Tessa - September 2012

Oh my silly sweet Tessa girl, as I was adjusting the pictures on this letter just now I realized that they all have something in common - a smile (except for the one where you are sleeping).  We love those silly smiles.

On our camping trip at the beginning of the month we got to get away from camp for a bit and go for a 4-wheeler ride.  After a while you got tired, so we ended up putting you in the box of grandpa's 4-wheeler.  You didn't fit as good as you did on our trip to Powell Point last year, but you thought you were pretty funny.

Another Tessa being silly shot.  You and Logan find the strangest things to entertain yourselves in the car and truck.

I was taking a picture of Tyson one morning, and as soon as you know the camera is on you and Logan always say, "Take a picture of me, mom!"  Here's your picture, with another silly little grin.

We went to the creek a lot more this year because of the pool being closed, and one day when we were there about 6 dogs came bounding out of the bushes towards where we were playing, followed by their owners.  Two of the dogs were HUGE!  I had you stand next to the biggest one so I could send it to dad and show him just how big it was.  It wasn't until later when I had posted it on Facebook that someone mentioned how brave you must have been to stand next to a dog who was taller than you were!  You were a little nervous at first, but you warmed right up to the big sweetheart pretty quick.

My favorite thing to do at the end of the day is to kiss you guys goodnight and turn off your lights.  One night as I did that you looked so sweet and peaceful and reminded me of when you were Baby Tessa.  Lately you have been my little tornado of elbows, knees, and feet going a hundred miles a minute, so I sure did love that reminder of my sweet little baby girl.

Oh your poor baby brother.  If Logan isn't trying to cheer him up by making some of the most obnoxious noises I've ever heard, he's got you sticking your fingers in his mouth or pulling on his arms and legs and pushing you over.  He's going to have to learn to be pretty patient - either that or get big enough to whomp on both you and Logan.

I was working on a new skirt for you after seeing a tutorial for a cute one, and the whole time I was working on it you were right by my side.  "Is it done?  Can I wear it now?  Can I help?  Do you need this pin?  What does that do?  Are you ironing it now?  Will it fit me?"  We had a lot of fun, and in the end it did fit you.  I've got another layer to add to the bottom, but you were so eager to get it on that I figured I could add that when it gets a little cooler...

Now to my 2 favorite pictures of the month that show the biggest and best Tessa smiles.  This day we were running off some energy after dinner one night.  Dad had been in Idaho for about 10 days by this point, and the evenings were starting to get LONG.... You normally don't like the splash pad, but we got you in there and you and Logan got soaking wet.  Somehow we ended up in a tickle fight on the grass, adn I had to try to get a picture of you laughing.  I hope I always remember that laugh!  It is such a girly high pitched squeal, and it is awesome.

And this one.  In the tub getting your hair washed and being a dork.  We were just talking the other day about how you have a million nicknames and one of them is Cindy Lou, and you definitely look a little like Cindy Lou Who in this one.  We call you Tess, Tessa Lin, Tessie, Bessie, Susie, Sus, Susie Q, Lindy Lou, Lindy, Linny, etc., I'm sure I'm missing some.  Whatever we decide to call you, we sure do love you.

 As I type this right now, at 9 p.m., you are in your room just jabbering, surely using that imagination of yours to play with your shoes or crayons, or whatever you can find.  I love your imagination.  You didn't get into preschool, but you are going to take a Kindermusik class, and when I told you about it the look on your face was 100% excitement.  I'm excited for you to learn more about music and use your imagination at the same time, and maybe, just maybe, you will be a little more musically inclined than your dad and me.  That is a BIG maybe though.

We love you sis,
Mom