April happenings

Early morning with fifteen worms made by Sonia. Some are long, some fat, some short. We counted them many times in Russian and English.

Building a Dom (house) with Jenga blocks.

Going window shopping and getting in the midst of things...

Going Easter shopping and trying on hats and glasses.

Nice.

I love this combo ;-)

Then checking out the Dino at the Mall on the rainy day.

Sunshine Birthday Celebration

On Friday we kept busy whole morning with going to our music class, picking up Babulya and Larissa and finishing our birthday preparations. We planned to have a party outside but it was snowing that Friday so we moved inside.

I have to brag about making hamburgers the night before ;-) I had a half hour lecture from a local butcher on how to make them and I think we did pretty good job! Everyone at a party seemed to like our burgers and nearly thirty were gone!

Sonia took a big nap and my mom, Larisa, Jeremy and I made last preparations.

Then our guests started to arrive but Sonia was still sleeping. She finally woke and was surprised to see a house full of people and her favorite boons everywhere. Sonia just woke up ;-)

We played table games, sang Little Creek and Imeninu (Russian birthday song with actions and games) with all the kids.

Sonia's second cousin, Kaitlyn, is only six months older and we loved having her and her new sister over. Thanks for coming!

I like this photo ;-) We are playing a game Larissa brought all the way from Russia.

Jeremy had an excellent guard dog to help him with hamburgers. I think it was Jeremy's first independent barbecue and he did a great job!

Then we had an ice cream cake with a sparkling number TWO on it.

Sonia couldn't blow this candle up because it was like a little sparkler... but she loved all the sparking!

I am a bit proud once again because I made this sun cake.

Everything but the ice cream itself ;-) It tasted really good and Sonia was thrilled to find out that it was her favorite "ICE."

She was a little sad when I was cutting her sun cake... Mom, do we really have to share?

Sonia loved it!

Then we opened the presents. Thank you everyone for coming and for such wonderful gifts. Sonia loved the busy book from grandma and grandpa Lambs,

she playes with her little kitchen everyday from Kaitlyn, she loved the handmade woolen bear....

and certainly the toy CD player with Russian kid songs from Larissa,

Kaitlyn has one just like it so she was showing Sonia how to use it ;-)

Thank you, everyone, for coming and making our day so much fun! Oh, yeah at night after taking a bath, we played hide and seek in the bedroom curtains ;-)

I am so glad to have a two year old who gets out of the car seat all by herself now, eats her food with a spoon and comes with me everywhere I go! She truly brings joy and laughter to our little family. Let her light be bright and let us enjoy her company for many more birthdays!!

Birthday Bears

Sonia was waiting for Thursday to come. We all were excited to go to the Provo library and hear the Birthday Bears. She was full of anticipation since we have talked about it for a long time ;-)

Good Times -- second birthday day

Our little sunshine is TWO today!!!

We woke up at 7:30 am and had some strawberries with smoked salmon and bagels... thinking about papa who had to work since 6 am. Then we played dom and drew for a little bit. This picture took a lot of strokes and almost exhausted two bottles of paints. Zheltuj (yellow) i Sinij (blue) are Sonia's favorite colors right now. I used to love them when I was little too.

Then I saw Sonia training Mischa. She would tell him "Sit" just like her papa, then she would give him his dry food and tell him "Eat."

It was funny because Mischa never does anything for a treat. He loves verbal praise. So Sonia's trying to feed him was almost like teaching him to eat on command.

He didn't last too long... and then I asked Sonia to open her mouth... I guess she really loved sharing all things, even dry dog food.

Then we went to our weekly Bean museum story time and played with a huge tortoise, Otis.

After nap time, papa came home and we made carrot cake cupcakes with pineapple, raisins and nuts with home made cheese cream frosting.

Sonia loved painting them with a brush, sprinkling and decorating them with happy faces.

Finished cupcakes looked well decorated and tasted so good that they lasted only a few hours! Sonia loves Happys! We drew lots of happys on the cakes ;-)

We sang a Happy birthday song, Imeninu song and practised blowing off the candles many, many times.

Opening the presents was exciting.Sonia and papa enjoyed this Russian mozaika.

We got some new English and Russian books and a few other rather needful items. Then the Dains came downstairs to sing another round of Happy Birthday song and look at our new toys. Sonia blew her candles off all by herself for the first time!!! We played and played with new toys and a big box filled with popping stuffer! Such a fun and simple day ;-)

We listened to Happy Birthday wishes from Grandma and Grandpa Lamb. Talked to Babulya on the phone. Read the Elmo book, Go Dog Go and snuggled for a good night sleep.

We can't wait to see everyone on Friday for a good barbecue and some good birthday party fun!!

Poor puppy

Mischa struggled for survival this past week and we kept wondering if he was going to make it. About a week and half ago he got bit by a lab and his eye had to be treated with antibiotic shots and daily eye drops.

Then last Tuesday we went for a run. On the way back to the house after 4.5 miles a Sheltie (small Collie) attacked him. She was off the leash and Mischa was running on the leash with me. She bit him from head to tail. He didn't even make a sound, came home, stopped eating the next day. I called the vet he said to give him chicken bullion with some rice. Mischa ate it and we thought all was going to turn for the best. Well, little did we know. By Friday he was all swollen up and his front paw was a size of a football. I called the vet again and they told me to give him some aspirin because they thought he twisted his leg. On Saturday morning Jeremy asked me to take him to see a veterinarian.

We went to Riverwoods clinic. Such a blessing that they are opened on Saturdays!!! They did a great job diagnosing him. Mischa could hardly breath, couldn't stand up any longer but was wagging his tail and greeting everyone. High fever, no broken bones but the infection from the bites spread all over his body and his legs. He got a couple shots and ten days of antibiotic to take home.

Today Mischa weighs six lb less... poor puppy!!! Looks like skin and bones with muscles all gone. However he walks, eats well and uses his leg again. We hope he will recover soon.

By the way, Jeremy went to see the Sheltie owner and his wife opened the door. He told her what happened and the guy was like "Well." The wife replied "What is well." She shut the door, wrote us a check and we went on our way.

Belated Happy St. Patties Day!

We ventured out to the City Center playground that Tuesday. It is our favorite and someone shared some green bread with us.

Sonia thought it was way too delicious.

She munched it up.

So easy to eat green after all ;-)

Yummy Sunday dinner

I got up early to make a dinner for a company of eight last Sunday ;-) Irina, Jeff and their three kids enjoyed it and we had plenty of fun together.
Sasha and Katya let Sonia ride them... poor little Katya! She was way too small for this. Irina made a better ride for Katya ;-)
We sang some Russian karaoke songs and had a great time. Thanks for coming! After everyone was gone we had a crazy bubble bath with way too many bubbles.

Sonia was not all too sure about getting in...