2nd grade. She’s shy, but she’s very vocal on things that matter, like speaking for someone being bullied, or if it’s her being bullied, or if someone is inconsiderate with using their class computers, or if you’re eating peanuts and dangerously too close to her, or math equations… ??? 6th grade. Emma is loved by her teachers. They truly believe she has potential, and this year has proved itself as a continuation of last year, fixing and tweaking the problems.  First half of the year is pretty much set, and Emma has earned a Student of the Month for November, and worked hard to earn the Gold Honor Roll for 1st marking period. She’s also become such a go-getter for extra activities like her orchestra and chorus. She’s trying out for solos and opportunities she can share her talents. She’s so unlike me when it comes to her bravery!  

My Zienne finished 1st grade today.   She has really grown into the shoes set before her in the beginning of the school year, now being independent in waking herself up and getting herself and her belongings in order and on time for school. She works efficiently in class and at home when completing her homework and violin practice. I can really see that her personality is the type to just get things done.   Although still a little shy, she is brave enough to occasionally initiate in helping her peers with reading. Also, the last few weeks of school, she was hard at work making bracelets for the girls in her class, including her teacher.  Job well done, Zi! ——————————————–   Emma had such positive experiences in 5th grade.   What I’ve learned most about her is her outgoing personality to try so many new things to stretch her skills, even without our prodding. She became involved with so many things and tried out for several activities. She has shown to be a natural leader among her peers, and a helper to her friends who might have needed her, scholastically or emotionally. I love that she did really well […]

One of the saddest songs on this earth must be Leaving On a Jet Plane. It has to be. I mean, “I’d hate to wake you up to say goodbye…” must be one of the loneliest images because it must be an incredibly early flight because everyone but him is asleep. The knowledge of inevitability, and being the first to feel that is a huge burden, to feel alone in that misery during that minute moment because the other part of your heart is still dreaming. This has really no relation to what I’m about to blog about- the girls’ first day of school. But as I looked out Emma’s window and saw all the leaves blowing and falling onto the ground, it reminded me that it is soon fall. It is a whisper of fall. It is a sign that we must start getting ready to bear near coldness and chill, that seasons are passing the baton again, and it will soon be time for pensive moments over coffee.  I guess it’s because Elleonai’s birthday quickly passed and hit me unexpectedly and I’m once again catching up on writing about her milestones. And because the girls are now in […]

The girls had their winter solo day last Friday, despite being sick that week due to the snow piles and extreme cold weather. They’ve been having snow days that deterred them from attending school, so it gave them ample time to practice. Emma is now in Book 2, playing “Long Long Ago”. Zienne is in Book 1, playing “Allegro” with Emma supporting her with the duet part. I’m really proud of the two girls, esp. Emma who is starting to realize the importance of refining the tone of her sound, but fixing the meticulous way she plays her bow and getting the slurs perfectly as instructed. I know it’s not easy to memorize multiple pieces while also remembering every correct slur, so I’m excited to many years down the road when it almost becomes second nature to her. Zienne is doing quite well too, although still not completely familiar with her technique, but it also could be that she has a really bad violin. How do I know? Because the teacher told us Zi has a really bad violin. Sheesh…not like it cost us almost $300 or anything… *sigh*  We’re waiting her to go up a size.