Writing Every Day in May — Day 15: My Day

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Traci

Today’s Prompt is a day in my life as told in pictures. I thought I would post as I go…

Good morning:

6:00 am: Before brushing my teeth, I go and push this special button.

My Day 1

7:28 am: Making lunches — usually at the last minute and always frantic

My Day 2

8:22 am: Breakfast, Good Morning America, and Blogs

Day 3 Collage

 

10:30 am: Work at my kids’ school — I work in the cafeteria and let me tell you, if you want to experience children in their natural environment, spend some time in the cafeteria!

Day 4

11:50 am: My daughter comes into lunch (Sonny-Bunny was with his Dad on a field trip or I would have given “equal” time). The times that my kids come into the lunchroom make me happy and worth doing this very thankless job.

My Day 5

1:00 pm — A little reading. I have the pleasure of serving as a reading assistant volunteer. I work with a lovely girl who has grown so much in her reading. It warms my heart each week.

Day 6

1:45 pm Lunch… finally. Leftovers, yes. But yummy leftovers!

Day 7

2:15 pm — A “few” dishes were waiting for me

Day 8

3:10 pm — The after school backpack dump

Day 9

4:00 pm — Laundry!

Day 10

5:15pm: Homework

Day 11 Collage

6:00 pm: Dinner — I love how our table is surrounded by windows. It makes me feel like we are eating among the trees.

Day 12

7:00 pm: TV and time with Little Diva. There may have been cuddling and silliness involved.

Day 13 Collage

8:00 pm: “Get off the Minecraft. It’s time to get to ready for bed…”

Day 158:10 pm: “Okay, it’s time. Get off the Minecraft. Now, please.”

Day 15-2

8:15pm: “Put down the phone now! It is bedtime. I mean it or no Minecraft for a week!”

Day 15-3

8;30pm Storytime

Day 16 Collage

And after four stories, ten songs and a half hour of back scratching and well, this…

Finally Screenshot

9:45pm — Finally!

Finally Collage

So there’s my day. I’m not living on a Red Carpet or in Cannes, or well, even a Target commercial. But it’s my life and this is my day.

And of course part of my day is participating in the challenge by Jenni at Story of My Life.




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Wordless Wednesday #53 — Mother’s Day

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Traci

WW-MD

I am blessed!

Check out other Wordless Wednesdays at 5 Minutes for Mom, Create with Joy.
Oh My Heartsie Reviews, and Pee Dee Mama!


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Writing Every Day in May — Day 14: This Makes Me Happy

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Traci

Today’s Prompt is Ten Things That Make Me Happy:

  1. When my husband tells me he loves me — after 25 years together, this still makes my world spin
  2. When I hear my children laugh together — the moments when they play together without fighting and their laughter fills the air sends my soul soaring
  3. Sipping coffee while reading my favorite blogs — it is like having all my friends in my home without having to clean!
  4. The moment when all the laundry is done — admittedly a rare feeling but a true one!
  5. Reading a book that makes me forget time — ever since I was little, I love getting caught up in the magic of a book
  6. Looking at my sweet children as they sleep — pure joy, I tell you. Pure joy!
  7. Thrifting — I love finding a hidden treasure. Watch out if you tell me you like what I’m wearing, I’ve been known to brag — brag about how cheap it was! :-)
  8. Having a full pantry — I love the feeling I have after shopping when the house is full of food and I know that we are blessed and full of bounty.
  9. The beach — there is no place in this world that makes me happier. I feel the most myself and at peace when walking in the waves.
  10. My friends and family — I am so blessed by my husband, children, my parents, my brother and his family, my in-laws and all my extended family. I am also blessed by a great set of friends — I have had the same best friend since I was nine. I have an embarrassment of riches here.
  11. (Secret number 11) Acting — I didn’t list it in my ten as it is not part of my daily life but it still lives in my heart.

Finally, I’m happy to be participating in the challenge by Jenni at Story of My Life.




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Writing Every Day in May — Day 13: A Public Apology

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Traci

Today’s prompt is to make a public apology. I am making one in advance.

Dear Kids:

I am writing today to apologize for the many ways that I will embarrass you as you grow up. This includes but is not limited to:

  1. I will wear clothes that you will not like. I have been dressing myself for 40 years and I’m not going to relinquish that anytime soon. And I’m expecting you to live up to the “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all” policy. In other words, if you don’t like it, tough.
  2. When music I love comes on the radio, I will forget I am in my forties or fifties, for that matter and I will crank it up like I’m 22. This is especially true for New Order, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Pearl Jam. I will try to control myself in the presence of your friends but I’m probably going to forget at some point.
  3. I will tell you not to drink or smoke even though I did those things. Yes, I am a hypocrite but I am a hypocrite that loves you.
  4. I will call you out in front of your friends if I find you doing those things. If they care about you, they won’t pressure you to do things that feel wrong. And if they do, they are not really your friends.
  5. I will hug and kiss you and tell you I love you even when you don’t feel the same. I may even do it in front of friends. If they really care about you, they will be glad that your mom loves you. And if they don’t… well, see above.
  6. I will be your mom, not your friend. That is my job. You won’t always like it, but it is my chief purpose in your life.

So if any or all of that embarrasses you, I’m sorry. If it’s any consolation your Nana did the same thing to me. That’s part of the fun of being a parent.

Sincerely,

Your embarrassing mom

I’m still participating in the challenge by Jenni at Story of My Life.




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What’s Happening: Add “Plus Meets Minus” to Your Calendar

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Traci

Pollyanna #4

On Sunday, my kids and I were lucky enough to spend Mother;s Day with the folks of Pollyanna Theatre Company. They have a new show “Plus Meets Minus” and they were kind enough to include my family in the audience.

Wow! What a fun show. It tells the story of Addy Plus, a girl who loves “more, more,  more” and her encounters with Minus Takeaway who loves to well… take away. As they learn to negotiate their differences and develop a friendship, the audience learns about appreciating others and what makes them unique.

The moral is strong but told with surprisingly few words. I think this makes the piece especially strong for younger children. Lest you think, however, that older kids won’t enjoy it, don’t worry. My 9 year old son who came into the theatre in a bit of a pouty mood was smiling within moments. He laughed throughout the show and was eager to meet the cast.

Plus Meets Minus 1

 

We have never been disappointed at a Pollyanna show and this was no exception. As an actress, I have seen, and frankly participated in, bad children’s theatre. As a parent, I know we have all sat though shows that our children seem to enjoy but was painful to us. Pollyanna puts on shows that I enjoy as much as the kids. The stories are well written and they have incredibly strong casts. The artistic director, Judy Matetzchk-Campbell, has led Pollyanna to live up to their philosophy  – to produce shows “that invite audience members to reflect upon themselves and the society around them in meaningful and constructive ways”.

Here she is sharing her passion (forgive the blurry pic):

Plus Meets Minus 2

The show runs this weekend and I hope you will check it out! It plays at the beautiful Long Center.Long Center Collage

 

Show times are:

May 14 at 9:30 and 11:15
May 15 at 11:00
May 16 at 11:00
May 17 at 9:30 and 11:15
May 18 at 11:00, 2:00, and 4:00 followed by “Pay What You Like Party”

If you want smiles like this, I highly recommend the Fundraiser Party:

Plus Meets Minus 3A big thank you to Pollyanna Theatre for a wonderful show and a wonderful day!

 


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Writing Every Day in May — Day 12: What I Miss

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Traci

I am a “look forward” kind of girl so I don’t focus much on what I miss. But that doesn’t mean there are no holes in my heart.

First, and foremost, I miss my brother. He died in 1995 at the age of 20 and there is not a day that I don’t think of him. I see him in my son and wish he was here to share in all of his nephews and nieces. He was terrific with kids and I am sure that my other wonderful brother wishes the same. It has almost been 20 years but I still want him here.

Secondly, I miss acting; really I do. I have a beautiful family and I have come to love writing but I still miss it almost daily. I miss the community of theatre and all my friends from the boards. I miss the words and the costumes and getting to be someone else even for a short period of time. I miss the dream I had. thought I had lost but have found again.

Finally, I miss the Pacific Ocean. I lived in San Francisco for four years and it is still my favorite place in the world. I miss the vast sky and how the blue of the sea meets the blue of the heavens in the biggest horizon I have ever seen. I love how the land simply ends in giant jagged cliffs with a small almost untouchable patch of beach at the base. I miss the bridges and the fog but mostly I miss that ocean. Nothing made me feel so small and yet so inspired as that water.

What do you miss?

This is a part of the challenge by Jenni at Story of My Life.




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Sundays in My City #61 — Happy Mothers Day!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Traci

My mom:

SIMC Mom

The two crazy kids that make me the happiest mom in the world (Oh! And the great guy who shares duties with me!):

Mothers Day Collage

I am blessed. Happy Mother’s Day!

So that’s where my heart is this Sunday. You can share where you’re at with UnknownMami.

Unknown Mami
 


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Writing Every Day in May — Day 11: My Sales Pitch

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Traci

Today, I am selling myself in ten words or less.

I am:

Ridiculously upbeat
Very encouraging
Sentimental
Stubborn
Hard working
Dreamer

What’s your pitch?

This is a part of the challenge by Jenni at Story of My Life.





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Big Hearted Friday #3 — Teacher Appreciation

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Traci

This week was Teacher Appreciation at our school. We are blessed to go to a great school and have wonderful teachers. I was really proud of how much effort my kiddos put into these cards for their teachers; so proud I had to share how big their hearts are!!!

BHF Teacher 7

Little Diva making a card for the lovely teacher who took over when her original Kindergarten teacher took maternity leave…

BHF Teacher CollageShe went on and on about the rainbow colored hair and how beautiful she is. Looks beautiful to me!

And here’s Sonny-Bunny letting his teacher know that she rocks!

BHF Teacher Collage 2

 

I think he rocks!

A big thanks to my friends at Big Hearted Families for helping us remember to show gratitude!

BHF


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Writing Every Day in May — Day 10: Most Embarrassing Moment

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Traci

Well as a walking embarrassment, you might think that this was an easy one for me.I have already pointed out the many similarities between a certain British mess and myself…

BJD

Daily I find myself with lipstick on my teeth or TP on my shoe. I had braces for four years, a birthmark that other kids called “hickey nose”, turned my hair orange and green more than once, and had a white bathing suit (enough said).

Among the greatest hits are:

1) Splitting my pants as a freshman in high school — it was a magenta colored pair of overalls (maybe that’s the embarrassment right there but I digress). They split in fourth period and my mom wasn’t able to come before the end of the day. My friend offered a jean jacket to wraparound my waist. Well, anyone who has ever tied a jean jacket around their waist knows it provides limited coverage. Worse yet, it was like painting a giant red “X” on the spot as if to say “look at me, please”! And if the mere fact that I was wearing a jean jacket tied around my waist to cover a giant split in magenta overalls weren’t embarrassing enough (and really it was enough), I had choir for sixth period and we were practicing for performance. I had to stand on a riser with said hole in pants.

2) Junior year in high school — I’m walking in the hall and see skater boy on whom I am seriously crushing. I pass and notice that he is looking at me. I try to do the hair swing and laugh over the shoulder. Hair cooperates and swings nicely but as I begin to laugh, the hair sticks to my newly lip glossed lips. STICKS! Like glue. Had to pull over in the hallway and remove the hair from my lips as it is actually blocking my view.

3) Seventh grade — Boy invites me to Homecoming as a joke. Yea, really.

4) The worst however, was not funny even in retrospect. In fact, it was a defining moment. I was in acting school and we had to try out our monologues for casting directors. Fellow students went up and the casting directors LOVED them. Finally, it’s my turn and… they hate me. Hate my pieces. Hate my choices. Hate me. And all that happened in front of my entire class. Yep. Pretty low moment and seriously embarrassing.

What embarrasses you?

P.S. I am embarrassed that I can’t seem to spell embarrassed without spell check. It seems that I always forget an “R”.

Thanks to  Jenni for the embarrassing challenge. Check out other stories at Story of My Life.





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