Saturday and Sunday

On Saturday we packed up and left the American Suzuki Institute and started heading up to Duluth with a quick stop in Hudson, WI to pick up my friend and colleague Cathy. The boys were not super happy to be up bright and early on Saturday after playing with their new friend Michael, but I snuck in a picture anyways, as well as one of Matt (since he is usually the one taking pics).

Then we headed up to Duluth. Cathy and I were competing in the Brewhouse Triathlon in Duluth on Sunday and we needed to pick up our packets and drive the bike course so we would know where we were going.

On Sunday morning we made our way up to the Pike Lake area for the triathlon. It was really perfect weather, around 65-70 degrees. The sun made it hard to see the beach on the swim but we managed. Both Cathy and I finished (always our goal) and we even each managed to pass at least one person on the bike (another good goal). Cathy had trouble with an old stress fracture but managed to hobble her way into the finish line- yay! And for Cathy who will read this blog, when you spend enough time with us, you end up on our blog"

Waiting in the water to start

Cathy in the lead on her bike! (I am right behind her, for a short while)

Gigi crosses the finish line

Cathy crosses the finish line!

We did a short presentation about EdVisions Off Campus High School (the school we work "at") at a hotel on Canal Park and then we packed up the boys, the dogs and headed back to Hudson to drop off Cathy. Then we swung over to Chaska to drop of the boys at Grammy and Grampy's house to visit for a few days while I have some school meetings and Matt tries to get caught up on work from having last week off.

American Suzuki Institute- Day 5 (Friday)

Today was the last day of lessons and groups lessons. Gavin did a terrific job in lessons this week, and he cannot wait to demonstrate his vastly improved violin posture to his home teacher, Paula. Garek loves his new friends from his group, and made sure that we took time to pass on email addresses etc to stay in contact with our friends. Garek also made huge leaps forward in being able to do his bow hold and hold his box violin, I have the feeling Garek's "real" violin days are just around the corner. Gavin and I also managed to get my bike chain fixed at the local bike shop- yay!!

During our lunch time today we fit in lunch and swimming, so that we could rest after the afternoon lessons in preparation of our evening violin festival concert. Then this afternoon we had some down time where the boys watched a movie and we went out to get pizza for dinner. Notice how each boy preps for a concert...Gavin gets ready and is concentrating, while Garek snoozes...

Of course Garek decided to crash last minute and he ended up falling asleep at about 6:15, when he had a 7:30 concert to be at. Luckily, I managed to convince him to get up, and he and the other pre-twinklers got to go up on the big stage to show off their abilities with their bow holds and violin set up. Garek did an awesome job and even got to be the leader!

The live version of Garek's performance. . .

Then the festival continued. What they do is start with the upper level students and then work their way down levels, adding players once they reach the piece they can play. By the end, all of the violin players are playing the twinkle variations.

Gavin did such an awesome job with his variation and he even had his bow going in the right direction the whole time. This was a great experience for the boys, even though they were REALLY hot by the end (it was quite warm and not air conditioned in the gym they were playing in).

At the end, their lesson teacher Paula showed up to see how their week went. (She is coming to the teacher trainings tomorrow and will be here all next week). When we got back to the dorm, Garek and Gavin played with their new friend Michael (a young cellist staying on the same floor in the dorm). They spent quite awhile making paper airplanes and running around, way past bedtime! I think that concerts are both tiring and energizing, or maybe they are on their "5th wind" or so.

American Suzuki Institute Day 2 (Tuesday)

Whew! My morning started at 6 AM, when I went running out in the nature preserve we found yesterday. It was beautiful, not yet too warm or buggy and I even came upon a doe and her twin fawns! Then it was time to go back and get out the supplies for breakfast before Gavin's first lesson.

The boys are learning lots!! I can see how this intense week of violin will really help them out! Gavin was able to work on his bow hold and his "Lightly Row." Meanwhile Garek is preparing a short song called "Up Like a Rocket" (a song that teaches young students how to hold the bow). Garek's teacher also learned what an eagle eye Garek has as she played a game where she hid their foot charts. Garek would find all three of the kids from his group's charts. IT was funny, she could not hide it well enough to keep it from Eagle eye Garek. Meanwhile, Matt and I are learning some additional practice techniques to use with both of them, and I cannot wait to start Gavin's routine of 100 days in a row of practicing (an accomplishment recognized by Suzuki schools).

After his three lesson times today, Garek and I took a short nap while daddy and Gavin finished up his lessons and ran to Cold Stone Creamery- yum. Afterwards, I took another stab at figuring out the canoe rental place. We decided to drive there today so that we could reserve a canoe for later in the week. However, once we were there, Garek and Gavin decided we must go canoeing today! So off we went down the Plover River. It was scenic and the boys did pretty good at paddling (sometimes). Another plus was the fact that they did not end up tipping us, although it was a bit rocky at times and you could hear Matt saying from the back, "Boys sit in the center," or "Whoa, Gavin you are way too far over the side." Anyways we made it back safe and sound and not wet from either tipping over or the threatening rain clouds. (and another 101 completed)

Little did Garek and I know while we were taking our snooze earlier in the afternoon, Gavin and daddy had already scouted out dinner. They had ridden by a Japanese restaurant, both a sushi and hibachi place. So we went there...I have not had hibachi food before. This is where you sit around the grill and the chef makes it right in front of you- quite a show and boy was it delicious! The boys also got a chance to see their first sushi chef in action. For being in the middle of Southern Wisconsin, we have certainly stumbled upon some interesting ethnic restaurants! We are glad we opted to eat picnic breakfast and lunches so that we can scout out interesting dinner options.

After all this it was definitely bedtime! So the boys are snoozing while Matt and I blog (much like journaling on a trip). Gavin took this picture at lunch of his favorite parents (I would certainly hope so)

American Suzuki Institute- Day 1 (Monday)

So today was the start of the actual sessions for the Institute. Gigi went with Gavin to his AM sessions, and I with Garek (these morning sessions are lessons "A" and "B"). Gavin had an 8 AM and Garek a 9 AM session, so as we were waiting in the hall for Garek's session I caught a glimpse of Gavin through the window in the Door having a bit of one on one time with Pat D'Ercole (or Professor Pat as she likes to be called).

Garek had a great time with his instructor (Sarah Smith) and A group:

Taking a bow ("please will you teach me?")

The next session "B" was a bit rough for Garek as he was getting pretty tired since he stayed up late the night before (no pictures as dad had to lend a hand by having my presence known- he was great as long as I was within arms reach). A lot of rhythm work and movement since it was a combined group of pre-twinklers on all instruments.

A family picnic under a tree within ear shot of a "play in" in the court yard for book 4 and higher students (needless to say it was the best live entertainment I have ever had during lunch).

Gigi and I swapped boys for the afternoon sessions (Lesson "C") so that we would have a chance to see what both are doing and they don't start to think that mom and dad have favorites. The C lesson is typically the largest group lesson and is focused on repertoire, so it is a lot of non-stop playing. I happened to bring the video camera to this session, so here is a sample of what Gavin was doing. (he was in the back row of students and is smack dab in the middle of the screen with the orange shirt and black shorts)

The beloved "Variation A" on the Twinkle Theme (a corner stone of the Suzuki tradition as this is the first piece that all students learn to play):

After we were done, we headed out on the bikes to find a Canoe rental place that Gigi picked up a brochure on (very confusing literature, and the web site was even worse, so out of fairness the business will remain nameless as we never found where one of their outposts was supposed to be- maybe we will try again tomorrow after calling ahead). Instead we happened upon the "Green Circle" and started riding (it's a big loop around town, so the worst that would happen is we end up back where we started). Little did we know that the entire loop is 33.5 miles. Very pretty ride, but we only went part of the way, and found the Schmeeckle Reserve HQ and decided to go find some food (OK roughly 15 miles by our best estimate once we picked up a detailed map of the trail system at the Visitor's Center). We will pick up where we left off and ride a different portion of the trail tomorrow.

We ate at a Mediterranean restaurant with traditional seating where you lounge around a low table under a canopy.

The food was awesome! One funny thing to take from this dinning experience: Steven's Point has a Brewery, so under the "Domestic" beers besides your typical mega brews there were several options from the local brewery ( I opted for the "Point Amber"). Looking at the Imports listed, one that caught me off guard was "Leinenkugel's" another great Wisconsin Beer from Chippewa Falls (a mere couple hours from here, but a few bucks more for all the effort to get it here - my how the cost of oil has thrown everything off in the beer industry).

I think the boys had a great day. As Gavin summed it up at supper "this was the best day- ever!"

Two very tired boys ready for bed after a bit of practicing after dinner (and a shower)