Ethan look a likes

It is funny how with 2 different photos he went from looking more like girls (and most of the girls are the same on Haylees) to looking like old men. He sure is adorable.

Andy look a likes

Summers look a likes

Top one eight months pregnant and the bottom one pre pregnancy with Avery!

Haylee look a likes

How sweet she looks like Shirley Temple!

THE VIDEO!

So I couldn't get the movie to download when I posted Haylee's dance pictures but I got it to work (well Andy did) Anyways, this is the 1st performance Haylee had. Sorry this is the performance all the Shippens came to so sorry if you cant hear the music over the yelling (us Shippens are not known for our soft voices) Hope you Enjoy it... She is in the front center with the curly blonde hair.

Our Big Walk

I took Avery on a walk today in her stroller. I'm not sure you could even classify it as a walk since we only walked about 6 houses down to pick up Haylee from a friends house. Avery thought it was great, so much to see in this big world! and I love the stroller we got. She was wide awake and bright eyed the whole time, but it was hard with it being so bright. I wish I had little sun glasses for her, but she loved it!

After our "long" walk Avery crashed. She kept smiling in her sleep so I grabbed the camera and then she wouldn't smile anymore:( but she sure is sweet, and the pictures don't do justice to how sweet she really is. (especially when shes sleeping)

We love her!!!
Did you notice there was no bow? It kept falling off....

MY BUG THE DANCER!

So as many of you know I lost our new camera about 2 months ago. I was completely sick about it because it had a lot of pictures and videos on it I wanted. One of those was Haylee's dance performances! Well after many prayers and hours of searching I found the camera. Of course it was after we stopped looking and started to discuss the idea of buying a new one so we would have it when Avery was born. As luck would have it we found the night before Avery was born ( at like 11 pm) Anyways Haylee had her dance performance back in June but she did such a fabulous job, and got told by several people that she was the star of the show that we had to share the pictures and a video of her performance with you. She actually performed 5 times in 2 days. Her teacher even pulled me aside after the 3rd performance and told how proud she was of Haylee and that she couldn't take her eyes off of her, and she said she felt bad because she should be watching all the kids in the class (GO HAYLEE) We are so proud of her, she worked hard on her performance, and loved the performing part! not to mention the hair, make-up, and costume part!

Haylee's BFF Camden dances with her and they are definitely the cutest ones in the class (and I am byest)But seriously don't they cute in their red lipstick and costumes! They are going to be major trouble in high school!
This is Haylees class in the dressing room before the last performance. Everyone was tired and ready to be done I think so it was hard gathering them together for a group photo, and getting them to hold still and smile. This was the best we could do!
Most of the family came and watched her perform at least once. But she was super excited and nervous for her cousin Mary to come watch. She adores Mary and really looks up to her. She was thrilled that her much older cousin wanted to see her perform. She has great support from everyone! Thanks to everyone who came (especially because you have to purchase tickets)

Kindy-garten here we come!

My 5 lb. 17 inch baby is now 5 years old and about 40 lbs, and is going to SCHOOL! She is beautiful. We are so proud of her. She is growing up to be such a great kid. I always make my kids pose in front of the tree (they think it's weird) but I think it is the perfect spot for a photo...(you know 1st day of school, Easter, Christmas, Birthdays...it's always in front of the tree) But she looks so darling for the 1st of school in her "cool" owl shirt.

Of course Ethan has to pose to even though it's not his 1st day! I have great kids!
BFFs-The girls pose at the bus stop for one last photo before they officially become big kids!
Left to Right~ Myah, Olivia (Livy), Camden, and Bug
The Backpack line! Everyone lines their backpacks up at the bus stop and that is the order they get on the bus. Haylee and Camden were so excited to put their backpacks in line!
The mad rush! The bus pulls up and it is a mad rush to get to your back pack and get on the bus... how exciting! She still will kiss me goodbye even in front of everyone, Hope she never outgrows that!
On her way... she yelled from her window and blew me a kiss goodbye...had to snap a picture. She has been our baby for so long it is hard to watch her get on a BIG bus with all the big kids, and just drive away. I did not cry when she left, but Grandma Kathy came to see her off and just barely missed her, and she cried! I am crying now as I look at the pictures. I was just relieved we made it to the bus on time, Mornings are so busy at our house!
She had a great time at school and couldn't wait to go back again! I miss her...

3 weeks down...a life time to go

Avery turnes 3 weeks on Tuesday Aug 28th. She went to the doctors last Friday and she has gained almost a pound (go girl) She weighs 6lbs. 5 oz. now and she has grown an inch (181/2 in. now) She is growing up so fast. Seriously how do they grow up so fast.....seems like Haylee was this small yesterday! Time goes by so fast...cherish every moment. I am so blessed to have these angels. They are my whole life...LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Where did the sand man go?

So I knew 3 kids was going to be a lot of work but it has bee 5 years since we've had a baby at our house. You really forget what it's like to get no sleep (and with 3 there is NO time to catch up) So I end up falling asleep everytime I sit down, needless to say Andy takes advantage of this and takes pictures. Do I not look sleepdeprived...and kind of sick? I think the lighting was funny.

So while I was tending to the other 2 daddy and Avery had snuggle time, they both fell asleep and I went to get the camera to take a picture and Andy woke up and caught me. His pictures with her sleeping turned out really cute. And the lighting is better:)
Avery gets more sleep then us all combined and still it's not enough, but she sure is sweet!

Our green thumbs

This year I had Andy (mostly my dad's workers) build me a garden box on the side of our home. It turned out great. I let Ethan and Haylee pick something they wanted to plant, Ethan picked raspberries, and Haylee picked strawberries. I picked tomatoes. Then they saw a package of sunflower seeds and went crazy. We bought them and Ethan and Haylee helped me plant them. I was not sure they were going to grow but WOW they did great. They are about 7 feet tall and have tons of blooms. The kids are so proud of them we had to show them off! It took several pictures to finally get a picture where they were both opening their eyes. My kids and their eye issues.......

Averys 1st Photo

This is Avery's first photo from the hospital. It makes me laugh. She has already gotten so much bigger and has changed a lot. It makes me sad how fast time the time goes by. I wish I could freeze time and keep her just how she is :)

Splish, Splash

Yeah...after 2 weeks she finally got her 1st real bath. I was so excited because she hated the sponge bathes, that was really the only time she ever cried.

She acted like she liked it....well she just didn't scream, but she wouldn't relax and put her feet down. She kept holding her legs up and out of the water.
How sweet is she in her bear towel?
I just towel dried her and got her ready for bed. I didn't "do" her hair, but it is so cute when its CRAZY! I love her hair.

1st Day of 1st Grade!

So who ever said watching your kids go to Kindergarten was hard, never had a 1st grader. Kindergarten was great, it was an everyday preschool (and who couldn't use a two hour break everyday?) But 1st grade is hard they are gone almost all day long! I can't believe my baby boy is this old....but he sure is good lookin'!!!

My big kids (can't really call them my babies anymore) They really love each other!
Best Buds....and all in the same class....we feel bad for Mrs. Warnick.
The neighborhood has a "meet and greet" at the bus stop for the 1st day of school. Everyone brings a breakfast food to share. Haylee and Raoh loved the cinnamon rolls.
So, I thought for sure I would cry as I watched him leave but....he did all the crying (not because he was leaving). It was a long morning getting everyone ready to go, so it was kind of a relief we made it to the bus! I was glad I got the boys pictures done before they pulled out the chocolate doughnuts, because he looked so cute for his 1st day, and the second the doughnuts came out he had chocolate all over his clothes:( Then the boys chased each other around and Ethan ended up falling and skinning his knees and elbows...ouch (they weren't bad) so then he sat down on the WET grass and cried and of course I was holding Avery so I couldn't pick him up. I kept trying to convince him to come home and change and I would just take him to school, but obviously missing the bus the 1st day was more traumatic then going to school with a wet bum!
When the bus finally came he hurried and got up and grabbed his bag and was ready to go. He kissed me and ran to get in line. So, after all that I did not cry I walked home proud of myself for handling 3 kids on our 1st real busy morning, and not losing it myself. And who really cares what Ethan looked like this morning (secretly I do, but don't tell anyone) There is always tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that, maybe by the last day of school we will have it all together...here's for hoping.
I was trying to get a picture of Ethan as he got on the bus...can you see the chocolate on his shirt, his poor skinned elbow, and his red eyes? Hey at least we tried!

Daddy's little ANGELS!

We are so blessed to have these 2 beautiful girls! Daddy is hoping Avery will be more of a "tom-boy" than Haylee, but I'm afraid Haylee will never let that happen. She already treats Avery like her own little Barbie.

It was sisterly love at first sight. Haylee is proud of her baby sis. She was extremely disappointed she couldn't take Avery to church on Sunday and show her off, but everyone has told me she shared lots of details about her during primary.
Avery's 1st car ride... (coming home) They made her stay at the hosp an extra night to be on lights....i cried all the way home and most of the night because I left her behind.
Haylee calls this snuggle time. She loves to hold Avery and snuggle. I think Avery likes it too. Are they not the sweetest girls ever?
Haylee has done great with the new baby home. She does prefer to have Gma Kathy with us...Gma gives her the extra attention she is use to getting. I am still trying to figure out how to manage my time with 3 kids. Haylee thought she was funny when she found out that Averys bibs fit her, but she wouldn't leave it on for long once she realized Avery had spit up all over it.
Haylee played beauty shop with Avery, where she painted her toes and with moms help painted Avery's. She loves being a big sister!

How pretty are Averys 11 toes. Haylee says shes lucky she can 3 flowers on her toes when she gets a pedicure. Too bad that will have to change:(
Mom loves the big bows and flowers. Dad pulls them off when ever he sees them, he likes to see the hair not the bow. Most of them are the size of her head, its pretty funny....But she sure looks cute in them!
It's only been a week but she has changed so much. She is looking more and more like Haylee everyday!

I love this funny face!