Amy's Year Off





Some of you know that I've been looking for a full time job which means that my time staying at home will soon be over.  I wanted to reflect on the past 16 months that I had off of work where I got to do a lot of great things.

 

I got to experience life as a stay-at-home mom which I’ve concluded is the hardest job EVER.  But, it definitely was rewarding and fun to get to spend so much time with the kids:  taking Ashley to Gymboree and farmer’s markets, taking Jimmy to Tae Kwon Do and swimming and having play dates.

Here's Ashley riding her brother's bike and doing her "smile".

Jimmy now is a  brown belt in Tae Kwon Do.  The classes have helped so much with his coordination, discipline and overall ability to focus.

We took my mom for her first trip to Hawaii July of 2011.  Here's us going para sailing!

We took the kids to visit my parents in Shanghai in February 2012.  Pete had some business in Japan so he and I spent a week in Tokyo by ourselves.

My mom taught Jimmy to do the peace sign and he now has to do it for almost every photo opportunity.  Like a true Chinese tourist.

Winter of 2011, I took up golf and took classes with Sandy at a gorgeous public course in Palos Verdes.  Here's Pete and I at Terranea Resort for my first time playing on a golf course.  (sorry East Coast friends, this picture was taken during "winter" in LA)

Summer of 2012, we were so lucky to have Teresa, Alex and baby Graysen stay with us for a month and a half.  It was fun having a tiny baby in the house!

Jimmy said several times "I like Graysen more than Ashley because he doesn't hit me or touch my things and he is smaller and cuter."

 Jimmy took a Chinese class over the summer - here's a video clip from their "graduation".

Having a playdate with Sammie at Art Zone (she is also a good Chinese tourist).

Jimmy was so happy to get to hang out with his best buddy Arjun this past summer, especially because they are now going to different elementary schools. As you can see, Jimmy has influenced his friends to do the peace sign too.

We found a wonderful daycare for Ashley.  Gladys is the sweetest lady in the world and the kids have a great time with her.  Ashley does art, plays with friends and animals and learns Spanish!

Gladys will send me pictures of Ashley every day she has her to show what they're up to that day.

On April 1st 2012, I decided to start P90X (and Pete and Michael did it with me as well).  When I completed that program, I started and finished Insanity.  I've watched these infomercials and never thought I could do this but I did.  They send you an Insanity T Shirt when you complete the program - this is one of the most prized pieces of clothing that I own.

Shaun T. and Tony Horton are my motivators and torturers.  I both love and hate them (but mostly love because they've helped me get strong and fit and be able to do 50 push ups).  Our friends Derek and Christine also offered me so much support and encouragement - I couldn't have gotten through this without them.   The next step of my fitness journey: Asylum!!

 

We took a Disney cruise Oct. 2012 (separate post to come) - it is going down in Huh Family History as the best vacation EVER (so far)!

 

Okay, before you view this video of my naked kids, know that ever since Jimmy saw Madagascar, he's been singing the tune of "I like to move it move it" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoNkfOHBzQk  with the words "I like to naked naked".  Usually, he likes to be naked (but with underwear on) and Ashley has learned it and wants to do it too.  This song and dance took place in our room on the Disney cruise.

 

Both Pete and I signed up for a lot of volunteering at Jimmy's elementary school. I am part of the Green Program which will be launching a recycling initiative with the students and at the school. Our goal is to lower the number of trash bags thrown out by the school per day from 16 down to 2. We also hope the students will carry the good habits they learn in school to their homes. As part of the Green Program training, we visited the Punte Hills Land Fill where 13 TONS of trash go each day. It was overwhelming and scary to see how much trash we generate (and this is only one of the several land fills in LA).

I am also the Art Docent for Jimmy's class.  We have 6 formal art classes a year through an organization called Hands On Art that provides training for us to then go and teach the art class to the kids.  It is SO MUCH fun for me to be doing art again and fun to share my love of art with Jimmy and his class.