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We made valentine's special this year by making our own cards (thank you pinterest!).  Here's what they looked like....

Then we cut a little slit on the top and bottom of his hand and stuck in a sucker.  It looked just like he was holding it.  Super cute!  And Kale was quite happy with the way they turned out!

Ava, of course, had to get in on the photo shoot.



She didn't get the whole "hold your hand out" part.  She just said "CHEEEESE!" We thought that was "sweet" enough :)!

We celebrated that little stinker's 2nd birthday butterfly style.  She wore her sassy purple tutu and her purple butterfly wings (thank you dollar tree) and looked like a butterfly princess.  She definitely did not go without, that is for sure.  We were happy family play that day.  So glad Jake could represent the Schippers... poor Will was under the weather.
Ava, like her brother, was so bashful while we sang to her!  Where do my kids get the shyness from?????
Stubborn behavior has GOT to be from Joe ;)..... but shy???


Yummy!...and cute cake!

 Ava brings so much more to this family... She has to be the queen of faces (silly, serious, don't bug me, you're crazy, and busted).  She is loud, ornery, sweet, strong willed and a goof ball.  Her vocabulary is growing everyday but here are few of her favorite phrases..
"Look at me!"
"That's MINE"
"Where Kale go?"
"No."
"Drake, down!"
"Go outside. Ava (but she say something more like Iya) coat."
"Eat more bite"

We love watching her learn.  She amazes us with everything she knows.  And the girl doesn't miss ANYTHING.  She wants in on everything. "too"  "too"  Monkey see. Monkey do.  She can hold her own.  Kale has taken a few hits to the back when she's mad.  Luckily, he doesn't hit back... well, there was one spanking incident Kale thought he would handle but we won't get into that one :).  For the most part big bro tolerates her "two"ness although, he provokes some of the "two"ness as well.  Can't imagine that one now can you?
We have been spending time with friends down here trying to beat the winter drag (even tho this winter has been amazing!).  We will be sad to see our neighbors move here in the next couple days. But happy for them- I know we will see them again!  Kale loves his little buddy Maylee like a sister so it will be a hard day.  We've been discussing them moving for awhile now and I just don't think he realizes that he REALLY won't be able to see her much.  They will have to play via "skype" :)
We've got a couple home projects lined up for carpenter Joe next month!  We will see if we can make it through without any injuries or the need for...marriage counseling ;)  Home improvement projects ALWAYs bring out the best in both of us so it should be pretty intense... pictures to come!
Until then,  Go Iowa State! and bring on the spring weather!

 We got about 6 inches of some good snowball snow! So.. inspired by someone I saw using a recycling bin to build an igloo, we busted out a Rubbermaid storage tote and started on our own fort.  We packed the snow in tight and it even got a nice seal of ice from a mist of rain that followed.  Any bets on how long this will be around this spring?

 We celebrated Ava's second birthday!  (I am not calling her a two year old until the 22nd)   Couldn't have had a cuter butterfly of honor!  Kale was told he could not open Ava's presents for her this year-- she gets to do it on her own now.... so look at what a great and serious "helper" kale insisted on being.  AND honestly, I don't know who was more impressed the with the baby doll complete with bathtub/WORKING shower head. :)

Ava covered her face--just like her brother while we sang her happy birthday.  So embarrassed.  I wonder what she wished for....

Thanks to all who helped us celebrate Ava's  birthday.  She is one lucky little girl!