First Day of School

Jacob and Claire started school today.

Jacob is going to 4th grade. He is in a technology classroom, where each desk has an iMac and computer use in integrated into the curriculum. His teacher is incredibly organized, which should be great for Jacob.

Claire is in 2nd grade. Her teacher had been the music teacher. She runs a more open and flexible classroom. And Claire already knows a friend in her class from church.

And now I'm alone with Isaac. It should be fun.

Yoga

As long as I can remember, I wanted to do yoga. Even growing up in a tiny Texas town, knowing nothing about yoga, I had a sense that it was something I wanted to learn about and do. I finally got my chance at the La Jolla YMCA after I had Claire. I loved it from the first class. After a year or two, I went to a 200-hour Yoga Alliance accredited yoga teacher training program. I loved that too. Then I started teaching adults and preschoolers. It was great.

When we moved to New York, instead of teaching professionally, I practiced yoga on my own, keeping strong and flexible and focused during pregnancy and the year post partem. I volunteered at our church branch, teaching first on Saturdays, and then during early morning seminary for seminary moms and other relief society sisters willing to get up. I loved seeing the women develop in strength and confidence.

Now that we've moved to Provo, I'm once again practicing on my own. I'm looking forward to teaching again. Getting a paying job would be nice, but I'm more excited about sharing yoga with those who would otherwise not be able to practice, seeing others benefit from something I love.

I'm not sure how I could have known I would like yoga, when I had only heard of it, vaguely. I'm grateful I found it, because it is part of who I am.

Sunstone

Today, thanks to hours of babysitting provided by Cheryl and my sister-of-awesomeness Cait, I got to go the Sunstone Convention for the first time. I had so much fun! I enjoyed listening to the papers that were presented, I've got a whole new list of authors and books to check out, and some novel ideas to mull over.

I met several of the bloggernacle regulars whose distinctive voices I've come to recognize. I fell in with the group from Feminist Mormon Housewives and had lunch in Pioneer Park with them and the contingent from Zelophedad's Daughters. It was a pleasure to meet in person so many intelligent and articulate people who run the gamut from readers like myself to bloggers to scholars. I even found a fellow yoga practitioner from Orem. Three cheers for new friends!

I'll be home with the kids tomorrow morning, cooking and cleaning so everything will be in order when I leave them again in the afternoon. (I don't want to imagine what state the house would be in if we were gone to all the sessions 8 a.m.-10 p.m. three days in a row. Shudder.) I'm sorry to miss the morning sessions, but it's already been better than I could have hoped.

I'm collecting notes and sketches. I'm feeling more energized in my interest in church history and feminism (not necessarily related topics). I can't wait to look through the bookstore they have set up. This has been a great perk of moving back to Provo.

It's starting to fade...

It looked pretty bad at first. Thank goodness red popsicle stain isn't permanent.

Rock Canyon

I let the kids take charge of the camera in Rock Canyon this morning.

They had a great time.