National Sticker Day

National Houseplant Appreciation Day+Save the Eagles

Choreographers Day+ Balloon Ascension Day+Word Nerd Day

Today is a wonderful day, it is National Balloon Ascension Day. This day is tender to me, long before I had Barron or met his father I was married to a remarkable man and we were going to do the entire get a job, find a house, fini sh school, move the family in gig. I fell in love with a town in Canada in the province of Quebec. I will forever remeber the music that played while in the local shops and the hunt for this one cd because to me the lyrics held the memories music was a way to express ourselves when we could not. 

Comment j'pourrais te l'dire - Marie-Chantal Toupin https://youtu.be/591j2-h0iJE?feature=shared

Today is also International Choreographers Day. Sometimes we think of timeless routines like Kevin Bacon's Footloose intro https://youtu.be/MzsVV2by3Vw?feature=shared 

and the final dance scene, shown here: https://youtu.be/e-OG0EyJyV8?feature=shared

Often times we think of some talented individuals who do this as a profession such as this exquisite man: Lay You Down Easy - Magic - Marlon Alves Dance MAs https://youtu.be/71kaL0UpYeU?feature=shared

However today we would like to introduce you to these treasures by the genius James Corden and the good spirited pros Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez, enjoy Justin Bieber Toddlerography with James Corden at: https://youtu.be/FUHlDlL_LbY?feature=shared 

and Toddlerography w/ Jennifer Lopez and James Corden: https://youtu.be/K5aVRDE_Qno?feature=shared

National Word Nerd Day. Those who are always correcting someone’s pronunciation or using big words that no one understands, this is the day when appreciation for these skills is celebrated and enjoyed to the fullest!

https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/national-word-nerd-day/ Fancy words, also known as sesquipedalian or highfalutin words, are those that evoke a sense of sophistication and eloquence.

Verisimilitude: refers to the quality of appearing to be true, real, or lifelike. It suggests authenticity and believability, particularly in artistic or literary works. Verisimilitude enhances the sense of immersion and allows readers or viewers to connect with the story on a deeper level.

Magnanimous: someone who possesses a generous and noble spirit. It denotes the ability to be forgiving, understanding, and gracious, especially towards those who have wronged or offended them. This word conveys a sense of benevolence and high moral character.

Ebullient: someone who is exceptionally enthusiastic, lively, or bubbling with excitement. It conveys a contagious, exuberant energy and is often used to describe individuals who radiate joy and positivity.

https://thegoalchaser.com/fancy-words/

Argyle Day+ Stephen Hawking'sBirthday+Take the Stairs

Today is National Argyle Day! Are we ever delighted to share a favourite song with you. Kindly listen and sing along to:  https://youtu.be/KaQe09P5Qzo?feature=shared 

It has been noted that, "these diamond designs in different patterns are also used in various other things like investments, golf suits, etc. The argyle pattern has been derived from the tartan of Clan Campbell of Argyll. The Scottish Highlanders have been wearing it (known as “tartan hose”) since at least the 17th century as Argyle is used for kilts and plaids and from the patterned socks. " Source: https://happydays365.net/national-argyle-day-january-8/

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Famous-Scientists-Reading-Comprehension-Bundle-Einstein-Darwin-Newton-Tesla-4406504

Teamed with https://funclassroomideas.com/free-stephen-hawking-worksheet/ 

It is also National Take the Stairs Day. We 

Professor Noggins Facts

After creating our post for National Bird Day I thought it would be great to share with any readers enjoying our homeschool blog how valuable and unique the information is found on each card. Every school day for this semester we will be playing our Professor Noggins games and we will share one interesting fact each time on this posting. 

From the Birds of North America game Barron found that the American Kestrel is not a songbird nor a shorebird, but is a bird of prey. I discovered that the white-breasted nuthatch is one of the only birds that can walk down a tree trunk upside down. Learnt on January 7th, 2025.

From the Inspects and Spiders game Barron found that ladybugs have wings and are sometimes called ladybirds. I thought mosquitoes were interesting because they can be dangerous to humans because they spread diseases. Learnt on January 8th, 2025.

The Insects and Spiders game had Barron learning about caterpillars and the fact that they spend most of their time eating, however we thought it would have been turning into a butterfly. I learnt that woodlice are also known as a sowbug and a pillbug. Learnt on January 9th, 2025.

Chiefs Season Over Til Divisions

The Chiefs have done well only losing two games during their regular season. We are waiting for the next stage before SuperBowl. 

To celebrate we were inspired to do some pumpkin painting recommended from: https://www.bhg.com/halloween/pumpkin-decorating/painted-pumpkin-ideas/   We are lucky dad said to keep our pumpkin to see how long it would last so we never carved it, so far it has only loss some of the firmness it usually has. 

The worst loss happened at the Chiefs vs Denver Broncos on January 5th 0-38 and the best win was tied for two matches Chiefs vs Carolina Panthers 30-27 on November 24th and Chiefs vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-24 November 4th. It has been a lovely season. An update has been shared and the NFL playoffs for 2025 occur as follows: Wild-card round: Jan. 11-13 Divisional round: Jan. 18-19 Conference championships: Jan. 26 Super Bowl 59: Feb. 9

Old Rock Day+ Bobble Head Day

We found this neat websource: https://digitalhygge.com which reveals which days have special events, they also have free resources available for various needs, we thought this one was interesting to make one more mindful of what you are doing with your days. We are all given the same amount of time each day- 24 hours: https://digitalhygge.com/wheel-of-life/

According to that websource today is National Bobble Head Day these are 3 of our Funko Pop Bobbleheqds given by dad: 

It is also Old Rock Day. It is explained that, "We celebrate Old Rock Day on January 7 every year to remember the Earth’s incredible history and to pay tribute to the amazing geologists who help us understand it. We’ve been dependent on rocks since we first walked the Earth, and today it’s no different, with rocks forming the foundation of our daily lives." Source: https://nationaltoday.com/old-rock-day/

We decided to pick a place on earth that we are fond of and learn about an important geologist from there. Barron selected Arnold Henry Guyot who was a Swiss-American geologist and geographer and was born September 28, 1807 in Boudevilliers, Switzerland. He died at the age of 76 on February 8, 1884 in Princeton, N.J., U.S.A. He did a lot of meteorological observations which led to the creation of the U.S. Weather Bureau. It has been shared that, "The guyot, a flat-topped volcanic peak rising from the ocean floor, is named after him. He studied at the College of Neuchâtel and in Germany, taught at Paris from 1835 to 1840, and became professor of history and physical geography at the Neuchâtel Academy in 1839. In 1838, under the influence of the famed naturalist-geologist Louis Agassiz, he took up the study of the structure and motion of glaciers. In 1848 Guyot settled in Cambridge, Mass., and until 1854 lectured on geography and teaching methods for the Massachusetts Board of Education. He wrote a series of geography textbooks that served as models of the kind used in American schools for many years. In 1854 he became professor of geology and physical geography at Princeton University. Guyot developed topographical maps of the Appalachian and Catskill mountains. His published works include The Earth and Man (Eng. trans., 1849); Creation, or the Biblical Cosmogony in the Light of Modern Science (1884); and Tables, Meteorological and Physical (4th ed., 1887). " Source: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Arnold-Henry-Guyot

To refresh our memory Barron did a free worksheet from: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/FREE-Layers-of-the-Earth-Labeling-Worksheet-3049920 Barron recognized the mantle area, the outer and inner core, and the crust. 

A simple, yet important reminder, from Jack Hartmann's video called On This Earth-Earth Day Song for Kids at: https://youtu.be/NbbqFyrbHEA?feature=shared that we are given so much so we need to take care of this Old Rock of ours. His lyrics are: 

"On This Earth

On This Earth, trees are growing

On This Earth, trees are growing

Give us fresh air to breathe

Give us fresh air to breathe

On this Earth, springs are flowing

On this Earth, springs are flowin

Give us water to drink

Give us water to drink

On this Earth, the sun is shining

On this Earth, the sun is shining

Gives us warmth and gives us light

Gives us warmth and gives us light

The Earth gives us so many gifts each day

We have to take care of it and appreciate

Trees are growing

Springs are flowing

The sun is shining 

So many things

All on this beautiful Earth

On this Earth, birds are flying

On this Earth birds are flying

Singing happily

Singing happily

On this Earth, fish are swimming

On this Earth, fish are swimming

Giving balance to the sea

Giving balance to the sea

On this Earth we are living

On this Earth we are living

With friends and family

With friends and family

The Earth gives us so many gifts each day

We have to take care of it and appreciate

Birds are flying

Fish are swimming

We are living

So many things

All on this beautiful Earth

Reduce, reuse, recycle plastic bags and cups

Use water carefully and when you're done shut it off

Turn lights off when you leave a room, it saves energy

Look around each day where you live and see all nature's beauty

Trees are growing

Springs are flowing

The sun is shining 

So many things

Birds are flying

Fish are swimming

We are living

So many things

All on this beautiful Earth

All on this beautiful Earth" 

3 Kings Day+ National Cuddle Day

January 6 was also 3 Kings Day and National Cuddle Day. To acknowledge Cuddle Day we thought a hug was a nice way and we found a free online colouring page aling with sharing a real life embrace. 

Barron made the first masterpiece and I created the second: 

If you like this free opportunity to colour a page online like Barron did, visit here: https://www.supercoloring.com/coloring-pages/hug?colore=online. This is also a good chance to remind you to hug a tree every chance you can! 

To celebrate 3 kings day 

There is a free word search available at: https://wordmint.com/public_puzzles/215731

WWE Monday Night Raw on NetFlix

Tonight was a first ever event live on Netflix. We were able to watch an extremely good introduction, a greeting from the famous and cherished Dwayne the Rock, and an OTC match between Roman Reins and Solo Sikoa.

School Renewal+National Bird Day

Today is January 6th and in the traditional school setting students are beginning their second half (or semester) of school. We are going to be more active in our learning. Yesterday was National Bird day which we were informed from the great staff at PetaKids. It has been written that, "National Bird Day offers the chance for veteran birders and novices alike to develop appreciation for birds. Take time on January 5th each year to celebrate our feathered neighbors who brighten our lives with their beauty, songs, behaviors and vital ecosystem services. Participate in bird counts and citizen science programs, put up feeders, advocate for bird protections, and simply get outside to observe these marvelous creatures. The future of endangered species and declining backyard birds depends on public awareness and action. By celebrating National Bird Day, we can ensure our skies keep singing for generations to come." Source: https://www.birdful.org/what-day-is-national-bird-day/

I thought of this wonderful group of people in Norway: https://m.youtube.com/@MovieSquirrels who feed animals in the winter with a travelling tobaggon (kind, caring, geniuses) and have shared some videos on their YouTube channel. We watched a bit of The Traveling Bird Feeder - In the Forest of Jays Relax With Squirrels & Birds ( 1 Hour ) at: https://youtu.be/bLT2ginSGhs?feature=shared.We snaped a few screen shots of some pretty moments from their video: 

We played our Professor Noggins card trivia game on the topic of birds twice. Round One Barron's favourite from his card pile was the Blue Jay and his fascinating fact he learnt was Blue Jays nest on tree branches. I thought the Ruddy Duck was neat and the fact that this duck prefers to nest in fresh water marshes is rather intriguing. 

Round Two Barron found the Blackbirds card to be informative and the fact that he figured out the bird on the cars was a male. For my selection I chose the yellow warbler and was able to identify that bird as a migratory bird. 

I traced this free downloadable sheet from: https://www.petakids.com/activities/pigeon-coloring-sheet/

Barron coloured it and shared it with Peta Kids and will update when the sticker pack arrives, thank you PetaKids!

In an article entitled, "25 Amazing Facts About Pigeons" by Dan from: https://pigeonpedia.com/pigeon-facts/  

It is shared that pigeons can, do, and are rather talented,

"1. They Can Recognize Themselves: 

Research studies have found a unique pigeon specialty: pigeons can recognize themselves. This is an unusual quality that sets pigeons apart from most other birds on the planet. This was discovered via a mirror test, in which pigeons were able to identify themselves over a photo of another pigeon. One particular study concluded that a pigeon’s self-cognative ability is superior to that of 3-year-children, not only that, but pigeons are also able to differentiate among humans when looking at photos.

2. Pigeons are Very Fast:
Ever heard of pigeon racing? It’s a real thing and that’s because pigeons are very fast when they take to the skies.The fastest recorded pigeon flight clocks in at 92.5 miles per hour, though the sustained velocity of a pigeon in flight is 60mph.
3. They Aren’t That Dirty:

Many city dwellers claim that pigeons are dirty and spread disease and that we should stay away from them. There’s very little truth to this claim and, in fact, ornithologists say that pigeons are very clean and there’s scant evidence that they spread any kind of diseases. It’s still best to stay away from wild pigeons, but that’s because you don’t want to disrupt their habitat, not because they can make you sick.

4. Pigeons are Spiritual to Some Religions:

In several religions around the world, pigeons are considered spiritual and people feed and care for them for that reason. This includes the Muslim, Sikh and Hindu religions. Unless you’re taking part in such a religious ceremony, it’s best not to feed the pigeons in your community, especially with bread, which doesn’t contain the nutrients that they need to stay healthy. Other religions see the pigeon as a spiritual symbol as well. Some religious groups in India believe that when a person dies, their soul enters a pigeon and they are able to care for their loved ones in the form of a bird.

In Christianity, the pigeon (or more specifically the dove) represents the Holy Spirit and is a symbol of peace.
5. They are Incredibly Social:

Unlike some other bird species, you will usually see pigeons living in groups, which can range from 20 to 30 birds. That’s because pigeons love to be social and interact. If you keep pigeons as pets, you’ll likely notice that they like to be around you and will tolerate being held and touched much better than other birds that people commonly keep as pets.

6. Pigeons Mate for Life:
In most cases, pigeons mate for life. They’ll choose their mate and continue to produce several broods together over the course of their lifespan.

Once mated, pigeons are also monogamous and will stick with only the mate they’ve chosen. Pigeons who are mated will build their nests together and will raise their young together.

7. Both Sexes Incubate the Eggs:

Unlike with some bird species, both the mother and the father pigeon help to incubate eggs until the babies hatch. Most of the time, the mother pigeon will sit on the eggs from midafternoon, through the night and to mid-morning. Then the father pigeon will take over from mid-morning to midafternoon so that the mother pigeon can look for food and take a rest. Once the babies hatch, both parents will care for them.

8. Pigeons Both Feed Their Babies:

As mentioned above, both the mother and father pigeon participate in caring for the hatchlings. Both parents feed the babies and offer a mixture called crop milk. This is a partially regurgitated combination of the things that the mother and father eat and is delivered straight into the baby pigeon’s mouth. In this way, both the parent pigeons play a role in raising the babies.

9. You Might Not Realize You Are Seeing Baby Pigeons:

There’s a conspiracy theory that pigeons are drones that spy on us and report back to the government and that’s why you never see a baby pigeon, this is also the theory behind the viral phrase; “the birds work for the Bourgeoisie“. While these kinds of stories are certainly fun to speculate about, in this case, it’s been entirely debunked. Unlike other bird species, baby pigeons can remain in the nest for up to six weeks so by the time they fly the coop, they’re already nearly fully grown and look like an adult pigeon. Look closely, though, and you might see that baby pigeons aren’t red around their eyes yet, like an adult pigeon. That color comes later, at around sexual maturity, which occurs between seven months and one year of age.

10. Pigeon Guano Was Once Revered:

You probably never would have imagined that pigeon poop was once something people sought out, rather than moaned about as it covered the outsides of the buildings where pigeons nest. However, many centuries ago, pigeon guano was considered quite valuable as a fertilizer and guards were often employed to watch over the pigeon coops to keep people from coming along and stealing the pigeon guano.

11. They Can Help Tell the Weather:

Pigeons have much better hearing than humans and can hear very low frequencies that we cannot. For that reason, they can often detect storms in the distance that meteorologists haven’t picked up on their radar yet. They might also be able to detect when a volcano may be about to erupt, something that humans can’t do simply by listening.

12. Pigeons Have Been Around for Centuries:

Long before books and the internet, ancient peoples were recording the presence of pigeons. They date back at least as far as 3000 BC as scientists found what they believe are the first recorded images of pigeons in Mesopotamia (which is now Iraq). The Sumerians who lived here are thought to be the first people who bred pigeons with doves, to eventually create the modern-day pigeon that we see in cities and farms today.

13. They Can Be Part of a Large Communication System:

With today’s modern methods of communication, such as the smartphone, email and texting, the need to deliver messages in other ways has virtually disappeared. However, there was a time when pigeons were used as part of the largest communication system in the world. Using pigeons as messengers dates as far back as the 5th century AD. Syria and Egypt were both countries that used pigeons to deliver messages (many of Egypt’s ancient pigeon towers are still standing today). Pigeons can carry up to 10% of their body weight and were once used to carry the results of the Olympic Games to those who wanted to know how they turned out. Pigeons were also used extensively during wartime to carry messages back and forth across enemy lines. The last pigeon post was disbanded in India in 2004, and while pigeons can still be taught to carry messages and return home, it’s not a system that’s used much anymore.

14. Pigeons Have Saved Many Lives:

As mentioned above, pigeons were often used during wartime to carry messages around, even in enemy territory. For that reason, they are credited with saving many lives. Pigeons were released when a boat was sinking to alert help where to find them before everyone drowned. During WWI, pigeons were used to carry messages back and forth from the trenches, helping save many lives behind enemy lines. During WWI and II, pigeons were used to fly important communications back and forth across the English Channel. Pigeons have received many honors from both the French and British governments. Cher Ami was a French pigeon who was shot but still managed to carry its message for 25 more minutes. Another pigeon named G.I. Joe was credited with alerting British troops that an Italian town they were occupying was going to be bombed. With five minutes to spare, the troops were saved, thanks to a pigeon.

15. They Aren’t Really Bobbing Their Heads:

When you see pigeons walking, you might think they are bobbing their heads as they go. But that’s not actually what’s happening. There are movements happening called the thrust and hold. During the thrusting movement, birds are moving their heads forward so they can see around and the hold movement allows their bodies to catch up with their heads. 

Researchers used treadmills to study the pigeons and found that they do this so they can see what’s happening in their environment, which offers protection from predators and allows them to look for food. The thrust and hold motions happen so quickly that it might appear they are bobbing their heads.

16. Pigeons Have Delivered the Mail:

You’ve already read about how pigeons delivered messages during wartime and to let people know the results of a sporting competition. But pigeons have also been called upon to deliver the mail. This started in 1896 when pigeons were used to carry communications between New Zealand and the Great Barrier Island. The messaging service was created as a result of a sinking ship that no one knew was in trouble until three days later, resulting in more than 100 deaths. The pigeons could carry messages back and forth very quickly between the two locations.

17. They Were Used on Wall Street:

When you think about Wall Street, you think about finances. During the 1800s, one of the most prominent families, the Rothschilds, set up a network of pigeon lofts in Europe and trained their group of homing pigeons to carry financial communication back and forth, which turned out to be much faster and more efficient than other means of communication, allowing the Rothschild family to amass huge amounts of wealth as a result.

18. Pigeons are Excellent Racers:

Most people look at pigeons and see pests that take over the city and poop all over the place. However, others look at pigeons and see money. That’s because pigeons are very fast and can be used in pigeon races, which brings in big money. Champion racing pigeons can cost a lot…the record for the most expensive pigeon ever sold was almost $1,900,000 in 2020.

19. Celebrity Pigeon Fanciers:

Pigeons aren’t only interesting to ornithologists and religious individuals. Many celebrities and famous people have an interest in pigeons as well.

The British Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II, keep pigeons on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, Elvis Presley loved pigeons when he was alive and Mike Tyson keeps several pigeons as pets. Maurizio Gucci, the famous designer, also keeps pigeons and spent $10,000 on one American pigeon. Paul Newman and Joanna Woodward have been reported to love pigeons, though they aren’t as outspoken about it as other famous people.

20. Some Pigeons Have Gone Extinct:

Passenger pigeons went extinct in North America only at the beginning of the 20th century. At the time, experts estimate that between three and five billion passenger pigeons had lived in the continent, but they were completely wiped out by hunters. The Revive & Restore Project is an attempt to bring back the passenger pigeon.

21. They Can Make Sea Rescues:

Because pigeons are so intelligent and have such good eyesight, they have also been trained to help rescue people lost at sea. They are taught to look for red or yellow life jackets so they can notify rescuers where to go to pick up the person. In addition to seeing red and yellow so well, pigeons can also pick up ultraviolet light surrounding a person in the water, which some experts say makes them more reliable than humans when it comes to making sea rescues.

22. Man is a Pigeon’s Main Predator:

You might be surprised to learn that humans are the biggest threat to pigeon populations. That’s due to widespread control measures to keep the number of pigeons under control in urban areas. As you read above, hunting pigeons can also wipe them out. In terms of natural predators, however, the peregrine falcon is the biggest threat to pigeons in the wild. Peregrine falcons can fly more than 100 miles per hour faster than a pigeon and they are adept at hunting them in rural areas and along rocky coastlines, which experts say provides natural population control.

23. Pigeons are Good at Hiding Their Nests:

Unlike other bird species, pigeon nests are not usually built in trees. Instead, they create them on flat rooftops, sheltered areas in urban areas and in rocky areas in rural areas. For this reason, you’ve probably never seen a pigeon nest.They are usually built from twigs and sticks and aren’t very sturdy at the beginning. But, since pigeons use the same nest for many broods of babies, the droppings of the babies and parents tend to build up and harden inside the nest, creating a hard shell that keeps the nest intact for quite some time.

24. They Can Be Very Small or Much Larger:

One of the most fascinating things about pigeons is the variation in size, with the small ones weighing less than an ounce and the larger ones weighing nearly 10 pounds. Pigeons also range in length from 5 inches to 19 inches. The smaller ones aren’t necessarily babies and size is determined by many factors, genetics being one of the main ones.

25. Pigeons Can Learn the Alphabet:

You already know that pigeons are smart animals, but you might know that they can learn the alphabet. This comes in handy when using pigeons to transmit messages and may help them navigate their way home from a place hundreds of miles away. "

Remarkable and wonderful we are lucky to share the world with pigeons. Barron's favourite fact is that they help tell the weather and I find their spirtual connection to religions endearing.

Barron participated in creating a book cover for a science book which he shared with PetaKids to obtain a free pack in the mail. You can particpate at: https://www.petakids.com/activities/diy-schoolbook-covers/  Barron created some birds, forests, and a lovely sky. 

Our final project with PetaKids was to make a New Year Wish for animals with a free ornament template downloadable from: https://www.petakids.com/activities/new-years-animal-wish-ornament/ 

Barron wished that animals always have food, another wish was that animals migrating travel safe and those staying reside safe, and our final wish was that animals have access to a warm shelter. 

 Barron's wish was

Before we did the wish activity Barron reminded us that a New Year's Resolution should be stated. That reminded me about the PetaKids activity so thank you superhero memory star Barron! We thought our resolution should be school themed so Barron declares that he will do more of his homework on time and mine is I will put more effort into preparing activities ahead of our school day.