One, part Mozart, One, part Houdini

My brother, Micah, has been urging me for some time to start Owen in violin lessons. So I finally bought him the tiniest violin you have ever seen (1/8 size), it's adorable. Owen has always shown an aptitude for music. When he was 18 mos. we started taking Kindermusik in NC for a couple of years and he loved it. In Primary his teachers have always told me that he may not always know the words to the songs but he always sings right on key, which amazed them for such a little guy. Anyway, a friend here plays the violin and said she would love to teach him. So Tuesday we had our first lesson- she taught him how to hold the bow, how to seat the violin properly under his chin and gave us some exercises to practice moving his arm the right way in preparation to playing the violin. Now we just need to get the Suzuki book one and CD for him to listen to the songs. For those that are unfamiliar, Suzuki method teaches children to play by ear, that's why you hear of 3 & 4 year olds playing the violin who are too young to read music yet. Owen is very excited, so far anyway. He adores his Uncle Micah and wants to be just like him. He keeps telling me "Mom, Micah holds his violin just like me." We'll see what happens, I know Rand would rather him be playing sports, but I have always wanted my kids to be well rounded, actually he is excited for Owen too, besides it's too cold here anyway to do anything outside right now.

Our second child seems to have a bit of Houdini in her. She has been fighting me a little lately over naps but that is 2 hours of my sanity that I am not willing to give up. Yesterday, I put her down in her crib after lunch which she was not pleased about. I decided to let her cry it out for a little while (I know I'm a mean mom). She was crying pretty loudly- which any of you that have ever heard Evie talk or yell know that the girl has got some lungs. Well I finally had made myself lunch and just sat down to eat when the crying starts getting louder and louder which confused me since her door is always closed and Owen was down in the playroom. I came into the foyer and low and behold she is crawling down the stairs hysterical. I tryed to rock her a bit and put her back in the crib but before I even made it down the stairs she climbed/fell out again. Well after the second time I just let her play for a bit until I knew she was tired enough not to fight me. I guess we'll be buying a toddler bed this weekend before she breaks any bones, the little escape artist.