Week In The Life 2013 | Wednesday Words + Photos

IMG_9498

NUMBER OF PHOTOS FOR WEDNESDAY | 50 (or so)

Both kids were back in school (Simon's first full day of 6th grade and Anna's final half day before starting full days on Thursday). We had our first morning of breakfast and driving to school all together and it was actually really nice and smooth and I was thankful for the practice of taking Anna in the mornings the last week and a half to get the timing worked out.

After dropping Anna off in her classroom Simon and I have a chunk of time available to us before he needs to be at school. Today we stopped at Starbucks for kids hot cocoa with whipped cream and a tall Blonde roast with no room. I'm looking forward to that one-on-one time even if we're just hanging out in the car waiting for the classroom doors to open. Connection.

After dropping both of them off I was back home at my desk to work. It's a strange mixture of relief and missing them/feeling like a piece of me is missing. So much of my experience these days seems to feature some sort of push and pull. Go/stay. Fill/empty. Fear/courage. Joy/sadness.

Here's a look at some of my favorites from Wednesday:

IMG_9501

IMG_9504

IMG_9505

IMG_9900

IMG_9507

IMG_9514

IMG_9907

IMG_9508

IMG_9526

IMG_9534

IMG_9553

IMG_9545

IMG_9550

bus

There were other photos I could have taken today but didn't for one reason or another:


  • A Simon melt-down upon arriving home on the bus because the driver needed to see an adult open the front door before she would let him off (a change from the summer when we'd filled out a form that let him get off and walk up to the door on his own without an adult opening the door - he liked that independence). She didn't have any forms for me to sign to allow him to do that today so that will happen next week.

  • Katie and Simon playing thumb-war to get him over his bus frustration.

  • Chris picking the kids up for the rest of this week and an extended conversation reviewing the new schedules and him diligently writing it down in his notebook.

  • A mini-celebration for a friend who found courage today.

  • Plane tickets purchased for one of those things I couldn't possibly say no to.

  • Me eating three slices of cheese pizza for dinner followed by a bowl of chocolate ice cream and an episode of Orange Is The New Black as I settle into the quiet of my house.


night

SHARE YOUR WEDNESDAY


I'd love to have you include a link to your WEDNESDAY of words and photos here. Please link directly to your post vs. your general blog link. Thank you!

PE_500x250_AE

TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY | BIG PICTURE CLASSES

Are you loving Week In The Life? Take it one step further, see your daily life in a sublime new light—and capture it with your camera—in Picture Everyday: Finding and photographing the magic in your daily life with Tracey Clark. Class starts Thursday September 12th!

CONNECT WITH BIG PICTURE | Main Site | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

TODAY'S SPONSOR GIVEAWAYS | Click here to check out today's giveaways from Stuck On You.

Related Posts

Sign in or sign up to comment.

44 thoughts

  1. Kellie N says…
    09/12/2013

    You will laugh at my question, but where do you get the little bags of Haribo gummi bears? They are my absolute favorite and I have never seen those smaller snack size bags!!!!!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Stephanie L. says…
      09/12/2013

      Hey Kellie,
      I saw those gummy packets at Target and World Market this week! :)

    2. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      And Amazon :)

  2. Cathy L. says…
    09/12/2013

    I loved "Orange is the New Black"! Had to laugh (not laughing at his frustration) when you said the bus driver waits to see an adult open the door. When my daughter was in 3rd grade, she had a new bus route and driver. On the first day of school, she was certain the driver didn't know where he was going, so she got off at a stop quite a ways from our house and walked home!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Stephanie Herbert says…
    09/12/2013

    I am loving this project! Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Patti L says…
    09/12/2013

    I keep saying how awesome this project is to see, that's all I can come up with! I love your take on the push/pull, but Ali you are just truly living life. Sometimes I feel the struggle too, but have to remind myself that the ebbs & flows are what makes the world go round. It is lovely to see your honesty, so thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. COUPON 4 MOM says…
      01/14/2014

      I agree with you

      So, so grateful for your sharing. I’m a better person for it.

      You and Chris are such an inspiration for both married and divorced couples. Thank you!

  5. Stacyk says…
    09/12/2013

    I totally understand the push/pull, go/stay feeling. Something I battle with almost daily. I always thought of it as struggling, but I prefer the way you put it. THanks for the inspiration as always :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Ruth says…
    09/12/2013

    Gosh, Anna is such a mini version of you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Alida says…
    09/12/2013

    I agree with Ruth, and she is getting so big. Love that she wears a uniform now. In South Africa most schools have uniforms. And what can I say, wasn't planning on doing WITL, but couldn't resist any longer when I saw your Day one and Two.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. MandeeM says…
    09/12/2013

    I love the billets of things you "could have but didn't" capture with the camera. What a great idea! With 3 kids this happens more than I would like, but I still want to get it down. Thank you for your inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Week in the Life [Wednesday] | There's More to the Story says…
    09/12/2013

    […] Week In The Life 2013 | Wednesday Words + Photos […]

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. amberca says…
    09/12/2013

    Wednesday was a slow picture day for me. I felt like there was very little change of scenery, basically me studying all day long. I am also finding that now that my daughters are teenagers, they don't want me taking photos of them in their natural habitat, hee hee. So I am having to sneak around and click when they aren't looking.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Heather Hare says…
    09/12/2013

    Ali, I was wondering where I can find the Remington font that you used in your WITL templates this year? And I'm loving following along with your days - you're getting some great shots! I'm just trying to find creative ways to get pictures of me working on my computer, which seems to be all I do these days. Lol

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      Here's the link: http://www.dafont.com/remington-noiseless.font.

      And I so get that about sitting at the computer all day!

    2. Heather Hare says…
      09/13/2013

      I'm sure you do! ;)
      Thanks for the link.

  12. Sarah @ TM2TS says…
    09/12/2013

    Poor Simon!
    It looks like it was a good day! Your dinner of pizza and ice cream sounds GOOD!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. dawn says…
    09/12/2013

    Thanks for sharing another day with us, the honesty of it too. I think describes most of us here. I swear Anna looks like she just grew up this week, maybe it's the uniform?? Such a doll she is though!

    That's great about Simon not being allowed off, for us it's only for the small kids and only if no cars in the driveway. I'm usually outside or in the door waiting for them. It is a great extra safety precaution though for all kids.

    My kids have been back 3 weeks this week and the quiet house is still a little too quiet at times for me. Even us adults have to adjust to back to school.

    Is there no morning bus for Simon then? How do they get to school from Chris's?

    Thanks for sharing with us, I'm loving this week so far.

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Jennifer K says…
      09/12/2013

      I agree, mine have been back to school since mid-August and it is always a bit of a shock and adjustment.

    2. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      They do provide bus service for Simon to his new school but they would pick him up after I need to leave to take Anna. Chris drives them and picks them up on his days :).

  14. Cynthia H says…
    09/12/2013

    Love that picture of you and Anna with Anna standing behind you while you are on the computer.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Amy says…
    09/12/2013

    love that you mentioned the things that you didn't take pictures of!! because, well, I am doing week in the life in my mind but you'd never know it to look at my camera. looking forward to seeing how/if you incorporate it into your album.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Jennifer K says…
    09/12/2013

    Love Anna in her bright pink with toy swords!

    I was surprised at first to see your pumpkin picture (already?!) But then just went for a walk and noticed the light is different (sunny after many days of clouds, so can really tell), fall is definitely coming and it does kinda feel like pumpkin time. Ahhh

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Dani says…
    09/12/2013

    Thank you so much for sharing the fact that you ate three slices of cheese pizza and a bowl of chocolate ice cream afterwards. It made me feel a little bit better to know we all have those days. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Paula says…
    09/12/2013

    Love your Wednesday - everything from the photos to your outlook! Mine was special - my daughter's 16th birthday - with a party to follow on Saturday. Managed to get about 20 photos, my high for the week.

    I have a question - been super busy so haven't opened everyone's links to their WITL yet - looking forward to doing that when I have down time on Sunday AND wanting to share my photos too...I have never done that and I don't have a blog...so how do I share?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      Hi Paula - there are groups for sharing (both free) via Flickr and via Big Picture Classes. http://www.flickr.com/groups/2298854@N21/

  19. Christine says…
    09/12/2013

    I always love it when pics make me stop and think. The car seat shot- thinking wow she's getting so big and not baby like. Then the sofa shot- thinking there's the little girl again, not so big yet. The same thing still happens with my almost 18 year old. I get glimpses of the boy he's leaving behind and the man he is becoming. Mostly when I least expect it.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Pat Baker says…
    09/12/2013

    Although I'm sitting out on WITL this time, I'm enjoying looking at others' posts from around the United States & other parts of the world. It's interesting to see so many similarities in family life, no matter where you are from!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. kelly libby says…
    09/12/2013

    I have started taking photos on the radio "dial" when a favorite comes across. Then, i'm going to use them in the 3x4 spots.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Corinne says…
    09/12/2013

    Attempting to do WITL - def not a normal week on our lives as we had. Huge storm on Tuesday night which left much of the area without power and trees down all over the place. (Near christchurch, new zealand)We are still powerless, so hanging out in the local library in a nearby town to catch up on e-mails and the like. Trying to make notes on my iPad as I go along, and taking loads of pics on phone and camera which I might eventually be able to download. This is one occasion that it might be better not to be a digital scrapper, but then I can't print anything out either. Now on our third day. With out power, but school open as they do. Enjoying the quiet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Emma says…
    09/12/2013

    Hi Ali, just wanted to pass on positive thoughts as I feel for some reason you need them in this ebb and flow of life. Best wishes, Emma in Aus

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      Thanks Emma - I'm actually doing really well and am really thankful - just super conscious of everything as I document this week. Appreciate those positive thoughts.

  24. Peppermint says…
    09/12/2013

    Is it weird that the thing that stood out the most to me in this post was the mystery plane tickets? Now I want to know. And I think we might have the exact opposite custody schedule, which I wouldn't know without the WITL stalking. So "yay" for WITL stalking!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Ali says…
      09/12/2013

      Smooch! Ours is an every-other week set-up (as in he picks them up every-other Wednesday and has them through the weekend).

    2. Peppermint says…
      09/12/2013

      Okay, then slightly different. We have a 5-2, then 2-5 schedule, as in he has N every Mon & Tues, then every other weekend. Which means most of my wine drinking happens on Mon & Tues.

  25. Dori says…
    09/12/2013

    Oh my... Anna standing behind you at the computer... two girls in pink. Precious!

    Reply 0 Replies

Sign in or sign up to comment.