Eva's New Kitchen!

"AAHHHHOOOOO-Open pease!" and "Dump it!" are what our diaper baby said to the giant box that Mommy brought in from the car-- she's no dummy-- it looks like a toy for EVA!!!

She and Collin had a grand time making pancakes and coffee for Mommy! It is SO cute! Even the box was fun! When I got it all put together, Eva said, "Thank you kitchen!" I explained that Nana and Papa got it for her, and that we should call them to say thank you. So when we got on the phone with Nana she said, "Nana got it- thank you kitchen!" She is such a CHATTER BOX lately!

I didn't know we were supposed to save it for her birthday, (somebody... not to name any names... forgot to tell me that they talked to Dad and Rachel last night while I was out!- one track mind for opening day of hunting season!!!), but I don't think Nana minded after hearing Eva so excited! I figured that she would get lots of things for her birthday, so we may as well spread out the fun a little!

Making Cookies

Eva and Auntie Martie made pumpkin cookies yesterday- Eva really enjoyed the chocolate chips!! She was supposed to dump them in the batter, but she said, "My EAT them!" instead!!! She's not saying EVEE do it or EVEE get it, as much now, but it's funny to listen to her trying to use the right words!!

The Girls

More play time for Evee and Margie- they're so good together!

Pickin' Pumpkins

What a CREW!... Sammi, BJ, Eva, Zack, Margaret, Alex, Luke and Collin
Pickins are slim this dry year, but Eva thought it was great to be among her favorite things- she wanted them all... and then decided on a rock instead! We even had to bring the rock home in the trunk of the car, with the pumpkins! They wanted twice as much for half the pumpkin this year- so we paid a whole $2 each! I still can't believe the difference from "Florida pumpkins" though! I'll never take for granted again, what a beautiful place upstate NY is in the fall! Apple Fest was a lot more quiet this year- none of my boys went... and I think the trees will peek next week, when the temperature cools a bit- CAN'T Wait!

Same kids- Different Photo

I really needed to post this one too- I think it's better than the other one. Collin always has a funny face... that's just him I guess!! What a GOOF!

The Fipps & Fudo Kids

I'm sure you can hear all the GROANS when I want to interrupt play time for a photo! We're all so busy right now, that it's pretty rare for all the kids to be in one place at one time... so I had to seize the moment!
Evee and Margie are finally old enough to play pretend together- the love the Little People house and Weebles... This is the BEST age!

BJ's HAIR

BJ FINALLY cut his hair off! CUTE!

Happy Birthday Luke!

Time flies when you're raising children!! I can't believe our little Luke is nine already! Collin stayed overnight at his "buddy's" house after the party- FUN FUN FUN!

Evee DO IT!

We've entered into the phase of everything taking FOREVER, because of Eva's independence! "Evee do it" by herself! The trip from the house to the driveway is SOOOO long- I wish I could tell her to meet me at the car, and give her a five minute head start! She also insists on wearing dresses and "pretties" (notice the lovely mardi gras beads she has on!) I have been waiting so long to have a little girl-- and I sure do have a girly girl! But she also likes to play football, so I guess we have the best of both worlds! If only I could pry her away from her DADDY for a few minutes!! If he's home, no one else exists! Daddy's girl- to the extreme!

Hammerhead

This was BJ's catch when he went to Florida this year! It's pretty nice when an 11 year old can go fishing with his Papa and catch a hammerhead shark!

Tubby Time (again!)

What a little ham! Even though the well is pretty dry this year- there's always enough water for a bath for Eva!! ...or else! It's my only hope of any sanity these days-- she's more of a handful than the boys ever were!

Sleeping

She's so peaceful... when she's SLEEPING!

Eva's Hair!

WOW!-- In just a year-- we went from curly mohawk to HOLY CURLY! (don't mind me- I'm just strolling down memory lane!)

BJ and Alex in 1st Grade

I was going through my old emails and came across this photo from Jill- we were reminded of the good old days- BDG (Before Discovering Girls)- and the innocent little boys we had! Now our littlest one, Collin, is older than BJ was at the time of this photo! Time is going by WAY TO FAST!

Dad's Caribou

I know this is an unusual post- but Dad just got back from Alaska and I wanted to post his picture with the caribou that he got. He had been looking forward to this trip for a while- and now he has a new head to add to his wall of death... I mean... trophy to display with pride!

BJ's Back to School Bonfire

What a crazy bunch!! BJ had a lot of fun with all his new Port Byron friends! I met some really great parents- unfortunately I'll never remember all their names- but they understand! The kids played football-even the girls- and some kind of tag game- but in the dark, so they have to search for each other. It was a good night- and now we can look forward to the Halloween party! BJ, of course, invited them all back for the next party already!

Wine Country

It was such a fun GIRL'S day!!
JoAnn (Walt's sister), Mom and I went around Seneca Lake and tested some wine... it was YUMMY- and Martha would be proud of me and my new wine selections- I'm definitely more educated now!!! Mom and I learned that we prefer the most opposite wines- but luckily we have one thing in common- we like WINE!!!!

Playing at the Sawkin's

Here is the whole gang: Anya and Collin on top, Sebastian (Buddy) and Eva by the slide, and BJ holding the newest member, Hannah. (pay no attention to the LEGS!)









Collin didn't want to smile for me, and he certainly didn't want to put his arm around Anya for a picture- so she was giving him a lecture about me getting a picture of him being grouchy! They're like a little old couple when they play together- like they've been married for 50 years!!

Collin's Shorts

I told the kids to get dressed for school and this is what Eva came out of the boys' room wearing! She thought she was all set!! FUNNY GIRL!

Wild Flowers

I know it's not the kids- but look at how beautiful these wild flowers are!It was a little too dark for Brian to take my picture outside with them- you can barely see me when I'm standing in the middle with the flowers. The kids would be lost, like a corn maze. Oh-- and I kept thinking I was finding one of the kids lost balls out there-- but they're gourds! The wild, from no where gourds, are bigger than the pumpkins that we planted on purpose! And they stretch for 50 feet in all directions! They're even growing up the stalks of the sunflowers! (that are FEET taller than me!!) And all of this is where our famous bulldozer used to live! I wonder if the farmer who reclaimed his long lost bulldozer used to grow gourds?!
Hey Martha--(a.k.a.- grower of all things)-- What the heck is this crazy looking flower??!!
So many varieties of sunflowers...
...and even a green flower (on the right side of photo). I've heard of green cats, but not green flowers!! (long story short- with Brian's colorblindness, he thought that cats were green-- I guess no one ever told him otherwise!!-- so we pick on him now and then!!)