First snow and other stuff

SNOW!
We've gotten our first snow of the season so, of course, I had to stick Smudge out in to check it out. He wasn't too sure of it and I bet he's glad he's got a cozy house to go back into!

FAREWELL
We've had to say goodbye to a good friend recently. Vivian is a consultant friend of ours who lives in California, flies in each week and then would leave on Friday just to do it all over again on Monday. Well, we adopted her into the family and she and Miss Alex (another consultant friend) would come over one or two times a month for a home-cooked dinner and some fun on the Wii. She told us that, because of our family, she saw what she was missing in having a family of her own and that's why she resigned her position. We're sad but we wish her the best of luck in her new endeavors. Playing on the Wii will never be the same for us after having played with her! Check out the clip of her with Aanika playing Tennis.....
VIOLIN PLUCKING
Technology is a wonderful thing. Aanika has a program on the computer that she can play along with an orchestra for her at-home practicing. As her training advances she'll be able to analyze her skills with it. Very cool to say the least! The clip below is of her using it for the first time.

Practicing violin

Check out this little video of Aanika practicing on her violin. We're still searching for a teacher but hopefully we'll get her going with one soon!

Aanika's Violin Fitting

Today was the big day - Aanika was fitted for her first violin! You won't be fortunate enough to hear her first sounds on it in this clip but I gotta say, she did a pretty good job with it. It might not be as much of a noisy acquisition as I thought it'd be....time will tell! ; )