Cornelius Chronicles

We braved the beautiful weather and the gorgeous scenery to hike the steep hike to the Mount Timponogos Caves.  My Mom came with us.  She first did this hike in 1957, nearly 70s years ago, when she was a little bigger than Diana is now.  The trail was challenging, but beautiful, the older kids raced ahead giving themselves 30 minutes of down time while they waited for us old folk to make it up the trail.  The tour was the best!  We learned tons about the caves, their history, and their geology.  The hike down was just as pretty and way less tiring than going up.  Afterwards we treated ourselves to dinner with Rebekah in Provo.  It was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday all together.  

Splashpad fun at the park. First trip of the summer!  

 As is family tradition, Aunt Liz gave Diana her very first haircut.  We all thought she would love the experience as she loves to be pampered and get all dressed up and cute.  However, Diana did not like getting her hair cut.  We showed her a lock of her hair we had cut hoping she would think it was silly, but instead she broke down in tears and cried "Put it back!  Put it back"!  I guess my little princess is not a fan of change.  But her haircut is fabulous and she really loves it after a day of getting use to her new length.  Thank you Aunt Liz!

This little miss is growing up too quickly.  She has the best smiles, the most infectious laughs, the biggest hugs, and the friendliest "welcome home's" as anyone I've ever met.   Fun things Diana does: at least once a day she misses her big sister and asks, "Go Bekah's house?" If she thinks anyone is going somewhere she yells while running towards the front door, "Oh, I go too!  I go too!" Lots of sweet "I love you Mom!," "Thank you!" and "Welcome" Lots of earnest requests daily of, "Play with me, pwease?" Diana and her friend at the park having fun Nutella face! Diana loves to swing and the yard is beautiful to look at while we enjoy the outside.   Loyd is a sweet brother and finds time for special moments of connection with all of his younger siblings.  He was really cute on this afternoon to help Diana hold one of his soft and curious gerbil friends, Jay Burino.  Diana was over the moon excited!  She ...

Well that was quick.  After picking Bekah up from her Freshman year of college at Helaman Halls, we were back 10 short days later to check her into her new apartment for Spring term.  This girl has things to learn, places to go and no time for lollygagging around all summer.  :)   Rebekah and friends from Helaman Halls during a Spring Break dance, Freshman year.  

Another school year is quickly coming to a close so naturally we had to cram pack our last weeks with all the fun things we could think of.  Owen, John and I had a blast at the Boys Choice Elementary Rodeo Night.  Maeve and Xavier had their end of year band concert (Loyd took the last semester off to finish a history class), John sang like an angle at his end of year school music program, Owen rocked the Utah History Fair, Maeve launched rockets with the rest of the 6th grade at the high school football field and she ran for student council.  Despite having the most epic campaign poster of all time, sadly she did not win the election.  We had fun at the elementary school's first ever STEM night. And we had the joy of watching our cousin Zoie in her first play, Disney's My Son Pinocchio.  We sure have had fun, but we sure are tired.  Is it summer vacation yet? 

Grandmas are just antique little girls. Our Grandma Phillips is the best friend a little girl could ask for.  She sews fun cosplay props with Maeve, plays in the garden with Diana, always has a freezer full of popsicles and ice cream, and showers all of her children and grandchildren with infinite love and acceptance.  Grandma is the the best!  We love you, Grandma P! When you have a sleep over at Grandma's house what do you eat for breakfast?  I big bowl of ice cream, of course!