Stretching our Legs, Arms, and Minds

For the last several weeks, our lives have been dedicated to homeschool routines:
Spencer has been tackling fractions; Denver is reading more fluently; John Robert is ready for a new math book.  It's been good, but we're all aching for summer, and we're tired of cold, windy, rainy weather-- even if the daffodils are in bloom.

This week, the boys took two field trips.  On Monday, they went indoor rock climbing with their daddy in Atlanta.  What I assumed would be just an hour of simple up and down exploring turned into most of the day.  The boys were so exhausted, they all fell asleep on the way home!  John Robert's arms were so tired the next day, he could barely lift his cereal spoon! 

  It was wonderful for the boys to have so much fun time with each other and with their daddy!  He seemed proud of them, too.  It was a day well spent.

My Three Monkeys

On Tuesday, we enjoyed a trip to Fernbank's new exhibit, Extreme Mammals.  Paw Paw came with us, too.  He had never been to Fernbank, and he seemed to have a wonderful time with the boys.  I'm not sure if it was showing Paw Paw all the things they knew, or the seemingly endless parade of cookies, ice cream, and other treats;but the boys had an especially good time.  Of course, Paw Paw commented repeatedly on our boys' intelligence and knowledge. 



Spencer, Denver, and PawPawsaurus



On the way home, the boys each read two books about the rise of mammals and the definition of mammals that we bought at the gift shop.  It was Denver's first study of what makes a living thing a mammal.  He learned a lot, and seemed very proud of himself.  Then again, he always seems pretty proud of himself!   



Denver and John Robert are amazed at the size of the
world's largest land mammal ever-- the Indricotherium. 
It  was as big as four elephants!





After two field trips, we're now settled back into our academic routine; with just a few minor changes.  Since John Robert is back on swim team, his body requires a lot of rest and recuperation.  As a result, we've had more afternoon homeschool this week as John Robert sleeps nearly twelve hours before feeling rested! 

Spencer and Denver love having more morning playtime together.  I love knowing the boys are well rested, and that even if we don't start homeschool until after lunch, we'll still have plenty of time.  After all, there's no school bell, and the learning never really ends.  Frankly, no matter what we're doing, it seems like we're always learning!