Quality Family Time | Fort Collins

We made it to Ft. Collins last night after saying goodbye to the Frey's in Denver. And while we were sad to say bye to them, we were excited and happy to get to spend some time with Ben's side of the family, many of whom we hadn't seen in quite some time.

Before we left the house to meet Marian and Sylas at their home and then go to lunch, Noah helped Grandma water her garden. He was quite the big helper and really just wanted to do it all himself.

After lunch we got to meet, hold, love on, kiss, and cuddle our newest nephew, Levi Christopher, born just this last Saturday. I'm not sure who was more pleased with him, me or Amanda and Eric, his parents! But I do already love this little guy to pieces!

In the mean time, the two older boy cousins were having epic Nerf gun battles outside with Daddy and Uncle Eric, dressing up, and just being boys.



While Ellie convinced Aunt Marian {and eventually Aunt Amanda also} to play "girls" {Strawberry Shortcake dolls} with her.

All in all, it was a day full of quality family time. ♥

Legos and Cousin Time

One of Ben and Noah's favorite places to go is, of course, the Lego store. Sylas was pretty excited to find out that we were going to store filled with JUST Legos. Once everyone got ready, we all loaded into the Sequoia and headed up to the mall to go to the Lego Store.

They were all excited to go:

And they had a blast.


Afterwards, we headed back to Nana and Papa's house for some rest time. Noah and Sylas watched Cars 2, while the rest of us either pretended to watch or slept.

{Oh my soul, how I've missed seeing his hands intertwined with hers!}

On our way to Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike's house for dinner, Ben, the kids, and I stopped at my favorite little park and snapped a few cousin photos. Noah wasn't exactly the most cooperative during them, but Ellie clearly loves her cousin Sylas.

Family Photos and Family Time

Instead of trying to go out to eat with the whole clan of Akers and Haze families after church this morning, we ate lunch at Mom and Daddy-Man's house. {Thanks again Mom for cooking!} Before we ate, I forced sweet-talked everyone into taking a few family photos in the backyard since everyone looked so nice and I needed some of my little family for our Christmas card anyway!

The Akers Family


The Haze Family

The Smith Family

The highlight of Noah's day, however, was getting to open his birthday present from Grandma and Poppa Haze... more Legos! {Thanks Grandma and Poppa - clearly he loved them!}

The First Saturday

Late last night, Ben's Mom, Dad, and nephew Sylas arrived in Oklahoma City. The kids were already in bed when they got here, so Ben and I went over to their hotel to spend a little time with them before the rest of us went to bed also.

The kids were pretty excited to know that Grandma and Poppa were here, but Noah was just over-the-moon when he found out Sylas was here as well.

He. loves. Sylas.

Enjoying some time building Sylas' Christmas present from Noah and Ellie - Legos, of course!

Later in the evening, after lunch at the mall with Nana and Papa, we headed over to Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike's house to visit with Brenda and Brian and their spouses before they leave to head back home tomorrow.

The little ones were even more excited when they got to open a few presents from Aunt Marsha and Uncle Mike.

Noah showed off his writing skills to Brenda and Bobbie. I'm fairly certain they were impressed. ;)

She loves clothes. {Or maybe it's just presents?}

I've been really trying to stay away from the whole "thank-you-for-this-gift-and-that-gift" kind of posts - for many reasons. But sometimes, because of the way the gift is received, documentation simply has to be shared. Like the package that Ellie received in the mail today for her birthday:

Evidently, the girl loves clothes. And opening presents. I couldn't contain myself over the cuteness that is Ellie hugging on her new clothes! ♥ May she forever have such a grateful and thankful heart.

{Thanks again Grandma, Poppa, and Aunt Marian!}

Here Comes the Snow!

Despite the fact that there was snow starting to fall, Ben, Carol, the kids and myself loaded up into the Sequoia this morning and headed out to run a few errands... including a stop at the Carter's outlet. I could have spent two hours there... and more money than I should have! Afterwards, we got back to their house to find Sylas and Marian waiting for us. Sylas was way excited to give Noah and Ellie their Christmas presents, but Noah was {almost} more interested in going to play with him! Funny behavior for the kiddo who just a few days ago wanted to rip into any and all presents he could!

We spent the rest of the day indoors, avoiding the snow and enjoying each other's company:

Later in the afternoon, Eric and Amanda came over too - to spend some time and eat dinner with us and to get prepped for the evenings snow removal work.

After dinner and everyone else left to work {Ben's parents own their own snow removal and landscaping business}, Ben, Marian and I attempted to get a photo of the three {of the four} grandchildren:

It's was pretty hard to find one in the midst of all the ones I took in which all the kids at least had a "normal" facial expression!

But this photo, was definitely one of my favorites from the day and showed just how protective Sylas is over his Momma... every time Noah tried to snuggle up close to Marian, Sylas was right there to snuggle up close too.

Love it. Love them.