Cornelius Chronicles

Rebekah had the awesome opportunity to spend a few days in San Diego, California.  She was invited to visit and explore the wonders of beautiful Sand Diego by our dear family friend, Elise Malmstrom.  Rebekah had lots off fun firsts on this trip.  It was her first trip on an airplane by herself, her first trip to California, and her first time using an ATM.  Rebekah had a great time exploring the many museums, aquariums, and natural wonders that abound in San Diego. We are so thankful for generous friends who made this trip possible.  Thank you awesome Malmstroms!

These three water babies spent 2 fabulous water logged weeks taking swimming lessons and playing at the Farmington City pool.  Week one we had lots of fun playing in the pool after lessons with our happy Barra cousins.  Week two we did our best to play and play and play until we couldn't play anymore in the pool after lessons.  What a happy, relaxing and fun couple of water filled weeks.  We LOVE the pool! Also, John discovered that pockets are just the perfect size for popcycle storage.  Yum!  I guess we'll have to start calling this kid Popcycle Pockets.  ;) Xavier, Maeve and Owen worked very hard learning how to play the piano this year.  They were so good to practice every day, listen and learn from their great piano teacher (Alayna Gunn) every week, and work very hard to memorize special pieces for their piano recital.  We couldn't be prouder of the progress these kids made this year as musicians.  We are so thankful we can learn from the talents of others.  Piano is s

We decided our July wasn't action packed enough with summer camps and splashpad parks days so we were lucky enough to throw in a super fun Pinewood Derby for Owen hosted by Grandma P and her Activity Days Boys, plant a new Serviceberry tree in the front yard, play water games with neighborhood friends in the backyard, and have fabulous visits from our Texas friends!!   The Lee family spent 2 action packed days with us in Morgan before heading to their family reunion.  The Archers played all day Sunday with us before returning home to Texas from their family reunion.  I'm sure thankful for family reunions because they mean much needed friend reunions for me!  Oh how we miss our Texas friends so having them take time out of their busy travel schedules to visit and play with us meant so much.  We're still smiling from all their happy company. :D  Pinewood Derby Prizes! Learning the ins and outs of establishing a new tree. Look out!  They have water squirters! Maeve and Trinity

While John and I were busy exploring the various splashpads found in Davis and Salt Lake County, Owen, Maeve, and Loyd were busying learning and having fun at science camps at the University of Utah.  Loyd spend a week learning everything there is to learn about Fungi/Mushrooms, and Owen and Maeve had a Crazy Chemistry camp where they made rock candy, elephant toothpaste, slime, and captures rainbows in jars among many other fun experiments.  It was a busy, fun week.  Yea Science!  Yea Splashpads!

Loyd celebrated July 4th for the entire week leading up to it with so many trips to the local fireworks stand that the employees there knew him by name!  Oh the joys of teen boys and fireworks.  :)  We had a fun 4th of July filled with lots of exciting fireworks (Dustin put on quite the show in Grandma P's cul-de-sac before the Morgan City fireworks began), food, family, parades, and cardboard boat regatta with Aunt Karen.  Loyd, Xavier, and Maeve got to ride in the city parade on Aunt Karen's cardboard boat float.  Loyd couldn't get enough of the adoring cheers and attention from the crowd.  Owen and John stuck close to Aunt Jenny from the side lines scooping up enough candy thrown from the floats to rival even their Halloween haul!  Everyone had fun with dancing sparklers and eating yummy picnic food with cousins, aunts and uncles.  It was a great way to spend our nation's birthday.  Happy Birthday, America!

Maeve and Owen had the fabulous opportunity to attend a week long day camp at the Ogden Nature Center.  They had an absolute blast hiking, exploring, playing, making crafts, and getting good and dirty while learning about nature and natural and biosocial sciences.  I think their favorite day was the last day when they had a night hike, night games, and a hot dog and s'mores campfire cookout with all of their new camp friends.   Of course, John and I couldn't let them have all the fun so we spent a few happy summer mornings playing at the children's play park inside the Ogden Nature Center.   We couldn't let the summer outdoor fun end with camp so we had fun raising and releasing 6 Painted Lady butterflies.  Release day is everyone's favorite day!