The traditional JESS photo

My extended family spends quite a bit of time together both at home and up at camp so the cousins know each other very well. The grandchildren are sort of naturally divided into groups. The oldest four call themselves JESS, an acronym based on their names. The fifteen-year-old group, Shaggy Hair Boy, Blonde Niece, and Drama Niece, are called the middles. Then the youngest three are called the littles, a nickname that they are protesting as they get older. Eleven-year-old Suburban Nephew considers it an insult to be called little. I mean, eleven years old is practically a grown up.

Although I told no one about it, some family members have gradually discovered my blog, and this last weekend when we were all together at camp, it became apparent that the younger generation at least all know about it. I was taking a quick photo of JESS when one of them yelled, "Hey, everyone turn and hide your face so she can put us on the blog."

So here they are. Boy in Black, although he is by far the tallest, is still somehow overshadowed by his sister and his cousins. You can just see the top of his head. And the women in the photo, from left to right, are Wonderful Smart Beautiful Daughter, Schoolteacher Niece, and Red-haired Niece.