Ali Edwards's Blog

In Case You Missed It | June 17 Week In The Life™ 2022 | Ali's Tuesday

Week In The Life™ 2022 | Ali's Monday

One of my favorite Dave Matthews Band lyrics is from the song Two Step: Celebrate we will because life is short but sweet for certain.

It's a song that went around + around in my head today as I documented the first day of my Week In The Life project for 2022.

Around here it's the first official week of summer for the kids + the first full week with our new puppy Betty. It's also the last Week In The Life that all seven of us will be here for sure as Isaac heads to college and Simon will be moving into an independent living program in the fall.

Celebrate we will because life is short but sweet for certain.

Here's a look at my Monday:

We brought Betty home last week on Wednesday. She's an 8-week old white lab and she's awesome. She's also a baby puppy who requires early wake ups and lots of attention. I was up for the first time today at 3am (top photo) and then again at 5:30am.

Celebrating watching the sun come up.

Celebrating quick + easy shoes that I can put on before Betty and I head outside.

Celebrating the hand that reaches out to hold mine when Betty and I head back to the bedroom after her breakfast, training, and play time.

Celebrating the sun on my face and watching the sun rise - even sweeter because we've had so much rain this month.

Celebrating this sweet addition to our family who loves to simply sit and sniff and listen and watch.

Celerbrating the daisies.

Celebrating the moment I'm able to make my first cup of coffee.

Celebrating having a house full of kids. Anna, Audrey, and Elliott were all up fairly early considering it's now summer. So far they are either be hanging out on the couch or hanging outside with friends (definitely evident in today's photos). I love that they hang out in the living room when they are on their phones.

Betty is at the stage where she's up for 30 min to an hour and then needs a rest. We are crate training so she naps in her crate in my office while I get some work done.

Making some word art for next month's One Little Word prompt from Felicitas. Celebrating that this is my job.

Celebrating these amazing David Austin rose blooms.

Celebrating a more relaxed summer routine. Since today's the first day we haven't really established any rhythms yet but we did have a conversation with the girls about trying to plan ahead a bit about what kinds of hangouts they are doing and what kind of rides they'll need.

Celebrating just chilling out.

Celebrating crossing another design project off my list. Today I finished up the fourth Scrapbook Kit for 2023.

Celebrating all the times I get to go outside with Betty. Seriously, I've been outside more the last week than I have in a very long time. In and out and in and out and in and out.

Celebrating Simon saying to me “I’m having a good day.” After coffee this morning with friends + then getting to see Grandma and Grandpa. He also said “It can be exhausting having a good day."

Celebrating shared responsibilities and a calm + kind partner.

Celebrating the simplicity of water filling up a dog bowl.

Celebrating a couple of stolen minutes sitting on the couch with Aaron while Betty naps.

Celebrating kids doing jobs before heading off to hang out with friends.

Celebrating kids who value moving their bodies.

Celebrating hugs with my girl who is getting closer and closer to being my height.

Celebrating the quiet moments of puppyhood.

Celebrating these two. Always.

Celebrating how they are growing into good humans.

Celebrating putting away the sheets as I walk by them sitting on the floor for the twentieth time.

Celebrating Mom + Dad stopping by for a visit before heading to a doctor's appointment in town.

Celebrating how like myself I feel in this moment.

Celebrating this.

Celebrating confidence + athleticism + sunshine.

Celebrating catching up + conversation. Simon was filling Grandma in on our Star Wars Celebration adventure and Aaron and Dad were chatting about dogs.

Celebrating the making of plans and the organizing of schedules and carpooling to one of the local trampoline parks.

Celebrating deliveries.

Celebrating a bean salad I made up last weekend and will be making on repeat. Cucumbers + snap peas + feta (mine's dairy free) + white beans + fresh mint + oil + rice vinegar + salt + pepper and today I added celery too.

Celebrating us. Commiserating on our lack of sleep and making plans. Always making plans.

Celebrating simply having him here.

Celebrating him always.

Lisa came up with a fun set of photo prompts for each day this week and today's ways #aeinthemirror. Loved capturing this one of my Simon and I as we said goodbye to my parents after their short visit.

One of the things I'm trying to do this week is capture some of the super basic things that are part of my life right now (like my Birkenstocks above). Sparkling water is the drink of choice around here.

Celebrating Anna and her friends deciding to come over here for a hangout after the trampoline park. I love that they've reached the stage where it's a fun mix of kids.

Celebrating the mess and the extra dishes and the constant need to restock stuff and knowing that it won't always be this way.

Celebrating team work and Anna's first boyfriend.

Celebrating how much Issac loves Betty and how into getting her he was from the very beginning (he's a major cat dude).

Celebrating being the house where they hang out.

Celebrating making dinner (carne asada from Trader Joes and taco stuff) for anyone who wants it with Dave Matthews playing on the speaker.

Celebrating a warm weather local favorite.

Celebrating team work again as they work to get the volleyball out of the tree.

Celebrating Issac and his set up and how much time he's been spending with friends recently. We are super excited for head up the road to Corvallis (Oregon State) this fall. I can't wait for his stories.

Celebrating this. Seriously.

Celebrating the sunshine.

Celebrating more conversation.

Part of what made today awesome was simply having everyone around for so much of the day. A bunch of Elliott's friends + girl friend are out of town and it was awesome simply having his presence in the house.