Happy 4th of July everyone!  I tried to get some nice patriotic pictures of my kids this morning.  Tessa is very cooperative these days, but Emma is heading into the "terrible twos" and wants no part of picture taking sessions.   Here is how the last eleventy hundred times I've tried to get pictures have gone.

"The Dirty Look" (Note: Tessa is being a good sport.)

"The Crying" (Note: Tessa is thinking this could take a while.)

"The I'm Outta Here" (Note: Tessa is still hanging in there.)

"The Run Away" (Note: Tessa's smile is starting to get a little stale.)

"The Pouty Impish Look" (Note: Tessa is still smiling in the background.)

"The Give Up and Take A Picture of Just Tessa"

(Birthday party pictures and Tessa's newsletter coming soon.)

…six kids instead of five. (Tessa snuck into this picture.)

…seven kids instead of five. (Tessa AND Emma snuck into this picture.)

Rogene's sister Lhevinne and her kids stopped by to spend the night with us on their way to California.  They are going on a super fun road trip that will include Independence day on the Wharf in San Francisco, Disneyland and other theme parks, California and Oregon coast, and visits with relatives.  On their way home they will stop and spend a weekend with us, and it is a good thing since Tessa cried when they left.   (Their trip sounds like so much fun that Rogene and I are already planning a road trip for a few years from now when Tessa and Emma are a little older.)

Have a great trip Lhevinne, Gabriella, Jordan, Trey, Anson and Andrew!