Rewards are Good

If you are a long-time reader of our blog, you probably know that Emery and I used to play violin.

In 2008, we were a part of the band/orchestra for our Christmas carol sing. We had a blast doing that, and I still remember it VERY well. Although, I remember all of our Christmas Sings well.

Why do I remember them all?

Because they are some of my favorite things to do in the holiday season.

And because of this event.

That was awful. I hated it. And you know what? At the time, even though I said she could (Mom always asks), I didn’t want mom to blog about it. But now when I read it, I don’t really mind anymore that she did. I guess I grew up because I can even laugh (a very little bit) about it!

In 2009, I loved my violin so much, I brought it to Disney World and played it every day. Emery and I had quite an audience almost the entire time we played!

In early 2010, Emery and I stopped taking violin lessons. I was really sad about it, but I was spending more time on my school work and on Goat Milk Stuff, and I wasn’t practicing. Mom gave us a choice that we could practice in our free time or stop taking lessons. Emery didn’t want to give up his free time, and I guess I didn’t either. I am still kinda mad that we made that choice.

Maybe I did not grow up all of the way!

During the 2010 Christmas season, we had some friends over. But Mrs. Lorentzen was not only a friend. She is/was my violin teacher.

And geuss what?!

She brought our incentive/reward for practicing with her. I don’t know if any other Suzuki teachers do this, but Mrs. Lorentzen had a chain for each of her students. Each week, if we had practiced every single day, we would get a dollar added to our chain. If we missed, just one day, we would get a piece of paper. When you had gotten (I think it was 21) dollars in a row, you would get to bring your chain home. So that was our incentive/reward.

Emery and I had the same amount of chain, (but I had a few more dollars then he did).

Me and Mrs. Lorentzen:

Me and my chain.

Emery is shorter than me, so he had to stand up on his tippy-toes, scrunch up his shoulders, and reach as high as he could. And he still was not tall enough!