It's All Fun & Chaos With The Awerbuck Family!

“My husband, Joel, and I have two wonderful kiddos: Annabelle (5) and Jack (3). They ensure there's never a dull or quiet moment in our house—impromptu dance parties and dramatic plot twists over who had the toy first. They play beautifully together, but we also spend a good chunk of the day in referee mode. The tantrums are real, the negotiations intense—but the love is louder!”
 
“We have a dog named Lucy, an Aussie Bernedoodle mix. She's our fur child—endless energy and a big personality to match. At the end of the day, she's the kids' best friend and our resident couch cuddler.”
 
 Who We Are
"Joel is from Toronto. He has classic Canadian charm—super polite and a deep love for winter sports and hockey. I hale from Rhode Island—small state, big personality, and a direct, no-BS attitude that's very Boston-adjacent. We’re a fun mix: Joel softens the edges, and I sharpen the points. Together, we balance each other out in the best way.”
 
“Joel and I met the modern way—online dating in L.A., a little later in life while we were both deep in our careers. We just celebrated our 8th anniversary, which is basically golden jubilee status in online dating years!”

“When we first moved to Monterey, Joel started as a hospitalist at CHOMP. A few years ago, he founded a post-acute care practice that provides physician and nurse practitioner services to skilled nursing facilities. I used to work in technology, but now I've joined forces with Joel to help manage Solomon Medical.”

Hobbies and Fun
“We love to travel—at least, we used to! These days, traveling with little ones turns every trip into an adventure… or a sitcom episode. We’ve been leaning into road trips, Tahoe for skiing or down to L.A. to visit old friends. With Joel’s Canadian roots and my New England upbringing, snow is practically in the family DNA. The kids are learning to ski, making Tahoe the perfect mix of adventure, fresh air, and chaos. Our kids are so happily wiped out by the end of the day, they’re snoring by bedtime."

“Joel's been playing guitar since he was a kid and enjoys playing to unwind. I can’t sing or play anything... but I can dance, which is equally important in our household. The kids have a keyboard, drum set, and a mini guitar, so we regularly host family jam sessions that sound like a garage band colliding with a toddler birthday party. It’s loud, chaotic, and perfect."

“We’re members at Pasadera, where we both enjoy tennis and have recently taken up golf—two activities Joel and I are hoping to grow old doing together."
 
“Both of our kids have worked with Kerri Williams at ISR Monterey Bay—Annabelle could float on her back at 10 months, and now she’s swimming like a little mermaid. We can’t recommend that program enough, it’s such an important foundation for water safety."

“Annabelle also takes ballet and just wrapped up her first musical production at ARIEL Theatrical. On the other hand, Jack has been obsessed with golf since he was two. He’s still too young for lessons but give him a club and a ball and he’s in heaven.”
 
Family Traditions
“We’re Jewish, and one tradition we really cherish is celebrating Shabbat. With how busy life gets—especially juggling work and two kids—Shabbat gives us a much-needed 24 hours to slow down, unplug, and just be present with each other. It’s our weekly reset button, and honestly, it's sacred in more ways than one."

“Despite our best efforts to raise adventurous eaters, our kids remain loyal to the trinity of kid cuisine: pasta, pizza, and chicken nuggets. Getting them to try new foods is an ongoing mission! Joel and I are trying to stick to an anti-inflammatory diet, though we’re not above indulging when the occasion calls for it. Balance, right? No matter how hectic things get, we make a huge effort to sit down for dinner together every night. It’s our daily reset—a little chaos, a lot of chatter, and honestly, the best part of the day."

Postcard Perfection
“We moved to Las Palmas II in December 2022, but we’ve been in the Monterey area since 2020—we made the move from L.A. during the pandemic. There’s something magical about living here. Driving down Highway 68, River Road, and up Las Palmas Parkway—especially in the spring when everything is lush and green—makes you feel like you're in a postcard."