I had to make a reference to Wizard of the Oz because that's how my past two weeks have been for me. We did a lot together. I actually got to ride rides in Santa Cruz Boardwalk (no pictures unfortunately) and then hung out with Deaf Americans/Swedes at Yosemite National Park. Mom took me with her and we camped together, just the two of us, with the gang. I swam a lot which is pretty good for a lack of swimming records in my life so far.
Anyway, let me jump into pictures of Yosemite.
Our campsite, our tent is the orange one on the second last.
Here's me keeping myself busy while Mom helped the gang set up tents at our huge campsite. It was soooo big that I freely walked around for hours without having to be harnessed back.
Mom's busy helping.
It was soo dirty but it felt good to have some on me, well not some, a lot.
The night came too quickly and I was out like a light. I even continued to oversleep, surprising my mom who ended up bored and waited for me to finally wake up (an hour after she did... trust me, it's an impossible thing in our book).
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ x 1000.
It took me awhile to wake up and right after I woke up, Mom made a beeline to the bathroom. Opps. I made her hold it all in because she very well couldn't leave me alone in the tent.
When I woke up, I started chasing squirrels which were very friendly and came up to me. Funny story though, when we arrived an hour ahead of the gang, we pitched our tent up. Mom brought bags of food to put into the bear lockers but for now, she left it on the top. As she was busying around, I noticed squirrels, within 5 minutes of the bag's presence, started chewing through the baq and popped the Doritos bag open. I ran to Mom and said "SQUIRREL!!" She looked confused and said, "crocodile?" I told her, "NO SQUIRRELS EAT CHOMP CHOMP"
She immediately got it and turned to see the squirrels swarming our bag. You should've seen her run, it was hilarious.
Me sitting patiently waiting for a squirrel to come up to me. I sat for a long time on that stump, quietly, and succeeded.
Cute huh?
After a brief morning squirrel chase, we were off to see the Glacier Point, one of the beautiful spots in Yosemite. It was a loooong ride there but worth the trip.
I rode in the big white state owned van with the pretty Swedes and Americans. Seriously, they swooned for me and I easily charmed them.
Mom and me at one of the vista points on the way to Glacier Point.
I wanted to walk the guardrail like a big boy would. Mom permitted as long as she held me.
When we reached Glacier Point, it was really hot and so beautiful. I kept wanting to climb and climb.
I was hurrying Mom over so we could see the edge of the world. The half Dome was a beautiful backdrop to the already gorgeous landscape.
Of course, a must... Mom and me with Half Dome in the background.
We had our lunch break, during that break, all the girls swarmed me and took pictures because I was being cute.
This tastes like CHEESE! (signing cheese, fyi)
Done with sightseeing, we headed back to our campsite. On the way, this is what we saw.
A young bear! it was around 15 feet away from us!!
A lot of excitement put me right to sleep, naturally.
I even was privileged enough to sleep with beautiful ladies.
Later that day, after much hours of driving in the sweltering heat, we went swimming at the Rainbow Pool. At first I did not want to go in... not until Mom changed me back into regular clothes from swimming suit, I decided to dive into the water, much to her chagrin.
Moments before I was forced into the pool. Can you tell, I knew it was going to happen.
See? In the pool. It had water falls and cliffs for people to jump into. I much prefer watching... because when we got in, the water would bite you as if you soaked into the ice-filled tub but then, interestingly enough, you'd suddenly warm up and feel like you were taking a bath. Interesting experience but very refreshing.
I confess that I was really clingy. I wouldn't let anyone near me even though I was happy at camp. I just wanted Mom and if anyone seemed like they were going to take me away from her, I'd go on a freak-mode, totally. Only two people I'd allow to temporarily hold me were Cody and Collin.
Collin holding me whilst Mama quick for a quick dip into the Rainbow Pool.
What Ma? No, I don't wanna swim, I much rather sit here and squirt the water gun.
OOO beautiful butterfly! That was on my hat recently?! Cor!
After our long day driving, sight-seeing and swimming, we came back to our "home". As Mom changed my dipes, I looked up and saw this:
I frantically signed, "lizard! lizard!" She looked up and watched the lizard eating flies ontop of our tent. We could see the long tongue extending and quickly flicking bugs into its mouth.
I have a funny story to share. Mom thinks I was brilliant. The next day at Yosemite, we went to a village to get fruits. Mom got me a pint of fresh blueberries (which I finished in one sitting moments later) and Leather Fruit Rolls (not those HFC filled and chemically processed ones). When in the aisle, I was happily nibbling on my grapes leather fruit roll, I immediately noticed that Mom snuck in some Snickers Ice Cream. I tapped her so hard and said, "ice cream want!"
She said, "after you finish that fruit roll, I'll let you bite some."
She didn't say I had to finish it so I, in a lightning speed, smacked the fruit roll into my Mom's cheek and tried to stuff it into her mouth, wrappers and all, and she looked stunned. She then opened her mouth to "eat" but realized that I was stuffing the whole thing in there.
When I succeeded in having it half hanging out of her mouth, I said, "FINISH! ICE CREAM NOW."
Realization suddenly dawned my Mom and all she could do was to not drop me as she was laughing so hard with tears.
I got my bites for my brilliance.
The next, last, day-- we went to a private lake which was pretty much boring. There was nothing rustic about it, nothing refreshing but all primed for rich people. I got utterly bored there. I simply walked around, wandered aimlessly (no squirrels to chase) and sat in the shade. It was soooo boring that a fly who landed on me actually was the highlight of my day.
What's dis?
Hey!
Too quick for me.
Mom!! Did you see that bug crawl on me!?
Here's me on the beach: I'm laughing not because of the waves or water, but because there was a pretty girl my age in bikinis walking past me.
Whee!
Remember I explained my super clingyness with Ma? I was so clingy that I would not permit her to leave me alone even for a quick pee trip. When she was out of sight, I'd automatically go into a monosyllabic mode, "MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY" until she came back, I'd light up.
The girls found it funny and wanted to take pictures of him beaming when he saw me again, as well as me signing "MOMMY"
They didn't get to capture me saying Mom- even Mom tried to convince me to sign her name when she asked me who she was.
Ma: Hey, who am I?
Me: *preoccupied, obviously*
Ma: Who me?
ME: bird!
Ma: Huh? Me a bird?
Me: No, duh! Up there!
Quit badgering me, I know you're Mom and I want some milk NOW!
Then a swede, Frida, swooped me for a picture and I said...
"MOMMY!"
We returned home and I was so happy to see Dad again. Aunty Cat, Jahren too! Grandma, Poppie, Uncles... Itchie too!
We hung out at my Grandparents home on the last night before the Swedes flew back... here's a picture of me:
Engaged in a serious conversation with Collin.
I got new shoes, orange crocs and I love them so much. Mom, Dad and I now have crocs...
Cool huh?
We went out for a walk to the park at our home and had some good family time. It's good to be back and great that Mom doesn't have to work anymore. I assured her that my clingyness will end ASAP :)
Wheeee, I'm swinging with Mommy.
Even Daddy pushed me.
I'm a happy boy. I have a great family and a good circle of friends. Really, life is swell.
MWAH
Eitan
