Sunday, July 18, 2010

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.


Saturday, July 17, 2010

The adventures of potty learning

It's all better when there's ice cream and a road trip involved, no?







I've been keeping this development under wraps, because as I've mentioned, Nora reads this blog and adjusts her behaviors accordingly. But now that we're three weeks into diaper-free life, I feel like it's safe (lightning, don't strike me now) to post this announcement:

BumGenius diapers for sale. Inquire within.


ISO: Mountain lake property

No shelter needed. Budget: $20-ish/night.









If I could define my perfect environment, it would be this: on the water, with sunny blue skies (rainbows welcome), and cool enough to require the occasional midday fleece. We found all that in our most recent camping trip.

We also found loud and drunk camping neighbors (par for the course with public campgrounds), whom I could do without. And that leads me to this ISO. If you know of anyone looking to offload a teensy bit of land on a beautiful mountain stream or lake, or creek, or maybe even pond, just let us know. We'd be happy to take it off their hands.

In the meantime, I might just make Nora start sleeping in a sleeping bag in a refrigerated room. Camping is the only time she falls asleep in minutes and sleeps solidly through the night.

Heaven on earth. Minus the drunken revelers.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Famiversary!

Three years ago, we cuddled our sweet little man for the first time. And by cuddled, I of course mean insecurely attempted to hold and soothe. And by sweet little man, I mean terrified, screaming, bawling, confused toddler. We celebrate this day for all it signifies—it was our first glimpse of what this life, this family, would be. But we don't forget what else it represents: tremendous loss that no child should ever have to suffer in order to be part of a family (something I always want to tell people who tell us how lucky he is).

Even amidst the emotional upheaval, we could see what a sweet, sensitive, and smart person we were bringing into our lives. What we didn't see is the vibrant, hilarious, confident, kinda crazy kid we have grown to know and love in these past three years.



Tell me again who the lucky ones are?