A while ago I read an article about photographing a day of your life. The idea intrigued me. I loved all of the details the photos showed about the families' everyday life. But, the article suggested hiring a photographer and I'm too cheap to do that. And the pictures shown of the two families doing this had a hint of perfection to them--part of that was due to the professional photography, but there also wasn't clutter, messes, grumpiness and imperfection---all of which make up a daily part of my life. Probably because I published scrapbook layouts for so long, there is a bit of perfection in me before I snap pictures. I move clutter so there isn't visual distraction, I don't turn the flash on so the colors are more natural and I often delete blurry photos. Since I couldn't figure out a way to photograph a day as wonderfully as was shown in the magazine, I put the idea off. But late Saturday night while waiting for Cache to arrive home from a date, I suddenly decided that Sunday would be the day. The idea came with a sense of urgency so I decided to just do it. I decided to quit worrying about imperfections or trying to do as good of a job as the magazine or about clutter or blurry photos or resisting children. I didn't prep anyone and it was too late to make plans for anything out of the ordinary. So glad I did.
Welcome to a photo journey of a day in our life--bedhead, blur, clutter, runny noses, grumpiness, no photo editing or cropping and more. . . . hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Love this slice of our life right now.
{Because this post is long with just text alone, I opted to make the pictures small. If you are here to see the dust, clutter and runny noses, you'll have to click on the pictures!}
With church at 11:00, there is time in the morning for a few stories. 
Tom has an 8:00 meeting every Sunday. 
"Look Greta, I'm a flying trapeze!"
She's at the age where she insists on doing everything herself. 
Trying to sneak a little scripture reading in during breakfast with the girls--wasn't very successful. The girls and I had toast--with homemade cracked wheat bread---and hot chocolate. (the girls are a bit more intrigued with the self timer on the camera than breakfast)
Bad picture, but I did get one thing out of my scripture reading--Alma 50:1 ". . . Moroni did not stop making preparations for war. . . ." It reminded me that I need to remain vigilant at all times in preparing and teaching my children and fortifying them with faith so they are prepared for what lies ahead in their lives. 
Tessa snuck away from me and climbed up on the bunk to wake up Caleb. He was not appreciative to be woken by Tessa then greeted with a camera. 
This little girl is on the go these days! (love this little pucker look she does!) 
Tess playing her favorite game of late: putting her trike at the end of the hall and hollering for someone to shout "On your mark, get set, GO!" Then she rides as fast as she can down the hall and around the corner, often rounding on just two wheels and barely missing walls. 
And what's a day without playing laundry? 
Reading the morning news. 
Caleb making scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast. 
Chandler having toast with peanut butter and sliced bananas with Legos. 
Cache having peanut butter toast. (On Sundays, everyone is in charge of their own breakfasts; hmm, wonder what Tom ate.) 
Time for hair dos. 
All ready! 
On with the glasses. 
Top off the belly before heading to church. 
Top Tessa off too. She has a thing lately that she loves daddy to feed her.
Brush teeth. 
Tie Ties. 
Chandler's Sunday pass time if he is ready early---Windows Paint. Always something sports related. Always.
Three church bags ready to go--one for Primary, one for Tessa and one for Greta. Notice the little helping hand ready to grab one to invade.
Tom takes advantage of the rare occasion of me having a few extra moments before leaving. 
The girls and I play a bit before heading out to the van.
Caleb ready to go.
Tom and Tessa heading out the door. 
Cache heading up. 
Because I was taking pictures, I remembered to take my camera to church--it was our ward's turn to decorate the Primary room this year. Here is the room this year. 
Home Teachers come right after church. Too bad they didn't know they picked my day of documentation to come. And I never got a moment to explain myself--so I guess they just get to wonder! No matter, surely they already think we're weird!
Dinner isn't until 5:30 so I threw together some healthy munchies. 
Tom had to leave to go home teaching (on stake assignment for a transient ward) and Greta was napping so the rest of us enjoyed snacks without them. We had ham & cheese on crackers, fresh pears, oranges and dried cherries on celery w/peanut butter. 
Greta wakes up from her nap. (Yes, her bed is a portable Graco--and borrowed at that. She'll learn soon enough her parents are tightwads! See I told you this documentary was real life!)
Rolling out the rolls for dinner. What we have for Sunday dinner changes, but we almost always have rolls.
Lots of reading usually happens on Sundays. 
Starting family scripture study. The kids are good to come even though we woke a few of them up from naps. Right now we are reading the Doctrine and Covenants. 
Someone comes over to get Tom to sign the Personal Fitness Merit Badge.
Tom cleans up after me. . . and he always whistles while he does dishes. 
Caleb's meal prep assignment is to take care of Greta. 
Cache's meal prep job is to make fresh squeezed lemonade. 
Chandler's job is to take photos and take care of Tessa. She is reaching for the lemon rinds. Later she drops a few on the floor requiring a pretty good clean up.
Me over-sauteing rice for the pilaf. (oops) 
Caleb also has his nose in a book. (Cache did too, but he made himself very scarce all day since the camera was getting a lot of use.)
Grandma and Grandpa Waddoups arrive and Tessa immediately drags Grandpa downstairs to show him something. As usual, he is a very good sport. 
Cooking up the Pecan Crusted Tilapia. (Yum!) 
Tessa has to show Grandma and Grandpa her new trick. 
Grandma kissing Greta. (who took this picture??--the zoom would have been nice!)
Chan still working on his art. Looking good, bud.
Grandma reading to Tessa. 
Grandpa getting ready to take his insulin. Notice in the background the opened blind and window. . . yes it is the middle of January, but Tess had put a rubber band in the oven and our house did NOT smell good--we needed air!
Dishing up plates.
Cache's favorite place to eat--right by the rolls. 
Sitting down to eat. Caleb had stake youth choir practice and had to leave right at dinner time :(. We also had dessert--a fluffy frozen thingy I made up--that I forgot to take pictures of. 
After dinner, we have to have the traditional tea party with Grandpa. (Grandma always provides everything--even the table!) 
Tessa takes a new liberty. 
Tessa gets ready for bed and insists on a wrestling match with Grandpa before going to bed. Grandpa has no chance! 
Then Carolyn and Jerry have me take their picture for their missionary plaque. This is not the picture they used, but it is one that demonstrates the reason Tom adores me. It is not because of anything I am or do, but because he had such fantastic examples. (and we're glad to have Carolyn in a much healthier state--she had two stents put in on Thursday.) 
Greta hasn't been feeling her best (she's had a nasty case of croup) and by evening was needing a little mommy time. 
Chandler drawing more sports stuff. . .this time on paper. 
With Tess in bed we could enjoy a quiet game of Killer Bunnies. Caleb finally got home from choir practice and ate supper while we finished playing. Tom won with Remington.
After a few meds, Greta got feeling better and wanted to join us for Killer Bunnies. 
After the game, Caleb asked if he could play with Greta for a little while. 
And here is what I was left with after everyone went to bed. Very good and satisfying day. So very very happy I photographed it. 
Now surely this wins some sort of prize for the world's longest post! And you, my friends, should get a prize for reading to the end! 
5 comments:
LOVE it! I had fun looking at it, what a great idea.
I love it too!! What a wonderful memory! I might do one soon and then another at the end of the year :) Thanks for sharing!
Im going to do the project 365 this year, wich me luck, i have already started to record the images on my blog, but also keeping a larger copy for print later on :)
Can you believe our bubs are almost one girl, *sigh* my gosh hasnt that time gone fast!
Nice job! I remember reading that same article and thinking "what a good idea" but never doing anything about it. Maybe you've inspired me...
You are amazing. Caleb said to Chandler once that he (my Chandler) would love trading lives with him. I agree. My talents are very different than yours for sure. I know it works out because we all have something different to bring to the table. Your kids do have it very good. I would be having serious mental health issues if I had to live just like you. Too much work, but you are wonderful and a blessing to all of us
Fun post. Thanks for sharing.
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