Cornelius Chronicles

Happiest of Birthdays to the very special Maeve!  When I asked Maeve what she thought about turning 11 she said it was going to be, "The Best Year Yet!" Maeve has the biggest heart and the most sincere personality you will ever meet.  She is always striving to be the girl Jesus wants her to be.  She is a loyal friend, a fun sister, a kind and helpful daughter, a forgiving heart, brave beyond her years, and the best kid around.  I love how she can turn anything into a great adventure!  She has the best imagination and isn't afraid to share it through her writing and drawing.  We all love dragons now because of Maeve's infectious enthusiasm for the fiery beasts.  She works hard and isn't afraid to try new things.  She's thoughtful and kind and a wonderful reader.  She can make the most boring story sound fun and exciting when she reads it out loud.  She never shies away from an audience.  In fact, she adores an audience!  I don't...

The long awaited day is finally here!  John started Kindergarten!  Look out Morgan Elementary, this kid is on fire!  He's as smart as they come and twice as kind.  He has a big heart and can't wait to start learning all the best stuff at school.  He could tell it was a milestone moment for himself when he got up on his first day and got his very own school water bottle.   It's so hard to send him off for the day and miss his impromptu cuddles and generous smiles, but I know he has big things to do in this life and he can't get them done unless he fills that bright mind of his with valuable knowledge.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for my tender little man.  I know it's going to be great!

Diana has teeth!  Two to be exact.  She has the cutest pair of baby teeth coming up together.  I guess every tooth deserve a buddy.  Diana has been putting these adorable comperes to good use eating everything in grabbing distance.  That's a milestone for the books - first teeth (they came together) at 8 months old.  Baby smiles are the best smiles!  

This queen bee won 1st place for Utah 4th graders in the 2023 PBS Utah Kids Young Authors and Illustrators contest!!  We couldn't be more proud and excited for Miss Maeve.  She works so hard all the time perfecting her craft as an author.  She writes every day, she spends hours and hours thinking up interesting stories and characters, and she isn't shy about sharing all the wonderful things she dreams up. She has a real gift with writing and I love that she can have this opportunity to shine and get some well deserved recognition for her awesome talent.   Because she won her story is on the PBS Utah Kids website, she got to do a short taped interview that will run on TV, we got to spend an exciting day at the PBS Utah station in Salt Lake City where we did fun activities, met other grade level winners, and had an interesting tour of the TV station, and she got a fun prize box.  We had a fantastic time celebrating Maeve and her talent.  I'm so proud of ...

Catching smiles on camera are one of my favorite moments of joy.  Here are a few I snagged this month. Out to eat with the family at Shambala Cafe in Salt Lake City after a fun morning at the Utah Museum of Natural History.  Yum Dinner! Yea Museums!  Rebekah - 17 yrs Loyd - 15 yrs Owen - 8 yrs John - 5 yrs John decided we needed happy potatoes for dinner.  Thanks John! Diana - 8 months