Summer 2016 Schlitterbaun Resort Trip

At the beginning of the summer I loaded up all 4 kids and headed south to Texas. 

Road Trips are one of my all time favorite things to do and this was one I was really looking forward to going on. 

As always our road trip selfie leaving Indiana heading to Texas.

When we got to Texas, we took a day to rest and then loaded up again to head even farther south {5 more hours} with 5 kids in tow.

We picked up the cutest little hitchhiker. Ha. Not really :) This is my sweet cousin Jacob. 

The kids had a blast. The beach. Fun. Sun. Eating out. It was our little piece of heaven for 3 whole days.

I was very blessed that Jason let us take Colten! Colten was So excited to come with us and it wouldn't have been the same without him!

We stayed at the Schlitterbahn Resort on South Padre Island.

Beach Selfie

After we checked out of the resort we decided to go splurge at a nice restaurant - Pier 19. The sunset was absolutely gorgeous. It was a nice way to end this kind of trip :)



~ 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

Our Preschooler - Year 2

Morgan Shank - Preschool Year 2

Age: 4

Height: 40 in

Weight: 32 lbs

Clothes: 4T - 5T 

Her favorite things:

My Little Pony

Purple

Horses

Cowboy boots

Princess dresses/dress up

Books

Pictures

Airplanes

Nail Polish

Peanut Butter Crackers

Favorite Food:

Pizza

Favorite Dessert:

Ice Cream

What she wants to be when she grows up:

I want to be a ghost for Halloween. After Halloween I want to be a nurse.

Anything you want to say?

I would like to say I want ... actually I want pink cowboy boots. I want purple boots too. That's all I want. Can you buy me a real horse when I grow up?

Morgan has been asking about school since she left. Every time we head to church she thinks we are going to school. She gets super sad when we say no. School isn't in session right now. She loves school more than any kid I know.

We are so excited to watch her grow this coming year. She will get to meet some new friends too!

Miss Morgans little Photo-shoot:

Mother's Day {2016}

I love Mother's Day! It's one day out of the whole year where I get to just relax all day and celebrate being a mommy.

Since I met Kale, Mother's Day has been SO dramatically different for me. I cherish these moments like never before. I'm so grateful for him and for my babies.

This Mother's Day was sweet. I did not wake up to kids jumping all over me in my bed but I did wake up to my favorite pancakes. Whole Wheat Mill Pecan Pancakes with real maple syrup and more pecans! Goodness I LOVE pecans!

Tyler made me a book with paper. He drew a photo of each member of our family and create a name for them. He also made a basket out of paper and filled it with Hershey's Kisses {which the kids ate I might add}.

Colten bought me roses and a card. It was adorable. Like, he's growing up. Trying to be more like Kale with his gifting.

Morgan .. and Ryker gave me TONS of sweet kisses. ALL DAY LONG Morgan repeated Happy Mother's Day under her breath. Cutest thing ever.

Later that evening Kale and I took off to West Baden. We had an engagement session. {it just happened to work out this way}

We photographed a 1.5 hour session and then went on a nice date. Nothing fancy. I was "Hangry" and wanted something good... like bar-b-qua. So he took me to Legendz Bar and Grill. They had THE BEST sweet Potato fries I've ever had.

Then we went looking at land. Future plans for a "Lakehouse" are in the works. More in another post.

It was fun. I had a really great time! Then when we came home another surprise was waiting. Our sitter and friend Caitlyn had the kiddo clean the entire kitchen. Light my favorite Limoncello candle and make a sign that said "Happy Mother's Day". Just that little sign melted my heart. Oh and they cleaned my kitchen!

Happy Mother's Day!! We love you! 

~ Our Shank Family

He Is Risen! Easter 2016!

Our Easter Day was pretty great. I have to say this because we didn't follow our usual pattern for this celebration this year.

Normally we do an easter basket search with sticky notes, dye eggs, cook huge meals, hang out at home, fill easter baskets with tons of candy and goodies...etc. etc.

This year was kind of different. We didn't do an Easter basket search, egg hunt or dye eggs. No huge cooked meal and no mounds and mounds of candy.

This year we all woke up early to smaller easter baskets for Morgan and Ryker filled with grass + a stuffed toy + a fruit pouch {they adore these}.

The boys got Easter Cards with $10 and a small bag of their favorite candy.

Kale cooked everyone pancakes and we all got dressed ready to focus on the Story. As jurors of HIS story.

We arrived at church and we heard one of the most beautiful sermons I think Kale and I have, together, ever heard when it comes to the story of Jesus rising from the dead.

We were the jurors. Our pastor was an attorney. And the "story" was on trial. It was amazing the way that our pastor taught us today. 

HE IS RISEN! He is not dead. It's 2016 and the tomb is STILL EMPTY! It was a really great story.

After church we attempted an Easter Pic. Attempted! We absolutely failed! Kale got nervous and Ryker was not having it! So, our beautiful attempt: but we still love it!

blurry and the baby is crying. lol.

After church we went out to eat as a fam and hit the zoo. It was a fun filled day with LOTS to do. Thank goodness the zoo rents strollers {we forgot out stroller} because I think Kale and I both would have lost it without a stroller for little Ryker man!

 Happy Easter!!

~ Our Shank Family