I'm Back!

Four days away and by the end I was ready to come home. I was up north squatting at our friends house (THANK YOU BRANDON AND TRACI!) while I worked at the Midwest Renewable Energy Association Energy Fair. I organize and run the children's workshops at the fair. I bring in all kinds of different presentations ranging from musical performances, arts/crafts projects, building solar cars, and building wind turbines. There are really some amazing kids programs that come and the crowds of kids can get pretty large. The Fair was amazing!! I love working it; being surrounded by like minded people, the networking, the great "green" products and all the awesome food!

But by the end of an exhausting day of set up and three days of fair I was more than excited to get home to my girls and Chris.

And boy did they change in four days!

Sam now knows her whole name and it is adorable to hear her say "Samamfa Jane Ennnlend". She also knows Avery's whole name but she gets confused still on mine and Chris's. I had started to work with her on knowing her name and how to respond to someone when they ask her what her name is. She is also so much farther along on the potty training! She is telling me when she needs to go, making it to the toilet and hasn't had an accident since we got home! We haven't figured out naps and nighttime yet but just not being in diapers and not having accidents during the day I think is great!!

Avery seems to have grown leaps and bounds! She is suddenly reaching for me when she wants to be picked up. Not with both arms yet but several times she has reached out with one arm and whined at me, and once to Chris too. Her eating has changed as well. Now she is opening her mouth when she sees the spoon, making it so much easier and faster to feed her. But the biggest news is that today she SCOOTED! There was a toy that she wanted that was right in front of her but out of her reach and she started lifting up her bottom, pushing down with her legs and eventually did this movement enough times that she was able to get the toy!! I could not believe what I was seeing. I am SO NOT ready for her to mobile yet! I know I still have a long way to go before she is crawling but this mile stone was a big deal for us today. Exciting and terrifying!

It is amazing what four days can do!

In more recent news....our air conditioner broke today. It is going to be a hot night tonight and I am just hoping that the girls don't wake up too much from being sweaty. AND

CHRIS PASSED EXAM NUMBER SEVEN!!!!! More on what this means for him and us later but I just couldn't wait to share the news! Send him some comment LOVE people!