The Piggies’ day out with Aunty Poppy

So, yesterday I baby-sat The Piggies, my brother’s 3 children. The Piggies would contest the term “baby-sitting” for sure, but since they are not on this platform, I will stick to baby-sitting lol.  They are always excited to visit church with me and we [their parents and myself] thought this would be a good opportunity to make good my promise to bring them with to church. They regularly attend a different congregation. After planning back and forth with Madamski, aka Bibi, aka Mama Piggies aka Carol, I pick them up at 8:00am in the morning. I’m going for worship team practice and make sure I have coloring books and pencils to keep them busy during practice.  It works.  During the worship service, children are released for their church service, and I do what mummies do-give the ‘look’ to convey my message lol. As I’m on stage when the call for children’s church is made, I give the ‘look’ to suggest that they should be leaving with the rest of the children. It works and I’m pretty pleased with myself heheheh.

I promised them pizza for lunch, and luckily for me, this visit coincides with our church’s Ministry Fair, where different ministries showcase their services so that church members can see where to plug in. The church provides pizza for lunch on such days, and the Piggies get their pizza lol.  Afterwards, on our way home they say it’s too early to go home, and we need to do something else.  I had toyed with the idea of taking them to Karura Forest and planned with Madamski to have them wear sports shoes. It’s been drizzling all morning, but I figure the mud isn’t bad because the last few days have been dry. I map out a short 3 kays circuit that will take about 45 minutes at most. As we set off, the Piggies are having fun, and they decide to run ahead. Unknown to me, this is the beginning of a ‘change of plan’ lol.

I walk behind them, and by the time I catch up with them, I learn the challenge of hanging out with children that can read, write and debate you on issues dear to their hearts hehehehe. Having stopped at a crossroad, they read the board at the intersection as they wait for me to catch up. As I catch up with them, Ms. T (9) asks how far we have come up to the crossroad in kilometers. I say a half a kilometer, why? She points to the board and says that there is a waterfall a kilometer away. If we have done half, then another kilometer is not far. Additionally, she says there’s a Butterfly Lake 1.5 kilometers away and points out that that’s not far either. I explain to them that the waterfall is not a good idea because it will be far going and coming back. She argues that she hasn’t seen a waterfall in her whole entire life, and this is her opportunity to see one. She convinces her brothers, LT (7) and L’il T (5) that this is their only chance to see a waterfall and a Butterfly Lake, and they agree with her lol. I tell them that because these features are in different directions, they can only do one. They consult and agree to do the waterfall and off we go.

We are gathering mud as we go along and L’il T, who does not like dirt on him complains about the mud and says he wants to go back and clean his shoes. I convince him that we will clean the shoes when we get back to the car. We get to the waterfall, and Ms. T of the Alpha Generation takes short videos for her parents as we go, explaining what we are up to. The waterfall does not disappoint, and they are excited about the amount of water falling and flowing onwards. Finally, we are ready to go back. When we get to the main path, Ms. T points out that I am going back to the car and yet they still want to see Butterfly Lake. I explain to her that it’s far and it’s better to return to the car. She points out that it was only 1.5 kms away, and we have done 1.5 kms in total so far and, therefore, it’s doable. They boys agree.

I know my way around Karura Forest, but I haven’t been to the Butterfly Lake before. I decide to ask a ranger I have never seen for the shortest route from where we are at. He explains that it ain’t far, we need to cross over to the next avenue using a shortcut that I know. “…that’ll get you to #19, turn left and go on to #18 and on to #17. The Lake is to the right of #17”. Also, he asks why I am asking for directions, and I am a frequent visitor, he has seen me not once, or twice, or thrice, but many many times, he says lol. I explain to him I am usually running or walking, not exploring nature… he agrees.  Back to finding Butterfly Lake, Ms. T exclaims in excitement that it doesn’t sound far, and we can do it. L’il T is not so sure at this point that it’s a good idea, especially because the mud is getting worse. LT convinces him that we will take breaks on the Samsung benches [why are the benches called Samsung anyway, he asks?]. I explain to him how sponsoring events and projects work lol. We take periodic breaks to enable L’il T to rest as we walk to Butterfly Lake and finally get there.  The Lake is disappointing. The butterflies are not as much as the Piggies anticipated and I tell them that they are asleep because it’s late in the afternoon. They plan to come earlier next time. I am not sure how I will handle that conversation if they remember, but that’s a conversation for another day lol. For now, we look out to the lake to see what butterflies we can spot, if any.

On way back to the car L’il T has been rejuvenated from the rest at the Lake and is determined to show us that he’s the fastest, his age notwithstanding. He stays a few steps ahead of me and reminds me that he’s faster. If I catch up with him, he points out that it’s temporary and speeds up lol. Ms. T and LT are behind us having their own adventure picking sticks and discovering new things as we move along. They’re not in a hurry as they frequently consult one another, standstill. I offer ice cream as a treat if we get back when the sun is still up. That works for all of two seconds but the discoveries and adventures of the Forest quickly take over.

Finally, we reach the car, walking a total 7 kays in two hours!!! Very impressive. The Piggies discover a playground, and it takes another 30 minutes before I shepherd them out of Karura. We go for ice cream and make one more stop before we get back to their place at around 6pm. There are more asks but I convince them that we will do these on our next date with Aunty Mona. They can’t wait until the next date… Mona, we have our work cut out for us because Ms. T has several suggestions lol. It’s been a successful day by my estimation. The parents ask L’il T what they did, and he sums it up in one sentence, “Aunty Poppy made us walk a full forest!”. That was his take-home LOL. Laughter for days!