stradivarius...

Christmas came a little early around here the other day...

Before Jameson entered our family, Caroline and I had started piano lessons together.  (there's a GREAT music series for  teaching piano to preschoolers that my mom found and sent us!)  We had made it into book 3 when we got "the call" and our lives turned upside down with a new baby!  It probably goes without saying that, at that point, we dropped our daily piano time together as Mommy now had her hands plenty full.

Six months ago, though, Caroline began asking for violin lessons.  "I want to play up on stage at church with you, Mom," she'd tell me.

I told her she needed to finish Book 4 of our piano lessons before I'd let her switch to violin.  (Just a little two cents from a music teacher here-- piano is by far the BEST foundational instrument to start your child on musically.  All the concepts learned on piano will then transfer to any instrument of your choosing after that.)

That was all the motivation she needed.

Around the time school began this Fall, we began "lessons" again.

Now, that may sound all glorious and heart-warming, but reality was often much, much different... many lessons ended in drama and screaming, especially if there was something challenging that she couldn't master on the first attempt.  (umm, hello?  Welcome to life, baby.)

But we persevered.  And last week, she was thrilled to reach the end of her Book 4.

"Mom, can I get a violin today?"
"Mom, when can I get my violin?"
"Mom, I want to learn violin SO bad."
"Mom, can we get the violin right now?"

Relentless.  She was filled with SO much anticipation.

Initially, I was thinking the big reveal would be Christmas morning.


But she wasn't the only one who couldn't wait any longer!  I was giddy signing up to rent a violin.  She's going to LOVE it!


And this was the moment she realized what was under the tree.  :)


Open up the case and try it OUT!  (she's not been allowed to touch mine at all.  I know, I'm mean.)


Like mommy, like daughter!  Now there's two violin gals in the family.

I don't know which one of us were happier.


It was time to start teaching my eager learner...






We spent hours together that day.  It was truly a BLAST.

"Mommy, I'm going to listen to everything you tell me to do."

Yeah.  We'll see about that.  :)


But for a day, at least, she did.


And since then, it's been get-it-out, put-it-away, get-it-out, put-it-away.

Over and over again.

Who knows what this will be the start to.

But I'm beaming with pride.


What a joy, my sweet Caroline.  What a joy.