Sula is walking! ...with a little assistance

Enjoy these two videos I took this morning. She is so close to walking on her own!

Minnesota Summer

It has been one very busy weekend.

On Friday, Sula was teething and grumpy. I needed to find something, anything to keep her entertained, so we went to the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. This trip, our key destination was the petting zoo farm where there are goats, sheep, cows, and pigs to play with. Sula was in heaven and made friends with the goats instantly. It was such a funny sight to see her interact with them, grabbing their fur and putting her fingers up their noses. The goats didn't seem to care one bit, they just think all the kids are there to feed them.

Then again on Saturday morning, Sula was grumpy (new teeth coming) and we needed to get her out of the house. So off to the zoo we went again, this time with Corey. It sure was a smart thing to buy a family zoo pass this spring. The goats lifted Sula's mood and we all had a good time walking around the zoo. Later that afternoon we went for a bike ride with Mike Olson using the new Burley trailer. Off to the Pumphouse Creamery for some ice cream cones! I tried their new blueberry buttermilk flavor while Corey went for the standard strawberry. We ran into David Hines (Corey's uncle) on the bike trail along Lake Nokomis, it seems like everyone was out on this beautiful summer day.

Today we spent the day playing catch-up on house chores. I went to the St. Paul farmers market and brought home way too many vegetables. What in the world am I going to do with Chinese summer spinach? We also painted the windows on the north side of our house. Something that has been bothering me for a while, what a relief to get that done. And the laundry is almost done. Oh and Sula tried corn on the cob for the first time and loved it. Wheww I am beat but it sure was one fantastic weekend.

Summer Time Pictures

Check out Sula's new ride

A few weeks ago we got a Burley bike trailer so that we could go on bike rides as a family.

Help! We need a translator.

What do you think she is saying?

"Papa, can we please get a goat?"

Sula and I escaped to the Minnesota Zoo this afternoon. She fell in love with the goats at the petting zoo and called the grizzly bear a kitty cat. So cute.

Letting the goats suck her finger.

Sula pointing at the bear.

Miss Independent

"No, I can do that myself thank you!"

Sula is no longer interested in other people feeding her. Her favorite foods right now are:

goldfish

graham crackers

ginger cats from TJs

butter crackers

toast

cucumbers

hemp milk

rice milk

apple sauce

oatmeal

pickles

ice cream

We are working on getting her to eat more fruits and vegetables on her own but she is not impressed with the texture. I tried to give her little bites of fresh peach this morning and she threw it on the floor. Same with sweet potatoes, carrots, banana, etc... She really loved those things pureed but now that she wants to feed herself she isn't interested. Sula is enjoying things that are crunchy and drinking from a straw. Foods we introducing now include:

kefir

goat milk

peas

pieces of meat

pasta

A trip to Snail Lake

Last Saturday afternoon we took a trip to Snail Lake in Shoreview. Sula really enjoyed playing in the sand and playing in the water. She's such a water baby!

Sula and her pool

Last Friday, I got the kiddi pool out for Sula. She couldn't even wait to get the pool set up outside. Watch this cute video.

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Sula loves homemade pickles

The cucumbers are ready to pick from the garden! I grew three different types this year, a dwarf pickling, a slicer (has a sweeter, thin skin that is great for snacking), and an asian long variety. For the past two weeks I have been picking baby cucumbers and putting them in a home-made brine composed of salt, apple cider vinegar, dill, garlic, and all spice. I let them sit in the fridge for about 2 or 3 days and then snack away. Given the limited amount of time I have to do just about anything, refrigerator pickles provide instant gratification. One of these days I will learn how to preserve pickles using a hot bath.

Cucumber trellis in the garden.

Sula enjoying a plain cucumber.

"Plain or pickled, hummmm." Sula thinks hard about this decision (the pickle is in her right hand and the plain cucumber in her left hand).

Pickles!!! Yum.

Alek and Paulina's Wedding

Sula being silly with her grandpa.

Sula with her great grandpa and grandma Kreidich. They were sharing cream (from half and half containers) and butter with her at breakfast in Arlington Heights, IL.

Sula with grandma KK.

Playing with the pansies outside right after the wedding ceremony.

The most lovely looking ladies ever! I LOVED aunt Vera's vintage Gucci purse.

This weekend we took a very quick road trip to Chicago to attend Alek (my cousin) and Paulina's wedding. Despite the fact that we spent most of the weekend on the road, we had a very good time catching up with family. Of course this is a "Sula-centric" blog so most of the wedding pictures are not of the bride and groom.