Week in the Life 2014 | Thursday

The story of Thursday is blur.  It's the craziest day of the week.  I generally leave the house in the morning and come back 12 hours later.

The number of pictures I took today was pretty pathetic.  Ali Edwards takes about 150 a day.  I think I took 15, some of the same thing at a different angle.  We shall go with what I have....

The story I want to remember about today is Ms. Lilia.  She has been asking me all kinds of questions that makes me wonder about what goes on in her mind.  She has been asking about Eric and my divorce, how, why....when did he leave.  And oh, how she wishes he still lived with us.

She also wished this morning that our family would be like her cousin Ava's.  At first I thought she was thinking about the whole married parents scenario, but she was thinking more about Halloween, and not having siblings that go out with her to trick or treat.  Sometimes it's hard to be the youngest in the family.  I told her that maybe someday Liv (Ava's little sister) might feel the same way, when her siblings get too old to ToT.  At least she has a positive attitude that she will get me all to herself at home, the longest while her older siblings go off to college.  Let's see if she will be as stuck to me at 14.

The story I want to remember is that I am blessed and grateful for health care.  Lilia is spending the night at the Young house tomorrow night.  Her first sleepover at their house.  She is beyond excited.  They have cats.  Lilia is allergic to cats.  We have been getting her body filled with medicine in hopes to ward off any allergic reactions.  Fingers crossed.

The story I want to remember is the snapchats from Sofia while she is at school.  Sometimes it's her and her friends, other times it's projects she is working on.  Today I got to see the pottery projects she has completed to date.  I'm glad she has one class that is somewhat fun, even though she says pottery isn't as easy as you would think.

The story I want to remember about today is the rain.  THE RAIN.  So much rain!  Lilia and JH both had soccer tonight --- thus the crazy day.  She practiced in a mud pit.  Since Lilia is rarely cold, this was so much fun for her.  JH on the other hand was freezing and grumpy.  I told him perhaps he wasn't moving enough to break out a sweat.

The story I want to remember about today is that Lilia is still a little girl.  Sometimes I forget.  She is so tall, so mature at times and is exposed to so much more than her older siblings at this same age.  She still loves baths and she loves to play, talk and imagine.  And that's okay.

Tomorrow is our Halloween Party at work.  Cookies are baked, food is prepped, I hope if I feed everyone enough they won't notice I don't have a costume on....

Week in the Life 2014 | Wednesday

Just for future reference, these pictures are taken with my iPhone and my Canon.  Neither of which I operate well.  The goal is to capture the story, not a perfect picture.

The stories for today.

I don't want to like coffee, but I do.  And I want to love coffee with coconut milk instead of 1%, but I don't.  Regular milk is so much better.  It's so hard to be healthy, most days.  Who am I kidding, everyday.  It's a struggle.

I am thankful that Alex and Sofia can drive to school.  It gives them a bit more time in the morning.    They are supposed to leave the house at 7am, while lately it's closer to 7:10am.  She sweet talks her teacher and doesn't get a tardy.  He says he takes it like it is, and gets a tardy pass.  I heard Sofia finally go to sleep last night at 1:20 am.  No wonder she sleeps through her alarm and is usually running to his truck. Alex always doesn't wait so patiently.

I do love dropping off the boys at school, even when it's dark and wet at 7:15am.  I want to remember how cheerful JH is in the morning and how chatty he is, and his daily sharing of gum with Chi.

By the time Lilia catches the bus, it's light out.  She stays in my car until she sees the bus in the rear view mirror.  Then it's chapstick on an a kiss and an I LOVE YOU.  I'm lucky she loves school and loves taking the bus with her BFFs Esther and Estella.

I want to remember the story of my morning drive.  I usually leave my neighborhood by 8:30, my drive is all of 10 minutes.  I do my best thinking in that time.  I have awesome ideas of things I want to do or explore.  The minute I sit at my desk to write them down, I've forgot them all.  The story of now at work is all about the upcoming elections -- specifically focused on passing I-1351, a reduced class size initiative.  Phone banking is expected and I don't like it.

The story of pumpkin carving.  Tonight was our only night.  I left Alex $20 and he went and bought 5 pumpkins at Winco.  We carved tonight.  JH didn't finish as he had an attitude and went to bed.  Sofia realized half way into carving that her pumpkin was juicy, very juicy.  I was busy making dinner and when I looked inside her pumpkin it was rotten and stunk so bad.  We tried to salvage it, but decided to just compost.  I am thankful for Alex and his patience to carve out Lilia's drawn idea.

I want to remember that Lilia loves to get her hands ewey dirty and dig out all the seeds and scrape the sides. She is by far the best in the family and did JH's too.

I want to remember the story of watching our first holiday movie The Holiday --- OUR FAVORITE.  We (the girls) are in love with Jude Law.  I think we watched it at least 10 times last year.  It makes us excited for the season.

I want to remember the story of Rhea and Sofia sharing a pumpkin and researching how to make a Harry Potter face. 

I want to remember the story of 9pm homework.  I am thankful that Rhea helps Sofia write papers.  She likes it and I don't.  They make a good pair, when they aren't laughing.

Week in the Life 2014 | Tuesday

The words and stories from today.

I want to remember the story that Lilia is self-sufficient in the morning, she gets herself up and ready, for the most part, on her own.

I want to remember that Lilia loves to catch the bus.   She is punctual to get out the door.

I want to remember that I have an amazing employer and colleagues who are flexible when I need to get home early.  I was home by 3:15 pm today, to prepare the flowers to honor the seniors in Beamer's last regular season game.  I want to remember that Sofia arrived at the same time and Rhea had pasta ready for her pre-game meal.

I want to remember the story of friends who come to support Sofia, even when they are blurry.  Romi and Sophie are our BFFs.
 

I want to remember the story that when I finally get home at 7:45 pm, sometimes it's okay to go from my car to Alex's, so that we can go get gas together.

I want to remember the story that even though I'm tired, it's nice to make a late night run to Costco, and eat dinner solo at the food court at 8:30 pm and talk about life.

I want to remember the story of Lilia calling and saying she would shower and be ready to make cookies.  She was ready and opened the door for me with open arms.  So we baked.

I want to remember the story of sharing my bed with this 9 year old.  Yes, she still sleeps with me, but she keeps to her side and has great reading habits.

I want to remember that today was so busy, that I saw poor JH for all of 30 minutes today.  Some days are like that....this will mean extra love tomorrow.

Week in the Life 2014 | Monday

Let's try this again.

I'm participating in Ali Edwards Week in the Life.  This is the third year I've documented a week in the lives of the CK5.

The goal is to document each day for one week -- the rituals, the stuff, the daily grind -- capturing the stories of what is happening now, at this chapter of my life.

Ali suggests we answer the question, "what is the truth of my day?" as I walk around my house, my work, my kids school...think about the truths that make up my day.

To be honest, the truth is I'm filling a bit on auto pilot with my life now.  I'm not living the day, but living the motions that make up my day.  Just one day at a time.  Over and over.  Without really living.  I feel stuck.  I'm hoping this documentation might help me reflect some.  More than pictures, I want to capture the stories.

But as I started out, I soon forgot.  My pictures and words are limited.  My thought is to post here, then compile an album next week.  I can only hope.

5:55 am | my alarm goes off
I hop in the shower.

6:10 am | I look out my door, there is evidence that JH has been in the shower, with the boys bathroom light on.

6:20 am | Alex starts to wake up, while I go and turn Sofia's light on.  She is up the latest with homework, so her mornings are hard.

6:45 am | Alex eats waffles, drinks milk, 180 days a school year

7 am | Alex and Sofia head to school.  Lunch for A: 1.5 P&B sandwich; S: 1/2 P&B, nuts, brownies, multigrain chips, hot cocoa and toast

7:15 am | pick up Chi for carpool

7:25 am | back home, Lilia is up and on the couch

1 pm | conference call

6 pm | grocery shopping

7 pm | dinner & dishes

8 pm | Lilia jumps in the shower

8:30 pm | Sofia comes home from Monday night soccer dinner social and heads to do homework

9 pm | JH heads to bed

9:30 pm | Alex writing a paper for school

9:45 pm | Laundry

10:45 pm | Bed