Audventures: Summer Vacay 2011 (Part 2)

Summer vacation is winding down. Only two more full days in the states. We pulled out pretty much everything we needed to pack yesterday and threw the stuff in our suitcases to see what we were dealing with. In terms of space, it looks like we have enough. In terms of the weight limit... let's hope we can get our bags under the limit! As it turns out, we can actually check 7 bags (!) and that doesn't include the stroller and car seat. So, we could take a LOT of stuff back if we really wanted to. But we are going to try to keep it to 4 suitcases, one box (my stand mixer so I can make cookies more easily :)), the stroller and car seat. Oh, and carry-on stuff like my backpack. So, it's still going to be a bit of stuff. But I think we'll make it. :)

So, looking back on the last 7 weeks, this is the progress/changes we've seen:
Elias- voluntarily started wearing underwear, then started pooping on the potty!! Hooray! He understands more Chinese. And, lastly, he's starting to speak more politely, saying "please" and "thank you" and "sorry" without being prompted. Elias really knows who Jonathan and Christopher are, along with Auntie Lisa and Uncle Ted. Before we saw pictures of them but he didn't know who they were. Now, you can tell he knows they are family and he loves being at their house.
Matthias- has 6 teeth now instead of 4. He's clapping, waving "bye-bye," and walking more than just 6 steps at a time. He can walk across the entire room if he walked slowly but he tries to run and then ends up falling on his face after a few steps. Then he giggles, gets up, and tries again. He seems taller and stronger. He is learning more each day- he puts the phone up to his ear to "listen," he tries to wear Elias's sunglasses, he put a sticker on his shirt because he saw Elias had a sticker on his shirt too. Soooo cute!

Here are a few more pictures. I have to find the ones with Kristalyn so it's just us and the kids for now...

Elias shopping/driving at the grocery store (Can you believe how nice the car was? It even had a TV inside for the kids to watch!)