Wallman Academy 2016-2017

We "officially" started school today for the new year. We did a relaxed schedule of school all summer, so it's not really the "first" day ;) But we're back to our more normal school schedule of a day, so we had to get some pictures. Anna was like, "Mom, this isn't really our first day. Why do we have to take pictures??" Really, it's just so I can look back at each year and see how much they've changed. Which is a lot!

Anna-11 Grace-almost 2 Isaac-5.5 Jacob-9 tomorrow

 Sisters :)

 Sixth grade. I don't even know how that's possible!!!

 Anna is doing a phenomenal job training her dog, Sadie (I should have taken some pictures of them together!). She talks about adopting a bunch of kids and dogs when she grows up. She also told me today that she hates to cook and would just eat an ice cube for lunch. I told her she better marry a chef, then!! Ha!

 Isaac is in kindergarten this year. He is SO EXCITED to be doing "real" school with the big kids! He's done a great job all summer and really loves to "do school". 

 He wants to be a cowboy when he grows up.

 Third grade and about to eat us out of house & home! The way he's growing, I wouldn't be surprised if he inherited the tall gene from either side. His feet are quickly catching up to Anna's. I have a feeling he'll surpass her in height and shoe size before summer comes again!

 He wants to be an inventor when he grows up. And a farmer.  :)

 Grace. Oh Grace. Can't believe she's almost 2!! She is a handful and does her fair share of terrorizing the house and everyone in it! I have more markings on my walls than I ever have. But she's so cute and sweet, she gets away with far more than she should! HA!!

 She's done with taking pictures. Time to join the boys...

In a run around the "race track" (our neighbor's square sidewalk)!

I thought it was really appropriate that our devotion this morning was about the Fruits of the Spirit...mainly patience! The Lord knows we all need a hefty dose of that when it comes to being together 24/7! :)

Fun with the Big Kids

We have new foster kids from the college now that all the Swiharts have moved on! :) This is our second year for these kids and they have taken to our little kids so quickly. It's always fun when they come over and we have the perfect room for playing soccer!

 I think this time they were playing keep away. Donnie is a baseball player from California. He has a little sister about Jacob's age, so he's really great with the kids. They love him! :)

 Amanda is a volleyball player from California, as well. Her and Donnie usual come over together because neither of them had a car the first 1.5 years they were here. Come to find out, Anna and Jacob thought they were married! Simply because they always came over together! So funny.

 And here's our co-op group doing art!

Via Skype with Binga! The kids love it.

Picture overload!

All kinds of pictures for the family :)

At the library. Oh my, the cheeks!!

Haulin' tomatoes for Mama :)

Rhys!!

His first spelling test was a couple weeks ago. He aced it!

Tickling daddy's back. Such a sweet boy. 

I had braided Anna's hair when it was wet and she LOVED what happened when it was dry and she unbraided it. She wanted me to take a picture and send it to Papa. 

We kept Jeremy's kids for a few days. It was fun. Chaotic, but fun!

We had to take 2 vehicles to church! Rhys zonked out on the way home. 

Oh my. Uncle Elry, Aunt Carol, and Sarah sent the kids these Duck Dynasty dolls...that talk. My favorite? Phil's line: women with whiskers...it's a bummer. 

Demolition derby!! The kids have so much fun on these and Isaac has become a pretty good driver!

Anna fashioned some clothes for her tiny doll using some sticky tack! She also made some "toys"...I was impressed with how well she did!

I guess they're ready for Christmas?? Actually, I think they had been watching a Christmas  movie. 

Found this fascinating creature in the driveway. 

Art class! Binga is teaching via Skype to our little co-op class on Fridays. The kids were SO proud of their paintings!! They'll be adding trees this week. 

They're starting to get along a *little* better!

Jeremy and Alisha treated me to a delicious steak dinner Sunday. And Alisha and the girls made chocolate covered strawberries. We had to teach Rhys about the finer things in life ;)

Practicing his sketching he learned about in art a few weeks ago. 

Isaac's sketching. I asked him to smile. This is what I got.