find joy in the journey

SUNDAY // week in the life 2014

The LAST day!  Whew!  I made it to the end.  Everyone was really good sports about all my picture taking this week, but there were a several more sighs and eye-rolls when I brought my camera out on this last day. But I know how important this kind of a project is and how much it will mean to me - and all of us - in the future.

I pointed out to Scott that my first Week in the Life project includes photos of the boys (4 and 2) inside the shopping cart at Safeway, shopping at our tiny local scrapbook store, naptimes, Blue's Clues, and little snack bowls of Cheerios.  All things that are no longer a part of our life.  That's why I take the time to record these everyday details -- the Star Wars bedsheets, jumping the fence on the way home from school, piano lessons by mom -- because they won't always be a part of our everyday and I want to remember it.

After I have a few days to let this project simmer I'll move forward on compiling all the photos and some words into some kind of an album or book.  Right now I am leaning toward a digital photobook via Blurb.  I'll be sure to share the results when it is complete.

For Sunday I'm sharing just photos, no words.  Yay for another Week in the Life documented.  And yay for family, home, routines, messy rooms, laughter at the dinner table, good books to read, and smiles all around.

 

 

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And yay for Ali Edwards' brilliant idea: Week in the Life.

SATURDAY // week in the life 2014

Saturday was an interesting day for taking photos because we were pretty much bums all day.  I had a couple projects to work on for Primary but for the most part we just hung out at home.  Here's a peek at our lazy Saturday:

7:51 AM - A change in the weather is a-coming!  After enjoying temps in the mid-80's all week, a cold front moved in and dropped the temperature 20 degrees.  Welcome Fall!  

10:02 AM - putting the final touches on my sharing time lesson for Primary tomorrow all about faith.  In the fall we get some pretty great direct sunlight through the large window above our front door.

10:11 AM - Anna is still on a crafting kick.  Now, if I could only convince her to organize the craft cupboard a bit.  It's a disaster in there.

2:53 PM - I went down to the church to swap out the Primary bulletin board with the new theme for November.  It turned out SUPER cute.  

3:20 PM - Plenty of chillin' going on back at home.

3:26 PM - Payton is bored out of his mind.

4:48 PM - So we finally got out of the house and went to a movie (Alexander & the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) and dinner at Applebee's.  Thanks mom for the giftcards!

8:09 PM - I declared that I wanted to watch a "mom's choice" movie so I stopped by Redbox on our way home from dinner.  We sent the kids to bed, I grabbed a blanket and a few pieces of candy from the candy bucket, Scott grabbed his iPad to entertain him, and we watched Winter's Tale.  That has got to be the weirdest movie I have seen in a looong time.

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This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.

FRIDAY // week in the life 2014

9:18 am -- First off, hooray for no school and sleeping in!  Second, we pulled this boy into our room to chat about a couple things and then it led to a discussion about church dances (he gets to attend when he turns 14 in just a couple weeks).  His dad, the ladies man, had plenty of tips to share.

11:07am - weekend chores and responsibilities.

12:33pm - We put on some costumes and headed out in search of free/discounted food on Halloween.  Stop #1 - free donuts at Krispy Kreme.  Stop #2 - $3 burritos at Chipotle, and then we found out that they don't start offering the discount until 5pm.  We turned around, came home, and ate a donut for lunch instead.

1:52 pm - Anna pulled supplies out of the craft cupboard, sat herself down, and created this.  I LOVE it.

2:13 pm - Time to carve the pumpkins.  Only Anna and Conner participated.  Payton decided that he does not like the feeling of pumpkin guts on his hands so his pumpkin remained whole.  Instead, I hooked him up with some homemade slime to mix up.  For whatever reason he was totally okay with that tactile experience.

4:13 pm - The traditional Halloween photoshoot on the front porch is complete!  I'll share those photos in another post.

 4:49 pm - Dinner!  Mummy meatloaf is now a tradition after serving it up 3 years in a row.  Also, carrots, drop biscuits, and orange soda.

6:20 pm - Let the party begin!

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This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.

THURSDAY // week in the life 2014

 11:17 am - After a morning of balancing my checkbook and gathering the last bits of party supplies it's time for a little snack.

1:32 pm - I was in charge of Anna's Halloween class party and went around the room snapping photos of every child.  I got many nice smiles from the other 23 kids and of course this is what my own daughter gives me.  :)

2:31 pm - Conner was so relieved to see us at late pick-up.  We had made plans for him (and Payton) to stay after school so he could complete an English vocab test he missed.  After Anna's party & dismissal we would drive over and pick him up.  He told us that 2:30 would be perfect.  Well, at 1:57 I received a missed call & voice mail from him - while we're in the middle of Anna's party - letting me know that his vocab test didn't take as long as he expected and could we please come pick him up.  Sorry!  He and Payton just sat outside the school until we were able to swing by.

3:33 pm - No homework and beautiful weather.  A great afternoon of playing outside.

3:35 pm - Blue skies and palm tree fronds.  Our tree is getting SO big!

5:35pm - I put Payton in charge of cooking the bacon for dinner.  

6:34pm - After picking up Conner from District Honors Choir practices he and I finally got a chance to sit down and eat.  Waffles & bacon for dinner tonight.  I always like to warm up my syrup in that little glass measuring cup.

8:39 pm - Spent the evening putting my Silhouette to work cutting out words and leaves for the November Primary bulletin board.  "Living the Teachings of Jesus Christ Strengthens Me & My Family."

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This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.

WEDNESDAY // week in the life 2014

Day 3 of this project.  By the time I get to wednesday, all the picture taking of our everyday life starts to feel repetitive.  How many times - and from how many different angles - can I take a picture of someone practicing the piano?  But this is where I know I have to power through.  

A peek at our wonderfully ordinary, everyday life.

6:10 AM - Making lunch for school.  Which can be a tricky thing for Payton.  He doesn't really like traditional sandwiches, so we have to get creative.  PB&J on a mini bagel was a slam dunk this week.

 

6:45 AM - These two.  Headed out the door to school.  They get along SO so so so well.  Like, I can't even remember the last time I heard them argue - I'm talking months, but probably years.  They are undoubtedly best of friends.

7:23 AM - Walking to school this morning.  It's somewhere in the 60's and the sun is coming up later and later.  I noticed her super dry/chafed knees - side effects of playing goalie - and reminded her that she needs to put lotion on them.  

12:43 PM - I made 4 or 5 batches of green slime (glue + water + Borax) in preparation for Anna's halloween class party.  And yes, I played with it before packaging it up.

1:58 PM - Went out to check the mail and decided to look up.  Love all the lines and wispy shades of light in this tree.  The cicadas also LOVE these trees in the summertime.

2:24 PM - When Scott walks Anna home from school they take the "shortcut" over the fire access gate.  It's not my favorite, but dad's gotta be a dad.  And yes, there is a Do Not Enter sign posted there with a minimum $75 fine.  But we're assuming/hoping that only applies to vehicles, and not to 9 year olds.  Our neighbors haven't turned us in yet!

2:54 PM - Reviewing spelling words with Anna.  Village, suppertime, occurrence . . . . She wasn't very happy when I made her write her misspelled words 10 more times.  "But that isn't part of the homework!!!"  Sorry, this is called mom homework.

6:28 PM - Choir concert.  Conner is in the advanced choir this year and we are so happy because they finally sound good!  (The beginning & intermediate choirs are just doing their best).  Tonight, one of their songs was a medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Loved it.  Also, Conner got to play the triangle for "Thunderstorm."

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This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.

TUESDAY // week in the life 2014

Welcome to Tuesday!  Here's a small peek at our everyday

6:38 AM - Before school we read a chapter of the Book of Mormon as a family.  We go around the circle and everyone takes a turn reading 4 verses until the end of the chapter.

7:50 AM - standing on the asphalt outside Anna's classroom, watching the flurry of activity on the playground & at morning drop-off, ready for my volunteering gig to start..

1:15 PM - Our pumpkins from Winco.  And I think that I subconsciously ignore the need to sweep my front porch because the handful of scattered leaves from the nearby rose bush and jasmine vine help me feel like it might actually be fall.

2:09 PM - Proof that they are home from school.

3:27 PM - Piano lessons with Anna.  She is on the very last songs in her Level 1 books.  Last year we were kind of slow & inconsistent with lessons.  But this year we are blazing through.

4:08 PM - Getting ready for soccer practice.  Gathering water bottles & Pepsi bottles and making funny faces in the kitchen.  Anna loves having her dad take her to practice.

4:18 PM - Picked up the boys from piano lessons and Payton is barely in the care before he dives back into his book.  Michael Vey is a favorite of both boys.

8:55 PM - Taking it down to the wire . . . Conner & Payton wanted my help to submit a video for the school talent show.  All entries were due by 9pm.

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This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.

MONDAY // week in the life 2014

This week I am documenting our everyday lives along with Ali Edwards and her project Week in the Life.  This is such a great project.  I did it for the first time in 2005 and oh my, our everyday lives are so much different 9 years later!  I love this opportunity to focus on our everyday -- our routines, the things we wear, see, do, participate in, the food we eat, what our house looks like, the places we go -- it all makes up one wonderful story.  I know that years from now I will look back on this chapter - as with every other chapter of our lives - and smile at the memories and the forgotten stories.

I am trying to take photos primarily with my dSLR but the iPhone is helping a lot too.  I am also using Ali Edwards' documenting sheets to take notes throughout the day.  Later I will compile it into some sort of album or book, but that is for later.

I will share a few photo highlights from each day, but I am making myself limit the number so I don't spend too much time away from "living" my week. :)

Here are a few photos from MONDAY

6:51 AM - time to do something with that hair. 

9:22 AM - clean the kitchen.  Dishes in the dishwasher, clean the sink, wipe all counters with cleaner, and find homes for all the random papers & stuff in the kitchen.

12:49 PM - Lunch.  Leftover honey lime chicken, tortilla chips, homemade salsa from my visiting teacher, and fresh apple cider from my other visiting teacher.  Also, I need to start thinking about sharing time this coming Sunday.

2:56 PM - He came home with this sugar skull project from Art Club.  

4:43 PM - All geared up - hairnets and aprons - ready to help with the dinner hour at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, along with a group of youth & adults from our church.

8:34 PM - Kids are in bed.  We made some brownie sundaes and carried them upstairs to enjoy while watching The Voice before bed.

week in the life 2013 // sunday

Day 7 of recording a week in the life.  Even though, at times, this project can feel like a lot of work (taking photos, writing notes, observing, etc.) I am so glad that I did it.  Already, as I scroll through my photos I see a life . . . an everyday rhythm . . . that is so different than what it was 2 years ago, even 1 year ago.

That is the special thing about this project.  Taking a step back and recording what life - real life - looks like right now.  

I plan to put these photos into scrapbook pages and add them to my week in the life album.  When I do I will share them here.  But you'll probably have to be patient.  :)

Here is a look at Sunday:

ready for church, waiting for me

gathering the binders (rolls and announcements)

practicing

squeezing in a few more minutes

the sunday party wagon

my door holders

egg salad sandwich craving . . . satisfied

naptime  (Scott - 2 hours, Me - 1 hour)

dinner prep - baked potatoes and lots of toppings

week in the life 2013 // saturday

This week I am participating in a "week in the life" project, inspired by Ali Edwards (lots of details here).

from Ali: "A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words."

Each day I'll share a few of my photos here.

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lounging

saturday morning zombies

organizing her room

saturday morning chores

listening log (for piano lessons)

palm tree pruning

bathroom project

back from swimming with friends

date night

he creamed me

week in the life 2013 // friday

This week I am participating in a "week in the life" project, inspired by Ali Edwards (lots of details here).

from Ali: "A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words."

Each day I'll share a few of my photos here.

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family scripture time

balloon creations (thank you Heidi & kids for the package!)

ready for school

lunch

waiting at pick-up

after-school cool down snack

priming walls & ceiling

papa murphy's pizza

pizza and a movie (Star Trek)

loving it

week in the life 2013 // thursday

This week I am participating in a "week in the life" project, inspired by Ali Edwards (lots of details here).

from Ali: "A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words."

Each day I'll share a few of my photos here.

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scripture study

immersed in The Mark of Athena

post-run cool down

funny

walking home

a new lego catalog

bag depot

back to school night

diablo 3 night

bedtime snack

week in the life 2013 // tuesday

This week I am participating in a "week in the life" project, inspired by Ali Edwards (lots of details here).

from Ali: "A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words."

Each day I'll share a few of my photos here.

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one of us smells good

the browns walk to school

stripes

desire, believe, ponder

love this face

(free) piano lessons

pokemon obsession

sprinkles and overcast

pokemon obsession

bedtime stories

week in the life 2013 // monday

This week I am participating in a "week in the life" project, inspired by Ali Edwards (lots of details here).

from Ali: "A seven-day documentary project, Week In The Life is an annual opportunity to capture the simple everyday details of your life with photos and words."

I did this for the first time in 2005.  And again in 2008 (see HERE) and 2011 (see HERE).  It's a bit of work up front, but I love the result.  I love capturing this snapshot of our everyday lives with words and pictures.  Without a doubt, our lives and our routines have changed each time I attempt this project.  It is a reminder to me that time marches on and I should capture the present while we have it.  Each day this week I'll share a few photos.

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ready to go

getting a ride with dad

lunch for one

our family

a little iTouch time

baking cupcakes

velvety leaf on a blustery day

math homework

weekend in the life // keep portland weird

At the last minute, as in Friday at 2 o'clock, we decided to do something fun and different this weekend . . . . be tourists in our town!  We booked a hotel, made a list of things that were very "Portland" (many of which we had never done before -- even though we have lived in the area for 11 years), woke up saturday morning, packed, and were on our way.

Here are our adventures . . . . week in the life style.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

83 degrees

8:25 am -- packing

8:45am - drying Anna's hair

10:13am - checking out the hotel room.  I've never actually seen an episode of Portlandia (a show that pokes fun at Portland), but here's a pretty funny clip about birds.

10:24 am - ready to explore the city

11:21 am -- awesome 4-person, continuously flowing, drinking fountain.  You can find these all around downtown.

11:41 am - Portland Saturday Market

12:06 pm - lunch by the fountain.  Pizza for Anna.  Chicago hot dogs for the boys.

12:20 pm - we sat and listened to the Supa Dupa Marimba Bros. play for a while.  Very cool music.

12:50 pm - the boys picked out some arrow head gear from the Spoon Man Creations booth.

1:44 pm - found some food carts for the grown-up's lunch.  I had Korean BBQ and Scott had Thai food.

2:28 pm - checking the transit maps . . . about to hop on the MAX

3:18 pm -- riding Portland's aerial tram.  Love that the lady in the other car is taking my picture, and I'm taking hers.  :)

3:25 pm -- cute boy.  And now we're on the Portland Streetcar.  Other than the buses, I think we covered just about every public transportation available to us.

3:46 pm -- fountain at PSU.  Our kids love, love, love fountains.

3:51 pm - waiting for the MAX

4:10 pm - get in line for VooDoo Doughnuts.  We have never partaken of the VooDoo, but it's a Portland favorite.  "The magic is in the hole."

4:17 pm - This sign is directly across the street from VooDoo doughnuts.  This is the mission statement for many Portlanders, and they do a pretty good job at it.

4:34 pm - While waiting in line we suddenly hear a chorus of "arrrghh!" and giant pirate flag leading a group of 30-40 people decked out in elaborate pirate garb.  Earlier in the day we saw them filling a bar.  We're guessing, that they were walking towards the waterfront for Brewfest this weekend.  Quite a scurvy bunch.

4:40 pm -- Our first glimpses at the famous VooDoo doughnuts.  We selected a one dozen assortment including the maple bar with bacon, fruit loops doughnut, captain crunch donut, and their famous Portland creme doughnut.  Altogether, a 35 minute wait.

5:09 pm -- had the experience of being sandwiched like sardines on the MAX.  Conner said, "this is a death trap."  Photo was taken after the majority of people exited at the last stop in the fare-less square.

5:45 pm - ahhh, adjoining rooms.

5:52 pm - my treasure from the Saturday Market.  I have the perfect spot for it.

7:00 pm - hotel swimming

About an hour later I got horribly sick (massive headache, nauseous, & other stuff) -- I'm guessing from something that I ate today.  Scott took the kids out for pizza and frozen yogurt.  I hunkered down in the hotel room.  Thankfully, I was feeling okay by the next morning.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

80-something degrees

9:16 am -- breakfast.  Just 2 bites of my glazed doughnut . . . trying to be kind to my stomach.

9:44 am - the morning routine

10:04 am -- this photo reminds me of a comment Scott made on Saturday, "I thought we ordered normal children."

10:47 am - checking out of the hotel

12:20 pm -- driving across the I-205 bridge following church.  Great view of Mt. Hood.

2:00 pm - lunch picnic in Washington Park

2:32 pm - meandering around the Rose Gardens

2:48 pm - Loved overhearing this conversation.  Scott to the boys:  "Sometimes you just do things to humor the ladies."

4:57 pm -- Home.  Watching Shark Week, napping, reading blogs on my ipad.

6:48 pm -- Yes, the bedroom is finished and it is heavenly.  (Before and after blog post coming soon.)

7:25 pm -- Dinner.  Waffles with raspberries & whipped cream & nutella.  Very tasty combination.

8:17 pm -- goodnight kisses.

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And that, my friends, is a week in the life of little ol' me.

week in the life // friday

Friday, July 29, 2011

82 degrees

breakfast:  Special K granola & peaches

lunch: grilled chicken sandwich & fries from McDonald's

dinner:  a nectarine.

other:  swedish fish, white sheet cake

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I'm participating in a Week in the Life project hosted by Ali Edwards.