Finally Closing!!

 

After several weeks of back and forth with the bank and others we are finally closing on our new house! We are head over heels about everything!

Kale and I have had SO much homework that is was almost like having a part-time job! From many trips out to the house for measurements to driving endlessly to Lowes, home depot, flooring companies, tile companies and the list goes on. We are finally done making all the choices for our home. This has been incredibly exhausting for both of us. Kale mainly handled the paperwork/emails/phone calls and I got the grand duty of picking everything out that would go into the home. Sounds like a dream and at first it was...but there's a budget...the hubs...ha! It was fun but mentally exhausting. {I am noting this for memories sake} We did this with 4 kids. I mean seriously. Dragging them around, unloading from the truck, loading them back into the truck...fits and fights...hah! Such a blast! But we did it. The hard part is over! Or is it?

Here is a photo re-run of images we took for comparison, to think on, to negotiate {yes there was some negotiating with the hubs regarding certain items going into the home} and all that was involved this past month or so.

We can't wait to see all of our choices come together. Of course we will keep our final selections a secret :)

 

 

This has been quite the experience as we are not professional at this job. We are so excited to share this journey with you guys!! 

My 29th...again :)

Turning 33 was awesome. On so many levels.

I am so blessed to have the family and friends I have! Everyone has made my birthday so wonderful. When we celebrate birthdays around here it usually ends up being a week long affair. First, we feel it's coming and celebrate. Then it's our actual birthday. Then there is usually some hidden surprise! This birthday was just amazing.

Pre- Birthday lunch with my baby girl: Several days before my actual birthday Morgan and I got dressed up and went out for the day. We needed a little out of the house time. So we hit the mall and went to TGI Fridays. Such a wonderful time with my little Morgan.

It's not really a picture unless you have a kiss says Morgan.

 On that same day (later that evening) my husband told me "Happy Birthday" now come take a photo of our newest family member. I was stoked and actually super surprised. Kale didn't want to expand our family until after we moved. I was in heaven when he told me this. So of course, my new gal. But, she still needed to be adopted :)

On my actual birthday Morgan and I went to my favorite restaurant Zuki. Yes, I'm a sushi lover and I love it! Morgan always ordered rice. Well, today she decided to try my miso soup which I found extremely fascinating. She actually really loved it. Then she ate my birthday ice cream.

And of course we took a kissy selfie!!

Later that evening after everyone came home from work and school we all dressed up...again and went out to dinner. This time Kale's favorite place. Mexican :)

While we were there, Colten wanted a Burrito Indiana. SUPER HUGE! We bet him that he couldn't eat the whole thing. Well, I am not joking when I tell you my 13 year old ate THE. WHOLE. THING!

He was proud.

Later that night I closed the day with this view. Could it be anymore beautiful? Did I seriously beat the odds and earn this great life by way of hard work and sobriety? Yes. Yes I did. I had to indulge. I had to just sit for a moment and Thank HIM for the breath I breathe another day. My beautiful Family. My wonderful and beautiful family.

And Sophie Makes 8

Our family has grown by 4 paws:)

Welcome to the family Sophie!!

"Saphina" was our foster dog. We had her for a few days before knowing she was the perfect addition to our family. The kids loved her, we loved her and she needed a forever home. We truly only intended on fostering her until she was adopted but... look at that face!

The kids renamed her Sophie and we love that name.

It took a while for Marley to get used to her. At first he went into hiding. That lasted a few days. Then he would walk away from her and hide his face in between our legs if she approached him. That lasted a few days. Then they started sniffing each other, walking around each other and eventually sleeping on the same blanket with each other. NOW...several weeks later they are playing together.

We are happy for Marley. Truly happy for him. He was lonely and really needed a friend. I'm so glad we were able to give him that before moving out to the new house. Now, instead of laying around our new big yard he will be able to run and play with another dog!

Her finalized adoption took place on my birthday. It couldn't have happened on a better day. 

 

We are so excited about loving her and providing her a forever home :)

~ Our Shank Family

Ryker Wayne | 10 months

RYKER WAYNE 10 MONTHS

Age : 10 months

Weight: 18 lbs 7 oz

Clothing: 6-9 mo's & some 9-12 mo's

Teeth: You have 3 teeth!

Milestones:

Foods that you love:

veggie sticks
oatmeal/strawberry bars
arrowroot cookies
little samplings of mom and dads food

You are finally starting to nom nom on real food! I'm beyond excited because your using your teeth! Baby food just isn't appealing to you anymore. You end up playing with your baby spoons more than we use them to feed you. As long as it is soft and melts/dissolves pretty easily your good to go.

A Day in the Life:

Ryker - you are standing on your own! You will stand just about anywhere and look around to see who is watching. As soon as we start cheering and laughing you decide its over. We love it!! We have a feeling you will be walking soon.

Naps? Hah! What naps? You don't really take many naps anymore and I think that's ok! You sleep really well during the night getting a full 8+ hours. We also love that even when you do wake up a little earlier than us you decide instead of crying you are going to babble and play! We love it!

You are starting to voice your opinion. OH YES. This is probably your best form of communication. Yelling at us. "Look at me" "Hey! Where is my bottle" "Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom" haha. Love it.

You DO NOT like getting your diaper changed. You twist, turn, scream, yell, cry anything to get it over with. Sometimes, I have to put a foot at each arm pit to keep you still just long enough so poo doesn't get all over! Not that hilarious but its still cute. I usually just laugh and call daddy when I need some help.

Your family loves you:

You play and laugh with us. Steal our blankets during movie time. You also try to steal our food! Your constantly looking at us and admiring the things we are doing. We think your hilarious and you feel the same about us.

The boys still look after you for me from time to time. Tyler has recently gotten really into helping with you. He lays on the ground and plays with you for the longest time. We really enjoy seeing this because of all the family members, Tyler was the most hesitant about handling/playing with you. Colten is still the best big brother ever and Morgan...lol...she just loves you.

Photoshoot: Well, I didn't dress you up and bust out my camera. These pics were taken outside of the mall while you were enjoying the nice weather. I knew you wouldn't sit still but I got these anyways! Not for 1 split second will you smile AND look at the camera at the same time. This was totally an accident but guess what? I caught you! Barely. But I got you!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day weekend was a blast this year. We were invited to a pool party with friends and it was just what our family needed! We got to get out of house, away from work + other things and just enjoy life!

Our friends had a great pool party followed by a walking taco bar and then an outdoor movie!

The Kids LOVED it! We did too :)

A little photo recap of the festivities!

It was a kid friendly & adult fun labor day weekend! 

No Permanent Damage

A night of horse-play and fun turned into crying, tears, lots of blood and an emergency dental visit for our little miss morgan.

Everyone was playing and having a great time then Morgan started crying (while holding her mouth) so hard she couldn't breathe.

I felt terrible. There was nothing I could do.

She swelled up immediately. Her gums around her two front teeth were purple and it appeared one of her teeth shifted a bit {which was later confirmed by dentist}. She also had a strip of bruise from top lip to bottom of her nose.

POOR BABY!

We were fortunate enough that she let us ice her mouth for around 30 minutes. Then in the am as soon as our dentists office opened I called it in. We were seen within 30 minutes. She was seen by our family dentist while still in her pajamas :) It was really cute. She wasn't very happy at all but mom HAD to get a picture for memories sake!

After a few x-rays and exam...our little miss is going to be fine!

No permanent damage and her dentist does not believe her teeth will be discolored! So that's all great news.

Every good story ends with an ice cream right?

This little girls story did. Ice Cream for breakfast and she was a REALLY happy camper!

Colten | 8th Grade

Age: 13

Height:  5ft 1/4 in

Weight: 91.4 lbs

Clothes: 12/14

His Favorite Things:

 Xbox Live
Guitar
Running with mom
Friends

What he wants to be when he grows up: 

Game Inventor - xbox, psp, etc.

 Anything You want to Say?

Why?

lol. ya know, I totally expected those answers :) I'm seriously surprised he answered at all at 13! Oh and just to add for memories sake...HE DID NOT want to have his photo taken! I got lucky he gave me a half grin in this pic!!

First Day of Preschool | Morgan

 

Well, our baby isn't a baby anymore. She's now a big girl! She knows it too.

I remember thinking back to last year and how Tyler started school and Morgan would try to follow. It was the sweetest thing ever! Morgan would be dressed in nothing but a pull - up with her back-back on, hair a mess, dragon breath, no breakfast and no shower just heading out the door after her brother. 

I would tell her as kindly as I possibly could - "Morgy, your not big enough"

She would cry and hold me. I would hold her back. It was SO emotional!!

Well, needless to say she has been dreaming of this day since last year. Her day is finally here and she is the happiest girl EVER!

 

When we were on our way to her preschool she just looked at me with these big happy eyes and said "Mom, I told you I was big enough"!

 

Oh the memories and the time that we've been blessed with just makes my heart SO happy.

Morgan will attend preschool at our church this year and next year. This year she is in the 3 year old class and couldn't be happier. She will attend Tuesday and Thursday half-days.

Here is our happy, smiling, energetic, social & beautiful "BIG GIRL" on her very first day of preschool 2015!