Peyton told me she was on blue today as soon as I walked in the door. She also told me there was no sheet because the teacher didn’t give it to her; she was going to get it back tomorrow, since there were changes being made. Again. Peyton told me she was going to get blue again tomorrow, and then for the rest of the week. Let’s hope so!
Kids’ projects
Here is what the kids do when they are bored:
Can only imagine who did what:
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Birthday party
Today was Matteo’s 7th birthday. We headed up north by 930 or so to drop my car off at the park and fly. Dave and Brandon were going to baseball after while I was taking Peyton with me to pick up my running packet half way back home at the mall. The kids listened to the safety talk before heading in to bounce. Brandon had fun kicking balls into the structure. Dave thought he had a legit shot at goalie and/or punter. Dave K. opted goalie so as to stay away from football. Peyton had fun on the slides and running around chasing Brandon. The second room was glow in the dark. After running around in the dark, Peyton waited her turn for the rock wall. She was hesitant and let two others go before taking her turn. She finally mustered up the courage and got a few body lengths up the wall. As we were headed out of the second room, the fire alarm went off. This was a first! We were exiting out when the all clear was given. Everyone headed back in for a group photo. Finally, pizza and veggies were served. We chatted with some mutual friends while the kids ate. We sang happy birthday then cake was served. Here are the pictures from today
After thanking our hosts, we headed back to the car. Dave took off while I searched for a parking space at the mall. Last year, the baseball schedule prevented me from waiting in the long line. This year, the process was more streamlined to pick up my runner’s bib for next week’s race. Peyton was tired and hot, so it was good it didn’t take more than 15 minutes from start to finish. We stopped outside a restaurant to get her tiny shots of water they had out for guests waiting. After 3 shots, she was good and we were on our way. We only stayed at home for a half hour before leaving again. Even though both kids practiced piano this morning, Peyton wanted another crack at it. She is determined to get this one song right. She also wants to learn the next song, which Brandon is on now.
Baseball pictures
Here’s a few pictures from Brandon’s teammate’s mom from their game last week:
It’s great to have someone who can take pictures throughout the game. I’m usually trying to entertain Peyton, or just filming Brandon when I can.
Here’s Brandon’s at-bat today, off a big kid pitcher. The other teams told us this team had a kid throwing at least 55 mph. Brandon was ready.
Birthday Parties
Today, Brandon was very busy. He had practice with Dave in the morning, while Peyton and I practiced piano at home. She also read, and both activities had her practice in “recovery” from mistakes. She doesn’t like to make mistakes, but they are going to happen for her, and she has to learn how to deal. Because of that, I didn’t get to walk over and pick Brandon up early from practice. Instead, Dave brought Brandon home after the full practice, just as Peyton was enjoying puzzle time. After she was done eating lunch, I took her to get another birthday gift for tomorrow’s party. Dave took Brandon to a pool party, which was drop-off, while Dave went to his co-coach’s house for a draft discussion. They will be drafting basketball teams later this week. Peyton didn’t want to take a nap, which was fine, since she hasn’t been at school. She worked on her puzzle, while I took a nap. Dave and Brandon came home, and Brandon told us all about the party. Both classes of each twin were invited, plus people like Brandon who weren’t affiliated with either class, but were random friends. The deep end of the pool was closed, so I guess it was safe enough; he made it back in one piece. He said there were about 50 people there! He showered up, then Dave took Peyton out while I watched the baseball game. He doesn’t want any part of watching it, so he’d rather be outside of the house. Peyton had fun with 1:1 daddy time, but before they were leaving, she kept asking me to go with her. The kids were in bed by 8 pm; Brandon was tired, I’m sure! Peyton was yawning while changing her clothes, so I know she was tired. Tomorrow, we have another birthday to attend, but it will be a family party, so both kids will attend.
Songs
We were eating dinner out tonight, and Peyton stopped when she heard, “Don’t Stop Believing” and said, “OH, this was the last song that we heard at Auntie Debbie’s wedding!” Dave heard her first; I only caught her saying it a second time when Dave asked her to repeat what she’d said. Dave did remember but only after Peyton said it. Brandon said, “Yeah, I remember all the adults getting crazy.” I guess he was referring to when we were all on the dance floor, when I was carrying Peyton to watch. Brandon chose to stay at the table but watched from afar. I then asked Peyton what song Auntie Jos danced to. It took her awhile to think of it, but she did remember (1000 years) after singing a bit of it. Dave struggled to come up with the artist (he said, “Paramore”). I told him they were my kids, that’s for sure. Dave doesn’t pay attention to details unless it involves food. Definitely not music!
Optimistic?
I worked until yard duty time. I checked into the office and headed to Peyton’s classroom. I walked them over to the lunch area, where Peyton told me she was on green. We walked past Brandon’s class, and every day, he turns around to acknowledge Peyton. Apparently, Peyton makes noise until he does. I motioned for him to turn around and pay attention. When we got to the multi, I realized Aiden was eating with the class, and he made me nervous. He wasn’t there last time, as he was with the principal. He also didn’t have his lunch, but the kids told me he wasn’t hungry. I talked to him to ask about his lunch, but I just got growled at with an angry face. There were many kinder parents, and the principal showed up. She requested all of us spread out among the other tables, since there were a lack of parents in the 1st grade area. I had no idea who the first graders were, but I obliged. I tried to help other kids, but I wanted to watch Peyton’s class, as that’s why I was really there. I made my way back, as the rest of the other kinder parents weren’t really listening to the principal. It was almost dismissal time, so I was going to be line leader for her class to go back to the playground. Little did I know I didn’t have a caboose! We were the last class out, and that meant the older kids were coming in behind us. While we were walking back to class, I saw Brandon’s friends and eventually Brandon. It was nice to say hi to him, too, this time out of his classroom. The playground time went by fast this time because they opened up the bikes and trikes area. The kids lined up to take one lap around the track. It went smoothly, so there wasn’t much to do to keep the peace. I was walking around checking on things, when I felt a hand in mine. I looked down and it was my little one’s hand! She didn’t mind me being there, whereas Brandon used to run away from me when I was there. She walked around with me a little bit before running to the trikes. She did a little monkey bars, but not as much as last week. Soon enough, the bell rang, and all the kids hit the deck. It was like jail! They walked in an orderly fashion to their respective classroom lines. I told Peyton to keep it together for 45 more minutes, so she could stay on green. She nodded, and then I left to go home for 30 minutes. I was able to wash up dishes, eat a quick lunch, grab my shopping list, and headed back to school. I picked up Peyton and her star sheet, then headed to Brandon who was awaiting chess club. He was waiting at the tables, just as he was supposed to, while some other kids were getting yelled at by the chess master because they were playing tether ball. Brandon saw me, and ran his backpack over to me. Without saying hi, he looked at Peyton and said, “What color was your card today?” She told him, “Green,” and he took off. I told him we’d come back in an hour to get him. We stopped by Peyton’s class to get her pink slip for the week’s summary. While we were there without the kids, Ms. M told us that Aiden wouldn’t be in class anymore. Mrs. M thought that this might help Peyton, as she tends to follow his misbehavior. Another student will come in his place. I wasn’t bold enough to ask where Aiden would be going, but I did see him and his mom at pick up. I hope he does go somewhere where he can thrive in the classroom. Peyton and I took off to the store. There’s a bunch of pumpkin stuff at TJ’s now, so we did a supermarket dash to get everything. We dropped everything off at school, Peyton pooped, and then we headed back to class to get Brandon. We got Brandon and headed back home. Brandon wolfed down his sandwich, which I toasted again to revitalize it. Both kids changed into swim clothes, and we headed out to class. Brandon did a great job. Peyton had to be pulled out by Ms. Sarah. Here’s one of Peyton’s videos. the little kid next to me said, “Whoah.” Here’s Brandon’s. Still not happy with the video quality of my phone…looks nice on the phone screen, but not on the “regular” screen. We got home, showered up, and then both kids practiced piano. Peyton read her online books, while Brandon tinkered with some legos. I talked to Peyton about Aiden not being in her classroom. She said, “Hurray!” I asked her why she said that. She said, “Because he always hits everyone.” Oops…hopefully she will do better.
Siri
Peyton has enjoyed conversations with Siri the most since I’ve gotten my phone. She heard me asking “When is the Next Giants game on?” and then she thought about all these baseball players. I think she was “testing” her with all this trivia. Half of the players she mentioned, I’d never heard of. And sometimes, Siri didn’t understand her either, as she did not enunciate. After naming a few off the top of her head, she went to the baseball cards she has. She would ask, “Who does ___ play for?” then Siri would spit back their stats for the season. Yet, she says she is not interested in baseball (Peyton, that is).
Mini Blue Streak
I picked Peyton up today from school, and her teacher was telling me that she’s been doing a good job. She got another BLUE today. She got extra ipad time today for earning all her stickers for keeping her hands and feet to herself yesterday. Seriously, like the teacher has to reward her for doing that?! But, it works. She wasn’t able to earn ALL stickers today as she was too rough at PE. She was playing octopus tag; I think it’s a bit of a set up for failure to tell someone to keep their hands of someone yet play tag. That was the only sticker she missed. I’m hoping for another better day tomorrow. I’ll be at work for the morning, which I’ve let her know, then I’ll head back over to do yard duty. I told her I had to go to work longer tomorrow, since I will be at school most of the day next week. I’ll be reading in her class, in addition to yard duty. Hang in there…it’s almost Friday!
The Wall
It was suggested that we post our house rules somewhere where everyone could see them. We had no such visible place, so Dave came up with an area. Right in our kitchen. A magnetic chalkboard wall! Brilliant!
He didn’t think my camera was fast enough…or maybe the wine slowed him down.
Testing the metallic paint (3 layers) with magnets first.
He had to season the wall with chalk before writing on it.
The Rules went up! Along with the cool down spot.
