Yoga

You know I'm a yoga person/teacher/addict and in my classes I always try to add a bit of the yoga philosophy without being offensive to anyone. Today someone asked me what kind of yoga I taught and I went on to describe my various certifications and trainings, and they said, "No what kind of yoga is that stuff you say during meditation." So becoming a little frustrated with the "FAST FOOD YOGA" that is being taught most places in Los Alamos, I decided to remind myself, and you if you are interested in what Yoga really is.

The philosophy of yoga is spelled out in The Yoga Sutras of Patajali, long and quite detailed. I've condensed and edited (from my memory so don't quote me exactly). Yoga is described in eight limbs.

1. YAMAS Moral observances for interactions with others, there are five:

• Ahimsa-not harming others...hence the reason some yogis are vegetarians,)


• Satya-truthfulness, not just to others but to yourself.


• Asteya-non stealing


• Brachmacharia-moral restraint and conserving one's energy for the important things (this is sometimes described as celibacy, but is that really important?)


• Aparigraha- non hording

2. NIYAMA- Moral observances for interactions with yourself, there are five:

• Saucha-purity & cleanliness


• Samtosha-contentment


• Tapas-Fire or heat (no, not Mexican tapas like drinks and snacks)


• Svadyaya-self study


• Ishvara phadhiyana- surrender

3. ASANA-this is the postures. What most people think of yoga.

4. PRANAYAMA- Breathing this is also known as what gives us life, your prana.

5. PRATYAHARA- A type of meditation where you withdraw. Think of closing your eyes and tuning out everything else.

6. DHARAN- A type of meditation where you focus the mind on one item: true concentration.

7. DHYANA- A type of meditation that is unfocused, hard to achieve without lots of practice.

8. SAMADHI- Bliss because everything falls into place. Kind of like a runner's high only for yogis.

Too Much.

Does anyone else feel like they do too much? It seems like everything lately is half effort. Some days (like today when I hardly saw my girls) I feel like the worst mom because I don't spend enough time with my kids. I am so fortunate to have Grandma watch them, but no matter what, it is still not me watching them. I have to work, I should workout, and I have this deep horrible guilt the entire time I'm gone. And then to make it all worse I do something stupid like volunteer to bring Scottish Shortbread to a retirement lunch tomorrow. It is not hard to make, just time consuming. At least I got my beans soaking overnight so I only have to make veggies and tortillas for dinner tomorrow....I just wish that there was more time in the day to spend with my girls, and my husband too. If you are in the know then you'll know what I mean when I say "I feel thin, like butter spread over too much bread." Sorry if the quote is off.

Anyway, I'm not complaining, just venting to a computer while my last batch of shortbread bakes. I'll add some smiles of my family just cause I think they are so cute.

Two teeth

Olivia has her two bottom teeth. Yesterday when I was feeding her I noticed that it looked like something was in her mouth. And yes, there are two little teeth there. It is hard to believe that she was teething. She's not drooled excessively, been cranky, or chewed on anything more than usual (Olivia is a constant everything in my mouth kind of kid). She just popped out two little teeth. I would post a picture but I have wasted most of my day trying to get a picture. Can anyone come up with an idea? I take a picture and there is a tongue in the way or she turns her head, or it is blurry...you get the general idea.

Sitting up

Here is Olivia playing with her Leap Frog thingamajigger. It sings "I hear with my ears, I see with my eyes," etc.... However based on the video below, it should also sing "I taste with my mouth"

I set myself up

Of course, I brag about my girls, and then last night Olivia had one of the worst nights so far. She was up every hour or so. She has learned to roll over from back to belly, but only in once direction so she keeps getting shoved in the corner of her crib. I took the "crib bumper" of because I was afraid she would get wedged in it. Now when I go in her room, at least one extremity is sticking out of the side of her crib. It got so bad last night that Sophie started hollering, "Olivia I am trying to sleep here."

Sophie hates when I take crying pictures of Olivia, but It makes me smile because there is no sound with a picture. Does anyone else see a resemblance to the stay puff marshmallow man from Ghostbusters?

My girls are awesome

So I just put everyone to bed and I have to say, my girls are awesome.

This is what bedtime looks like at our house:

• Naked time for Olivia,


• Shower for Sophie, she takes care of all this by herself, so grown-up.


• Bath for Olivia (she still bathes in the Kitchen sink!)


• Massage and lotion for Olivia


• Sophie brushes teeth, while Olivia's gums get rubbed (teething....YUCK)


• Stories (Sophie is reading Harry Potter and the Sorecer's Stone with me, A pony story for herself, and Barbies Magic of the Rainbow with Daddy ...so glad that was not me hehe) (Olivia was read What's wrong little Pooky and 10 Little Ladybugs)


• Hugs and Kisses


• Lights out.

And not a peep. True quite in the house by 8:15. Amazing. Both girls have always been great at bedtime. We are so lucky because we have never had to do the bedtime arguments and such. I love my girls.

FYI the picture of Olivia is old. During the winter her little hands would get sooooo cold at night, but she was to old to be swaddled anymore, hence the socks. The picture of Sophie was a "trick" she played on us. She slept on top of her pillows and thought it was hilarious. She is fast asleep in this picture.

My girls are growing up too fast

This post is mostly for Terri, but remember when we were little girls and we would watch Grease 2 and dance and sing and dress up. Well, Sophie is totally into musicals. After the garage sale, Matt went to deliver our old couches :) and while he was gone, I asked Sophie if she wanted to watch Grease. Long story short, Matt hates musicals while we girls love them. She was dancing and singing and shaking her hips and it just reminded me of bubblegum cigarettes and sunglasses. It's fun seeing her have crushes on the boys, Sophie prefers Johnny over Michael, (I'm a Michael girl myself) and gets shy when anyone kisses. Just crazy 'cause it seems like yesterday we were wearing a gold slip to be Stephanie.

Sophie's Ears

Sophie no longer has virgin ears. She got her ears pierced today. I am a horrible mom and took her out of school early so we could go to the local salon and pay a whopping $15 to get her ears pierced. She picked the red rubies to match her red dress. Sophie was so brave. She held on to my hand tightly. The lady told her to take a deep breath and then pop, the left one was done first. Sophie looked a little nervous, but then we switched sides and she closed her eyes for a second, and then pop, the second one was done. She was so super brave...even though it hurt she didn't cry or even make a whiny sound. We went to the store to get some neosporin and isopropanol and she said, "Only my right one is beeping a lot." That was her only complaint.

Matt has this problem with a camera. Sometimes he gets too close to the object or person to get a good picture. It is so strange how distorted the face gets. These are some funny face pictures that were never sent to anyone...

Peek-a-boo Baby

Olivia is so yummy and cute. I was playing peek-a-boo with her and noticed that she was having a great time. Notice the stillness, Of course kids disappear when the aren't moving. (Adults vision is based on movement) Enjoy watching and I hope it doesn't eat up to much computer stuff (bits or bites or whatever it is that makes Internet videos run slow).

Cute as a mouse

Ever heard the phrase cute as a mouse? This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands. Wait when does that ever happen?

Birthday Party success

Sophie's party was a huge success.

FYI: Moms, one hour at a park is totally the way to go. The kids had a great time playing, we ate cake and then they played more, mostly star wars and transformers. In a flash, the whole party was over. Don't get me wrong, I think the whole idea of a party is great, but when you are in charge of a bunch of kids doped up on sugar...the less time the better! I don't think that Sophie even missed the presents. She did receive some very nice items from her family, and thanks to everyone who donated to St. Elizabeth's. Sophie will be able to give them over $50! Fantastic.

So, here are some pictures

Sophie is six today!

Happy Birthday to my big girl Sophie. I can't believe that she is already six years old. This year she has chosen to have a transformer birthday party. It is such a big change from last year's super girly party. I can't wait to see what happens next year! Anyway we are having lots of her friends over to Rocket Park for Cake and Ice Cream. I am so proud of my little girl she has generously chosen to have her friends donate stuff to St. Elizabeth's Homeless Shelter in Santa Fe rather then receive gifts. What a grown-up choice!
After her party we'll head to Santa Fe to get her ears pierced. WOW! I'll post some pictures when I can.

I've joined the blogging revolution...

Okay,
Thanks to Ter I've decided to join the blogging revolution. At least I think so. Everyone including Heidi who has way more on her plate then me says this is easy. So far so good! Anyway, incase you were wondering what MESO stands for, and I don't mean the very yummy soup, it is Matt, Emily, Sophie, and Olivia. If you've found this page than you already know about us we are the Schmidts and we live in Los Alamos.
I think I'll get better as I go.
Emily