Last Friday, we had Peyton’s first show of Mulan. She had tech week meaning on Tuesday and Thursday, she was at school from 230 pm to 630 pm or later. Tuesday, she had Girl Scouts right after, while Thursday, I had to move her piano lesson to Friday. They were fed dinner after each dress rehearsal. She didn’t have a mike on Tuesday, and she was a bit sad about it. Mostly because Brandon made it a big deal, telling her he had a bigger part than she did because he was miked for at least three of his shows. She was okay with it, as her little group all didn’t have them. On Thursday, when I went to pick her up, she was wearing a mike while eating dinner! She was beaming from ear to ear when I mentioned it. So Friday, we had piano after pick up, and then we had some downtime for her to relax. I had already gone to get flowers and make up earlier in the day. I decided to put make up on her for the show, giving her a little cat-eye action and light lipstick.
Her show was 7 pm, so I had my parents wait with her while I waited by 530 pm, in the middle of the first show. My parents brought her to school by 6 pm, her curtain call, and then joined me in the cold to sit for almost 45 minutes. Because of my nutiness, we were first in line. The parent producers had taken stage left side, so I went first row, stage right. There was no supposed to be video taping or pictures, but the parent producer’s husband had already posted FB video of his kid, so I broke the rules (gasp!). My dad was a bit worried about me being caught by the stage hand who was bringing out props at one point while I was filming. She was able to meet with her fans, after her show was done. We had some girl scout sisters as well in attendance. This was the show for her to mingle, since she was still in costume, and could socialize with her fans. We took pictures with my parents and of the girl scouts, and then she changed her clothes. Since it was so cold, we all felt like eating warm food. We went to pho since there was only one place that was open later than the others, which were all closed or closing. We ate with my parents, then they headed back home.
Peyton had her first tournament game in Salinas at 1030 am, meaning we had to be on the field by 930 am, meaning we had to leave the house by 8 am. I made the mistake, or not really, of having her practice piano before we left. We didn’t leave the house until closer to 815 am, and it showed it would take about a full hour to arrive. I wanted to make it there with plenty of time to spare, but instead, we got there just in time. She was able to warm up with the team, and she was still within the first half of the team to arrive. They had played this team the week before and handled them mightily. The same happened in this game, but this time, since we were up by so much, to close out the game, Peyton came in to pitch! I hadn’t seen her warming up; I just saw her headed to the mound, and I was surprised. Later, I found out the pitching coach had asked her if she wanted to pitch. She shrugged and said, “Sure, I don’t know,” or something like that, and he said, “Okay, get in there!” It was a bit rough with a few walks, and 3 unearned runs, but she did manage two strikeouts, and finished out her inning. She was listed as the winning pitcher of that game. The second game was at noon, so they didn’t get a break. We were a bit nervous about this team, since we’d not seen them before. But the team handled them 12-3. We then had to leave before game 3 at 3 pm, since Peyton had her show at 5 pm on Saturday. She slept while I drove back, and since I made good time, I went home first. I had her clothes all ready to go in case we ran out of time. We did hair and makeup, then turned around in less than 20 minutes. Brandon had had a busy day as well. He had a baseball game in the morning, at 830 am, and then had a second baseball game that he had to miss, since he had basketball practice that was semi-mandatory, since they had their first basketball tourney the next day. They were all done by the time we were home, and Dave had already started grilling dinner. He packed up two burgers for us, and we left them in the car the whole show. I was not first for this show, rather 10 groups back or so. I waited alone, then Dave and Brandon came over when they’d finished dinner. We sat to stage left this time, saving two seats for Ashlyn and Julie. I had a better sense of how to film a clip this time, so I got Peyton’s “solo”. Solo is used loosely, but she was singing, on her own, alone = Solo, right? 😉 It may be the closest she ever comes. This time, since she had the first show, she didn’t have time in between to greet guests in costume. She quickly changed for the next cast to get in wardrobe. She did come out and take a few pictures, and then we headed back to her tourney in Salinas. We both ate our burgers that made us. She was helping me text our friends at the tourney, and then suddenly said, “Oh no. The burger just flew off my lap!” She used my phone, after I gave her instructions on getting to the flashlight, to find her missing pieces. We arrived safely to the motel, where it looked something out of a movie. It was 70’s style, open format. I had originally pulled up to a sketchy van. I quickly checked in, then we found our room and waited. Our friends were coming back from Chili’s and they were changing to go to the pool. The problem was was that I’d taken her swim bag out of the car to make more room for her softball gear. I’d already deadbolted the door it was that sketchy. When the friends arrived, we met them in the middle of the parking lot, by the pool. The girls who had bathing suits went in and said it was warm. Peyton and her friend did not have suits and sat poolside at the hot tub with her feet in. We gave them a timer, and after 20 minutes or so, we told them to get out. We wanted them to have rest for the big day on Sunday. They ended up winning the third game, in a close victory, of 4-3. We had been watching on our app, and the score went from 2-3, to 4-3. Peyton innocently asked me, “Do you think I would have made a difference in the win?” I told her we’ll never know, since she wasn’t there. Since I’d booked the hotel room for Peyton to hang out with her friends, and we’d driven so far, her good friend’s mom texted me (at 940 pm) and said, “It’s only 940 pm, and we’re here to party, so I wanted to know if it’s okay for Peyton to stay up and watch movies with N?” We had to decide which place to do this. They ended up coming over to our place, after both girls had showered. We gave them another hour or so while we chit-chatted about softball. They watched a little bit of Wizard of Oz, then a disney channel show, and when that was done, they headed home. I showered after they left, and P was already asleep before I was out! I cozied up, too, as it was cold! I didn’t want to be too hot by turning on the heater, but I ended up falling asleep out of exhaustion. I thought maybe she’d sleep in, but she didn’t! She woke up at 730 am, tapping me on the shoulder. We weren’t going to meet up with the team for breakfast until 10 am. There was a black bear diner right across the same parking lot. But the hotel had breakfast, too, and she wanted froot loops. I let her watch tv for a bit, and then by 930 am, we went downstairs for breakfast at the hotel first. We weren’t allowed to take food back, by I did ask her to take a bagel for later in her kangaroo pouch. She just didn’t feel like taking it, but I eye-convinced her (convinced her by my look). Later, we met up with the team for another breakfast. She ordered pigs in a blanket, sitting next to her vegetarian friend. I thought she would turn vegetarian like her friend, who learned early on where chickens come from, and stopped eating meat. She asked me later, “Are sausages from pigs?” I told her, “Yes,” and she said, “OH, that’s why they call it ‘Pigs in a Blanket’?” I told her, “Yes”, and then she had a light bulb moment.
Since they had a 3-0 record going into Sunday, they got a bye. They played at 130 pm in the semi final game. They had to play a team that we hadn’t faced before. But, the game was completed in 18-0, with the ump at one point asking our team to step off the base and get outs that way. The other coach heard and said, “Don’t do us any favors,” but we wanted to hurry up and get the game over with so the girls could rest and re-group for their final game. It turns out they were playing the team that they barely won in game 3 the day before, when Peyton wasn’t there. The game started in the sun, and it was mild, but as soon as the lights went on, after the sun set, it was chilly. Turns out, this time, there was no challenge at all. Perhaps they used their best pitcher to get to the finals. Perhaps not. Our team ended up winning 12-0 in a decisive victory. Now, Peyton could think she helped out! She did get two hits, scored twice, so she did add to the score. It was a great way to end the fall season! Because it was the Monica Abbott classic, she, herself, presented the award. She’s 6’3″, and has a massive wingspan. She is the first player to secure a 1 million dollar softball contract. She grew up in the Salinas area, hence why the tournament is played there. It’s great the girls had her to aspire to as they continue their love of the game.
We were going to go home and watch Brandon’s game by 7 pm, but the team ended up going out to dinner. We met up at one place first, then another after the wait was too long. She got another hurrah with the team before we really headed home for two more days of school. She was super tired on Monday, but she made it through the day. We got home, did homework, and she got to rest. Tuesday, we had a regular day, but we were headed out of town after Brandon’s friend’s birthday party from 6 to 8. We worked on Peyton’s homework, did piano, read, and packed up our stuff before the boys came home. We headed out by 830 pm, making a stop to get coffee. There was another stop for gas and a fill up of food, since Peyton and I had only eaten the rest of the salad we had at home and we were both hungry. We got veggie burgers, from a burger place on the way down. We rolled into Dave’s parents’ house by 230 am, so we made relatively good time, considering there was mild traffic and a whole lot of big rigs. We got up with barking dogs of their neighbors, and we were in the park by 1130 am! We made great time, and we headed to do the rides the kids wanted. We waited for Peyton’s friend to ride her final ride that she’d not ever been on – Screamin’. We tried out the new Tower of Terror – Guardians of the Galaxy Breakout! The kids loved it! Peyton loved it more than the previous version, which was a bit scary for her.
We were also in at the right time for the food festival, celebrating the holidays. There were small bites like the Wine and Dine or International Food festival at WDW. We got to try new things in the park, which was good for us, too. We did see Frozen, where Brandon saw a basketball friend, after seeing one of Dave’s ex-coworker’s ex-husband. Thursday, we hung out with Dave’s parents, going to eat dim sum as well as shopping before the stores closed. The kids came away with a lego set for each to keep them busy at home. We headed over to Dave’s sister’s in laws’ house, and he was loaded with the Nintendo switch. The kids played the cooking game and raced, but the tempers started to flare with the two younger ones. Luckily dinner was served! We all headed up to enjoy turkey and fixings. The kids entertained themselves for a long time after dinner, so much so that the adults just hung out. They not once came up to complain about anyone else. Finally, Brandon did appear, and said, “Someone said PIE?” The cousin that made the pie did tell the kids that there was pie, but it was not ready to be served, so they were sent back downstairs. Later, they did come up and hung out for pie. We wrapped everything up by 10 pm or so for our drive back. We were headed into the park for Black Friday. This time, we were meeting up with Peyton’s same softball friend. She had her extended family and cousins, so we all hung out in line for a two hour wait for cars. There were 6 kids, so it worked out nicely. Then 5 adults that were together went in one car, and Dave and I went in the third car. We were able to keep all our photos since we’d purchased the max pass. We ended up going to Guardians after that, and we took the whole first row! Peyton’s friend didn’t go, but she ended up going with two of her cousins. We parted ways with them, when they met up with their family for dinner. They ended up leaving the park, and they all hung out and swam. It was such nice weather, it was off-putting! The first day, I had two layers for both bottom and top, and neither kid wanted anything more than shorts and a tshirt. It was 75 degrees even after the sun set. The next day, we lightened the load, but the kids still didn’t really use their layers. We left shortly after 9 pm on that day, only to return on Saturday for our final day for the trip. We ran into our friend’s husband on his way to meet up with the family after purchasing the advent calendar. They were going to Guardians of the Galaxy and had extra tickets since not all of them were going. We then rode on the ever-awaited SCREAMIN’! She almost bailed, asking if I was going. That prompted me to go. But I reminded her she had to go with her friend, since we’d dragged them to do it again. They’d already been that morning. Well, she went, and she LOVED it! She wanted to go again and again! Each time, they took pictures. They went two more times with just the kids. Then, we broke for lunch, with them meeting their family. We headed to do other rides, and walk around some more. We ended up staying just long enough to see the kids’ own cousins. They didn’t arrive until much later in the evening, as they were planning to watch the new Fantasmic. Two were out of commission for dinner, so they had two seats open for dinner. Dave’s sister agreed to take the two kids to feed them. We were sent pictures of their courses as they occurred. We went on The Haunted Mansion as I saw my name spelled correctly on the list! The recap I got was that Brandon thanked her for dinner, and Peyton didn’t eat much. They had kids’ meals, and they had veggies for their appetizer, and PEyton wanted mac and cheese, while Brandon ordered ribs and they split it. She didn’t eat her full portions, so he ended up eating after her, which he rarely does. He told me, “It was $25! You can’t NOT eat the food!” They ended up staying for the show, while as we were headed out, we heard, “Hi Brandon!” It was Jeff and Abby. So we ended up getting to see the family even though it was half at a time. We were going to leave early Sunday, so we didn’t want to push being in the park too long. We headed to dinner outside the park before coming home to pack up.
This morning, the alarm went off at 545 am. We do it for softball, so to beat the traffic, we ended up getting out of the house before 630 am. We made great time despite some slow downs. We had “breakfast” at 10 am, and in and out was the fastest line. That held the troops until we got home. We didn’t really eat again until a fruit snack at the outlets. Then, we shopped a bit, and then headed home to start the piles of laundry. We had to get groceries as well, so all of that, and piano, was done before 8 pm bedtime. Now on to the blogging and videos and pictures from the last 10 days!
Friday morning performance:
Friday evening performance:
Then, Saturday’s games:
First walk:
First hit:
pitching:
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Another hit:
Beat the throw!
Stole home game 2:
Sunday:
Two vantage points:
dland footage:
She was finally tall enough to drive her own car. I remember when she couldn’t even GO on the ride…(2’8″)
She couldn’t reach the pedal fully; she was having a hard time steering and pushing the pedal, so she’d stop and go periodically. She insisted on going on her own!
pictures:
Planet report: 5’s for model and presentation
portrait mode make up 
