Making the Grade

It's school progress-report time! These are viewed with varying levels of interest by my children. The boys mostly don't care, although all of them do very well in school, so they don't have much to worry about.  

Poppy, however, is VERY interested in her progress reports and report cards. This is the first year that she's had actual grades, and she scrutinizes them carefully*.

Her latest progress report apparently inspired her to grade me, which was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.

Not too shabby.

So obviously my strengths are cooking and gardining. (Yes, with an "i." It's like Anne with an "e.") I do pretty well with caring, getting them to bed, and the woodstove. Cleaning needs a little work--I have to agree with that one--but the overall score is good.

I've never once been tardy. Go me. 

I'm not entirely sure what all those excused absences are. Maybe when I was gone at basketball games and so forth? I do know what the one unexcused absence was: That one night by myself at the hotel is obviously inexcusable. 

If I can get through this motherhood gig with an overall score of 99, though, I will take it.

*She also has absolutely nothing to worry about with her grades, which makes this a pleasurable activity for her rather than an anxious one.

Snapshots: Paw Prints

I got some eggs from my friend, and Poppy was delighted with the tiny egg included.

"It's a baby egg! It's so cute! Can I eat it?" She did.

The trees and plants are confused by our very warm winter and think it's spring.

The apricot tree is in full bloom.

And two tulips are open. (Ignore my finger. I had to take this very quickly before Jasper could see me leaning over and lick my face.)

Despite the warmer days, we have not yet given up on the woodstove for the season.

Which means kindling splitting continues apace.

Remember all those tumbleweeds? They have now commenced blowing around. I actually drove through a little tumbleweed twister on my way to the village this week.

All those things that look like spots on my windshield are tumbleweeds.

We've lived in this house for almost eight years now, and I just noticed these cat paw prints in some concrete around the base of the house.

I bet this cat was displeased at the state of its paws after this.

There you have it! My life, snapshotted.