Edgemont Extravaganza

The local elementary school raises money each year with fun activities and much to do even for a toddler. First Sonia had to ride a pony in a chariot.

She couldn't even wait until I got her tickets. She is still a bit afraid to ride in a saddle so a carriage ride was perfect.

Then we headed for some tumbling, sliding and jumping.

It took Sonia a couple times to figure out what to do and how to climb up. She learned how to climb stairs pretty quickly.

I went along with her through all the barriers and tumbles.

Watch out we are coming down! This slide was fast; we ended up on the ground.

After we went up and down a dozen times, Jeremy took over. It is good to have papa who doesn't get tired so quickly!

Jeremy did a better job at letting her go off all by herself.

But he was also good at watching that no other kids slide down on top of her. One two-year-old girl was hit by a much bigger kids while we were there. So these things do need some supervision. Sonia had so much fun with Kenai and got super tired.

Sonia also got her first cotton candy therefore a well needed new word "candy" was successfully reinforced in her mind. Now she asks if there will be any candy even when we drive to a canyon ;-)

Mill Creek Canyon

We dropped off Sonia at Babulya's and went for an adventure. Dogs are allowed here and on odd days they can go off leashes. It was Mischa heaven. He ran around and sniffed other dogs. He was still tired a day after this adventure. Mischa got two new titles beside the once he already possessed such as squishy face, cool dog, cute dog, wrinkly dog. The two of the day are "fat head" and "sick dog." We used to go on hikes every week in LA. I really miss that time and look forward when Sonia comes along with us. This time we hiked twelve miles and I feel like I could do it every other day. The view of Salt Lake was smoggy but quite interesting. We had our snacks towering above I-215 and then headed back before the sun set.

No work; celebrating the Earth day

What one should do when all work is cancelled? Well, of cause visit a zoo and have lots of fun. This morning we packed up a small lunch and went to see Hogle zoo in Salt Lake City for the first time. We also took Mischa with us. Getting there early got us a nice shady spot under a big tree.

Then off we went to see a discovery trail. Sonia went on foot everywhere and wouldn't stay in her stroller at all. First we saw baby ducklings and pelicans.

Then we stopped to take a picture with some monkeys. They were recently let out of their indoor winter facility so they cheerfully ran, hung on vines and jumped around.

Then we saw Slon or elephants. We had to stop and gaze at them for sometime.How can anyone ride carousel only once? Well, it was $2 so we had to limit ourselves to one ride this time.

We love to look at zebras because they've got stripes. They never hide but they do turn right when I snap this photo.

All cats are lazy including this big cougar; sleeping and enjoying the sun. I wonder if he ever thinks about the mountains next to the zoo, being free and running around or if he is just satisfyingly happy.

Papa and Sonia had a serious discussion about black bears eating their bear salad lunch

and they watched the bears very carefully.

Sonia noted summer penguins and later, at night, she wanted a penguin sleepy gown.

We talked about how tall giraffes are and watched them going in and out of their big garage door.

Choo Chooo!!!!! All on board!

What a fun little ride it turned into.

We saw some long horn sheep, turkeys, eagles, some pioneers, gold miners and many others. The train itself was very festive and fun.

At last papa and Sonia rolled the ball and had way too much fun!

On the way back we took Mischa to a dog park right across from the Zoo. Sonia climbed a huge mountain and was licked by a lab. We finished our day at babulya's home. Jeremy and I went to see the Earth movie. Happy Birthday to our Earth!

Lizzy the lizard

Once again we were lucky to see and touch Lizzy at story time in the Bean museum.

Here is how long Lizzy really is. Sonia got to touch her and she was not afraid!

Then we spent a good hour organizing shells at the gift shop. Getting them out of a bowl was a bit tricky...

but I think Sonia put more than thirty in a row, and they were all fun and different.

Then we had Kenai with us at the Orem story time. Sonia sat by him without mom, all by herself for the first time.

Snowy April

It was the most snow I have seen in Provo in the Spring time.

30'' fell upon Brighton in the last forty eight hours and it didn't take a long time for me to convince Jeremy that snow is not going to stick around for much longer. Jeremy had some of the most fun rides with lots of fresh powder at Brighton and an empty ski resort. He was first on the lift to ride up and stayed half a day... he was a bit tired when he walked through the door but that didn't matter.

We all had to go and play. First we took all three dogs with us on the short hike up to cemetery and didn't lose even one of them. Then we headed to a snowy playground.

Walking through the snow; our feet soon got wet.

Here are our prints: papa, Sonia, Mischa and mama on the side.But we kept going. That was fun ;-)

Throwing snow balls with papa on the ground on the way home.

Sonia was trying to get the biggest one.

Our mom and Sonia's Babulya

My mom was brought up and lived through times when work outside the home was the most important and recognized activity for a women. She chose differently. After receiving an education that could have allowed her to qualify for some of the best positions, she choose to have me. She was not a Latter Day Saint's then. I was born and she tried focusing on the little family that she had or me. Plus while I was sleeping at night, she earned a living by sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms for a few years.
Needless to say that this stream of events put her into a financial strain. She is not a kind of a person to ever ponder her situation or ask a question "What would I do if..." She knows she did the right thing and she continues to inspire me to do more with what I've got and not whine about the circumstances.
So precious is what she can do for us and her creativity.
This Easter my mom gave Sonia an Easter box with lots of colored feathers and wooden decorative egg. For a while I pondered what in the world am I to do with this egg... because I plainly dislike gifts of no use ;-) They are perfect subjects for being tossed out every time we move!
Well, Sonia loves to sort and count her feathers. She guards them against Mischa who loves to snitch one or two and chew them up while Sonia is not looking. And she always talks about Babulya and how much fun she had at her home looking for this little present. Thank you, Bulya!

Happy Easter

The bunny woke up and went to work. This was a morning of candy, taffies, malted eggs, chocolates and peeps to Sonia's full jubilee ;-)

Going fishing with papa and catching some good ones.

Then trying on matching aprons ;-)

I got a nice set of breakfast bowls and yellow cups from the bunny! The bunny brought some good books into Jeremy's and Sonia's baskets. All followed by our traditional breakfast with french toast, strawberries, blackberries, bananas and maple syrup.

Then Sonia and I worked on the making of an Easter bunny snack for my mom's dinner table. Here is what came out of the oven.

And here is how it all turned out at the party.

My mom made Russian traditional Easter cheese called Pas'ha or simply Easter in Russian.

It is a home-made farmer cheese with dried fruit and nuts that is most delicious!!! Sonia took her creative decoration apart quite soon and played with little chicks.

We had lots of fun making feathered eggs and learning how to glue things on. I wore my new summer dress but forgot to take a picture.

Then we had plenty of good food. Thank you, Mike for delicious ham and beans. Wonderful violin music by Larissa, a little dance by Sonia and just jolly good time!

Orem Easter Hunt

Last year I felt like Easter was unknown and unrecognized by most in NYC. In the grocery store while trying to find an Easter isle and asking an employee for help... I was disappointed to find out only unleavened bread and some other Passover, super kosher items.

This year we are in the heaven of Easter celebration or Orem, Utah where bunnies, candies, chicks and all other Easter characters are safely sold in most places.

Did I spend a little too much because of ease and convenience? Perhaps, but who knows where the next Easter awaits us.

Our early morn we raced to the Mountain View High and rushed to find East lawn where 0 to 3 were to hunt for the eggs.

It rained. Papa dropped us off and went to find parking. Some people were waiting more than thirty minutes even with babies in their arms. We got there about thirty second before it all started.

Then everyone went on the hunt and in about another thirty seconds the field was cleared up.

Here is Sonia's catch. She picked up everything that is in the basket all by her little self; there was no cheating at all.

It took her a few seconds to figure out what was going on but she did a great job. Sonia got a coveted by many three year olds egg with a potential prize in it, lots of candy and an envelope with great coupons. Then papa came and we told him how the hunt went. It kept on raining and raining.

At home we colored some Easter eggs. Jeremy said it was an exercise of patience.

Sonia had to learn that first you put the eggs into an egg bucket then you've got to wait, wait and wait.

Jeremy and I thought it was the most fun we've ever had... Only instead of getting vinegar, I accidentally bought some nice cooking wine; the bottle looked exactly the same and was next to all the vinegars on the shelf!! It didn't do much for the eggs ;-)It is amazing how much fun coloring eggs can be with a two year old! Right after we put them in the basket, Sonia had to eat her egg.

Jeremy said "I think this is the quickest I have ever eaten my eggs after coloring them!"