Report Card

Hello all, sorry I’ve been MIA. We’ve had an interesting week. Adam woke up puking on Tuesday morning and although he seemed perfectly fine between pukes, he couldn’t seem to keep anything down. Took him off to the absolutely divine Dr Etienne who said that it looked like he was getting dehydrated and he wanted to run some tests on him. An hour later we were admitted and spent the night on a drip. It wasn’t anything too serious (faecal loading – the anal retentiveness is clearly hereditary) and by the next morning we were both bouncing off the walls.  Needless to say I didn’t get much sleep. Anywayyyyy, we are all home and happy to have a long weekend.

Speaking of which, is Easter a big thing there? Its quite a big thing here. Many of the shops are closed today and we all have a lovely long weekend.  And the whole Global Warming thing MUST be true because it is a PERFECT autumn day here in Cape Town, hot, no wind, stunning blue skies. That is the weather we usually have in the week and by the time the weekend arrives, it is windy and shitty. But not today. Having the in laws over for a braai today. Because that is what South Africans do on a lovely hot day, we braai.

So, Adam and Kate got their report card yesterday. The lovely teacher put together a ‘memory book’ of their first term at school and it is SO sweet. It is such a lovely thing to do. Little stories, some of their art work. A few photos. It is something I will treasure forever.

Here is Kate’s report:

“Kate is doing very well at school. She is a very feisty little girl that knows what she wants. Kate sometimes needs encouragement to follow the routine of the rest of the school – she likes to complete activities at her pace.

If she is enjoying an activity you can feel her excitement and her the chattering and laughter. She will join the other children in various games, often trying to lead”

Here is Adam’s report:

“Adam enjoys doing art activities, but likes me to encourage him as he works. He is very particular about what colours he wants and if we work with glue he wants his brush to be clean and not dirty his hands.

Since the beginning of the Term, he has settled into the school routine and is willing to approach most activities eagerly”

Yip, that’s my children there. Feisty and Particular. Just about sums them up perfectly.

Well, off to prepare for the braai (i.e. open the champagne).  Poor Marko has done so much prep work, including patching the blow up paddling pool that he spent two hours setting up and Shelly and Peter annihilated in two seconds. 

Have a lovely Easter, hope the bunny brings you lots of lovely eggs.

PS To Sister Mel – notice how the cycle of abuse continues – all the other girls have pretty swimming costumes and Kate is wearing too small shorts. Just like mom. Poor Kate. At least they are girly shorts.  Could be worse, could be yellow PT shorts from Pep Stores like You Know Who did to me.

Comments

[blackbird]

May all your report cards be as accurate
and enthusiastic!

Adam looks very grown up!

[liz]

I am an occasional reader, but I swear the last time I saw a picture of Adam he looked about half as old as he does in that picture. So grown up! So young man-like!!!

Enjoy the champagne, err, I mean, the braai!

[Sister Mel]

My poor niece! Boring Kak lunch every day, homemade haircuts, comfy ungirly clothes.... don't you remember ANYTHING!

[Judy]

Have a fantastic weekend - drink some bubbly for me!

[mijk]

I thought Adam couldn't look more liek Marko then he did. Apperantly he could! Funny that!

[Jan]

Wow -- like the others so far, Adam looks so young-manly and like Marko!
So glad school is working out and that they are starting to take on the world!

[Kelli Hansen]

Hi Tertia! I've been reading your blog for months now after a friend gave me a link, but have never commented. Just thought I'd say that I love it, can relate so MUCH to you! My boy/girl twins are two, and very similar to yours. I find it very comforting to know other children are feisty and particular, too. :)

[Amber]

very nice post! what beautiful kids!

[cath]

aw. i get a little tearful when i see these report cards. how fast the twins have grown. this is so wonderful. thank you for including us and letting us in X

[victoria]

What a lovely post! The joy in your daily life with your family, your pleasure in ritual and your genuine affection for your family, as well as your love of South Africa -- all these things shine brightly in this simple, elegant, brief little post. Thank you for writing so well, Tertia. (Also -- I didn't make this explicit yesterday -- but I am SO SORRY I was insensitive to the trauma you experienced when you had braces put on as an adult. Thank you for educating us about SID and helping us to understand that not everyone is wired the same way.)

[D]

That is so cool the teacher put that together, I'm sure they will have pleasant memories years to come looking at the pics and notes from the teachers.
Easter here is always on a Sunday. It's a pretty big deal, most people put their kiddos in pastel colored dressy outfits and get pictures taken. Kids hunt for plastic eggs with treats inside. Most kiddos get a visit from the Easter Bunny who drops them off a basket full of more candy maybe a game or an outfit. When I was young we would have a large family get together and have a BBQ aka Braai.

Enjoy the wonderful weather. I live in Nevada USA and the weather is beautiful here too!

D

[Nixgrim]

SOOO nice to see another little girl in shorts! Nellie REFUSES to wear a costume, so I'm left feeling like a heel everytime she goes swimming and there are other kids around. In fact, if she wears shorts we're doing well - usually she strips off as soon as she's in the water. She's taken to refusing to wear shoes for most of the day too...I think I have a nudist in the making.

[One of Two Mommies]

Isn't it amazing how siblings can be so different? My brother and I are like night and day (he says he got all the good qualities and I was created to teach people patience). I will soon find out just how different twin siblings can be since I recently learned that I have not one, but two healthy babies growing in there! (I'm 10 weeks now). I was thinking of going back and re-reading your posts from the first few months after Adam and Kate were born, but then I remembered how exhausted you were and thought I'm already freaking out enough as it is. Tell me it will be alright! Plus I'm going to have a 18 month old by the time the twins are born!

[Sakoro]

Yes, Easter Sunday is celebrated here too with easter egg hunts and chocolate bunnies. But we don't get time off from work on Good Friday. People who want to spend the day in church or whatever have to use vacation leave.

[Shannon]

My mom used to dress me in brown cords and red satin joggers with white piping and she always cut my hair in a heavy fringe that ended mid-forehead. I looked like one of those kids whose parents were first cousins. So, don’t be so hard on yourself, I think Kate looks like a trendsetter in her funky retro swim shorts. Your sprogs are gorgeous – well done on their excellent report-backs!

[Bev]

So glad that they are doing so well! You see, your fears were all for 0... :)
Have a great Easter... Hope you get lots of Lindt Bunnies!

[HeatherN3Boys]

I think Kate looks very modern in her shorts. :-P

What a lovely touch from their teacher! I think if I had been able to find someone like that, I would have been more comfortable sending him off to Pre-School. As it is, it seems as though he is the only 4 year old not attending and it makes me second-guess myself. *shrug* Too late now, I'm afraid.

Gorgeous children!