Week In The Life 2013 | Monday Words + Photos

NUMBER OF PHOTOS FOR MONDAY | PHONE 41 • DSLR 138

If you are looking for today's Studio AE/Technique Tuesday Blog Hop go here.

I'm without my favorite 24-70 lens this week (it was dropped a few weeks back and is being repaired) so all my DSLR shots are with my a fixed 50mm 1.4 (a lovely lens but just not the same). I work with what I've got.

I used either Rab Lab (along with Photoshop) or Pic Tap Go on my iphone for editing these photos.

Without a doubt this project always gets me really thinking about my life (as if I didn't already, maybe amplified thinking is a better explanation). It's through the paying attention that the patterns emerge and that adjustments can be made.

It always makes me thankful.

Without a doubt this project always gets me to take more photos - with intention. Some of my favorites over the years have been taking while participating in this project.

Today I wrote this down: Question assumptions about my life. Not sure exactly where that's going but it felt meaningful in the moment.

I also thought a lot about how I'm almost always telling Anna what to do/what not to do. No wonder she doesn't want to listen to me or wants to do the opposite of every thing I say. I also tell her I love her a lot, but I know my exasperation shows. A lot of my emotional energy right now is going into figuring out the best ways to be here for her and encourage and steer her in positive directions (and remember that she's just four years old and she's through some big transitions right now too with a new schedule and new school). There's a lot of photos of her today. She's mighty.

Here's a look at some of my photos from Monday (from morning to evening):

(self-timer shot) Anna started pre-K last week so we're adjusting to a few things: earlier morning, uniform and no TV before school. After battling for a few days about the morning screentime (lack of) my Mom suggested I read to her while she eats breakfast. This requires that I get up a bit earlier to get myself and all my other before-school-tasks completed. Smooth morning today (and she was actually much happier than she looks in this shot). Thanks Mom.

I drive her to school and walk her to the gym where all the kids begin their day and then into her classroom. Today she kissed my goodbye on my cheeks, chin, forehead and on the top of my head.

I return home to find this young man in his Star Wars robe on the couch with his faithful sidekick (who by the way was out all last night and was ready for an all-day snooze). Today was Simon's last day of summer; Tueday he starts 6th grade.

Morning coffee spill. Hello Monday.

He comes upstairs to ask Katie or me to help with the settings on the toaster and to ask a couple questions about why they call it "the force."

One of the things we emphasized over the summer was making your own breakfast. Buttered english muffin for him today.

Pick-up from school. They have half-days for the first week before moving to full day. She wants to wear the dress/jumper everyday.

After lunch hang out on the couch with Katie and watch Brave.

Quiet time in his room.

She wanted to paint before having her own quiet time. We got her out of her uniform and pulled her hair back (often a fight involved) and a blank canvas. She painted for a few minutes before she was getting way too silly and was ready to move onto something else.

Katie took a few shots of her on one of the white walls in the office.

And Katie also took this one looking into the office. Love it.

And then she spent some time on Katie's lap.

And some time on mine and she kept talking about how snuggly and warm my skin felt.

And then it was quiet time for her.

And work time for me.

Which lasted only a bit until she was ready to go outside and play with her new neighbor friend.

Simon in my size 10 flip flops playing iChess while Anna rides scooters with the neighbor.

The dishes that remained on the counter all day. I almost cleaned them up twice but the dishwasher ended up not "catching" the soap so it ran without soap and I needed to re-run it. And then I was just tired.

She played while I cooked baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese.

Dress up clothes and accessories of course.

And a little TV before bed.

A favorite corner, especially as the sun is going down. I bought that wire wreath from CB2 (I think) last holiday season and wrapped it with white twinkle lights and have kept it up all year. It makes me happy, as does the light coming in from the windows.

Anna fell asleep on the couch. Simon went around around because he misplaced one of his light-sabers. I decided to tuck them in and skip the dishes and get back to reading the book Wild (I started it ages ago and got distracted by life).

Tuesday is a big day as Simon starts at his new school. His attitude right now is awesome and I so hope it's a good experience for him.

I also took some time during the day to print out the This Is Our Life 4x6 journal cards that I'm planning to use for Project Life this week (there's also a This Is My Life set available as well).

Super easy to just open the PDF and print on Epson Matte Presentation Paper. I'm planning to just add a couple thoughts/reflections/observations from each day.

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