Institute 2009

Brooklyn and I spent this last week at the Intermountain Suzuki Strings Institute. Institute is a week long music camp where these kiddos get the opportunity to have classes and instruction by teachers from all over the world. It's absolutely amazing!!! This is our fourth year attending and we have had a great time.

Her first class of the day was Chamber with David Porter from Utah. He is a violinist with the Utah Symphony. He did a great job working with the kids. They learned two songs to perform for their final concert. Also, Brook had a fun time with her cousin, Sarah, in all but one of her classes. See the girl in the yellow dress.


Next was Orchestra with David Becker from Wisconsin. He recieved his masters from Julliard. He was great. He taught them how to have a jam session which was really fun. They learned two songs to play for their final concert also.

This class is her Violin Performance class headed up by Koen Rens from Belgium. He was hilarious and they loved him. The class was actually double the size so you can imagine how hard it would be to make that many violins sound like one but he did it. They performed two songs for their final concert which was accompanied by an orchestra made up of all the teachers at Institute.

This is her Technique class with Ruth Godfrey. Mrs. Godfrey is a wonderful teacher here in Salt Lake City. She worked a lot on scales and tones.

This is her Master teacher, Allen Lieb, from New York City. He actually spent years studying with Dr. Suzuki. He is a highly respected teacher all over the world. He was amazing with her. He worked on each part of the songs and how important each element is, not just getting done. He taught her to break the song down into smaller groups, to learn the song correctly and then play it 200 times so she'll never forget it. He emphasized in the importance of dynamics, tone, rhythm and then putting it together to make the song interesting to those listening. He also helped her with something so small as the way she bent her pinky on her bow hand. This was both of our favorite class of the day.

If your zoom in on this pic above, she fell while practicing and cracked the face of her violin. Luckly she was able to still play the rest of the week and we will be able to have it fixed. Phew...

Brian took her today for her final concert. He has been home with Calvin all week and it will be good for him to see what he was spending his money on. Thanks Brian, it was worth every penny:)

Aladdin Operetta

The kinder kids performed the "Aladdin" operetta. It was absolutely adorable. They did a marvelous job and I couldn't have been more proud of Calvin. He was a story teller and he dramatically said his lines. Everytime I asked him to practice his part he'd roll his eyes and race through his part. I was so surpised at how confident he was up in front of all the parents. I heart him so much")


Aladdin and Jasmine


Aladdin and Abu


Calvin singing, isn't he cute.


Calvin with Grandma Becky


Calvin with Grandma Sandra


Calvin with Grandpa Ames


Calvin with Grandma Joan

Life doesn't get any better than this:)

I didn't think I could ever be in love like this. I still can't believe how blessed I am to have this little guy in my life. He is my angel baby. He rarely fusses unless he's tired or absolutely starving. I love how he smells (even the spitty times), his soft unruly hair, his big blue eyes, his tiny nose, his long thin finger and little chubby legs. My favorite time is when he is sleeping and his sweet warm face is nestled in the nape of my neck. I'm in awe at how wonderful these little beings are.<

This past almost three months have flown by too fast not because I'm tired and my days at time feel like a blur, it's because life feels right. I have a great hubby, three beautiful babes, a large family and friends who surround and support me.

He has been smiling for a few weeks now and I've yet to get a pic of him until today. He cracks me up when he smiles and pulls all sorts of cute faces. He is also starting to coo and talk to me. I love it!!