GingerBread House

This is the first ginger bread house we have made.  I have never cared much about making homemade gingerbread but I found a short cut. Gracie and I made a graham cracker house that was just so easy and lots of fun.  Gracie's face is evidence of all the sprinkles that made it into her mouth.

 very excited

On Our Way

The long hall to Kansas is, well really long.  I had left a bag of clothes in Cincinnati when I was their at Thanksgiving and we needed them.  We left a little early and headed down to Cincinnati for the an overnight.  My brother Taylor had a mishap with the oven being on and the george forman inside it so we head out for dinner at our local Skyline.  We got a picture of our Nolan shoving the cheese into his mouth, he loved it.

The next day we headed out on our 14 hour drive to smith center.  The kids did really well.  For dinner we found a Chick-fil-a right outside of St. Louis perfect for the kids.  We then headed out again with the intent to stop but we made it to SC by 1am and went straight to bed.  The kids were troopers but I am not so sure they will be this good on the way back.....

Merry Christmas

Random

Just a few to show off...

 nolan look cool for the football banquet

the kids testing out the new car seat

Just the 2 of Us

This blog tends to show pictures of the kids more then anything and honestly that is what the viewers like to see but this post is about Troy and I.

This year Troy and I have had the opportunity to go to weddings of some of the guys he has coached.  It was fun to have a night out by ourselves and I was excited to get all dressed up for a date night.  I had borrowed a dress my sister-in-law had gotten from the black&white store when I was in Cali and was excited to wear it.  Not that you care but the dress was supposed to be a halter and I altered it because I look ridiculous in a halter, I have a short neck.  We just don't take many pictures of just the two of us so it was my goal for the night to get a good one.

here are a few of our attempts:

I have no idea 

 the best picture thanks to cliff

santa came to the reception

cute idea

The bride and groom had a photo booth which I thought was the best idea.  I had seen a few while photographing weddings this summer but this is the first that I have gotten to participate in and we loved it!

Baking Extravaganza

I love to bake anytime but at Christmas time it is a must.  I have specific cookies that must be made and pies that are requested so I love it and try to get Gracie to help.  She helps for just a small amount of time and then eats the batter off the beaters then she is done.  This year I made apple pies, chocolate chip cheese cake, crinkle cookies, and snicker doodles.  Plenty of treats to go around.

These were the easy to make sprinkle cookies that we got off of pinterest.  They were easy and they were pretty good.  I am picky about my sugar cookies but these were great considering how easy they were, but not as good as the real ones.

I have been working on my snicker doodle recipe.  Trying to make it perfect.

Change for the Schenk's

Most have heard but some may still be in the dark on the changes to come for our family.  This month Troy went to Chicago to interview for a job at our Alum Trinity.  Once the job was offered we had to make the hard decision if we were ready and if we thought God thought we were ready to leave our home in Canton.  It was a hard decision that we went through all the angles to be 100% sure.  I have sadly cried once each day this week over friends I will miss and memories that are our last for this house.  After some thought I was not as sad to move out of the house as the location, of Canton area.  This is the longest I have lived in one place my whole life.  We moved a lot growing up and I have never lived in one spot for 7 years, ever.  Now my parents are in the same house but I was only there for 5 before I graduated, pretty crazy right?

The date of which we will all call the north burbs of Chicago home has not been discovered yet.  We are praying that we can rent out our house to someone quickly and that we find a place to stay as well.  There is plenty to do but I have not started any of it.  I need to know where we are going and the size of the place we will move into to know what to take and what needs to be gotten rid of.  We could use prayers all the way around.

I am sure you will see updates as they come.  At least with the blog you can follow this crazy train anywhere!

Cali {part 2}

On one beautiful day the fam headed out to see some of the sites. One of our stops was too see the red woods.

 you may think these glasses are strange but they are popular out here

I borrowed them just for the picture:)

 Aiden & I

 love my family

 trying to look like I can push the tree over

 a good hike to see a beautiful view

i love this stuff

Cali {part 1}

As soon as Thanksgiving ended I packed my bags and headed to California to visit my brother Steve, my SIL Kassi, nephew Aiden, and new to the family Logan.  This was my first time in Cali.  Troy and I were supposed to visit for our baby moon in 08 but I ended up having surgery which cancelled all that so this visit was one that has been on the list for sometime.  My nephew Logan was born at the end of October so I was heading out to help.  I loved my time there.  Sadly it rained a lot while I was their but it did not stop us from going on daily walks and I got some great runs in.  Turns out I run way further when it is raining I love it well plus the town helped.  Speaking of the town, Los Gatos literally smells like onion bagels and coffee every morning.  When I job I can pass about 6 to 10 coffee shops, like panera.  They are so cute and every morning everyone is sitting in them on there eating breakfast.  I loved jogging pass the windows.  I really did think the town was so cute.

 found this on my job

normal leaf & a red wood

 lived up to the hype!

I loved it!

 funny ohio was being supported in Cali

 what a perfect clear day

alcatraz 

if you are an apple fan you won't need an explaination

for those who don't know this is the main hub.

i had to pass thru security and no pictures allowed area.  the building is a loop and in the center gardens the hold parties and concerts for the employees.  not for the small band but big namers like lady gaga, not that I am a follower but it is cool all the neat stuff they do for there employees, oh and all the rooms are named after fun bands and us landmarks, pretty cool!

Oatmeal Anyone?

If you have followed the blog you know my son Nolan is in to everything and will eat anything, anything.  He can open anything you hand him, he is pretty determined.  As I am learning even in the same room I cannot turn my back for long.  I am not sure if I was washing dishes or making dinner but I turned around due to the silence in the room to find the below situation taking place.

 he opened it by himself

 and got caught

but still so cute

N x2

I think I mentioned a while back that I have been babysitting my niece and nephew.  Most have seen the brother sister relationship between Gracie and Sawyer so I wanted to you see these two.  Nolan and Nora often get asked if they are twins when they are out especially when they here the names.  But actually they are about 3 months apart and Nora is the oldest of the two.  Nolan is well on his way to exceeding Nora in most areas, just look at him.  Anyway, these two are a funny pair.  They play a lot together even ride in the laundry basket together.

 nolan driving

nora helping nolan out

King of the Mountain

This is a little behind but so cute.  One morning I was getting gracie ready for school.  I was sitting on the floor pulling clothes out for her to wear and Gracie yells, Nolan's on the table and sure enough this is what I found.

don't worry daddy was right there to catch him

Once he figured out that he liked to be king he wanted to be king of everything, even the laundry basket.  What a crazy kid.

I can hear his little thoughts.

What mom, what's the big deal!