![\"kindergarten\"](\"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/kindergarten.jpg\")
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After pulling hard for so long, it is so much fun to enjoy doing school again and to see the boys be fascinated with learning. \u00a0When school isn’t going well, it can take all. day. long. \u00a0When it is, we can be done in four hours on average and sometimes even less. \u00a0We all LOVE those days. \u00a0This months we’ve been doing a few fun things. \u00a0Last week we had a random warm day so the boys and I headed out to the woods to gather pine branches, pine cones, and a small tree. \u00a0Adam spent a few weeks learning about birds this semester in Science. \u00a0He already knows so much about birds that he readily identified all the birds he was supposed to study, but we learned more about their habitats and preferences. \u00a0Did you know birds actually prefer a feeder that allows them to sit? \u00a0That explains why they like the bird feeder Adam designed and built better than the one hanging on our front porch. \u00a0We also learned that they like to have a little sand to help their digestive system and that they love to have access to water for drinking, especially in the winter. \u00a0Sure enough, our ignored all summer bird bath gets attention when we manage to keep unfrozen water in it now. \u00a0They suggested filling a tree with popcorn, cranberries, and grapefruit halves filled with peanut butter and seeds. \u00a0I’m not quite willing to risk having Liam walk past peanut butter on a regular basis, but we did go look for a tree for our front porch that we could use to feed the birds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thankfully, Adam found one in the soft, boggy ground close to the creek. \u00a0We dug and pulled and dug and pulled and chopped off roots close to the surface so as to avoid more digging and between the three of us we managed to get it out and up the hill. The boys stuck with stringing popcorn longer than I thought they would and happily planted our tree on the front porch. \u00a0The birds are completely ignoring it thank you very much.<\/p>\n I am loving Liam’s kindergarten program. \u00a0It is super easy which is exactly what I was looking for since I personally don’t think five year olds need<\/em> to be in school. \u00a0He absolutely loves learning his letter sounds and is starting to read easy words. \u00a0He fusses about his Math pages in order to sound cool like Adam, and then gets all excited about them in spite of himself. \u00a0It’s way too cute to watch. \u00a0I love that they incorporate learning about the world around us as he learns letters. \u00a0One week he learned the basics of solids versus liquids or gas. \u00a0Last week he studied insects and we set up our first ant farm.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That same week Liam biked along ahead of me on my walk and, like usual, we encountered a wooly bear caterpillar. \u00a0This time though, the caterpillar was completely black. \u00a0Liam was convinced it was Bobby. \u00a0Over a month ago he found an identical caterpillar while he was at camp and Chief Kendon helped him name him Bobby. \u00a0Liam kept him on the front porch in a little box, but Bobby disappeared. \u00a0He was beyond pleased to find “him” again. \u00a0He tucked him into his shirt pocket for safety while we finished our walk and as soon as we got home we made a little house for him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n