Spring is Here??? The countdown continues!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Happy Easter! From all of us here in the chilly Northeast! Where the hell is Spring?!! We have snow predicted for tonight and the warmest day we've had in three weeks was 47. The Weatherman called it a springlike day! Spring my ass! St. Paddy's day and Easter were quite chilly for us this year. Winter coats and mittens were worn by all. The Avramov's have had a very interesting and busy two months since last I wrote. In February, I stepped outside my box (way out) and agreed to take ski lessons with Isabella. Teddy has been skiing since he was a little boy, granted he has not done any since living in the flat hills of Missouri. Until now, I have never so much as entertained the idea of skiing. Ever since we decided to move I had thought I would reinvent myself a bit, try new things, "step out of my box". You know, moving 1000 miles just wasn't enough. So the first Sunday in February we all showed up for Isabella's and my first ski lesson. I swear it was like some crazy Chevy Chase movie. Teddy signed us up for a 4 week class. We arrived and were fitted for our skis and sent to meet our instructor(s). Well, first of all, if you've never been on skis it is very difficult just to stand your first time much less move. We were falling down before we even got to the slopes. Then we had to line up with our class and it's me with eight 4, 5, and 6 year olds and our wonderful instructors who probably weren't quite old enough to drive. (When your through laughing I'll go on.) They put us first timers on a giant conveyor belt to get to the top. Thank God we didn't have to get on the lift or I'm sure someone may have died (most likely me). We got to the top and our nice young instructors requested that we ski down toward them (about 5 feet) and they would catch us. Did they realize I'm not 5 years old and 40 pounds? In the mean time Isabella kept falling and couldn't get up and she's crying and asking for my help but I can't help her, I can't even stay up. She yelling. "I hate this! I hate skiing! I want to go home!" And all the other little munchkins are crying, falling or eating the snow. I immediately kick into Mom mode and am making sure everyone is alright and telling some to stop eating the yucky snow. Isabella never did get her lesson because Teddy came and took her so that I could concentrate. I did manage to attempt to ski and good to his word, my instructor, Chris, did catch me. Although once or twice I took him down with me. I spent most of the day on my butt and the next day in pain. I was beginning to think this wasn't such a brilliant idea, but you know how stubborn I am. The next week we were right back, I was determined that I was going to ski, goddamnit! The next weeks we arranged to have private lessons just Bella and I and we were lucky enough to get Chris to ourselves. At the risk of sounding like an 85 year old Grandma, Chris was certainly a nice young man with the patience of Job. Isabella did not want anything to do with him, because "he wasn't in our family" ( I would have adopted him if I could) but he tried anyway and he was great with me. He never made me feel old or horrible and in the end I was skiing well and getting on and off the lift and having a blast! Bella learned to like skiing as well, thanks to her Daddy and she did great!






















Our little ski bunny before and after!
















We have been busy with other things besides skiing. We've also done a lot of shoveling and sledding. I, too, got to try out the new snowblower. I have to admit it was fun, but don't tell Teddy! I only did it cause I had to (he was out of town). I don't want to add yet another job to my work load. I also painted the dining room in February. You can see a little of it in the first picture on the blog. The top half is a deep wine red and the bottom half is white. I'm really happy with it. Next I promised Bella I would paint her room. I'm currently procrastinating. In March we finally found a Dentist and Bella went to her first real appointment. Last year she cried and refused to even sit in the chair or let the dentist near her. This year she did great and everything was fine. Not so much for Teddy and I. I had to have my old fillings replaced ( I only had two) and a new one put in. I was also told that I am grinding my teeth so bad at night he's afraid I am going to crack the enamel (tell me something I don't know) Teddy has to have six fillings done and we are also looking at him having to have some intense orthodontic work done that we have put off for a long time, because we couldn't afford it. Even though we love our new dentist, when this month is over we hope not to see him for at least six more months!


By the way I finally met my eight mile goal the first Sunday in March! 8 miles in 79:40. I was so proud of myself! I felt no pain before, during or after! Now that I've met that distance goal I must say I feel no urge to go further at this point. Don't worry there are no marathons in my future. I am not a masochist. I love running and I don't want to hate it. So I've set a new speed goal to work toward, an 8:00 mile. Right now I'm comfortable at 10:00 and I could do 9:00 if I push it, so we will see.

In February Teddy and I began planning a trip to Italy in May for our anniversary. Teddy been wanting to take me somewhere for our 10th anniversary since our 7th. We have chosen Italy. With the guidance of Mandi and her parents we've come up with a pretty good itinerary and have booked our flight, hotels and car. We will start in Rome for a few days (do you think the Vatican will crumble when I walk through the gates?!) . Then on to the Tuscany/Umbria region, where we will stay in a castle for the rest of the trip and just take day trips to Florence, Assisi, Siena, Modena and anyplace else that catches our fancy. By the way this is a parents only trip! My parents will be coming for Bella's birthday and will stay with her the 10 days we are gone. She is very excited!

Bella is very excited about her birthday, as well. Against my better judgment we will not be having home party this year (it to hard with us leaving for a trip) so she is getting her wish for a small party at the zoo. It's actually a very reasonable price at our small zoo here. They provide lunch , an ice cream cake, favors, a game, a craft and a meet and great with an animal (she is most excited by this). They gave her a choice of a bird, a turtle, a lizard or a snake. While the lady thought, like most girls, she would pick a bird or turtle, she doesn't know my girl. Yes, Isabella requested the snake and she cannot wait! She told me yesterday she would like a snake to kiss her on the lips and wake her up in the morning. Her favorite shows are Zoboomafoo and Bindi the Jungle girl. These are wildlife show for kids. Everyday we are told new and interesting facts about all kinds of animals. She would really like to visit India to see tigers, elephants and cheetal deer. She also informed me that "rhinoceros' have very poor eyesight, that's why their ears are so important." She is forever rescuing and giving Seamus and her stuffed animals check-ups. Poor Seamus, when he's not being poked and prodded he's a coyote or a wild dingo from Austrailia. He sure is a good sport!

We celebrated our first St. Patrick's Day in Syracuse. They brag that they have the 2nd largest parade per capita in the country. Well, having the largest doesn't make it the best. We really missed the St. Louis Dogtown parade. We had our traditional dinner and I made brown bread and irish soda bread as usual. It was still a "grand, lovely day" .

On Easter, our neighbors, Isabelle and Celine invited us over for Easter Brunch and a giant easter egg hunt (Isabelle had filled approx. 246 eggs, no, I'm not kidding!). We had a fantastic time! Isabelle, her sister Sophie and I hid the eggs and the kids had a ball. We enjoyed a great meal and got completely stuffed. After brunch Teddy misakenly challenged Isabelle to a game of Fussball. She totally kicked his butt! (over and over!) It was great! I loved it! I know your thinking, "nice, supportive wife, Kari", but you don't understand. Teddy wins at everything! It was finally nice to see him taken down a notch, especially by a woman! Isabelle, you Rock!
















The day before Easter I attempted something I had wanted to try for years, to make Bulgarian easter bread (I've been afraid of the yeast). Teddy's Baba Panka made the best easter bread. So I gave it a shot and I thought I was going to give myself an ulcer (again with the yeast). I was so paranoid about the temperature and the bread raising. Despite my worrying it came out great! Almost as good as Baba Panka's. I 'm so proud of myself, baking yeast bread, skiing, mastering the snowblower, running 8 miles! What's next?! Maybe ruling the world, who knows!

Last time I wrote was right before Super Tuesday! What an exciting day for me! I voted for the first time in New York and found I hate New York primaries. We have closed primaries here in New York, and by closed I mean closed! You have to register for a party when you register to vote. I already knew I was voting Democrat so I just marked that box, but Teddy, who doesn't like to affliate himself with any party checked independent. Well, independents can't vote in the primary in New York unless you reregister and that must be done 4 months prior to the primary! What if you haven't decided in October who your going to vote for in February?! So Teddy couldn't vote! Some democratic system! I was proud to see I finally voted the same way as my former home state (for the first time ever!) Unfortunately, my new home state didn't see it my way! I also made my first campaign contribution this month and even got a t-shirt to support my candidate! Teddy's just praying I don't wear it in public when I'm with him. Even if he agrees with me (I don't know if he does), he is so worried about other people knowing or thinking they know who he supports. Not , me I don't care what others think!! This is America! I'm proud of my choice! People have fought for us to have these choices, even if in previous elections the choices sucked, at least we had a choice! So get out and vote for somebody, anybody! If you don't vote you have no right to bitch! (I'm gonna put that on a t-shirt.) That's the end of my rant, I'll get off my soapbox now! Except to point out, did anyone else notice what high priced taste our former govenor has!? It makes me so proud to be a New Yorker!


I hope everyone is well! I probaly won't write more until after our trip in May, by then I'll have Italy pictures, Bella's dance recital, kindergarten orientation and birthday to tell you all about and hopefully the democrats willhave a nominee! I look forward to hearing from any of you! Enjoy your spring (we will, if it ever gets here) and the rest of this loooong primary season! My love to everyone!



299 days left of a Bush White House!


Go get 'em Obama! *
* disclaimer: these views do not necessarily reflect those of my husband*


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