Gleesome threesome

Sizzle and her folks, who joined us for last year's camping trip, met us for two days of this trip, making it even more fun. The three kids had lots of fun, lots of laughs, and just a few tears together, and we enjoyed the company of the other grown-ups. Greg enjoys fishing with Pete, and I enjoy having Jess to talk to (and keep me sane) while the big boys are down at the water.

Oh, I guess this is where I should note that the little boy caught his first fish this time around. Using a real hook instead of his plastic magnetic one (or Nora's pine-cone lure), and an actual worm (much to the dismay of his fly-fishing father). The fish didn't actually make it to shore, but he did have the thrill of the bite and the adventure of trying to reel the wriggly guy in. And I won't pretend I'm not a teensy bit pleased that no fish were killed in the making of this blog post.

Back to the gleesome threesome, though. How cute are these kids?

Just all hanging out.

Shooting the breeze as the sun sets over the Rockies.

Telling funny jokes, and reveling in their great fortune of finding such good company.

Truth be told, it was kind of a Sizzle and Damo show. Quintessential love triangle: Sizzle loves Damo (sorry, 16-year-old Sizzle, if you're back here checking out the blog, but it's true). Nora loves Sizzle (puts her head on her shoulder, tries to touch her just a little too much). Sidamo loves Sidamo. So I guess maybe there's a side missing on this triangle, but you get my point.

Poor Nora seems to be the odd-kid-out in a lot of our social interactions. I don't know whether it's the fact that her big brother has such a huge personality, or if it's just normal for toddlers to all glom onto the biggest kid in sight, but Nora is more or less invisible to her friends with Sidamo is around. Worse is the fact that when Sidamo is around his friends, Nora becomes the target of their jokes and pranks and not the adorable little tyrant she's clearly destined to be. As the youngest of three, this brings up some childhood soft-spots for me. My sisters would point out all the ways in which I had it made (thanks again, Meg, for giving me your lobster tail at Mommy's prodding), but I distinctly remember that feeling of being the one no one played with willingly.

Youngest siblings, unite.