Cornelius Chronicles

Enjoying the last few weeks of a construction free backyard.  Hopefully this month we begin work on our home remodel and garage addition!  Yea!  We can hardly wait for the extra space, but we're not looking forward to a crazy backyard for a couple of months.  Oh the agony and the ecstasy.  ;)  Here's a cautionary tale in pictures of the hazards of using smelly markers.  :)

 Sometimes we get a bit desperate for a good, quiet place to take a nap.  :)     The family that games together, stays together. Here's what some fun Friday night family time playing Minecraft on tablets looks like at the Cornelius house.   Owen is working on those cupstacking engineering skills.  Can he build it?  Yes he can!

 Owen set up his own Star Wars Starbase.  I think he did an excellent construction job. What's better than playing pretend in the bathroom sink with your big sister when it's too gloomy and gray to play outside?  Nothing!  Nothing is better than splashing in the sink.  :D Owen dressed himself for the cold weather this weekend.  I think the gorilla slippers were particularly inspired for outdoor play. 

Xavier (8 yrs old)  We told Xavier we were going to have a new baby come to our family this year.  After the initial exclamations of excitement and enthusiasm Xavier grew somber with deep thought and asked with a touch of worry in his voice, "Mom, they aren't going to send the baby home from the hospital until it's done crying are they?"  I guess he remembers all too well all of the craying Baby Owen did in the hosptial before he came home.  :D Owen (3 yrs old) Christmas morning Owen runs out to the front room and sees the tree filled with presents.  He suddenly souts out "Happy Birthday!  Let's sing the birthday song so we can open the presents!"  We all sang "Happy Birthday to Jesus." Christmas morning while opening gifts Owen rips off the wraping paper from one present to discover a white, nondiscript box inside.  Enthusiastically he shouts, "Yea a box!  Boxes are my favorite!" Maeve (5 yrs old) Maeve: "Mom can I have...

Step 1: Make a trip to Space Center Houston to check out the astronaut potty on the Space Shuttle Step 2: Tell Owen that astronauts use the potty Step 3: Tell Owen that Darth Vader and Storm Troopers also use the potty Step 4: Pull out the potty chair, some potty books, and dress like Star Wars for the day Step 5: Owen does all the rest Step 6: Give Owen a sticker for a job well done  Now why didn't we figure out the astronaut and Star Wars incentive with the other kids?  It's way easier than what we did before.

Due to flood damage from Hurricane Harvey the Houston LDS Temple is closed for repairs until some time in the Spring.  To help members in our Stake still attend the temple the Stake Presidency organized and offered a Saturday bus to Dallas for anyone who would like to attend.  With my parents here to watch the kids while we were gone for the whole day Dustin and I took advantage of the offer and headed to the Dallas, TX temple.  We had a wonderful day performing temple ordinances and spending a peaceful, Spirit filled day together in the Lord's house.  What a treat and a blessing.  And, as you can see we even had a little time left over for a little fun.  :)  

  Grandma Phillips, Owen, and I had lots of fun attending Maeve's preschool Christmas party.  Maeve, her fellow preschoolers, and all of their great teachers entertained us by singing lots of wonderful Christmas songs and sharing in a yummy Christmas lunch with us, but the highlight of the party for the kids was Santa's personal visit.  Santa talked to all of the kids and made sure each one recieved a special gift.  Maeve and Owen were super excited to meet Mr. Clause in person and get a chance to tell him what they want this year.  Maeve asked for a robotic kitty and Owen requested a toy robot.  Both were very happy with their gifts this year.  It seems that Santa was paying attention.  :)