Mainz, Germany (in a day)

Full-tilt Throwback Thursday.

December 2010 we were headed to Malaysia from Florida and our route was through Frankfurt, Germany.


These are cracking me up! Only two children and, ahem, before Anthony started running. These were also taken before we got our "big" camera. There is no "lack" however when I look at these. That was a fun day!

When travel itineraries hand you Europe, you make long layovers out of it.

We had never been to Europe so even just a few hours around the FREEZING cold streets of the lovely city of Mainz was worth it!

Other than being woefully underlayered for the chill, the public transportation was easy enough to figure out and the cheer of authentic German Christmas markets made our day out quite lovely.

This trip was actually when Anthony upped the interest on photography and video editing. He's come a long way, but here is a video we made of our last night in Florida with family and friends, our day in Germany, and landing back in Malaysia.

Going Back from Anthony Rivers on Vimeo.

Progress

Christmas was good. As was New Year's. And now the red and green and twinkle lights in shopping malls are being replaced by red and gold and firecrackers as we move into Chinese New Year season.

**My crutch enabler pb&j maker Au Pair (like a nanny, but more French sounding) Stephanie returned as planned to the US in December. So my plan of attack for still getting things done around here mostly included making my kids step-up their helping game.

In those rare moments when I have time to have a train of thought that pushes past the next to-do items on my daily routine, I tend to think about the moment I'm in compared to the moments similar to it, that passed months (or years) ago.

"Wow, 6 months ago Ivy wasn't big enough to take her plate and cup to the sink after a meal. She looks like such a big little girl when she does it!"

I love when I see progress. I am amazed at time passing and relish that my children are growing and learning and changing. Lately I've been wondering if I need to concentrate more on things I can do to purposefully grow as well.

Cheering on a 2 year old using her chubby peanut butter covered fingers while she flushes the toilet and telling my 4 year old "You can do it!" as she concentrates on not sucking her thumb has made me wonder where I'm to go as, in just a few weeks, I finish off year 35. (As in I will turn 35. You don't count it 'til you've completed it. In most countries at least.)

Where's the progress in my life? What can I learn to do? To stop doing?

My kids? Some of its easy to see...

Like this one here now has FOUR top teeth. Including the middle ones.
When our Ira Bear smiles he doesn't show his top teeth. Hence the mom grab on the face.
He can also pull to standing and cruises around everything. (but this picture is funnier)

And this one here? (Meaning, Ivy)

Has been potty training for 24 days now and only wet the bed 4 times. We go all-out on potty training here at the Rivers household.

Mama ain't buying no more diapers. Ya gotta learn kid.  And this little girl is holding her own in the toilet game.

Was there an incident in the produce section by the bananas? Maybe.
But have the expensive imported Skittles worked wonders otherwise? Absolutely.

Anyone who is just realizing that maybe their 4 year old daughter is sensory seeking, raise your hand.
{raises hand}

It's really just with food, and maybe there's something cultural to it, but progress is being made in getting this one to use utensils when she eats. (unless its french fries, nuggets, roti, pizza, or the like).
Slow painful progress, but she's trying. (I think) (and really, I'm trying to grow my hair out. I promise I didn't not learn my lesson in 3rd grade when I got bangs cut. It's a phase I hope to soon grow past!)

If you want to see a Star Student, feast your eyes...

This one here has been "consistently excelling in all he does." And if you think for a second that a piece of paper with a star on it is on par with "My child was student of the week...." bumper stickers back in the day (do they still have those?)  Then you would be overlooking him nearly mastering the "TH" sound in speech therapy, learning to READ, trying out the butterfly stroke in swimming, cleaning his own bathroom, AND making an effort to put others first at the dinner table. (Heaven help me when everybody wants to go first!) He can also count to 100. Boom. Proud as punch, I am. And he is too. Rightly so.

Progress in droves for this one (again, not the Daddy one, though I do adore him).

Isaac has been stretching his helpful legs lately. This kid has been working on calming himself down and also on what it means to be a contributing member of his family. Do I miss Au Pair Stephanie? YES! (hello, adult conversation all day!) But the trade to teach this one how to clean his own bathroom and make the garden beds look nice by weeding them has been worth the effort. He's so proud of himself and doesn't shy away from the hard work. Also a Star Student since the new year started "for being principled with the quality of work he produces in class."

I'm grateful for all I see in those around me and I want to be encouraged by it in more than just a "that's great for them!" sort of way.

Why not me?

I'm looking intently at what will progress in my life in 2016. Yes, new challenges in motherhood count as progress. But aside from the motherhood and marriage parts, I'm asking myself, "By December, what progress will I see?"

I'm a bit slow on the whole New Year's resolution thing. But I come 'round. And as a Christian I'm trying to see what sorts of things God is doing around me or placing in my heart. Even if on the surface they don't seem like "purely religious" ventures. If the Lord has gifted or enabled me to do something, I want to receive the opportunity as being from him and then do it as unto him.

So when the occasional long quiet moment occurs the list of possibilities starts:
Try something new sewing? What if this is the year I start a big heirloom worthy project?
Go back to school? Online programs? What would I like to learn? Doctor? Social worker? Business? Teacher? (nah, probably not teacher)
More Language study? A different language? I've always wanted to learn Chinese. French sounds so fun. But maybe I need Spanish?
Start something that flows from my faith in God? Bible study? Outreach to refugees?
Add a new cooking technique? Maybe get Julia Child's French cooking book? What if in 5 years I'm like a chef or something?
Start writing a book? Adoption related? Adventure fiction? Adoption adventure fiction?
Start that Booster club at school? Bring Cheerleading to my corner of Southeast Asia?

Sure, these moments are tempered with poopy diapers, (It's now 18 months until we will be done with diapers for FOREVER. But who's counting?)  practicing spelling words, and teaching proper spoon holding instead of eating sweet potato casserole with fingers.

But I think... "If I just pick one. And really try it. I wonder...." 

Hope your 2016 is off and running! 

**child in the photo on the far left is not ours. He's a neighbor and classmate of Isaac's. Clarification in case you thought you missed something REALLY big since the last blogpost.

It's been a busy holiday....

But better late than never (should I say "Happy Boxing Day!" just to be thorough?)

Crafty Schmafty- Christmas Quilt! (in May, I know)

I get it. I don't post for over a month and then I put up pictures of a Christmas quilt? When there are growing children and growing bellies and what not? That borders on lame-o shame-o, but it's what's going up. 

I'm waiting on the temperature of some milk to go down so I can finish making my first ever homemade yogurt tonight...so this post is keeping me awake! (and hopefully won't put you to sleep!)

These days I find myself thinking in terms of months...

June - Parent visit, vacation
July- Anthony out always with work, Hari Raya starts
August- Hari Raya continues(the biggest holiday every year in Malaysia)
September- School starts, I am big pregnant by then! Baby possibly arrives late Sept
October- Baby arrives if he/she hasn't yet. Parents visit. I try to eek out a 2nd birthday party for Immanuelle. Possible visit from Grandma. And probably school events.
November- Still a new baby around. Lets not underestimate the level of sleepy occurring.
December- Christmas already here! No time to quilt.

See? In terms of months, I was option-less. I handle my everydays and everyweeks fine, but big projects like quilts need planning almost like a big holiday! Lets not forget I've been working on this thing slowly since December. May just required I put things into high-gear...

Lets get into the spirit of the season, shall we then?
The top...

 The Back...

 I bought the fabric back in November in 'merica at JoAnn Fabric. Its several different lines. A few specifically blue Christmas-y/winter-y themed prints with some other grays and blues thrown in. Machine quilted and hand-bound. It's 100 blocks and measures (about) 75" x 75". (Juuuuuuust wide enough to prevent my husband from being able to hold it up for a picture. I thought the on-the-floor reveal was a bit lack-luster too. But...)

I got the idea for the pattern over at Film in the Fridge.  "Converging Corners" is what she named hers that have this look. I kinda don't wanna put up the link because hers looks so much better than mine! But creative credit is due. I was going for a less-obvious, winter, snow-flakey, snow-y-ish, cheery, vibe. My Christmas decor is mostly blue.  I think it worked!

In pictures the colored corners look much more like T's or crosses or X's than they do in person. And in person you can see more of the sparkle-y in some of the fabric. I just didn't want a poinsetta and Santa covered blanket!

On the bed. (though it'll probably be put on the couch. But lets face it. There's not really a way to make a blue-sharpied couch cushion look inviting.)
We turned the fan on high and pretended we weren't sweating on the equator while taking these. I mean, it COULD be a sunny, crisp morning (if you squint and ignore the green trees out the window). It could!

 The quilting. I followed THIS tutorial on making nice straight lines while quilting. This is only my 3rd quilt, so I need all the tips I can get!

I eventually plan on adding hand-stitched snowflakes to the empty boxes with no quilting. (see the yellow pic below)

Close-ups. My favorite fabric ended up being the little navy blue trees with little red birds on them. They help tie in the red binding and backing and are just too cute!

My mom handed me this quilt back in November. It was made by my great-grandmother. I was hesitant to bring it overseas as I really didn't want to ruin such a treasure, but it's been quite the lovely addition to our bed. As I've been making the Christmas quilt and also staring at this quilt the last few months, I fell in love with the flowers stitched in white spaces. So I got to thinking that I could do something similar in the white spaces on the Christmas quilt. I hope to find some metallic (looking) thread to stitch them with. Festive!

I realize I'm gonna have to make it a habit of giving quilts away if I want to keep making them as, really, how many does one need in the place of eternal summer?! But there were so many times my kids helped to make the Christmas quilt, I'm so glad I did! Whether I sewed in a tank-top or not! and It will hopefully become a sweet memory of Christmas...ahem, of course, Christmas with the air-conditioners on!

To think I never met the woman who made the yellow quilt, and yet, here I am, snuggling under it each night decades later...that's just warm fuzzies all around! Merry Christmas!

I am going to link-up with "Finish it up Friday" over at Crazy Mom Quilts. So glad I have a finish to share!