Roark Family Reunion

Oh- I have sooo much to write about and so many new pics. We just returned from Missouri where Robert's Grandmother, Sammie, lives and runs a campground. We all had so much fun. The trip began when we picked up Keith and Nancy's truck and trailer( Thanks so much for letting us use it!) We brought it home and started packing up. (I think we upset a least one set of neighbors who after a few hours of the trailer being parked in front of our house, called the sherriffs office.Ooops! :)) Anyway, we started out on Thursday night when Robert got home from work. It was late but we made it to Rawlins, WY where we pulled over and popped out the trailer and put everyone to sleep. That was the saving grace of the 20 or so hours driving both to and from the farm. We had our sleeping quarters with us so when we got tired we just pulled over and slept and in the morning we were back on the road quickly. We finally made it to the farm on Saturday morning. We set up camp and quickly got on our swimming attire and headed for the creek. I was a little uncertain as to how my little girls would react to the water but just like my other two, they turned out to be regular water rats! We spent hours swimming, jumping into the creek from rocks, fishing, and canoeing.

Ella is definately not her mother's child when it comes to holding slimy creatures!

Ben is showing me how big the fish he caught was! (He's started young with the fish stories!!) I actually think the one Ella is holding is the one he caught!

Robert wanted everyone on the rock for a family picture. They are all there waiting for me (It took wimpy me a little while to convince my body to swim in the cold water!)

This is us (or rather me and Ella, I had to post this to show that I finally braved the water) swimming back from the rock. The creek is deep by the rock and then suddenly you are in waist deep water! (Note: I avoided all pics of me in my swimming suit- there are just some things that need to be avoided at all costs!)

This is Felicity's idea of swimming!

Ben is a rough and tough boy but he is also very cautious- He always had to talk himself into jumping.

I was just taking random pics of the kids swimming back from the rock. I had to post this because of the smile on Ella's face. She was not posing, just smiling as she is swimming. We all had this kind of smile while on vacation.

Grace is my kind of child. She spent many hours sitting in her chair beside me, both of us chilling with our feet in the water.

Ben also celebrated his 7th birthday while we were there. I was busy with prep work on the cake and party when I was asked if Ben could have a mohawk. In a moment of bad judgement I said I didn't care. (sorry for the sidways pic. I always seem to have to include at least one!)

I was the most upset about the haircut when I realized I didn't have any birthday pictures of him looking normal! I guess this is one of those things we will look back on and laugh at. (Be assured that the mohawk was shaved off when we got home. ) Happy Birthday Ben!

The kids all had fun taking turns on the swing at Grandmother Sam's house. It a tradition that we have to have pics of the kids on the swing each time we go. If I wasn't so lazy I would scan some pics of the last time we were there. Ella was the same age as the twins are now and I had just found out I was having twins the day before we left to go to Missouri.

This is on Saturday on our way home. As you can see everyone was still smiling which is amazing for the close quarters and the length of the drive.

It was a fun, much needed vacation! Thanks Sammie for sharing Camp Tilden with us!

Oh, What do you do in the Summertime?

Well, Ben has finally finished up 1st grade and now we have a whole summer to fill up! We are in year-round school here and so I was hoping to be on A Track again. That would have only been 2 months off of school but Ben and Ella got put on D Track(which is the last track to start). We have our trip to the farm but then a LONG summer ahead of us. Any suggestions?

Now how do you spell that?

Okay, so I'm going to post a very proud parent post- Yesterday, Ben came home from school with a ribbon pinned to his shirt. I asked what it was for and he answers that he got 2nd in the Spelling Bee! I start freaking out (most of you know that Ben has been less than interested in school)! I call Robert before I even really get the details because I'm so excited. Well, Robert then asks if it was just his class or the 1st grade. Ben, still be very cool about the whole situation, says that they had a class spelling bee and the top 4 from each class got to go to a 1st grade spelling bee. And that is where Ben got 2nd place! He spelled 23 words right!! I can't tell you how proud we are of him- He has really been working hard lately!

Congratulations- my Super Speller!

Double Trouble

As a seasoned parent ( or so I like to think) you know when its quiet that nothing good is going on. Grace and Felicity have started snatching things they know they shouldn't have and then they find a good hiding spot and quietly check whatever the item is at that moment out. For 2 little girls, they are really super quiet when they are hiding. More than once, I have started freaking out because I couldn't find them. (Note to self or anyone else trying to find quiet twins- look behind the trunk or in the play house).

The item of choice on this day was Robert's wallet. They had emptied it and were checking out the goods. Unfortunately for them, Robert's wallet rarely holds any loot! Felicity did luck out and find a 1 dollar bill. I went to gather up the contents of the wallet (which they handed over pretty well) until we came to the dollar. Felicity clutches it to her chest and says "No, my money" My how they learn quickly!

Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

I now know where that saying comes from- It's completely true. So the other day Ben found a snail on the sidewalk. He decided he needed to keep it for a pet. The next day the snail was no longer and I thought we were through with the snails. Boy, was I wrong!

So the following day I hear Ben come in from school. He walks into where Robert and I are talking with a jar full of snails (seriously, there had to be a least 15). I tell him to take the jar outside. Robert follows him out and finds out more about the snails(once a little boy, always a little boy at heart). So apparently Ben found these at school and decided he needed to bring them home. Well, of course there are not jars at school so how to get them home? Oh, I know, the pockets. So he stuffs his pockets with snails for the journey home.

So now we have a jar full of snails- what to do next? Let's go to a friends house to play. So he is busy playing Guitar Hero when he discovers he still has snails in his pockets. Run home to add to the collection!
We let him keep his "pet" until just before bedtime when they all went to their new home away from civilization and my garden! I can hardley wait for the farm- who knows what may come home in pockets- I may just have to start a standard pocket check :) !