Well, last Thursday, the Shull six headed up to Manhattan, Kansas for a fun-filled K-State weekend. Andrew and my brother both graduated from K-State, and even though I did not, my heart bleeds purple too. I’ve said this a million times on here…but my own college experience was so lame. If I could go back and change something about my past, I would start with my college choice and then make a bunch of changes from there. Sigh. The best part about college for me? When I met Andrew and started hanging out at K-State every weekend. Ha! When I think back to all of the fun I had in college, it all happened that last year and a half up in Manhattan. K-State salvaged college for me 🙂 .
We are grooming a bunch of future Wildcats at our house, so a road trip to the Little Apple was a must this fall. Here are approximately 8 billion pics from our fun time in Kansas. We had the best long weekend!
We left McKinney at 10:00 AM for the trek up to K-State. It’s about an 8 hour drive…sooooo we had plenty of time in the car together.
Quick lunch stop at Cracker Barrel…because there are about 4,000 Cracker Barrels between our house and K-State. This girl loves her daddy!
Annnnnnd we made it! We drove straight to dinner at Cox Bros. BBQ. We basically ate our way through Manhattan on this trip. Andrew and I used to love to eat here back in the day, and it’s always the first place we pick when we come back up.
Happy to be out of the car and ready to eat BBQ!
She had only been in Manhattan, KS 20 minutes but was already in love.
This one too!
After dinner, we had dessert at Varsity Donuts. Everyone told us to check this place out (it wasn’t there the last time we were at KSU) and it was SO GOOD! We each got a different donut and they were all so yummy!
My future K-Stater got the K-Stater 🙂 .
I had the pumpkin spice. Yes, please!
And because #collegetown there was a ping pong table right in the center of the shop. After this, we headed to our hotel and crashed for the night.
The next morning, we were up bright and early to eat breakfast at The chef for the first time.
Waiting for our table with these cuties.
It was worth the wait 🙂 . Oh my word! This place was SO GOOD!!! Smith had THE BEST chocolate chip pancakes I’ve ever tried and then we also had this breakfast burrito smothered in sausage gravy that was probably the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Wowzers! The food was really good!
After that, we headed over here…
…to check out the football complex. Ah! My boys at K-State. Who would have thought all of those years ago that we’d be back with this guy (and his sisters)?!
Madeley can proudly tell you now that a Powercat says “roar”!
These are Coach Snyder’s 16 Goals for Success…and Andrew Shull still to this day keeps a copy taped to his desk at work.
She has her life all figured out…and if of course, involves graduating from Kansas State University. She took notes as we walked around 🙂 .
She wanted a picture with Mommy too 🙂 .
While we were walking around and checking everything out, Coach Snyder waved us into his office for a chat. This man is greatness. Forget about his coaching career (as amazing as it is), just him as a person is stellar. He is a fine man who brings up fine men in his program. He did not have to stop what he was doing to get up and talk to us, to engage with all four kids, ask about our parents and my brother…but he did. I respect this guy so very much.
The Shull men with Coach Snyder 🙂 .
Let’s play “Where’s Andrew?”. Anyone see him????
How about “Where’s Sean?” ? Ha!
They found Daddy on the wall!
The view from the coaches’ offices.
And then sweet Coach Mo (who has been there 35 years!) took us on to the field. This is where the boys run through for games. And this is on the wall as they’re running by…
Yes. Amen.
Ah! Our sweet kiddos at K-State!
After we finished walking around the complex, we walked around campus…
We sat on a park bench and reminisced about “the good old days” 😉 .
And then we ate lunch at Coco Bolos because…we love to eat at Coco Bolos.
We walked around Aggieville and bought shirts at Rally House before heading to Radina’s for coffee and a cookie. I was having another “remember when…” moment when Andrew told me it sounded like I had more fun at K-State than he did. Bahahahahaha! I did have fun there 🙂 .
With my girly.
And now, with all of my girlies.
We stopped by a Halloween store for a fright!
And then for dinner that night, we ate at Tap House. The burgers and sweet potato fries were on point! So was the fun atmosphere!!
After dinner, we headed to Aggieville to see if the band, cheerleaders and Willie the Wildcat were there…and they were! The Friday nights before games, they go in and out of restaurants and bars playing the fight song and such. It’s always so much fun!
We followed them around a bit. That’s Willie!
A small sampling of the band always plays. They laid on their backs to play this song. It was a hoot!
Willie stopped and the kids had their picture made. Such happy kids!
And then we wrapped up our evening with ice cream in Aggieville.
We woke up early the next morning for the game! First stop, Early Edition for breakfast.
We were all so excited!
And then we arrived at the game! Okay, this pic should be titled “the calm before the storm”. Sooooo…kickoff was at 11:00 and here we are trying to enter the stadium. But right after this pic, there was lightening and it started to rain, so they delayed the game by an hour. We headed back to our car and got our rain boots on and braced for a stormy day.
With rain boots on, we attempted again.
They were such good sports!!
We got to our seats ready for the game…when lightening kept striking and it RAINED AND RAINED, so the game was delayed until 2:00. A three hour rain delay.
Hmmmm…where’s the game???
Handsome boy.
With my favorite Wildcat.
The team came out and then right back in. Sigh.
It was the annual Harley Day at the stadium, so before the last delay, we saw the motorcycles all go by. It’s so loud in there when they’re going! There are probably 50 of them at once!
Willie on the first bike.
Madeley thought it was loud too.
Kettle corn in the rain.
Delay, rain, delay, rain, repeat.
Ah! The game finally started and about halfway through, these two needed to potty, so we watched from up here a minute.
We got back to our seats and Ashby ate her peanuts. Look at her using two hands! Woohoo!!
Clearly, Andrew was concerned about the score 😉 .
Whew! After a loooooong game (and yet another rain delay!!), we ended up at Powercat Sports Grill for a very yummy dinner!
Madeley got snuggles from Kensington while we waited for our table.
And our last pic from the trip…we ate chips out of a helmet, so you know, #winning.
We had such a good time! Rain or shine, win or lose, it’s just nice to spend a few days alone with the fam. Whether they go to K-State or not, I just hope they go places that they enjoy.
We love you, Manhattan, Kansas! Thank you for a great weekend!
xo
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
What a fun weekend! I loved your IG videos from the weekend and it sounds like you ate at some really great places…which is all that really matters 🙂 ha!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
Wow, K-Skate looks amazing. The sheer scale of the stadium!
–
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Erika Slaughter says
I’m not sure there’s anything cuter than Madeley dressed for this game!! I’m loving that little Powercat on her cheek! So glad you guys had such a great weekend showing your kiddos the old stomping grounds!
Lindsay says
Yay!!! So glad to see you had such a great time in Manhattan! We live just 55 minutes down the road and felt your pain on Saturday with the rain delays. It was a wet day for sure, but clearly you made the best of it. I made a mental note of the restaurants you liked. Manhattan has really become a “cool” town instead of just a “cool college town” (if that makes any sense!) in recent years and I’m so glad. While I didn’t go to K-State, my husband and best friends did, and I always cheer for them in football season. Then I’m “one of those fans” who switches and cheers for KU come basketball season. 😐 Both teams make it fun to be a fan!! Regardless of your Kansas team affiliation, we are sure proud of our colleges and I’m so glad you had a great weekend here!
Ps: My best friend and I really debated driving over so we could have our ‘fangirl’ Shay Shull moment but decided it was definitely best to let you have your family time. 😉 Until next time…. GO CATS!!! K-S-U!
Christy Latimore says
Oh my goodness, bless your hearts – that rain delay was no joke! So wish y’all would have called us and you could have waited it out in the football offices with us with some white chili and mimosas! But, it looks like you guys had a fun weekend so that’s all that matters! And I saw Ashby dancing in your video with the band, OMG that girl ?.
Mo said he really enjoyed visiting with your family. I hope you guys can make it back soon.
I think you need a redo game from that crazy weather!
Totally unrelated, but I MUST order those black booties soon! They are amazing!!
Take care you guys!!!!
Tara Hall says
What a fun trip despite the CRAZY long game day! So fun that we sat right behind you 🙂 Thanks for being so sweet! Your 2 youngest girls are so precious – and I can tell how much they love their mama! Hope that Madeley has a fun week celebrating her birthday! We will definitely be trying some of these restaurants on our next trip to Manhattan 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I was so happy to meet you guys! I hope Owen had a great birthday!!
Alicia Rowland says
What a fun weekend! I know you don’t post every detail of trips, but I feel like your kids are such troopers with traveling and long days. I’m sure my 3yr old would have been a terror by the end of that game day!! Haha! I think my favorite part of reading about your trips is all the great food y’all get! LOL!
Stacy says
Looks like such a fun trip — funny short story is I went to UNI and they are purple but panthers for Christmas one year my mom thought she found me a panthers Christmas ornament that played the school fight song — but it was Kstate I didn’t have the heart to tell her so I hang a kstate ornament on my tree every year ??
Narci says
Oh my goodness!!! My college football loving heart loved every second of your trip! It looks like your crew had a blast! And, Madeley in her spirit gear is the cutest thing ever! ❤️
Meredith says
Eeeek!! Are those new rag & bone booties? I have the same style ina slate gray. Looooove them
Mix and Match Mama says
They’re the ones from last year!
Amanda says
That looks like so much fun!
Morgan Jones says
This might be my favorite post yet! Keep on brainwashing, it worked for my brothers and I! ?? EMAW
sydnee says
The weather was horrible but it looks like you made the best of it. The kids are so cute in their rain boots!
Design by Sydnee | A Lifestyle Blog
Jamie says
We love to take our kids to our alma mater. And show them the historical buildings, places important to us, then eat at local only restaurants/coffee shops. They love to hear about our lives before we were married & parents. Too bad you couldn’t get to nearby Austin last week to see a better K-State football game with nicer weather. Even though they lost to him, I bet KSU & the alumni are so proud of Gary Patterson.
Elspeth Mizner says
So sweet and what great memories! As a child I remember going to my parents college (they went to the same one) and they always said how I would end up there. Now I’m a sophomore in college there and love it! Who knows all your kiddos may end up at KSU! Thanks for the great pictures!
Myka says
Go K state! Such precious and beautiful family pics, Shay.
www. supersimpleways.com
Rebecca VanDeMark says
What a fun weekend!! 🙂
Erin Port says
Such a fun weekend. We are Iowa State Alumni and love the Big 12. The weather was crazy and I thought of y’all when your game was still playing forever after it was supposed to start! xoxo ERIN
Natalie says
What a fun weekend Shay. Wow… great post today. Love how you tell us each day and what you did. So much fun.. Did they win? I don’t know if I read that or not. Hope so.. have a great day my sweet friend..
Sara says
Can you link to that striped sweater? I’m a sucker for stripes!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s not online any more!
Whitney Pegram says
What a fun trip!!
Alexis deZayas says
What a fun weekend your kiddos will always remember! That picture of Kensington and Madeley before your last dinner is killing me 🙂 So much sweetness!
Courtney says
Where is your white sweater from? It looks SO adorable and comfy!
XO
Courtney
http://www.greywoodmama.com
Ashley Stewart says
Love the off the shoulder sweater! Do you have an affiliate link?
Mix and Match Mama says
It was from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale and is gone now. Bummer!
Melissa says
SO fun! I love taking our kiddos back to college and showing them around. I’m dying at Kensington’s notepad during the tour…so cute. I showed Coach Snyder’s rules for life to our (almost) 13 year old son who plays and adores football. Thank you for sharing so I could pass it on to him this morning.
Heidi says
Oh how fun was this trip! Oh my heart Madeley is the cutest ever! The best memories for your kiddos ooh and that donut ??
Carly says
We Longhorns have mad respect for Bill Snyder!! We lovingly refer to him as the Purple Wizard, and we never, ever, ever come to a KState game believing we’re going to win. He is best of the best!
Your weekend looks so fun and I know your kids loved being surrounded by other Wildcats since they don’t often have that experience! My Waco kids are always amazed by all the burnt orange when we go to Austin ;).
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams says
Awww what great memories to make for the kids! I’m sure you and Andrew liked reminiscing with them too! All that food made me hungry lol.
xo
Amanda @ Cupcake N Dreams
Linda Grubbs says
Loved seeing your photos from the weekend in Manhattan! Awesome photos of around town. Love, love how you showed our beautiful stadium….and Coach. He loves it when former players and their families return to visit.
He’s truly is a great man.
You have the cutest bunch of future Wildcats!
Hugs from Manhattan!
Kacy says
THE CHEF!!! My husband and I spent a kid free weekend in Manhattan last year and ate breakfast there. We had the worlds best Frittatas. OH MY GOSH. That place is incredible. And Coco Bolos! All the heart eyes. We also found some really awesome Antique Shops there that weekend! (Unfortunately, we are Husker fans, and bleed red. Don’t hate us. We still love Manhattan)
Angelique at FourPointsMom.com says
What a fun, memorable weekend for you and your kiddos. I’m hoping we can do the same type of brainwashing with ours at a longhorn game soon. Madeley is about the same age as my youngest, so I’m curious to hear whether she did fine or if you’d recommend we wait another year to take Parker. Thoughts?
http://www.FOURPOINTSMOM.com
Mix and Match Mama says
She did great at the game! She loved watching the band, cheerleaders, dancers…that stuff occupied her. And she ate a ton of kettle corn too :).
Brigette Kloeppner says
Ahhh so glad you had a great time in Manhattan last weekend! I’m a current student at K-State, and I’m so happy you guys made the best of the rainy weekend! Also, totally ageee with you on your love of The Chef! Breakfast on Saturday mornings there is one of my favorite college traditions in Manhappiness!! ?
Danielle says
What college did you go to?
Mix and Match Mama says
The University of North Texas 🙂
Amanda says
Ahhhhhh I loved this so much!!! One of my favorite posts ever!! My husband and I met at kstate in 2003, we have sooooo many of the same feelings and memories every time we go back, we’ve spent a handful of anniversary mini-getaways in Manhattan! we only live 2 hours away but only make it for 1-2 games a season. Coco Bolos is a must must must! And Aggieville, and campus, and everything! The Chef is now our favorite breakfast stop! We’ll be there for the OU game on Saturday! It was so much fun to see all the details of your day! It’s one of the best places on earth! Go Cats!!
Kelly says
I love this so much! I thought of you all on Saturday when they kept posting rain delay for your game. But, as always, the Shull six persevere and make the best of it, rain gear and all:).
Darla says
I had no idea part of your heart was in Kansas… I’ve lived here my whole life. We cheer on K-State in football and KU and WSU for basketball. They are all great teams to watch in person – the experience is always amazing. I’m glad you had such a great trip even though the weather was not cooperating.
Adrienne Rhoads says
Would love to know some tips on how you do a long road trip with the littles! We live in Atlanta right now, and go home to see my family in Galveston TX several times a year (about 14 hour drive…probably like 37 million hours with kids!). We always fly, but now that the kids are 4 and almost 2 (no more free flights for him once that happens 🙁 ), it gets pricey, and we end up using my parents two cars while we are there and going around town with them so that we can all fit! I would love to have a minivan there. I know we could go more often if we drove, but I am honestly clueless how to make a car ride that long work without a mental breakdown.
Mix and Match Mama says
They eat snacks and watch a lot of movies. Long car trips can be hard!
SC McKay says
What a fun trip! Love the girls’ rain coats!!! We are planning a trip to McKinney this week. Is Oktoberfest still going on in McKinney?
Mix and Match Mama says
Nope. It’s over! But there is always something fun down on our square!
Alice H says
Andrew 98, Sean 58?
Looks like a lot of fun was had by all!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yup! 🙂
Marcia says
So glad you had a great time in Manhattan! Even though my husband now coaches at Oklahoma State, we are both graduates of Kansas State and have many fond memories of our time there. The best is that that is where we met, became engaged and got married! Madeley was so cute in her KSU gear and Kensington taking notes reminded me of something I would have done at her age! So cute! Getting the family photo with Coach Snyder might have been the best though! 🙂
Erin Koch says
LOVED this post! My husband and I are both alumni and bleed purple. We went to the game on Saturday too after spending some time walking around the Union while it rained, then trekked right back home after all the long delays because we had our 9 month old son with us. Can’t wait until he’s older and we can tell him all about the good ole’ days in Manhattan. 🙂 Glad your family had such a great time! And so jealous that you have that inside track to get a tour of Vanier!
Jenny Thornton says
I live about 90 miles east of Manhattan. Although I am a Jayhawk fan through and through, many of my friends went to K-State and I partied in Aggieville a ton. Awesome atmosphere! Glad you could come visit the Sunflower State!
Jenny says
Looks like you guys had so much fun… but that picture of Kensington snuggling Madeley is my favorite! So sweet!
Shea says
I loved reading this!! I am a K-State grad and so is my husband–that’s where we met! This post totally took me back. We went back for a football game a couple of years ago and I’m astounded by how much it’s changed. I can’t wait to go back and try Varsity Donuts–that definitely would have been DANGEROUS for me when I was there! Go Cats!
Alexandra C says
Good morning! How did you keep the kiddos entertained during the delays (and even the game)? My husband and I are season ticket holders for our school’s football program and I’m nervous about taking a baby with us next year and as he/she grows up! Let alone when he/she has siblings. Haha.
Mix and Match Mama says
They were such troopers. It always amazes me because they won’t sit still sometimes at random places like the bank but during a three hour rain delay, they were fantastic. Why is that?! We really just people watched and chatted. It was long, but I have to give them credit for hanging in there!
Darcy says
EMAW! Looks like you all had a great weekend. Thank you for posting the pictures of Bill Snyder’s 16 values and the run in – I am sharing those with my office this morning.
Shelbie Fitch says
K..S…U.. WILDCATS! I have loved following your blog, but knowing you’re a Kstate family makes me love your family even more 🙂
Alex Allen says
I live in Junction City! Next time you come to town you should eat at the Bluestem Bistro if you’ve never tried it! It’s in aggieville, and is amazing!
Lindsay @ Lindsay's Sweet World says
Your love for K-State is like that of ours for University of Georgia! We BLEED red and black! And I, like you, had a similar college experience. I didn’t want to leave home, so I went to our local university, but when I started dating my now hubs who went to UGA, we had all the fun there in Athens! I still think of it as my alma mater, too, even if it wasn’t. Haha. Plus half of my family went there, so I’ve been wearing red and black since I was born. ;o) I loved this post! Some people just don’t understand our love for college football, and I just don’t understand how they can’t love it!
Rachel says
While I’m a longhorn, I work for UNT, and it makes me sad you didn’t have a great experience! We’d love to have your family come to a football game at Apogee and see the “New Denton”. The Denton restaurant game and downtown square has changed drastically, even in the past 5 years I’ve worked there! It is so charming. 🙂
Becky says
How fun! So why does Andrew have his individual picture hanging up or what is it for? (Bad eyes and couldn’t read the words on it) Perfect it’s at the kids’ height 🙂 such a fun weekend!
Lizzie @ This Happy Life says
So much fun!! Love the pics of the kids and how cool for them to see all this!
Heather says
Oh my goodness..my favorite place EVER! We have been to 2 football games this year and they have been great. Manhattan is my favorite little city ever! I live about an hour north of Manhattan and we travel there often. LOVE Varsity donuts 🙂 My 40th birthday was this year and my sister brought me Varsity donuts..best gift ever! My daughter is the same age as Kensington and she plans on going to K-State to get her degree in elementary education..maybe they will get to meet!!!
Ashley says
Love Manhattan! I was so disappointed on Saturday when I noticed on Instagram that you were there! I sent my husband to the game with my daughter and I stayed home. I was bummed that was wasn’t there to meet you! I’m glad you family had a wonderful time in Manhattan! We also love the Chef. I can’t wait to try the chocolate chip pancakes next time! My husband met after college but are both K-Staters so we enjoy bringing our family back there as well!
Allyson says
We were there as well… it was a doozy of a day! I actually saw your kids by the concession stand as I was taking my 5 year old to the bathroom. Kensington was doing cartwheels and my son was wanting to participate! 🙂 Love going through your pictures – I’m a KState grad of 2005 and my heart bleeds purple and nothing would be give me greater joy than to see my kiddos go there as well – there is no better place!
Cross fingers it doesn’t pour next time you head that way! 🙂
Maureen Werner says
Such a fun weekend! We live near KC on the Kansas side and are a KU family (Rock Chalk) but most of the teacher’s in our town of Olathe attended K-State and they all do their best to brain wash the kids! 😉 I just loved Kensington’s dress with the cats on it, where did you get that? Happy belated birthday to sweet Madeley!
Mix and Match Mama says
Boden 🙂
Ralinn says
It looks like you indeed had a wonderful little trip. My husband is from Shawnee, KS and went to
K-State. I am from New Braunfels, TX and did not go to K-State. Manhattan is a wonderful town with a lot of great place to eat. Ashby has the most adorable and fun raincoat. Thanks for sharing.
Jennifer says
We always stop at Cracker Barrell on long trips. The toy store where the kids can walk around and stretch their legs is a long trip must!
Linda Rice says
Cute family!! Love your pretty pink lipstick, what is the color/brand??
Mix and Match Mama says
Liv it Up by Charlotte Tilbury!
Joy Nivong says
So fun!!! College football and towns are so fun.
I love your Friday booties. Are they still available? Details please ?.
Jessica says
Looks like a super fun weekend! Have you ever blogged about how you and Andrew met? Would love to hear (read) the story!
Angie MacDonald says
I love that your family loves K-State as much as I do! Best college ever in my opinion 🙂
Sheaffer says
What a great weekend! It’s so much fun to show your kids your past!
Emily Wakefield says
EEK!
My husband and I are Kstaters and so are all of my siblings so far! We were at the game on Saturday too for KState Family Day! SO many things you said in your post resonated with me! Bill Snyder is incredible, and I love that he expects his players to be good people too. K-State is the best through and through! I looked out for you guys at the game and I did spot Andrew! Glad you guys enjoyed your visit so much!
Matalin Sanders says
Wow looked like such a fun weekend!! I’m a junior at UNT but there will always be a special place in my heart for the big 12 and their athletics and traditions!!
Amy says
Where are your jeans from that you are wearing with your striped sweater? Love them!!
Mix and Match Mama says
J Crew Toothpick 🙂
Erin Ressler says
I cannot believe the improvement in Ashby’s hand. What a blessing!!!! Thank you for including us in her journey.
Danielle says
What a fun weekend! I am writing down the restaurants you went to. My son has a soccer tournament there this spring and I am excited to try out some new places. We were there a few years ago and I love the Aggieville atmosphere! We stayed at the Bluemont and it was great but do you have any hotel recommendations?
Paige says
You always have the best attitude! Can you tell me where Ashby’s leopard leggings are from? I LOVE them!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I believe they’re Gap!
Leah McPeak says
My hubby and family are big KStaters. We have season tickets but I stayed home that day with my 2 little girls and he took our oldest to the game. I was hoping they’d run into you guys. Maybe our kids will be wildcats together someday. I have a 2nd grader, kindergartner and 2 year old. If the opportunity ever comes up, I’d love to see you at an event in Manhattan- maybe an author event for your cookbooks?? That’d be so awesome! You’ve got lots of fans, especially your fellow Wildcats. EMAW!
Kacy says
Madeley’s kitty shirt is the cutest!