Cornelius Chronicles

  Saturday was the annual school district's Imagination Celebration of the arts for elementary aged kids and their families.  We always love to go and enjoy the beautiful student artwork, explore the instrument petting zoo hosted by the Houston Symphony, and take part in lots and lots of fun crafts.  We managed to try all of the crafts offered, get our faces painted and have a wonderful time together.  New this year, Rebekah and her friend Ella were able to walk around and do the crafts on their own without an adult to tag along.  They had a great time stretching their independent wings at the event.  It's amazing to me how quickly Rebekah is growing and how independent she is getting.  It's fun to see how all the kids are growing.  Yea for the Arts and for a great local community who really appreciate how important they are!   Here's just a random cute picture of our little Miss Maeve from this week I wanted to share too . She's all

 Googled birthday cake inspiration...  ...actual birthday cake creation.  Happy Birthday, Xavier!  I'm sure glad you aren't too critical of your mom's lacking cake decorating skills.  :) No matter how the cake turned out, Xavier was pretty excited it was for him.  He is such a wonderfully happy little boy.  I love to hear his giggles all day long and see his warm, wide ever-present grin.  He has a tender side, and can whine with the best of little brothers when Loyd picks on him, but he has a caring and friendly side too that makes him a fun, fast friend and enthusiastic brother.  I can hardly believe he is 5 years old now.  He is growing up far too fast.  Some of the things he enjoys right now include cooking with me, measuring and stirring of the ingredients with care.  He also love to watch his favorite PBS Kids cartoons, Curious George , Wild Kratts , and Peg + Cat .  Play dates with friends are his favorite thing to do, and he patiently suffers through

Tuesday was Xavier's first day of Trooper School Preschool!  It's been a long wait for him to go back to school because he has such a wonderful time with all of his teachers and friends.  He had a wonderful time back to school this week.  He gets to play outside, do fun arts and crafts, learn his letters, numbers, and colors, and exercise his social and imaginative skills the entire time he is there.  I drop him and the older kids off at school in the morning and then I get to walk to pick Xavier up in the afternoon.  The walk is much shorter than it use to be (They moved the pick up location to the back of the school.), and I get to hear all about Xavier's preschool adventures as we walk home together.  It's a great bonding time for us.  I love the new/old routine.  I'm looking forward to lots and lots of walks  home from preschool this year. Poor Maeve was a bit mopey without her big brother to keep her company during the day, but I'm trying to take

Here's my latest doily creation.  :)  This one is for Thanksgiving.  I'm making steady progress toward my goal to make a holiday doily for each of the major holidays.  I couldn't pass up this crochet pattern for Thanksgiving, especially considering it is Grandma Phillips' favorite holiday and Great Grandma Zoie loved to tell us such great Turkey finger plays when I was a little girl.  So, along with my doily, and in honor of Grandma Zoie here are the two finger plays she told to me and my sisters the most during that thankful time of year: Turkey Here is a turkey with his tail spread wide.          (put your left hand over your right hand, fingers spread wide apart like turkey feathers) He sees a farmer coming so he's going to hide. (quickly hide your hand behind your back) He runs across the barnyard with a wobble wobble,         (bring your turkey hand, fingers spread wide, back out and wiggle it back and forth like a                 turkey waddle) Ta

Maeve decided it was time for her to get a big-girl bed this week.  She refused to sleep in her crib any longer and proceeded to make all of our lives miserable with tantrums, crying, and daring escapes until Dad broke down and pulled the toddler bed out on Monday night.  Maeve did great staying in her bed at bed time and nap time for the most part, but there were a few nights of a hysterically giggling little girl running down the hall in utter glee at her new independence when she should have been fast asleep in her snugly new bed.  Do you know how very hard it is to remain stern when you see how happily she is being naughty? :) Silly little girl. At least she knows her own mind and isn't afraid to let us know it! Rebekah cracked me up yesterday.  I was asking what everyone wanted for breakfast, waffles or eggs and hash browns.  When I got to Dustin and Rebekah I got the same typical answer for this pair, "I don't know.  You choose."  When I complained that t