Holidays are great excuses to visit family! To celebrate July 4th, we traveled (at night while Jesse was asleep) up to Oxnard to visit with Stephen's side of the family. 
Cousin Becky from PA is staying with them for the summer, and we had fun hanging out with her one afternoon. 
Jesse and daddy were getting into trouble again, as usual, but having fun doing it. =) Jesse saw fireworks for the first time, which I wasn't too sure he would like. But after the startle of the first couple, he actually saw them, and was fascinated for the rest of the 1/2 hour show. 
Also for the first time that weekend, Jesse got his first inter-action with a real dog (no, Crouton doesn't count). The dog's name is Marely, and she belongs to Randy and Lindsey Carpenter, the former of whom is a really good friend of Stephen's. Jesse loved her, and she was very gentle with Jesse. If we can have a dog someday, we think this is a good kind to think about getting. Any opinions out there about what the best family dog is? I accept all suggestions. =) Thank you Isbell grandparents for letting us come up for the weekend. It was so fun!!!
P.S.One more note. Jesse has a new favorite way to travel ...
facing forward in the stroller, eating the back of the seat, watching the world. I think he should patent the idea.
