5 Things I Am Grateful For!

1. I am grateful for Ellie and the joy she brings us!

Everyday she shows me something new to appreciate.

I also love the way her brain works as she discovers things.

2. I am grateful for Mr. Dawson's new job!

We have been so blessed to find a new job immediately after an old one falls through.

This time Mr. Dawson found the job before he heard that they were letting all interns and some regularly salaried people go!

3. I am grateful to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

I know of the truthfulness of the gospel that is taught and am so grateful to have that knowledge lead and direct my life.

4. I am grateful for my budgeting skills!

I might not be 100% perfect, but it sure has helped us make sure we save and spend money wisely!

5. I am grateful for my violin talents!

I know that these last two sound kinda snobby, but I am completely serious!

Without my violin skills I wouldn't be able to support my family with the little bits I earn each month from teaching!

Teaching Ellie

I was showing Ellie some youtube videos of a friend of mine from high school.

Maybe you've heard of her.....

Lindsey Stirling

Okay so I never actually "hung out" with her, but we were in orchestra together, I desperately wanted to be concert mistress like her, we also had a few seminary classes together.

=)

Anyway Lindsey has made quite a name for herself!

I showed Ellie some of Lindsey's covers.

Have you seen my ultimate favorite?

Radioactive

How about this one?

Crystallize

Ellie wants to do something similar to Crystallize....in her words, 

"play outside and dance, pause and build a snowman, then play violin again!"

 Lindsey's most recent video is a collaboration with John Legend!
It's totally awesome!

All of Me

Ellie kept asking or saying, "Can I do that?", "Can I play outside today?", "I want to do that!"

Can't wait to see what Ellie comes up with herself!

Violin Lessons

Disclaimer:

I in no way whatsoever forced my child to play the violin.

She decided she wanted to have violin lessons herself.

The part that I hated was that Ellie wanted to carry/wear her violin on the airplane back from AZ to KS and many many adults were making comments and looking at us like horrible parents.

They just didn't know that SHE asked to bring the violin back home from gramma's house and have lessons with mom!

They presumed that we were forcing her to play the violin and such terrible people we were to do that to a kid who doesn't even look like 2.5 yrs old to most people.

Anyways, I behaved and didn't react to the stares and whispers that we of course could hear clearly.

We have lessons whenever she asks, I don't force them, and we do our best.

She can name all the parts of the violin

Go to rest position

Ellie can do a form of "Belly-Up"

Almost has a bow hold

Justin hasn't had lessons since April 2012 I think

So he will do lessons when Ellie does lessons

We are still working on posture while learning Lightly Row

December 20

We had our first snow!

Fortunately we were kid sitting some friends kids while they were in NY and had an extra snow suit and gloves for Ellie to wear.

The wind was brutal! WAY cold.

And poor Miss Ellie didn't have snow boots to wear.

Needless to say, she lasted about 10 minutes outside!

=)

That evening I had a violin recital!

The first one here in Lawrence!!

All but 3 students showed up.

We are missing one girl in the picture, and of course the three that didn't come!

I think they all did very well and acted very courageously!

Two of them had a hard time getting up in front to play.

Violin Lessons

I have officially advertised myself on Craigslist!

See posting here 

I realized that not many people may know how to find teachers using the Suzuki Association website

Which would lead them to find my profile/bio!

I also had a students parent tell me that she searched on Craigslist for a violin teacher and that I should think about listing my name on there.

Now it is done!

Those of you in Lawrence, KS (or surrounding areas)

PLEASE do not be afraid to contact me about violin lessons or being your child's practice partner!

I would love to add more students to my studio!

Gift

Occasionally I get "Thank you" gifts from students at the end of semesters, christmas, when they move away or are switching teachers...

The wonderful perks!

I received chapstick today that I have never tried before.

It's strange to me because, after putting it on, it's like a sparkly lipstick that is supposed to moisturize my lips and also has an SPF.

It didn't say that it would have color pigment in it and it definitely didn't look sparkly.

It's strange...

There are two other colors in this pack of three and I am interested to see how the end up looking!

Do you see how extra red my lips look?