The FARM

We just got back from our Roark Family Reunion and had a BALL! I wish I could describe in words just how FUN and AMAZING the Farm is... but it's one of those "you just have to go and experience it yourself" sort of deals. I'll try to show you how beautiful the Farm is (it's in the Missouri Ozarks) but then again... my camera does it NO JUSTICE!! Taylor's Grandmother, Sammie Lou, shares the Farm, complete with a fully equipped campground, with all of her daughters and their families- this makes for a great reunion.
Almost every single family member was there, but we did miss Ashly and Tim, Taylor's sister and brother in law who just had our third NIECE (I'll get pictures of her up soon), Madison (Ash's two year old), Liz Mitchell with her family, and of course Sammie Lou 2-- I hope I didn't forget anyone!
Ava was a complete GEM the entire time (which we were a little anxious about... all these people plus very few naps usually equal massive hissies but she was very charming. She would do her nose crinkle smile to everyone and she was LOVING all the other kids running around. I just wished she wasn't so shy to actually get held by other people... but all in all, I can't complain- way to go, AvaBaby!
A little run-down of what we did.... swam in SUGAR CREEK all day long, ate delicious food, canoed down Sugar Creek, an awesome fireworks show by Scott, and more swimming in Sugar Creek... can it get any better than that? It was a great reunion, I definitely married into the best family ever! Can't wait till the next one!
Now I know there are A TON of pictures on this post... but I've been trying to EXPLAIN just how AWESOME this place is to a few of my girlfriends and here's my chance to PROVE IT!!

Enjoy

Camp Tildon.... where it all went down


Thanks Brad, I LOVE this picture!


Sugar Creek at dusk


Great Kiddos!




Natalie and Dallin with their turtle friend!


The Whole Fam


Legendary Roark Women


Taylor, Sammi, Ava and I


Stacking Blocks


Beboo and Ava!


Ava's Uncle Rico (Rick) and Uncle Steve


Tootsies


Canoing with T and Nattie


Play ball


Ava and Papa watching fireworks and eating s'mores


Scott got this awesome firework especially for the kids. When it exploded in the air, down came dozens of little parachutes that the kids all ran after. It was great fun!


T and Ava taking a last stroll through Camp Tildon


In Sugar Creek


That's the "crinkly nosed smile" for ya


Wilsons!

Beautiful

Some in tents, some in cabins, some in RVs
All happy


On the water bridge going up to Sammie's House


More Sugar Creek



WHEW... We're finished with the pictures... for now

Mrs. Kristen Graham...

So Beautiful!!!

Mitch and Taylor were roommates. Anna and I were roommates. We both married (almost at the same time!) roommates. How's that for nuts!!

The Four of Us

HURRAY!!!! One of my very best friends got HITCHED!!!!!!!!! I had the opportunity to go to her beautiful wedding and watch her get sealed to her sweetheart. Kristen was an old college roommate of mine and this presented us with a perfect excuse for ALL of the old roomies to get back together and party!! Kris is one of those Beyond-Amazing girls who people just love. All of us gals wondered what lucky man would catch her eye and Andrew is just perfect for her!! Best Wishes to you, KrissyKins. I love ya!

Back HOME!

Hi All,
We're back and I'm itching to get new posts up for your viewing entertainment... but I'm REALLY behind in EVERYTHING!
Soo.... be patient with me since I am going to TRY and catch up with all of YOUR new posts (sorry if I don't get around to commenting on everything) but I really want to know what everyone else has been up to too!

Well then...

Now, I've written a record THREE posts in one day (no, in less than one HOUR!) but I wanted to get up to date since

WE'RE FINALLY GOING ON VACATION!!!!

One of my best friends is getting married tomorrow so Taylor, Ava and I are so excited and lucky to go see her marry her sweetie and BONUS; get to see a lot of my old roommates and girlfriends. Then Friday we fly out to Missouri where we are spending about ten days playing with cousins, aunts, uncles, EVERYONE at the FARM (I'll tell you all about it when we get back... I can't wait to show you pictures of this place!) The last and only time I've been to the Farm is for my honeymoon- it's amazing out there! Plus, we can't wait for Beboo and Papa Wilson to eat Ava up- she's gonna be drunk with Kisses and Loves! There's more- I know, it's all so much! We get to see both of Taylor's Grandmothers, Sammie and Grandma Wilson-- these ladies are legends. Also, the cherry on top of all of this excitement... We get to meet our brand-spankin' new neice, Brooklyn (as of right now, she's not even born- that means she's just THAT much "Fresh from the Oven"!

WE CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!

Stay Tuned

ps. needless to say, I will miss reading all of your posts, but I'll catch up when I get home... eventually. Keep us posted!

Korean Lessons

We have a great Korean family as our neighbors and I asked if I can crash her kids' summer Korean lessons and join them. She was so gracious to let me (and so excited that someone actually WANTS to learn Korean, since her kids are NOT very excited about it!). I have only gone couple of times to slowly start learning. It's not as difficult as it seems- though I've only learned the alphabet and a few amateur phrases- I'm really excited about it!! Here are some pictures of "my family", they are so cute and I love spending time with them in the afternoons!!! Ava has a blast at their home too; she has unlimited attention from the kids! Sadly the Che's are moving in July- so I have to soak up what I can quickly. From left to right: Jung kyu is holding baby Joon-Ho, Yea-In is sitting in front of them, Ji Young is my teacher (I call her "On Nee" or "Big Sister"), Yea-Won is next to her mom with Seok-Ho giving her bunny ears in back! I am spelling their names phonetically since I don't know how to get the Korean symbols from an English keyboard!!

Ava's their "Baby"

I just LOVE Joon-Ho, he's the most chilled-out, relaxed,
go-with-the-flow kiddo you'll ever meet!!!! And cute as can be

I caught Yea-Won by surprise!
She's always got her "silly pants" on.
Yea-In is my biggest helper with my lessons, she's great!

Seok-Ho, the classic big brother! He's hilarious!

ll

Sorry these are so late, I wanted to post a couple of pictures of Taylor on Father's Day. Pretty weak in terms of the Festivities, but I think he had a great, laid back day! Ava and I got him an "instant charcoal starter" since he's our "Neighborhood Grillmaster" and loves his charcoal bbq's. The splash park is one of our favorite places to go, so we hit it up again! Then T grilled Fantastic steaks and shrimp while I made mashed potatoes and got the asparagus ready (for him to grill, of course!). It was heavenly, but again, I forgot to get a food pic (I do love food pics).

Happy Father's Day

Love at first sight

I just want to make a quick shout out to my best friend and wish him a very happy Father's day. I wish I could adequately put into words how thankful I am to have such an amazing husband- and I know that every one of you who read this can completely understand where I coming from when I say, "I've got the guy who was HAND-MADE just for me". But beyond being a great husband, Taylor's an outstanding Daddy!!! We all knew that he'd LOVE Ava, but I'm impressed how much her LIKES her-- that sounds weird, let me explain. Ever since he's become a Dad, T has been very hands-on; never likes to miss a bath or hesitates to play with Ava when she's craving attention. He loves to pick out cute outfits for her and talks about the funny things she does with gusto and pride. Taylor is such a great example to me on LOVING UNDER EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE. I love watching their friendship get stronger and stronger by the day. Both Ava and I are very lucky girls indeed. We LOVE you, T-Daddy.
Also, my own fathers are great examples to me. My dad has always been very faithful to his family and without his guidance and leadership in our home, I know I would be a very different person. My father in law is also someone who I admire so much, he has raised his sons to be the very best husbands and fathers they can be- the Wilson boys are hard to beat.

Happy Father's Day

SPLASH PARK

Today was such a nice day- my friend, Michelle, her son Kobe, Ava and I went to the park to play in the water!! Kobe had a BALL running in and out of the small geysers! However, Ava was much more interested in the carousel and I kept having to drag her back to the park.

Here are Round One Pictures:

Ava looking on while Kobe had the Time of his life!


VERY tentatively reaching ONE finger out to "stroke" the water... ooooo, she's crazy!


That's my girl. Ava knows where the Goods are.

Sorry you have to crank your head to the side to watch the video... But I couldn't NOT put this up of Miss Thang shakin' her booty to her Jam.

After Taylor got home from work, we suited Ava back up for the water park again and tried our luck with much fewer people there- it worked! With no carousel beckoning to her, Ava enjoyed splashing around a little better during round two.

And here are Round Two Pics

Much Much Better

Great Days

Here are some fun moments we've been having!!
(Sorry for how huge this post is: this is what I get for not keeping up with all of the pictures!)




Ava and the Rexburg Temple



With her Buddy, Riley



Ava takes EVERY SINGLE toy out of her toy box, even the ones on the VERY BOTTOM



Ava's so curious about her "pregnant"belly... and for all of you other curious-types...
NO WE ARE NOT PREGNANT!!!



Miss Mischief dumps ALL of her Gerber Fruitbites out, complete with the strawberry DUST

Big Grins on a Walk

Playing at the Park

Dad trying to play CATCH-UP

Ava thinks it's her DUTY to collect one mulch chip at a time and give them to us, run back and grab one more, give them to us.... etc. etc...

She thinks it's so funny when she gets too close to the edge of the sidewalk and both Taylor and I are screaming, "AVA STOP!!!!"... she turns and giggles!



On the RUN... again



Eating our Snoasis!!! A summertime staple



Hi Rachel H., this Black Cherry Cheesecake (with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom) is for you!!! Good luck surviving the Humidity!!



So independent (and not too great at sharing!)



Dad showing Ava a ladybug



Best Friends



Buh-Bye for Now!!

KISS KISS

Here's a quick SNACK for ya. Lately every time we give Ava or each other a kiss, we say, "KISS! MMMmmmua!" then we kiss! She loves it.
Yesterday, Taylor and I were watching T.V. while Ava was playing with her dolls. Then out of the blue, Ava walks over to T- who is laying down- and bends down and kisses Taylor right on the middle of his forehead, "Mmmmmua". Just like a Mafia Don does to his "family". Then turns around and continues to play with her toys.
Silly girl!