qipaos and stockings

Other than when my mom came to visit, I haven't really gotten into "getting things made" here.  I should have.  It's super easy, pretty cheap, and tailored to fit just right -- most of the time!

I thought it would be fun to get a qipao (pronounced "chee-pow"-a Chinese-style dress) made for me, and a matching one made for Emily and her doll... much cheaper than buying the matching American Girl Doll outfits!  So, during Spring Break, we went and picked out the fabric, got measured, paid our dues, and have been waiting patiently for the finished product.

Emily's Doll (also named Emily) getting measured for her qipao

Emily makes friends very quickly here!

Today, only 9 days later, they were ready for pick-up!  This was so fun to do and I'm so glad we did it.  We can't wait to wear them next year to the Chinese New Year Festival at Chinatown in Austin.  How I never knew there was a Chinatown in Austin is beyond me, but I am so excited to have discovered it!

Emily was well-pleased!

I just love it!

Had to have my black and red!

But, that's not all!  A teacher friend (who went with us) had previously had Christmas stockings made out of qipao fabric, and I loved the idea so much, I had to do it, too!  I love how they turned out!

Don't you love 'em?

China... you will forever be a part of us... even in Texas!

stressed...how do i deal?

Looking at the big picture is... overwhelming, kinda scary, and putting it lightly... stressful.

9 weeks of school left, parent-teacher conferences, observations, departure seminar, birthday parties, baby showers, goodbye parties, birthday parties, goodbye dinners, filing taxes from china, goodbye play dates, birthday parties, packing up, dealing with insurance companies... still,  garage sale, birthday parties, kindergarten graduation, job applications, making decisions, summer plans, hopping on airplanes...all in 9 weeks.

The big picture stresses me out.  No hiding it, no pretending that I have it all together, it's a heavy load.  And how am I going to deal with it?

A box of chocolate and Friends re-runs only get me so far... then further behind.

Plans and ideas to deal:

1. Make a plan.  Lesson plans, Dinner plans, Party plans...  my calendar is always with me.
2. Lists---lots and lots of lists.  I am currently making a weekly list, and checking things off as I go is so liberating!
3. Prioritize...what's most important?
4. Say no... what isn't as important?  Sure, I'd love to do it all, but I can't.. so where can I say no?
5. Look at the big picture... then narrow it down... take it one week or even one day at a time.
6. Find an outlet... mine used to be running until the doctor said no more... so I'm still working on this one...  just bought some new Pilates videos I'm trying to get into.
7. Massage, massage, massage...  $8 a massage... why not get one every week?
8. Vent... I used to be the "I have it all together" type... but that adds even more stress, in my opinion.  I have a couple of ladies I meet with weekly to vent, share what's going on in my life and to pray for me and with me.  I can't do it all on my own!
9. Dig in to The Word.  I know the busier I get, the less likely I am to get into The Word, but it's times like this I need to most!  I want to make this a priority.
10. Embrace every moment.... look for the good in every situation.  Find my "attitude of gratitude".
11. Help others who are stressed!  "You reap what you sow."
12. Remember..."This too shall pass."

Are you stressed?  How do YOU deal?  I'd love your ideas!

easter fun

Our Easter weekend was busy, busy, fun-filled, and a great time of remembering our Savior.

Earlier in the week, a fellow teacher asked us to come over and dye eggs with her.  The smallest traditions feel like such a big deal to me here.  We were so excited about this and had lots of fun doing it!  Thanks, Anna!

On Good Friday, Joy came to stay with us for the day, and I had asked Anna if we could have the remainder of the egg dye. :)  We started the day by decorating and dying more boiled eggs.

Emily and Joy are coloring their eggs before dying them.

Dying Eggs

Emily

Joy

 

Very proud!

After dying eggs and playing for a bit, we headed to the park.  Afterwards, we went over to Kirstin's house to decorate sugar cookies!

Joy and Emily decorating sugar cookies shaped like a purse,
high heel, and dress!  Right up Emily's alley.
Of course, they decorated some Easter shaped ones, too!

It was a busy day for these girls!  It was fun to share some of our simple traditions with Joy.  She really enjoyed it and loved the sugar cookies!

Saturday was also a busy day!  After ballet and lunch with Emily's friend, Megan, we head to an... Easter Carnival?  The International Club hosted Easter Activities, a clown show and an Egg Hunt.  It's exciting to find these things going on in China!

Playing Pass the Egg.

She's trying so hard not to drop that egg.
It's all up to her!

Candy Walk

Playing Pin the Egg in the Basket.

Making an Easter card for her Mom. :)

Retelling the Easter Story with plastic eggs
and Jelly Beans!

All the kids watching the clown show.

Check out that hat!

 

The clown must have been making the large black gun
balloon because Emily isn't raising her hand.

Can you spot Emily raising her hand?  It's been up for at least
20 minutes.  I told her to wait until the clown came around,
but she insisted that hand raising was the way to go.

This clown has PATIENCE!

After an hour of waiting, she finally got her balloon!!
I  turned around for 2 seconds and she had gone to trade
it in for an orange seahorse instead.  I liked the heart! :)

Counting her eggs... she was only allowed to get 5. :)

Happy with her 5 eggs. :)

Easter Sunday was another day of fun, food and fellowship!

Emily woke up at 5:30 a.m. and spotted an Easter Egg next to her bed... so we were up egg hunting at the crack of dawn!

Emily woke up at 5:30 a.m. to go egg hunting!

100 RMB!  That Easter Bunny sure is a nice guy. ;)

Look at all those eggs!

Retelling the Easter Story with a timeline she made at school.

Emily helped make colored deviled eggs for our Easter potluck
that evening.

Emily, Lily, and Belle playing on Easter Day.

 

Belle and Emily reunited for the first time since
Belle had to return to the orphanage.
We miss this girl!

The Easter Story in a nutshell.

He is risen! Happy Easter!