnny’s really made a lot of strides in his career.

On the home front, the boys keep me on my toes. I love being with them. Even when they’re being a handful, I’m glad I’m the one dealing with it, instead of some paid stranger. (At least I have motivation not to harm them! They can be quite frustrating when they want to be! LOL. But, most of the time, they are well-behaved.) I’ve really enjoyed watching Jack and Derek’s relationship blossom — it’s amazing to see. They share (most of the time), and they’re beginning to really play together. I’m still tutoring three evenings a week. I did have a fourth night, but that student recently took his SATs, so we’re done. I think I’ll keep it at three evenings a week for now — as much as I enjoy both mommying and tutoring, it’s tiring to go from 12 hours with the kids to two or more hours of tutoring.

That’s about it for now … I’ll try to post more often!