Cornelius Chronicles

It was a rare opportunity to get most of us in front of a camera.  Bekah used her dislike of personal pictures for her benefit and offered to take the shot.  So, Rebekah is part of it too, she's just the mighty hand holding the camera.  :) Cornelius Family, November 2018 (Dustin, Audrey, Loyd, Xavier, Owen, Maeve, and John pictures.  Photo taken by Rebekah)  Photo taken in front of LDS Church meeting house on South Shore Blvd in League City, TX. 

 It must almost be Christmas because we managed to grabbed Santa's ear at the annual City of League City Holiday Open House held at Helen Hall Library.  Owen asked for a Christmas hat and Maeve requested a new notebook to draw and do math in.  We brought our little friend AB while her parents were busy at the hospital welcoming her new little brother into the world.  This was AB's first picture with Santa ever.  I guess coming with her best friend, Owen, gave her the courage to overcome her lifelong (short as it still is) fear of the jolly old elf.  ;)  The second sign of Christmas on it's way has arrived too.  Lots and lots and lots of fall leaves are falling all around.  We've got some pretty great leaf parties going on in the backyard with perfect temperatures and an abundance of beautiful, dry leaves to crunch and toss, and bury oneself in.  We can't wait for more Christmastime fun to come!

After much excitement and anticipation Owen finally reached a major life goal and educational milestone.  Owen road on a yellow school bus!  Oh, and he went on a totally fun and amazing field trip to Moody Garden's Aquarium and Rain-forest pyramids.  Mostly Owen was jazzed about riding on the bus, but after looking at all of the beautiful fish and animals he decided Moody Garden's was pretty awesome too.  ;)   Pink birds!!!!  Why does Mom have to take so many pictures??? PENGUINS!!!!! Filed trip selfie with Baby John at the Aquarium

 It's that busy, fun time of year we call the holiday season.  For Thanksgiving this year I had all sorts of fun finding all of the people and activities I am thankful for in my life.  It wouldn't be the holidays if we didn't fill them with tradition and family, so here are just a few fun events that have become tradition for our family during this time if gratitude and abundance.  John and I had lots of fun joining Owen for a special Thanksgiving lunch at Trooper school.  Thanksgiving lunch is way better when served with fun friends and donuts wholes.  :) I just love spending time with this little man who loves with his whole heart his family.  John, Owen, Dustin, and I also got to have a Thanksgiving lunch with Maeve at school.  As an added bonus Maeve's kindergarten class was having their annual Bison hunt and Native American celebration day at the same time. We had fun learning some interesting things about Native Americans and running...

  For the 4th year in a roll Xavier was honored by his teacher and his classmates for exemplifying the Character Trait of Respect.  One two students per class are picked for this great  honor.  You Rock, Xavier!  I love how consistently obedient and thoughtful and hardworking you are.  Xavier also received his Rank Advancement in Cub Scouts in October.  He worked hard all year to earn his Wolf Rank Advancement.  Howling in Pride for my amazing cub!

    How can you be 4 years old already!?!  Happy Birthday, Owen!  You are such a source of pure joy in our family.  Knowing you is like knowing the best secret in the world.  You are not one to share your precocious and fun loving personality with a crowd of people, but save it for only the best of people in your intimate circle of friends and family.  You know who you are and what you want to do and you are not afraid to stay true to that inner light.  I glory in every naughty giggle, gleeful squeal, and deliberately naughty pronouncement of "poop" instead of answering my questions.  I love your sweet snuggles, your allowing me to give you kisses and hugs, and I love your loyalty of friendship and trust.  You are a special little boy.  I count myself lucky every day to have you as my Owen to know and love and cherish.  Thank you for showing us the importance of playing Star Wars all day long, every day, of reminding us how...

 Look how is rockin' it on morning Safety Patrol!  Yea Loyd!  The best 5th grader for helping kids get out of their cars and into school every morning. Owen swinging at a pinata as big as him at a friend's fun birthday party. Science Fair Fun! Rebekah counting popcorn for her 7th Grade Science Fair project - Poptastic!   The Science of Popping the Perfect Popcorn. Spoiler Alert!:  The best home method for popping perfect popcorn is the Air Popper!!! (SOOOO Much Popcorn was Popped and Counted....) This awesome 7th Grade Scientist earned a coveted Honorable Mention for her poptastic experiment, presentation, and board.  Awesome job, Babe! Loyd experimenting with different soil types to grow the biggest, tastiest radishes - Rad Radishes and the Science of Soil. Spoiler Alert!: Cactus soil was the surprise winner.  We think it was mostly due to the unheard of 24 inches of rain we happened to get the month we did our experiment....

I now have a beautiful wall to match my beautiful French doors, a brand new pantry, and a cute little office nook.  Thank you, Dustin!  Check out one of our awesome helpers putting up some new drywall.  Thanks, Xavier! New French doors and drywall New office nook

It was another banner year of Halloween trick-or-treating fun!  We had lots of fun trick-or-treating at the annual South Shore LDS Ward trunk-or-treat party, trick-or-treating around the district offices and the high school with our fun Trooper School Preschool, dressing up for the Kindergarten Storybook Character Parade, and then finally hitting the streets around our neighborhood with our friends the DuBrays for one final trick-or-treating hurrah of candy extravaganza.  :)  Yea for free candy and good dentists.  :D John the Dragon (or Dinosaur?) - 7 months old Owen as BB-8 from Star Wars.  He's a great little robot!  - 3 3/4 years old Maeve the adorable Raccoon from The Kissing Hand - 6 years old The Yu-Gi-Oh! Brothers Xavier as Yugi and Pharaoh, the ultimate Duel Master - 9 years old   Loyd as Merrick a Yu-Gi-Oh Villian - 10 years old Rebekah decided not to dress up this year, but did decide to go trick-or-treating....you know to h...