VIOLIN CAMP!

Ever since I was 10 years old, I have gone to Violin Camp, so of course My kids are going to go to Violin camp as well! The violin camp, Intermountain Suzuki String Institute in Draper, Utah is the best violin camp in the USA, and it is 5 minutes away from my parents house! Can you believe that?

 Emery was a participant this year instead of a watcher! He went to his first master class with Ms. Sarah. He really improved his bow hand this summer and passed off all of the Twinkles!

 This little girl was a CHAMP all week long! She went to so many classes and was SOOO good!

 Sunny loved all of her teachers, especially Mr. Moes from California!

 When Emery wasn't in classes, you could find him under a desk doing this...

 There is no way I could have gone through violin camp all week without the help of my sisters Angie and Chrissy, My Mom and Dad and my mother in law Michelle!!! THANK YOU!!!

 We needed a SWIG pick me up mid week!

 I just love these kids so much! It was a very difficult week, but these kids are just amazing! They played their violins for more than 5 hours a day and enjoyed it!

 This was my favorite class to watch. Koen Rens is from Belgium and he always has such great ideas for group classes

 We needed a SWIG pick me up mid week!

 more of winnie and brady

 Elle in her master class

 Emery the twinkler!

 Grammy & Grampy are the BIGGEST supporters of these kids!

 Nana came for a few days to help us!!! THANK YOU!

 THE BEST AUNTS EVER!

We made a BIG purchase this year with buying Riley a full size violin! The violin is beautiful and plays so smooth!

 What would you do if you saw someone that you look up to so much? Would you go up to them and talk to them? I did! I had just ran my half marathon on the last day of violin camp, I was struggling to walk with my jello legs, and as I enter the building, I see Elaine Dalton. She was the former General Young Womens President. I love her so much, have read her book and just love what she stands for.
I went up to her and told her I had just ran a half marathon since she is a marathon runner! She gave me some recovery tips and  then we chatted about young women, our families and running! WOW!!! Just made my day!! My sister Ashley was super jealous!

 I was SOOO Proud of Sunny this week at violin camp! I made a huge mistake and didn't get the information that she was supposed to memorize another piece for her performance class.  We got the music printed out and every day after violin camp, I told her she needed to practice for an additional hour to learn and memorize this Fritz Kriesler piece. It was not an easy piece, but I told her that if she did it, I would get her a music prize. She was so great and sat down with my EVERY SINGLE DAY and not only learned the 2 page piece, but memorized it in 5 days! WOW!!! She rocked it on the final day at the concert! For her prize, she picked out a green music stand! I told her to always remember how hard she worked whenever she sees that green stand!

 Riley was in the Book 8 Suzuki Class and loved being independent all week!

 Sunny was in a quartet for the first time and it was so good for her to learn how to count and play with a group!

Riley was the first violinist in his quartet and did a great job leading the group!

Well, we got through another year of violin camp! It kind of reminds me of delivering a baby...you forget how hard and painful it is, and you do it again and again. I always forget how tiring violin camp is but always remember how rewarding it is!