Post vacay recovery

Just got back from vacation in California last night. We had a great time, although the flying was exhausting despite the kids being awesome. It is SO much easier now to travel with the boys. No longer the anxiety producing nightmare it used to be, and no more packing tons of stuff to take with on the plane. Both kids take their backpacks with some books, snacks, and toys, and M takes the iPod, ipad and DVD player. And headphones. I take my kindle, purse and some magazines. We sat in the Samsung area at the Dallas airport, with comfy mod leather seats, dimmer lighting, and lots of plugs. Also right next to Starbucks.

Kids did a lot of climbing around at Joshua Tree, swam in the pool and Sam went for bike rides on his two wheeler! Everyone went for rides on the golf cart, and we saw all the African animals at The Living Desert, along with the sickest model train set-up I have ever seen. M and I went on a date to Okura, our favorite sushi place, and a nice lunch at the clubhouse out by the pond looking out at the mountains and desert. The kids were so good at the pool I slipped in the hot tub while we were there. My parents friends were lovely and welcoming for Thanksgiving, as usual, and as usual we stayed longer than I thought.

It's nice to be home, as the day before we left we closed on our new farmhouse. It's from 1730, has a barn, almost three acres and is around the corner from our current house in another world sort of way. Today was the first day we got to take the kids over to run around. They were totally out of control, but fortunately we have some work to do on the house, so they'll have time to get used to it. Dreams of chickens and large gardens dancing in my head. Jet lag recovery is going well, and will be even better tomorrow when the kids go back to school. Hanukkah is around the corner, and Christmas soon after, so the Christmukkah shopping will begin shortly.

Waiting for Lovely Neighbors to bring dinner for our Sunday night ritual. Remind me to tell you about LB's birthday party coming up in a few weeks...