Happy #30 Kale!

When I got back from Texas, we loaded up again. This time for a while. We would hit St. Louis, Kansas, Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, back to Kansas and Home.

First Stop was for Kale's Birthday. He turned 30 this year! I got to have a good laugh because now I'm not thirty something alone. 

Kale wanted to celebrate his birthday this year in St. Louis at the Cardinals game BECAUSE the Royals were playing. He went as a Royals fan and the kids and I went as a Cardinals fan. 

We got our butts kicked of course.

A little photo recap of our adventure in St. Louis.


Our infamous silly face camera catches: When we celebrate like 40 years of marriage this will be funny. Today. It's just fun.

Our attempt at a normal pic. Is that even possible?

We hit the TGI Friday's before the game for some pre-game food. 

I think Tyler was THE most excited he's been in a LONG time. This is huge. His first pro-game of any kind. Free as a bird in those stands. So many new sights and smells. He absolutely loved it. I am so glad he was able to be there. This kid had a blast!

When Ryker got restless, I took him off for some stroller time and dipping dots. Morgan accompanied us of course because she heard the word ice...

After the game, we had some fine entertainment. We were certain Ryker wouldn't even make it through the game. But he did. And wide awake too. So to wear this little guy down he and daddy wrestled. For like 30 minutes. It was too cute not to document.

 At the end of this super long day, I was just glad to be in a bed at all. Snuggled up with these two. Best. Day. Ever? No. But it was an amazing day.

Happy 30th daddy!



~ Our Shank Family

Happy #14 Colten!!

{catching up - May 2016}

Can you believe it? We have a 14 year old in the house. 14. Not 10. 11. 12....14!! Before we know it he'll be graduating HS and going to college!

Every year I ask him what he wants to do for his birthday. And every year this guy has an answer for me. I am waiting for the day he makes a ridiculous request for some crazy expensive off the wall birthday party. But. So far. So good.

This year he decided to celebrate his birthday with his few close friends at Gatti Town. Secretly {for memories sake} he was like. " mom. Am I too old for Chucky Cheese?"

 lol. I said yea buddy. You so are. He's like "Ok mom. Can I have my birthday at Gatti Town??"

Yes! Because Gatti Town kinda rocks :)

So we did. And it was a blast. Between all you can eat buffet. Laser Tag. Friends for Colten and their parents who are also really good friends of ours. Cake. Games. Tickets. Prizes. 14. It was good.

We celebrated Colten's birthday mid-may so that his friends could join him. His birthday is June 19th and he would be at his dads by then.

A few of his good friends came. Alex, Kenneth, Austin and Jace. Kenneth stayed behind after everyone left to help Colten cash in his tickets :)

I decided to make Colten's cake this year at his request. He really wanted an ice cream cake. I could have purchased one from Dairy Queen and kinda wish I would have now. It was a pretty cake. It had ice cream in the middle. But... it did not turn out the way it was supposed to...of course!

Cakes were fine. Perfectly baked and moist. I bought a spring form pan and put ice cream in the middle of the two cakes. I stuck it in the freezer and when I pulled it out and tried icing it... the icing wouldn't stick to the cake. So. I froze it again and the icing finally went on but it would freeze before I could spread it! Cutting the cake at the party was a nightmare. Ice cream was spilling out through the icing. I think the next time my kids ask for an ice cream cake I will leave it to the pros next time :)

It sure was tasty though! Colten even said mom, the cake looked terrible but tasted SO good! Thanks for trying.

It was a good party. A good day.

~ Our Shank Family

Happy #4 Morgan Shank

Morgan had several different requests for her Birthday. We actually fulfilled them all because she's 4 and what do 4 year old's want? Food. An awesome toy. And cake!

For Lunch we took her to Q'Doba. Her request.

Then we went home and made a cake with homemade icing. Gosh I love this icing! Recipe here.

After dinner we let her blow out her candles and open presents. This girl was in Heaven!!

~ Our Shank Family

A Wild And Woodsy Birthday Party

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY RYKER WAYNE!!

Ryker's birthday party was a blast. Kale had so much fun doing all the guy stuff such as cutting all the seating, creating signs, making a tent and more. I had fun getting crafty!

  I would definitely say that this was incredible and fun. Ryker absolutely dug into his cake which we had a good feeling he would. No smashing need in his case :) We had so many kiddos out that day. We did a scavenger hunt, hot dogs and beans, cake, smores...I mean the list is endless. 

Needless to say, Ryker passed out on the way home from the party. He. Had. A. BLAST!

~ Our Shank Family