The Renewal "Reception"

Since Kale and I renewed our vows in West Baden privately we decided to have a little party at Bar Louie when we returned home so that our friends could see us before we hit the road the next day for Christmas Vacation. 

We brought our cake back from West Baden with us so we could cut it for real this time and share it with our closest friends.

We all had dinner and drinks. Ate Cake. Played the "Shoe Game". It was hilarious and so much fun. We are so grateful for our friends!

Left to Right: Brianna, Melissa W, Melissa J, Me and Amanda

Tara and Jack + their kids attended. Melissa and John + their kids attended and our other friends Christine + AJ along were also there.They all just had babies so they were a little busy :)

Cake Cutting was hilarious.

I was surprised that the cake even made it back on a 2 hour trip and the fact that I stacked it all lopsided totally didn't' matter. IT was SO good! So I guess since we have already been married 5 years we eat the top when? I have no idea. The cake top is in our freezer. I've thought about eating it a few times... ha. Does it even matter? Nope. I guess one day when I feel like having some really delicious cake... I'll bust it out :)

This was a great night to remember.

~ Our Shank Family

Last Friends Date

About a week ago my friends and I decided to plan our last lunch dates before baby Shank arrives. Since I will be having surgery for delivery, it will be a while until I can hang with my friends again. Oh and I will now have my hands full with a new little one, a toddler and the two older ones. LIFE will be FULL :)

So we did just that and I'm really glad we did. I got to chit chat about the baby, baby names, future happenings and catching up on our lives as moms.


The first date was with my bestie Beth. Of course we didn't take selfies...we totally forgot! The conversations were too interesting... however, I did capture Morgan's sweet "I refuse to smile for you" face!

I chose my all time favorite lunch. After all, I won't get any real food for 2-3 days after surgery!

 

I took the photo below because of course my daughter would do something like this...

The waitress had just got through wiping and resetting all the tables around us. I take my eye off Morgan for 5 seconds and then find these on the chair next to me. It takes me a minute but I figured out that she took these off the newly reset tables. Beth and I just couldn't help but to start laughing. REALLY MORGAN? I made sure to leave a little extra tip to the waitress!

 

The second date was with my bestie Melissa. We LOVE mexican food. Morgan always LOVES to see her 'Lissa. 

This was a fun week and I'm really glad I got to visit with my two best gals before baby arrives. 

 

 

 

 

~ The Shank Family

Thanksgiving 2012 {part 2}

Are you really ready for part 2? I think part 2 is the most fun part of this years little Thanksgiving story. Why? um...because I LOVE to shop!! 

All the Black Friday madness...it all started with a simple question..."What's the deal with Thursday Night?" Sent to me from my best friend Beth of course.

So, the boys and the baby chilled out with Kale. I believe more football/television was their agenda. They might have even rented a movie or two as well.


So, I meet Beth at Walmart around 5. Realizing when I got there (30 minute trip) that I forgot my camera. So I drove all the way back home and then all the way back to Walmart. Then we stood...

and stood...




and stood...

For heavens sake we really needed a TV for Beth! So we stood some more...


It was totally worth her saving $300 on a 60" television!

Here are some shots of the events taking place that night...

people lounging in lawn chairs that are for sale...

stuff falling everywhere and being thrown around...

and the really sad part? People everywhere were on their cell phones! Seriously??

Then the bell goes off...people go crazy and I can't wait to get OUT of Walmart!! We did score some great deals on gifts for the kids and hubbies though!!

Then we headed to the mall. Oh My Goodness were there some really awesome deals going on. So good that I waited in line (all by my lonesome) while the Best friend went home :( Deals were too good to go home. I ended up getting home around 4:00am. So tired and beat down. Thank goodness Kale was off the next day. I got to sleep like a baby.

I scored though and everyone was happy!!

The End!

Next Black Friday...I'm just not sure about YOU!

Happy Birthday Beth

#35

My best friend turned 35 this last week. Everyone should know that Beth is about as family as it gets {friend wise}. She's my Best Friend {no I don't feel I'm too old to have a bestie}. She's goes through everything with me. I am so grateful to have a really great friend who supports me and is there for me. I value our friendship so much- also because she's the first true friend I've had in my sober life. For the longest time I said "no" to the whole friend thing because I was scared of friending someone from the same crowd I used to hang with. Now I know I'm alright! She means the world to me.

O.K. enough sappiness.

The surprise was killer and perfectly planned.

As much as I hate saying this...going behind her back and setting this up with her hubs was fun.

The secret week of planning...

My Secret trips to JoAnne Fabrics

Baking a cake with American Butter Cream Frosting {my first making this delicious frosting!!}

The getting her phone and calling all her friends {her hubs did this}

Lying to her and telling her I couldn't attend dinner cause I was going on a date with Kale

Showing up at Cancun in the nick-of-time

Sitting at dinner tables with about 25 other people - my camera ready to shoot at any moment

Yes It Was Worth It!!!!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!! SURPRISE #1:


{ Dinner at Cancun }

She REALLY had no idea!!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH:: SURPRISE #2:

We got her really good the second time. This surprise was planned for a month at least.

Talking to her hubs behind her back

Figuring out ways to get her to let him leave {without being shocked to WHY he had to go to work on his day off}

Setting up a plan to meet at the jewelry store at a certain time

Our other friend Ashley wouldn't even talk to her in fear of spilling the BEANS

Me figuring out a way to have her meet me at a location

Lying...some more...

Oh the list was endless....


But we pulled it off. I pretended to not be able to drive after taking medication. I called her to ask her to come get me and take me home. Of course she was lounging around the house in a t-shirt and shorts. No make-up. Hair in a pony. It was priceless!

She pulled through as a great friend would. Came to my rescue. She met me within 20 minutes!

When she pulled up {where we planned this whole thing} at Starbucks parking lot - I played it cool.  Wondered the ENTIRE time how long I had to stall. Then out of nowhere comes her hubby and our two great friends Ashley and Simon. We all pulled out Pandora bags.

At first I thought oh my she's going to cry. Then she looked really MAD. Then she settled down and couldn't talk. Then looked mad again.

I thought we better run. Beth's going to kill us! I quickly apologized for lying to her!!!

Then the surprises came.

The photo I took as evidence!!! It was ALL Ashley and Simon!!!

This was a great Birthday for a dear friend. Her friendship means so much more than any jewelry BUT this was just the icing on the cake.

HAPPY 35TH TO THE BEST FRIEND A GIRL COULD HAVE!

Friends and Food

{ Saturday March 31 }

We love our friends. Our good friends.  They are family.

Beth, Dan and Zach Titzer

Ashley and Simon Wertman

We hang out with these two fam's more than anyone. 

Last Saturday we were invited to an evening at the Titzer's. We love going. It's always a long day/night. The boys get to hang out with Zach. He's cool. He's older. He's 11. So of course Colten and Tyler both look up to him.

We all enjoyed great food! I enjoyed a little photography. We all enjoyed good conversations. And of course we all thought Kale would be there. He was not. He stayed at work until probably 11pm that night. We missed him though. And the surprise 12 pack did too.

On this occasion we started doing something a little different. We decided to start trying recipes with each other.  We would all make a unique dish and share. And that we did. 

Some Recipes we tried together:

Recipe here

Recipe here

Recipe here

At the end of the night, as usual, we made s'mores. Sat around and watched the boys talk. It's pretty interesting when they don't know we are listening!

We ended up leaving on perfect timing. Morgan's teeth were hurting her and I couldn't find anything for them. So we said our goodbyes and headed home.

Love our friends. Love our get-togethers. Love good food!

Superbowl Weekend 2012

What an exciting weekend we had with the family. 

On Saturday we went to the Icemen Hockey Game. This is something we do and love! And FINALLY!!! A victory in the search for 

something that the whole family actually enjoys (including Colten & Tyler). It usually ends up being one kid likes and the other kid dislikes. Then problems arise :( This also gives us an idea for future reference when it comes to making changes for 2012.

We also decided to take Morgan. She was so good during the game. She didn't fuss or cry. She got hungry during the game but daddy fed and burped her. It was funny to watch Kale go to stand up and yell but only making it half-way and remembering not to scream into Morgan's ears. 

The boys were pretty well behaved as well. Before the game I went and bought them t-shirts and foam fingers. Inexpensive and cute.

We also met up with some friends. Ashley, Simon, Beth, Dan, and their son Zach. 

This hockey game was the first for Colten, Tyler, and Morgan. They did fantastic.

Icemen Fan Pics

Then on Sunday we had a Super Bowl get together at our house. Our guests of course were Dan, Beth, their son Zach, Ashley and Simon.

2012 Super Bowl Celebration

Left to right: Colten, Kale, Sharin, Tyler, Dan, Beth, Zach, Simon and Ashley

Oh we had some food going down that was delicious. Awesome recipes to share! I will have to put these in another post.

I also got caught on camera doing something funky. I think it had to do with supermodels. Everyone else thinks I was trying to reminisce in my cheer leading days. Who cares. Funny Picture and Morgan was my culprit. One day she will have the moves :)

NY Giants Victory. ( Kale and I despite our Colts T-Shirts were actually rooting for the Pats. Just cause. Kale thinks it's because of Tom Brady. I just laughed and kept my mouth SHUT). Maybe next year Tom.