It wasn't all not fun, it just had a slightly panicked beginning is all... well, not entirely. We got ready for church, it was really fine. We left with the perfect amount of time to get to church. Ken and Chris go to church in Little Current which is about 45 minutes away. It is a very small branch, but today was to be a joint branch conference for the Manitoulin Branch and a Branch from Elliot Lake. There would actually be other children in primary, and there was going to be a munch and mingle get together afterward.
About twenty minutes before we were to get to the church, Alice announced that she had to barf. The roads are windy and bumpy and the girls have threatened car sickness before but never actually gone through with it. We kept driving, asking Alice are you okay? Are you okay? I'm not sure how many times she said she was going to barf, but well, she barfed, all over her dress, but thankfully, not all over the van! We pulled over to clean her up. Thankfully Kate had left her clothes from the day before in the van - after she decided to wear her bathing suit for the day. And thankfully we had paper towel in the van that we had bought in Sudbury.
We weren't stopped in the safest of places so Ken wanted to move the van. Sick kid, and part of me shuts down, I immediately just wanted to go home. Ken and I were both freaking out a bit. I told him I wanted to pray before we did anything else, but again we weren't in the safest of places so Ken kept driving towards Little Current. I think I prayed as Ken drove. I didn't immediately feel peaceful, but as I began to sort through my feelings, and as we continued to talk about the possibility of leaving right away, I did start to feel that everything would be okay.
We did finally get to church - after not having the correct directions, then getting the correct ones - thank you church website, not google. Two of the girls were wearing pretty dresses, and one of the girls was in a cute t-shirt and shorts outfit, but the accessory that she brought with her put the outfit over the top - a barf bucket. I didn't want to go into the sacrament meeting with Alice and her barf bucket. I felt embarrassed being late, and we sent in Kate to sit with her Nana. Alice and I went to the bathroom a couple times, but by the time it was primary, Alice was fine. Perfectly fine, and it was jut car sickness. I hope this isn't the beginning of awful car trips!
We did have a lovely time at church. Nana ran the primary, and the girls had fun answering questions and colouring books about Jesus. The food afterwards was so good, and Kate had fun playing hide and seek all around the building and out behind the building.
Feeling calmer and happier, we drove home and had a peaceful, lovely time hanging around. We had eggs and toast for dinner and then decided to go over to the falls in Kagawong, not before taking some silly pics on the picnic blanket.
The mission president was on the island going for visits, and Ken and Chris didn't want to miss out seeing them, so we took two vans over to the falls. There was so much water, it was incredible. Ken and the girls had lots of fun splashing around.
The last picture is of Ken rescuing Alice's flip flop for the fifth time. This was the farthest it got, and we thought it gone for good, but a rock stopped it! A happy miracle! Well, it was about this time that Kate started throwing rocks - little rocks, but rocks nonetheless at her Dad. Not cool. I spoke to her about the possible consequences of this and she took off running down the trail towards the lake. I started following her with Alice and Fiona following as well. I suggested that Ken and his parents meet us at the end of the trail - I knew it wasn't very long. His parents ended up driving the two vans, and Ken, the girls and I walked towards the beach, and this is where the, I don't even know what to call it - watching crazy children? This is where it got interesting!
Kate started complaining bitterly about the walk we were on, and even fell down at one point. It wasn't pretty, but we made did make it to the beach. It was barely a ten minute walk in total. Once there, Fiona was the first to be cornered. She was followed around but a cute little guy named Nate. Fiona was over it when he pushed her down.
Next came two more boys, these two were Kate's and Alice's ages. The younger - Lukes (at least that's what he was called) was interesting. He played with a dead snake on an off the entire time we were there. His father told him to "put it back where you found it" and well, he did, and then would get it again, carry it around, then put it back, and on and on. At some point during all the snake carrying, Lukes decided he needed to go to the bathroom, and proceeded to poop on the grassy volleyball court adjacent to the beach. His father (classy guy) said it would blend in with the dog poop. Nice. Let's see. He (Lukes) also tried to engage Fiona in a bit of a game of tag, but she wasn't interested and just came walking back to me. Lukes stood a foot away from us on the swing and thumped his chest at me. It was odd, but perhaps not odd, just consistent. He then proceeded to show me how he could twirl on the swing on his stomach. He and Alice played near each other, but never with each other. After watching him carry around the snake for the (millionth?) time, I asked to take a picture, and he willingly obliged.
Last but not least in our new cast members of the evening was Riel. He and Kate played, and played, and played. They began with a conversation about their ages. Kate, six and a half. Riel, seven. Then, they spoke about their next birthdays.
Riel: On my next birthday (pause as he tries to count fingers) I'll be...
Kate: You'll be eight.
Riel: And then I'll be (pauses again to do fingers)...
Kate: Nine. But your next birthday is special.
Riel: I know.
Kate: Do you know what you'll get?
Riel: Yes.
Kate: A baptism.
Riel: I'll get a car and a cell phone.
Kate: Well, I don't think you'll get a car until you're sixteen.
After this introduction they proceeded to play Plants vs. Zombies. They took turns being the Zombie and the plants. Riel was impressed by Kate's knowledge of the game. (This is a game that Ken sometimes plays on his phone. Zombies try to attack your house, and you use your garden to grow plants that kill the Zombies, thereby protecting your brains from being eaten by Zombies.)
After Plants Vs. Zombies, it was various forms of tag. Throwing sand at each other tag, running around and down the slide tag, water tag. It was getting later and later, and we needed to head back to Ken and Chris's, but I just didn't want to interrupt the play! (Oh and at some point Ken wandered off to get a look at the fisher that was swimming around.)
But we did interrupt. Kate was at this point trying to get into the lake to fully play water tag - but had only gotten her shorts wet. This is when we found out Riel's name - while they were saying good bye. I just had to know his name to write this all down - Riel Larochelle.
Kate: Goodbye. (waves)
Riel: Wait, I need a hug. (Comes up out of the water - soaking wet, to give Kate a hug.)
Kate: Bye. (Starts walking away pulling on her now wet shirt)
Riel: (calls after her) You look beautiful.
Kate: (Half turns around still walking away, pulling on her shirt) You think I look beautiful all wet? Thanks for nothing.
Riel: (Continues to call after her) I love you! (Then blows numerous kisses)
Then as we were slightly delayed getting them into the van, Riel and Lukes came over to the teeter totter and engaged the girls in more conversation.
Riel: A wolf bit me. And last night, I turned into a werewolf.
Kate: You're just joking, that isn't real.
As soon as we got in the van I pulled out my notebook and started writing everything down. How could I not?!
We drove back to Ken and Chris's and caught the tail end of the mission president and his wife's visit. We chatted with them a little.
What a crazy fun Sunday! And just like that, tomorrow we say goodbye.
*Oh and an interesting side note. I googled Larochelle and Kagawong, and found out that Riel's parents are Anong Beam - daughter of Carl and Ann Beam. Carl Beam was the first artist of native ancestry to have his work purchased by the National Gallery of Canada as contemporary art. Anong Beam and Marc Larochelle now own Art Supply World in Kagawong. Anong also teaches art classes and is herself an artist, and the Dad is a musician.
