Cullen Visits

Cullen Hogan took his first 'unaccompanied minor" trip from MCO to SLC! He said it was a really long flight.  Brit and I picked him up from the gate.  It had probably been 10+ years since I had been able to walk back to a gate to pick someone up!  Three or four flight attendants, supposing I was his mom, came up to me and told me how well-behaved he was.  "Best passenger on the plane." "A credit to his parents."  I thanked them and let them know I'd pass the compliments onto his parents since I was just his aunt! :-)  

Ty was so excited for a perfect, one piece shed from his snake "Neros".  It's a sign of a healthy snake and that there's enough humidity in the enclosure that it can shed in one piece.  It's amazing to even see the eye area on the shed!

We learned the hard way that we were over-watering our trees. And in a drought year, too!  Shame on us - lol!  We lost 4 of the 5 in this run.  Jerry Labrum, our landscaper, replanted them for us.  It was an expensive mistake.  Unfortunately, they couldn't find taller ones.  He said there were several fires out at nurseries on the west coast last year and a lot of stock had been destroyed.  He didn't think we'd find bigger ones next spring either.  So we just decided to go with it.  Maybe those will get some extra miracle grow :-)

Just a normal scene of watching a science video on MysteryDoug.com while having a snack.  We love that website! This was taken before Cullen came that week, which is why he's not pictured. 

Landon went to a conference to Arizona this week. He sent me a picture of him with Dr. Hellstrom from his time in New Orleans! He's in the middle.  

We took Cullen and met the Bradys at Lowe's Xtreme Airsports in Provo.  Lots of fun!

Charlie kept wanting to go down this slide over and over.  It was a big too big for him, so he was happier going down with someone else.  Lexi was all too happy to oblige.  

Carson requested this picture.  

Just Carson, continuing to believe he's capable of doing everything he sees me do.... and most times, he's right.

The boys stayed up way too late origami.  Their pride and joy: a 16-point shuriken.  Cullen packed his into his suitcase.  I wonder if it survived. 

Just enjoying the fall colors on the trees in the backyard.  

Playing Connect Four.

Brit qualified for Varsity Doubles in his tennis class.  He played a total of three games over two days.  Two of the games ended in a tie and they had to play an additional round.  He was exhausted and wore holes into his shoes.  He and Emery got 2nd place! Here he's pictured with Emery and his coach, Heber.  

Brit took his ACT test! This was the night before when we reviewed how to fill out the bubble sheet with our address and personal info.  We haven't heard back yet, but he's proud of himself!  

Melissa took the kids swimming at the Springville Rec Center.

Then they headed over to Good Move Cafe - the kids' favorite place.  Here they're playing Codenames. 

The boys played countless monopoly games!

I took a walk on Sunday when Landon was back.  With the gentle breeze and occasional raindrops, the leaves were dropping and swirling around.  I felt like I was inside a fall-themed snow globe! I loved it.

A view from the trail in the Spanish Fork sports park near the river.

I liked these heart shaped leaves and the way they contrasted against the pavement.  I actually started collecting leaves and putting them in my hoodie pocket.  So many shapes and colors :-)

I came back from the walk and talked Landon into joining me.  We brought Carson along for a short loop around the neighborhood.  Carson always has an eagle eye for the dandelions.

This picture was taken Monday morning when we dropped off Cullen to fly back home.  I brought Ty along and we stopped at Panera.  Isn't it sad that the closest, and perhaps only, Panera in Utah is in the airport?  The boys were raving about the cinnamon roll.  It was adorable seeing the boys hug, and then hug again, before the flight attendant took Cullen.  When Cullen arrived to Utah, I asked him what he wanted to do.  He didn't have any plans or desires.  He said something like, "Just spend time with you guys."  At the end of the trip, I asked what his favorite thing was that we did.  "Just being together with you guys."  The kids sure had a fun time with their cousin around! It probably needs to be an annual thing! :-)