Week In The Life™ 2016 | Wednesday Words & Photos

Welcome to Wednesday.

I'm hoping you are finding a rhythm for yourself with your own personal documentation. If you haven't, take a deep breath and come back to your reason why and/or your intention for this project.

Every other Wednesday is the transition day when the kids go to stay with Chris and Tiffany ( they stay with them until they go to school on Monday morning). In the beginning it was really, really hard. Over the years it's gotten easier and I know they are in very good hands. On Wednesday the story of my week shifts to what life is like when my kids aren't here with me. Some of you have no idea what that feels like and for others of you it is a regular part of your life.

As I mentioned previously, this isn't a sad story. It's just a story. And it's mine. And it's okay. I'm continuing to learn to embrace my life day by day with as much joy and compassion and kindness and fun and hard work as possible.

Here's a look at my Wednesday:

Sam. This cat is crazy in the morning and then sleeps the rest of the day (most often in a basket in my office). At 5:45am or earlier he is ready for me to get up and go downstairs and fill up his bowl. He very gently pats my face with his paw and then tries to lay on my face - over and over until I get up or push him off the bed. I don't enjoy that whole interaction but I really do love this cat and am so glad he is part of our lives because the rest of the day he just hangs out.

One of the things I love about this project is the invitation and opportunity to pause and "see" the pieces that make up our lives. This morning I was about to go in and wake up Anna until I paused at her door and went back downstairs to get my camera to take this shot of what is on her door right now. What do you see every day that you often walk right past?

Wednesdays are garbage day. I usually take it out before I take Anna to school.

Serious face but not serious mood. Getting Anna to school.

Everything was running a little late this morning. I drive Anna to school then come back to the house to pick up Simon to take him to school - this process begins at about 7:30am and I'm usually back home at my desk a little after 9am. I like driving them both separately. In the past Simon came along and for awhile we would go to a coffee shop or run an errand in the awkward amount of time between when they both start school. As he got a bit older it just made more sense to let him stay home and sleep in - especially when he was able to get himself all ready on his own. I like the individual time with each one even if it's a decent chunk of time out of my morning. I know it won't last forever. It will change again next year when Simon starts high school at a school that is much closer than his current school.

I usually have mixed feelings on these Wednesdays as I transition from the kid schedule to my own schedule. I miss them when they aren't here but I've also gotten really good at filling the time with work (which allows me more flexibility when they are here for picking up after school), or getting together with friends, or Aaron, or working in the yard, or going to the movies, or just resting and hanging out.

Rather than heading straight home after dropping Simon off I drove to our county Developmental Disabilities Services office for our first meeting with a case manager for Simon. We are learning about the services they offer ( through age 22 for him before another re-evaluation point) including behavioral supports and respite care.

After that meeting I stopped by Aaron's house because he's been sick and we hadn't heard from him yet today. All good.

Today was a poppy Tiek day.

I picked my parents up at the airport. They had been in Charlotte visiting my sister.

Catching up outside on the couch. George is a major fan of the new couch too.

My parents headed to the store and I headed upstairs to do a video for the next Story Kit™ and work on my layouts for the classroom portion of the subscription.

Boyfriend Jeans from Factory JCrew + flip flops from Gap Outlet + a super old white sweater.

When my parents got back from the store it was time to make my Dad's awesome Almac Supremo Margaritas. It's a super simple classic on-the-rocks margarita.

Salt. Yes. For dinner we BBQ'd lamb and had a salad and bread. Perfectly simple and good conversation. It's nice to have a chance to have my parents to myself without the kids here. Really it's great whenever they are here for a visit. We all love it.

On Wednesdays when the kids are gone I often start laundry right away - grabbing their baskets from their rooms and getting it done right away so that they have all their clothes cleaned by the time they get back.

In the early evening I usually walk around the yard and see what's happening and/or do some watering. My sprinklers are having an issue right now so I'm hand watering a bunch of things.

Ants are a "natural and temporary activity" with peonies. By the time they bloom most of the ants go away - I usually gently shake the flowers after cutting them before bringing them inside.

Watering my two hanging baskets on the front porch.

I love this photo as a companion to the one I took of me and the kids on the couch last night.

Bringing the outside in at the end of the day. These are the first of my peonies to bloom in the yard - my others are a much lighter pink.

The rest of my evening was filled with writing up this post and getting into bed early for a full work day tomorrow.

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