Christmas 2013 {part 1}

We were so blessed this year with gifts from family that we had to start Christmas a little early. Even though we had purchased a new suburban (long with tons of room) we still couldn't get all the gifts into the truck without squishing all of them to death. If we put them in the cab of the truck, the dogs would have squished them for sure. So, we opened some of our gifts early!!

We decided to open gifts from each other at home and then let the kiddos open up one gift as well. We meant for this to be a private event but after Kale started {literally} posing in his new chiefs attire that "Santa" bought him, it was a little too funny NOT to share.

Most of you guys already know that Kale is the biggest Chiefs fan ever. He sleeps and breaths the Cheifs. Even out of season he talks about it ALL. THE. TIME. 

He straight up just did like some hokey pokey dance! I knew it would be entertaining! This was definitely worth documenting!

Next, we let the kids open one gift each. 

This was Morgan's first time actually opening up her gifts. It was very cute to see how slowly she did this. I am sure when she gets older...her gift "unwrapping" will be much faster!!

We loved having a pre-Christmas celebration while we were at home still. We watched a good Christmas movie and had popcorn. It was definitely a nice way to celebrate a little Christmas while at home.

~ The Shank Family

Halloween Visit

For memories sake I wanted to document our visit from Grandma and Grandpa Rush! This past October we got a call that they would be coming to town. We were so excited!

{after searching for these I finally found them yesterday}

We had a really great time while they were in here. We carved pumpkins, watched movies, went out to eat and played at the park.

We love family visits!

~ The Shank Family

The New Shank Mobile

{pre-christmas 2013}

I knew the time would come when I would have to say good-bye to my cute car. This car was awesome. The gas mileage...cute and sleek...new model...favorite car ever...did I mention that it got about 32+ mpg?! I could zoom everywhere all week like off like $50.

Bagels? yes, prank gift from a friend of mine. another story :)

We have taken so many trips as a family in our shank mobile. It got us everywhere so cheaply too. 

I really really really didn't want to let it go. But...The kids couldn't fit it in anymore after we bought Morgan her new big girl car seat. I mean geez. The kids were practically sardines in the back seat.

So the search was on. 

For memories sake....I am documenting the "list". Years from now, Kale and I will look back and laugh!

Sharin's List:

Leather

Entertainment System

Key Fob Access

Auto-Opening Rear Hatch

Sporty 

Heated Seats

Sunroof

Electronic Seats

3 row seating

Kale's List:

Big

Huge

Long

4x4

Suburban

Not black or white

Must be able to fit family, dogs, bikes, snow sleds, and man stuff

HA! You see why I am documenting this?

This man I married is very funny. We found 5 suburbans and 2 Tahoe's that we liked. After about 3 days of going back and forth with each other...I lost the battle for the sporty Tahoe. Why? Because we could fit everything BUT the dogs. The trunk of most 3 row seated vehicles...there is not one. You may be able to fit a few grocery bags but that's about it. I really don't want to leave my dogs when we go on vacation. We did this once and I harassed the caregiver we hired. Literally. Harassed. I LOVE my doggies.

So we crossed Tahoe off the list. I went for gold. Literally. I found a new truck that had everything I wanted AND everything that he wanted.

WINNER!

Both of us.

I called a friend of mine who sells cars for a living and she was able to check this one out for us and give us real numbers so we didn't walk away like idiots like we did with the white Tahoe we had.

Here is what we came home with

We loaded this thing to death for the Holidays! We were so excited that we fit basically our entire family and gifts along with the dogs kennel and food. I mean other than the few gifts we opened early, we were road ready and ready to rock.

Morgan had her own space now. She doesn't have to poke Tyler anymore. This was a non-stop back seat battle in the car. The kids were literally touching elbows. Then Morgan would reach over and hit Tyler. Tyler would bump into Colten. Colten would then bump back into Tyler. OMG. I'm documenting this for memories sake! Back Seat Fighting is no more! {hopefully}

Yes. That would be a full grown doberman standing in the back seat. 

Now we can travel comfortably and expand our family without worry :) 

Mission Accomplished.

~ The Shank Family

Hunting In Kansas {2013}

This year Kale decided he was going hunting with his dad in Kansas no matter what. Literally. No matter what.

So he did. Originally, I the whole Shank family was supposed to go down to Kansas together but our plan for that happening unfolded when I got overbooked with work for my business. 

So while Kale was packing, I noticed him putting a cooler in the trunk of his car.

Cooler?!

A cooler? What?

Me: Babe. Why on earth are you taking a cooler to Kansas?

Kale: So I can bring back my deer!

Me: um. yuk! So you are going to put a dead deer in a cooler...in the trunk of your car...and drive back with it?

Kale: Yes babe. How else do you expect me to get it home?

Me: well. o.k. then.



Kale got some alone time, a quiet trip all alone (I'm sure he jammed out the whole way there too), he got to visit with family AND he got in some awesome dude time shooting guns.

I decided with all the deer guts to only post this photo. It was the least bloody and figured I wouldn't gross everyone out all at one time.

I had no idea that he would be cutting a cute deer up into little pieces and putting it in a cooler. I guess I have a lot to learn about deer hunting from out of town.

Needless to say...I'm not sure if I WERE to have the pleasure...I could have actually shot, chopped and placed a dead deer in a cooler. I'm kind of happy I didn't have to see all of that!

OH WAIT...I did because my awesome husband sent me photos of his deer hanging from a rafter in his dad's shop. Oh how lucky am I!

Anyways! He had fun. He got to see his dad and Stepmom. He also made a few trips to visit Tache and Papa {his grandparents}.

Kale came home and was a happy camper. MMMMM. MMMM. MMMM. We enjoy applewood smoked bacon wrapped venison occasionally around here ;) I can't say I am complaining anymore!!



~ The Shank Family

Potty Training Adventures {part 1}

Well, I call this post "Potty Training Adventures" for a reason. Our little Morgy Poo really loves playing on and with her potty...but potty training itself has gotten pretty much no where.

We started potty training at 2 years old. We figured when she started realizing what was going on that it would be best.

She LOVES her potty. She mostly likes wearing her potty and pushing it around the hard wood floors. Sometimes, she will chase the dogs pushing her potty at them and running all around. It's quite comical actually. Kale and I just sit back and laugh it off. 

Morgan also almost always has to take her bear or baby with her when she goes. Is this going to be a habit? I usually try to keep them away from the potty for obvious reasons!

She will go from one week of mostly going on her potty to the next week not really wanting anything to do with it. We promised ourselves that we wouldn't force it on her...but she is already nearly 25 months old. Is this normal? 

I did some research and a lot of girls don't potty train until the age of 3. According to the world wide web...I'm doing alright :)

None-the-less, we will continue to encourage, go potty together and buy small bags of m&m's as potty training treats :)

Well. She is our silly girl for sure! I couldn't help but to take these photos! Yes...the potty is clean. Besides, even if it wasn't, I would still die laughing and take these photos anyways!

Until next time....this is Potty Training Adventures signing off!

~ The Shank Family

Morgan Turns 2! {The photo session}

If there is one thing I love, it's taking pictures. Especially of my kiddos. Normally, I take iPhone pics of the kids because my phone is always readily available! This time, I decided to get Morgan out of the house. She was excited about this little jacket and matching hat. She kept wearing it around the house while playing with her new babies. It was sweet.

Happy #2 Morgan!

Anytime Morgan is outside, she feels the need to make herself known. Every. Single. Time. One of the things I love about her!

She didn't pose for me very well. I sort of let her talk away which she does a LOT of these days. There was one time in particular when I did ask her to pose. I put my hands on my hips and smiled. She copied me but in her own way. ADORABLE!

~ The Shank Family

509 Ruston Ave {part3}

Get ready to see some awesomeness! O.K. well, maybe not quite yet. This was a small stepping stone towards our complete remodel.  Kale and I were relieved to hire a few people to install various things around Ruston.  We hired professionals to install tile, and carpet. Kale did all of the rest of the work including drywalling the walls and ceilings. He also replaced all of the outlet switches, mirrors, toilets, light fixtures, fans and did a lot more work on small things like caulking around {like} everything! This house was in really bad shape. 

While we were in the mind set of renting the home, things were really nasty for a while. As soon as we started ripping out old cabinets, toilets, vanities etc. things started looking a lot better. It wasn't until the tile was down and the cabinets were installed that we started seeing a real future for this pretty little home.

We began shortly before Christmas. We ripped away at everything ugly, old and nasty about this house. I think Kale and I were both really excited when things started for the flip. These are the photos of the demo. We also had the tile installed before we left for our Texas Christmas Vacation.

We also had our good friend over at Greers Flooring America {the company we hired for tile, cabinets, counter tops and carpet} put together a few pretty samplings for us. We let her run with her own ideas as she has helped people remodel homes for years and years. 

The designer let me choose from about 3 different samplings she put together. This was the one I chose for this home. I wanted upscale looking cabinets and the tile was really pretty. We really wanted this house to shine. We have opted for backsplash at this time but might choose to have it installed after we complete the projects at hand.

I'm excited!!!! This house is coming together and we couldn't be happier with the results. I know Kale is ready for it to be done and I am ready for him to be home more often!!

~ The Shank Family