This is the last official work day off. Tomorrow is Friday already, and that’s the “normal” day off. Today, Peyton and I dropped Brandon off, and this time we knew where to go. Instead of wanting to go play, Brandon wanted to get in line. We were about 10 minutes before the first bell, so it was a bit of time. He saw some other backpacks already in line, so he went to the back and stood there nicely. This is PROGRESS!! The other kids came around, and he stood there nicely, waiting for his teacher. It was only after Theo came into the next line that he showed some life. I took a few pictures of him, since I didn’t really get to do that yesterday, since we had not gotten in line.
Peyton and I left after the class was dismissed with the teacher. We came home as she had suggested. I think she was still thinking she was going to school. We just put a new bookshelf up in her room last night, and this morning, we moved it to her room. The room was a mess since there were books everywhere. So both of us were eager to get things cleaned up. Unlike her brother, Peyton is neat. She gets giddy when she has a clean room! It started in Miss Molly’s class when she would use tissue to clean the cabinets at home, just like Molly would wipe down the cabinets at school. She helped me stack up books and sort through old stuff. After things were tidied up, we had time to read. She picked up a Toy Story 3 book that she’d never read but definitely knows the story line. I filmed her “reading” it. She was getting frustrated reading it, too, so I had to hurry things along before she through a fit. I have to “suggest” the words for her sometimes otherwise she thinks she can pronounce them. Other times, she will tell me she doesn’t know, so I can help her. We headed out to paint pottery. She repeated, “We’re going to go to Harry Pottery?” I went to the place that is nearest our house, but they were having a used stamp sale, so I had to go to plan B. After searching around, we ended up in downtown L.A. There was a small little shop there and there was only one other mom/daughter couple there. I brought t-shirts to put over our regular clothes in case she went nuts with paint. I helped her pick out a cupcake tray, which was perfect since it goes with the other cupcake I painted for her before, and it was a simple design. The attendant helped us pick out colors, though there were not many from which to chose, and then got us set up at our table. Only Peyton was painting, so I was free to take pictures
(she chose the colors and went nuts with the sprinkles) and video 
We were done within a half an hour, which was perfect since I didn’t have any food or water for us, and we were delayed in getting there due to the detour. She was getting a bit cranky towards the end and didn’t want to leave, as she was layering more paint for the sprinkles. I finally convinced her to come on and get some food. She then agreed.
We came home, and she inhaled two bowls of Dave’s fried rice. She went to take a nap, and I told her I’d lie down with her again. I asked her if she wanted her blanket, and she said, “Yeah, it’s kindaof a little bit cold.” Out we went. Alarm was set, but I woke up earlier, and just played around with my phone and took this: 
I never get tired of taking sleeping pictures. So peaceful!
The low battery signal woke her up right before the alarm did. It was a much better wake-up than yesterday. I didn’t feel as rushed, and I decided not to take the stroller today. She was happy to walk around, too. I meet up with the other moms to wait for the same boys – Theo, Joshua and Laila’s mom. Brandon came out and I made sure he told his teacher he was leaving with me. We waved goodbye to her and the other kids, and we came home. I asked Brandon how today went. He was super excited to tell me he got a “Caught Being Good” award! I asked him how he earned it and he said, “For quiet reading when you’re supposed to be reading.” I asked him what he was reading and he said he was reading a bug book from the library, about monarch butterflies and their life cycle. That’s cool – we’d just gone over that worksheet this past week and he had to label caterpillar, egg, chrysalis and butterfly! I asked him who he played with today. He said, “The same, Joshua and Theo.” I asked him if he played soccer, and he said, “No, we just hung out, talking.” I asked them what they talked about, and he said, “Pokemon.” I’m not sure what he brings to the table in terms of Pokemon, since he’s not really into it, but whatever. He’s not getting in trouble!! Awesome! He even told me Tony had to have a parent conference already. But reminded me that he stayed on green. He’s throwing Tony under the bus! Note, Tony is the first in line in the above pictures. His mom left him this morning telling him, “Behave!” She’s preggers, too, so I’m sure she has her hands full. We played cards as Peyton was waiting for Brandon to get home. It was the card game he’d gotten from Lorretta this summer. Then, we played Zingo and then concentration with the Zingo pieces. I later set Peyton up with a puzzle while I read with Brandon for his required 20 minutes per night. He chose the Ninjago book, but it’s still a bit complicated for him. We spent lots of time going over the vocabulary and also introducing “Sarcasm.” He said he knows about it from CDC, and he described it as not really telling the truth. I did find it hard to describe to him, and we went through the example from the book. After Brandon was done, he went to play on his own, while I helped Peyton with her puzzle. Brandon soon came over to “help” though Peyton wanted to do it by herself. Brandon quickly learned how to “suggest” or “offer” pieces for her to try in the puzzle, so that we could all get along and play together. When they finished the puzzle, Peyton wanted to do some of her kindergarten book. Only, it wasn’t kindergarten that was out, it was a “What every Kinder needs before 1st grade” book. So, we did our best, and I tried to find things she could do. There were some objects on one column, and words on another, and she was able to match the word/object combinations by figuring it out. We found some other pages that wouldn’t totally frustrate her, and she did more. At this time, Dave came back. We ate dinner quickly, then he took both kids out on their bikes. Brandon got a geared bike, after our ride out on his one speed when Dave saw him struggling. He was happy, and came home and told me he can change gears now! Though Dave’s side of the story was that Brandon was whiny and frustrated, saying he couldn’t do it and needed help. Dave said he had to encourage him to try it, and got mad at him until he tried it. I told him he’s only 6! But, Brandon seemed no worse for wear, as he was happy about his accomplishments. Both kids were bathed, and then put to bed before I went out to run. Tomorrow, everyone will go to Brandon’s school, as Dave is manning the science chair booth at the volunteer fair, while Peyton and I will go to the new ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the new multipurpose room. Brandon’s excited and asked if we were going to flag salute with him. I’m excited!