Cornelius Chronicles

Another fun summertime tradition - week long summer camps at Ogden Nature Center!  I didn't get very many pictures of the kids because they are so excited to go to camp each day that I can hardly get them to slow down for pictures just once and only briefly.  There are great friends to me made, outdoor adventures to be had, and lots of fun things to learn! John went to his first full day week long camp.  Their theme was "Creepy Crawlies" and he learned all sorts of great stuff about insects and animals that can be found right here in our own ecosystem.   Maeve went to "Eco Extreme" overnight camp.  She had day camp for 3 days and then she had a one night sleepover campout at the Nature Center.  She learned outdoor survival skills like lighting fires, set up tents, and foraging for food.  She even ate a cricket!! Owen went to "STEM"  overnight camp (science technology engineering and math).  He got to attend day camp for 3 days and then h...

Checking out all of the beautiful petunias Grandma Phillips planted at the Ogden Temple grounds. They look so beautiful and they smell so sweet!  Grandma loves to volunteer at the Ogden Temple grounds every Wednesday.  What a wonderful way to serve the Lord and to beautify the world.   Diana enjoying our first harvest of Service Berries from our front yard.  These were delicious and every precious berry was thoroughly savored.  Yum! 4th of July wind and hail storm!!! Plants around the yard.  Dustin and I put in 15 garden boxes this spring and we are sure having fun harvesting lots of beautiful and yummy veggies from it already!

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?" "Chichen" for "Kitchen" "I snuggle you" as she wedges her sweet little body tightly against mine in a chair to read a book. "Huckies!" - for when she wants to say something is gross or yucky 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 ...

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.