Service and Fun

 On Saturday, I took the kids to a service project that we've done for many years - the annual float down the river and clean up the shore by canoe.  It starts at Kensington group campsite and the organizers shuttle you up to the head of the river and then you can float back down to the campsite, picking up trash along the way.  It's always a lot of fun and my kids have loved being able to play in the water and do service at the same time.  Sadly Benjamin had to be at the marching band fundraiser carwash so he couldn't come, but I took the other three.  It was supposed to start at 7:30, but thanks to Peter, we got a late start and didn't arrive until 9.  By that time, everyone else was already on the river.  We arrived to a smattering of people sitting at a picnic table.  No registration table, no shuttle bus, etc.  I walked up to the table and asked if it was too late.  One lady said, "Well, yes, everyone had gone already."  Then an elderly man at the table said, "No, that's fine.  I'm Chester Heavner.  I'd be happy to give you a ride up there and get you a canoe."  Chester Heavner, as in the founder and owner of the giant company that provides all the canoes for this service project every year.  We got into his van and off we went.  That was a fun ride getting to know this great man.  We talked about scouting and about the Mormon church and he told me his favorite thing to listen to was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! 

Then we had a wonderful 2 hour float down the river.  I was nervous that Peter would get sick of it and start to cry, but he loved it the whole way.  When we reached a really shallow part and Bella and Christian got out, he jumped into the front seat, grabbed Bella's paddle and was ready to go.  He rode like that for quite a ways with the older two in the middle.  It's so fun to see how he's growing and changing.  He loved seeing all the birds and other animal life on the river.  We saw heron, turtles, ducks, fish, dragon flies, etc. etc. and he loved and pointed excitedly at all of them.  We didn't see a whole lot of trash because we were so far at the back of the group, but it wasn't for lack of trying!

After it was over, we enjoyed a delicious lunch they provided and had a really nice time at the campsite.  I always love this service project.

That afternoon we went to a party put on by the city of Livonia.  Just like we'd stumbled upon in Kirtland - food trucks, bands, lawn games, etc.  They had some blow up bounce houses but Peter was a bit too afraid of those.  He went in with Christian, but as soon as another boy started jumping too, he quit and wanted out. They had some fun crafts and coloring things that he and the others liked, so that's where we spent the most time. However, his favorite table was the one with the large water coolers.  "Wa!" he kept yelling.  (His word for water).  He kept leaving what we were doing and going over to the water coolers and getting himself more to drink. I  wasn't allowed to help him.  He's fiercely independent.  He had to be the one to hold the cup under and push the little button on the spigot.  It wasn't easy and he spilled a lot, but luckily the lady manning the table didn't seem to care.  It was his main source of entertainment for the afternoon.  Mostly it was a bit too hot and humid to spend too much time there.  Christian and Bella got tacos and churros at one of the food trucks and then we went home.  It had been better on the river in the cool water and shade of the trees.  A really fun day, altogether, though.