Camping

Mommy, Daddy, MDS, my cousins, and I all went camping recently. Camping is where one voluntarily sleeps without all of the comforts of home in a small, bouncy house called a tent. I do not know if my position in the matter can be considered voluntary, as I had no previous understanding of what was going to occur, but I nevertheless loved the experience. On the first day, Daddy arrived home from work, the car was packed, and we drove a fairly short distance to a campground. Daddy immediately set up the tent. I did my best to be helpful.

Tents are delightful centers of cuddling and amusingly unstable floors. Once constructed, my cousins and I had a considerable amount of fun bouncing on the floors and snuggling.

"I find this quite enjoyable."

One of the main rules of the tents, however, were that we could not wear shoes inside them. This was disappointing, as I typically only enjoy wearing shoes inside.

"Shoes!"

Camping also includes, just like everything else with these parents of mine, a considerable amount of waiting for food.

"We have to wait how much longer?"

When the food did come, it was delicious, and was cooked in quite an unusual way. I, again, did my best to be helpful.

I ate two hot dogs. We also cooked marshmallows over the fire and combined them with chocolate and crackers. It was messy, but delectable. After getting ready for bed, we all climbed back into the bouncy houses. Mommy, Daddy, and MDS all wished to sleep, but I found this concept appalling with all the fun that could be had. So while they lay there I bounced and giggled and tickled and crawled and cuddled and had the time of my life. Eventually, I pooped, and was taken out to be changed. Daddy took me on a cuddle walk, and when we returned, MDS fell asleep. Daddy soon did, too, but I kept going for awhile longer until I, too, fell asleep on Mommy. During the night, shuffled from person to person, ensuring I got to sleep cuddling with everybody in the tent. I awoke for awhile in the middle of the night with a good amount of gas. Daddy says it was due to me eating the two hot dogs, but I see no way that something that delicious could hurt me so. I awoke the next morning before the others, and Daddy again took me on a walk. He showed me a device that makes a very interesting noise. He took me to get some things called discs to throw at the noisemaker as part of some odd sport, but I got distracted by my cousins waking up. 

We played the rest of the morning and even went on a walk to see nature. I love nature; the animals, the trees, and the rocks are all so very fascinating. I am even okay with the dirt and the grass, as long as I am not expected to touch them. 

When we eventually returned home, we immediately had tubbies and I napped for a very long time.

Nursery

I thought things were going so well for me at church. I would spend the first bit of time cuddling and playing with Mommy, Daddy, and MDS while a large room of people adored me and I played peekaboo with them. Then Daddy and I would play in other rooms with people until we went home. It was quite the perfect arrangement. Then, one day, Daddy took me to a room full of other children, toys, and excitement. It was horrifying. He then tried to leave me there. It was not acceptable. My first time there, he escaped for a long while at the end, and I swore to never let him leave again. I demanded him to sit on the ground and so that I could sit on his legs and pin him down for all of the times since then. The first church day after the road trip, however, he would no longer sit down, but he did not leave, either. I was instead placated simply by his presence, and allowed myself to venture forth and partake in activities. This resulted in me being tackled to the ground twice. Nevertheless, I still found some enjoyment in the day.

The next day that I attended nursery, I was far more willing to leave Daddy's side and play. If he left, however, I immediately noticed and cried. To his benefit, he would always return. Daddy has been asking MDS to play with me and make me comfortable in nursery every church day, but she always gets so involved in playing that she forgets to do this. I cannot blame her, but this day, she did share a doll with me and allowed me to ram my bulldozer into her bus full of schoolchildren, so that was nice. When it came time to have snacks, they asked who would say prayer, and I, of course, raised my hand emphatically. Another boy asked first, however, and Daddy told my teachers that I never actually said anything when I ask to say a prayer which, while true, was embarrassing. After the prayer, I followed my nursery-mates around the moving wall to get some snacks. Some time after snacks had begun, I realized that Daddy had disappeared, and went to find him. MDS helped, but she was not as upset as I was when I found him to have disappeared. I was comforted by being told we were going on a walk to find him. We never did find him, but I enjoyed the walk and the subsequent singing time. When Daddy did return, I furrowed my brow and walked past him to Mommy. I may be enjoying my time in nursery without him present, but I need never admit that to him.

Lake Again

We returned to that miniature ocean known as a lake. For those of my readers who are uncertain of the difference between a lake and an ocean, the distinguishing factor is this: lakes are less horrifying. From a distance, a lake looks completely benign, but when one gets closer, one realizes that it is surrounded by sand, the dirtiest and grittiest of all ground substances. I walked with Daddy up until the grass turned to sand, and refused to go further at first. After being placed on a blankie and playing for a time there, I became accustomed to the idea of the sand, but only if my flippies remained upon my feet.

"I do not know about this, Mommy..."

"I am happy here, and shall go no further."

My place along the shore allowed me to appreciate the water, watch others play in the water, and distract myself from the sand.

I even began the arduous process of putting all of the sand back into the water. Daddy saw what I was doing, and asked what I was doing. I paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing sand into the lake. The lake has washed it up onto the beach and it cannot return to the lake by themselves. When I come to the lake, I will have to walk upon the sand unless I throw it back into the water." 

Daddy replied, "But there must be tens of thousands of shovelfuls of sand on the beach. I'm afraid you won't be really able to make much of a difference." 

I bent down, scooped up yet another shovelful of sand, and threw it as far as I could into the lake. Then I turned, smiled, and said, "It made a difference to that one!"

 I then moved on to rocks, which was more enjoyable anyway, and inevitably drew me further into the depths of the lake than I have ever gone by myself before.

Road Trip Day 10: More Cousins and Singing in the Car

The next morning I found myself surrounded by cousins. We played Legos. I play Legos by sticking small pieces in my mouth and looking suspiciously happy until Mommy or Daddy notice and demand that I take the piece out of my mouth.

We also played some more structured games that I could not understand but found very amusing.

Then, just when I was comfortable, we again went into the car and continued on our way. MDS and I passed the time, as we did quite often, by singing along in the car. Mommy, Daddy, and MDS have always sung along to music in the car, but recently I have begun learning the words so that I could sing along, too. I do not know all of the words yet, but neither does MDS, and Mommy and Daddy struggle sometimes, too, so I believe myself to be doing quite well.

We arrived at our next hotel that night to find that one of Daddy's favorite cartoons was on. It was delightful, as it was about three ducks being raised by their uncle duck and going on adventures, but the adventures included things that were not ducks and I did not appreciate that. I struggled some, again, going to bed, but it was because Mommy could not grasp what I wanted. I do not know what was so difficult: I simply wanted to scream and point anywhere that we were not. This included pointing at my crib. I did not want to go in my crib, I simply wished to point at my crib and scream. Why must that be so confusing?

The next day was our last day of the road trip. I have very little to report on from that day, other than it was too long but ended with me seeing grandparents. So, as I have heard said, all is well that ends well. 

Road Trip Day 9: Sleeping on Daddy

The last day that we spent with Cousins Hendrick and Theodore started very early. By the time it came to morning nap time, I was agreeable to being laid down to sleep. When I awoke, however, I found that Mommy and Daddy had leveraged my nap to go on a date. I cursed my weakness, but I was mostly unhappy with my conniving parents. I was sad at first, but directed my pain, instead, on retaliation. When Mommy and Daddy returned, I did not look at them. I continued my quiet play and only recognized their presence by pointing to a spot nearby where I would allow them to sit. It was hard to maintain my rancor for long, however, when snuggles were a possibility. Soon after their return, we again had packed up the car, said goodbye to my cousins, and continued on our journey to the residence of another set of cousins. We stopped along the way for food.

When we arrived, we found that our cousins were not present. By this point, I had had enough of sleeping in strange rooms away from my family, and refused to do so. Instead, I wandered through the house with Boo. I do not believe I have introduced you to Boo before. As you can see in this photograph, Boo is a blankie. I refuse to sleep without Boo and Mneow, my Kitty (not pictured). I am not allowed to chew on Boo, as pieces of its fuzziness will dislodge from it and into my mouth, but I vocally win the argument if Boo is taken from me.

I eventually did fall asleep that night upon Daddy. They had tried many things to help me get comfortable, so I finally took pity on them and ask to be laid upon Daddy's chest. I was asleep nearly immediately.

Road Trip Day 8: Square Temple

The next day, after I woke up unnecessarily early to snuggle with Mommy and Daddy, we put on our new BYU apparel. I think I looked pretty good in it myself. While Mommy was showering, and Cousin Hendrick's mommy was away, Daddy was left with us. To keep us happy, he does as he is wont to do, and took many magical pictures of us, including the one below. It is exceedingly fascinating, as I am not a bunny, nor do I have ears such as the ones photographed. From where did they come? These are questions I cannot begin to fathom.

I was quite comfortable at my cousins' house.

Mommy and Daddy then took us to a restaurant where we were promised cheese. The "cheese" were were promised ended up being ACTUAL CHEESE, breaded and fried, and not the macaroni and cheese I assumed. I refused to eat it, and stuck to my grilled cheese and fries.

Look at that excited face, so naive of the disappointment to come.

Mommy and Daddy then took us to a place called Temple Square or, as MDS called it in her prayers that night, "Square Temple." It was a wondrous place, with rocks...

...televisions...

...and large rooms.

One of the main highlights of this outing, however, was seeing a large statue of Jesus. I have seen many photographs, but a statue of this stature is quite something to behold. I like how it felt there.

Mommy asked me to point to Jesus. It was quite an easy test.

The temple itself, MDS and I were informed, was a building into which we could go when we were older. It was quite an impressive castle, however, even if MDS was not able to see one of the brides she was so excited to witness.

Mommy and Daddy made up for us not going inside that castle by taking us to a shop called "The Disney Store." There they had a castle in miniature into which MDS and I could enter. Mommy and Daddy enjoy "shopping," where they purchase nothing, but still have fun. MDS and I do not understand.

Road Trip Day 7: Y is for BYU!

We went to a mystical land: BYU. Mommy and Daddy have been telling us about it since as long as I can remember, but I now realize it was in completely ambiguous statements. I knew it to be a place of learning and where they had fallen in love, but that was very little information at all. In fact, it is a land of many buildings, but I only went into two. Based on my observation, I saw very little learning happening, unless adults learn mostly through shopping, eating, and walking through a maze of monstrous buildings. Despite this confusing environment, I nevertheless fully enjoyed the excursion. Mommy, Daddy, MDS, Baby Brother, and I all got new clothes. Daddy even got a new hat, but refused to get me one. I avenge myself by insisting to constantly taking off his hat and laughing at him.

"I wonder if I would look better in this one or the one over there..."

We met the mascot, Cosmo, who was a frighteningly frozen, giant, anthropomorphic cat. Unlike My Fearless Dear Sister, I refused to get on his lap.

"If I say cheese, can I get away from this thing?"

"Excuse me, sir, would you kindly refrain from eating me or my soul?"

I see little cause for excitement about that "cougar" when there was a real one petrified behind glass. I could have squealed and pointed at him all day long.

These people really have something with big kitties. I do, too, as long as they do not wear clothes.

"Excuse me, My Dear Sister, but see you not that there is an anthropomorphic kitty on these stairs?"

It was all well, however, as we, yet again, ate fries dipped in catsup, a delicacy, followed by some ice cream. I know not the reason for it always being served so cold, as the experience would most definitely be improved by it being warmer, but I am willing to look beyond the discomfort for chocolate. The food alone, the people to watch, and the focus on kitties are enough reasons for me to wish to attend as Mommy and Daddy did.

We then visited one of the babies that were younger-yet-bigger than me that I had met a few days previously. How this came to be is beyond me, and has left me questioning whether the long drives were quite so necessary.

If she is here, but was there, and we were there, where was there? Was it here? The drive here was so short, but the drive from there was so long...

That evening we ate macaroni and cheese or, as I call it, "CHEESE!" at a nearby restaurant with some old friends before returning to our cousin's residence and going to bed.