About us
Welcome to Roam and Grow — Whoever said “Adventure ends when parenting begins” clearly never tried chasing a toddler through a bustling airport. At Roam And Grow, we’re on a mission to prove that traveling with children isn’t just possible—it’s priceless. Ready to turn ‘Are we there yet?’ into ‘Can we go again?’ Buckle up and join the journey!. Yep, you counted right we have 7 kids!!
Tim and Bonnie Walker’s love story started with a classic plot twist—Bonnie was actually on a date with Tim’s brother when they met in Las Vegas nearly 25 years ago. Fast forward a few months, and Tim swooped in, won her heart, and put a ring on it.
Since then, we’ve built a wild, wonderful life together, raising seven amazing kids and traveling all over the place—sometimes with the whole crew, sometimes with just a few, and sometimes as a couple. With a family this big, nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but that’s just part of the adventure! We also managed to create two mini-generations within our own family—first came “The Boy Era” (our three sons), followed by “The Girl Takeover” (four daughters). There’s a four-year gap between our youngest boy and oldest girl, so it’s like we hit the parenting reset button halfway through.
Right now, all three of our boys are off on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means Tim is completely outnumbered at home—pray for him.
Traveling with a big family is challenging enough, but add in a wife with some tricky health conditions, and it gets really interesting. Bonnie has non-epileptic seizures and complex migraines, and when she has an episode, she goes full “cooked spaghetti mode” (floppy, unresponsive, zero muscle tone). One time at the airport, it happened just before boarding, and I had to explain to the service desk why my wife suddenly resembled a passed-out ragdoll. Thankfully, the airline staff came through with a special wheelchair, and after an awkward but effective lift into her seat, we made it to our destination. By the time we landed, she was up and moving again—though we still needed a wheelchair to navigate the airport.
Even with the chaos, we wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything. Traveling as a family has taught us patience, flexibility, and that sometimes the best memories come from the moments that definitely weren’t in the itinerary. We hope to inspire others to travel with kids and their families, even if there are other obstacles in the way.
Hey! I’m Tim Walker former IT guy and Travel Enthusiast!
I spent 25 years in IT supporting small businesses that were too small to have an IT department. I was a bit of a workaholic and eventually was burned out by IT. IT can be a heavy burden to carry when the entire company relies upon you to do your job, without you nothing works. Eventually, I just broke under the pressure and decided to leave. What did I do outside of work? Well, I have 7 kids and that can be difficult but it is well worth it. I coached wrestling for several years, I coached soccer off and on again (basically every time my kids wanted to play!) I love the discipline that sports instill. I enjoy woodworking and have a small shop for projects when I need some time to myself. I am passionate about my faith and my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love to travel and see His creations! I traveled for work. It took me around the world to many places I had never been. I was able to experience India, Armenia, Taiwan, and the UK. But it was so much sweeter to experience it with someone! I had traveled many times before. Sometimes as a family, sometimes with my wife, and at other times with other families or couples. I realized that was my happy place, my therapy. I have been all over the world and traveling is one of my greatest pleasures in life. I love to learn! I love to learn about the cultures of other people and places. And sharing those experiences with others was where the true joy in the experience really was.
Bonnie Walker homemaker, Teacher, and Survivor
In my, first-grade autobiograpy, I wrote that I wanted to be a mother to a large family. My 6-year-old dreams came true! It was not without my challenges. My pregnancies were fraught with obstacles. I experienced hyperemesis gravidarum for more than half of them then preterm labor for the second half but I am stubborn and determined (and I obviously have the most supportive husband on planet Earth!) I have a decent gap between our girl and boy family because Tim and I experienced miscarriages. 5 in total. We knew Sami was the last but she decided to make life exciting and I experienced placenta percreta. (ya, just look that up lol) after 3 months in the hospital, I was just grateful to come home healthy with a baby! (This is one of the reasons we call her the Grand Finale, but be careful, they live up to those nicknames!) Modern medicine is the reason I was blessed with a large beautiful family and I am beyond grateful! I was confident that was the end to my health issues but you know the Yiddish proverb “Man plans, God laughs” Well such was my life. When Sami was 1 year old new struggles began. My complex migraines and what for a long time I called paralysis episodes started. I’ve learned a lot. I know triggers for what I now know are seizures thanks to an awesome neurologist and a lucky EEG. Without Tim, my family, amazing friends, good doctors, and God to support me I do not know how I would have made it through the last 2 decades but my life truly has been blessed. I home school but sometimes I feel like my kids teach me as much as I teach them. I now have many more good days than bad. I can see the blessings that have come because of the struggle. I know I am biased, but I think my kids are amazing!
olá,William Walker music aficionado
William was practically born with a soundtrack playing in the background. Hand him an instrument, and within minutes, he’ll have it singing—guitar, bass, piano, organ, you name it. If it makes music, he can play it. As the firstborn of the Walker clan, he set the bar high as the “perfect baby,” tricking his parents into thinking they had this whole parenting thing figured out. Spoiler alert: they did not.
A man of few words but deep loyalties, William takes his time warming up to people, but once he does, you’ve got a steadfast friend for life. He’s also a notorious bookworm, often choosing epic fantasy sagas over, well… humans. If it’s got an intricate world, a sprawling adventure, and at least one battle scene, he’s in—cue The Stormlight Archive and The Wheel of Time.
Currently, William is off on his biggest adventure yet, serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Vitoria, Brazil. Turns out, he’s not just fluent in music—he’s picking up Portuguese too.
Tudo bem? Phillip Walker Family tease
Phillip’s love language? Chocolate and comedy. If he’s not whipping up a dessert (which, let’s be honest, almost always involves chocolate), he’s probably making someone laugh—sometimes until they cry, and sometimes until they beg him to stop. Knowing when to quit? Still a work in progress.
Music runs through Phillip’s veins almost as much as sugar does. He’s a natural on the saxophone, piano, and drums—play him a song, and he’ll have it drummed out before you can say “encore.” And if there were a world championship for knowing song lyrics, Phillip would take gold.
With a twinkle in his eye and a soft spot for babies and little kids, Phillip is the kind of guy who brings the fun wherever he goes. Once a dedicated homebody, it took a trip to Taiwan and a cruise through the Mexican Riviera to awaken his inner explorer. Now, he’s fully embraced adventure—and he’s currently on his biggest one yet, serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Teresina, Brazil.
Que Pasa? David Walker fun instigator
David is basically a walking ray of sunshine—outdoorsy, fun-loving, and determined to make sure everyone around him is having a blast. If there’s laughter in the air, chances are, he’s the one who started it (or at least made it louder). His smile is so contagious it should come with a warning label, and his heart is as big as the great outdoors he loves to explore.
Speaking of the outdoors, David treats nature like his personal playground. Whether he’s fishing, hiking, or scaling rocks like a mountain goat, he’s always on the move—much to his mother’s distress. He’s also a master of mischief, known for his expert-level teasing and ability to keep people on their toes.
When he’s not adventuring, David is a total bookworm, devouring LitRPG novels, and he’s got a deep love for music. He sings, plays the trumpet and piano, and generally keeps life feeling like a nonstop soundtrack.
Nicknamed the Man-Child (and wearing the title proudly), David is currently off on his biggest adventure yet—serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Managua, Nicaragua.
Hillary Walker Dancer Extraordinaire
Hillary is an artist in every sense of the word—and sometimes, the masterpiece is herself. Whether it’s hair, makeup, or nails, she turns everyday beauty into high art (and trust me, she doesn’t do basic). But her creativity doesn’t stop at self-expression—she paints actual canvases too, creating pieces as stunning as she is.
Her artistry extends beyond the visual—music flows through her like a second language. She plays the violin and piano, sings like a songbird, and dances with such grace that she once had her grandma in tears at a ballet recital. Some people are just born with elegance, and lucky for us, Hillary is one of them.
But don’t be fooled into thinking she’s too perfect—she’s still a teenage girl, which means there’s no shortage of sass. We just choose to focus on the fabulous! Beautiful inside and out, Hillary brings kindness, talent, and just the right amount of attitude to keep life interesting.
Jillian Walker Phenomenal Engineer
Jillian is an engineer at heart—if it can be built, fixed, or tinkered with, she’s on it. Hand her a STEM kit, and she’ll disappear into a world of gears and circuits. Need something done? Say, “Can someone help?” and before you’ve even finished the sentence, she’s already on it.
When she’s not busy building or fixing, she’s outside—zipping around on her bike, bouncing on the trampoline, or being the neighborhood’s favorite babysitter. Kids are magnetically drawn to her, probably because she’s the perfect mix of sweet, fun, and patient (a rare combo).
At first, Jillian might seem a little quiet, but don’t be fooled—once she warms up, she’s absolutely hilarious. Seriously, her sense of humor is a hidden gem. She’s also musically gifted, playing the violin and piano, and if you’re really lucky, she might even sing for you (but don’t hold your breath—she saves that for a select few).
She’s got a love for Harry Potter, Legos, makeup, and jewelry—because why choose between magic, creativity, and a little sparkle? Loyal, kind, and the best company, Jillian is the kind of person you want on your team—whether it’s for building something awesome or just making life more fun.
Lucy Walker Magnificent Gymnast
Lucy is a whirlwind of curiosity, energy, and pure sunshine. She loves learning—whether it’s math, reading, or memorizing an absurd number of song lyrics (seriously, she and Siri could go on tour together). If there’s a baby in the room, that’s exactly where you’ll find her, happily in her element.
Music and movement are her jam—she sings, she dances, and she absolutely rocks her ballet and jazz class. Oh, and did we mention she was basically born with superhero strength? By age three, she was cranking out real push-ups like a tiny personal trainer. She’s also ridiculously flexible and loves showing off chest rolls—often making people wince in the process.
Lucy is a bookworm with a love for Harry Potter and anything about animals. She plays the piano, showers her siblings with kindness, and has a heart so big it practically glows. Thoughtful, generous, and always radiating goodness, Lucy is our little angel—and we’re just lucky to bask in her light!
Samantha Walker Grand Finale
Samantha is our grand finale—literally! And trust us, she lives up to the title. Full of spunk and energy, she keeps us on our toes and keeps the laughter rolling. She’s the comic relief of the family, but don’t be fooled—behind the jokes is a fierce, loyal heart.
If faith could be measured, Samantha’s would be off the charts. No one prays like this girl—she prays for everyone in the family every single day. Need a little extra divine intervention? Just let her know—she’s got you covered!
She’s sharp as a tack, wildly determined (read: stubborn), and wise beyond her years. Her ability to read people and situations is almost too good—it’s honestly a little spooky. She’s a book lover, a future piano player, and, according to her, a soon-to-be harpist. Why the harp? No one knows, but we fully support her musical ambitions.
As for the future, Sami already has a plan: mission first (like her brothers and dad), then off to become a veterinarian. With her determination, we have no doubt she’ll make it all happen—probably while keeping us laughing the entire way!
Our Travel Blog to Inspire you to travel, especially as a family
“You’ve seen the Instagram-perfect family vacations, right? Coordinated outfits, smiling faces, zero meltdowns (that is never us). But behind every perfect photo is a parent who packed 47 snacks, negotiated screen time like a diplomat, and redefined ‘sleeping in’ to mean 6:00 a.m. Here at Roam And Grow, we embrace the beautiful chaos of traveling with kids—and help you do it with a little more joy (and sanity).”
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