Day 11

 

Today was spent doing homework and staying warm.  After our trip into Winnepeg, we were all ready to stay in and get some work done before the next set of shifts.  The decision was made easy, by the temperature...wind chill warnings of -36, yawza that's cold!

Once the homeworkwas done... what could be better on a cool crisp night like this, warm and creamy rice pudding, yum!

Day 9

We were invited to have dinner with the family who helped us find our wonderful cabin in Sioux Lookout. They had beautiful children, and we were grateful that we were able to spend time with them....and also have a free meal :)

The kids loved Susy singing the pony song :)...Christina and Sara had never heard the song before...so Susy was not just singing for the kids...she was also singing for the "big kids" haha!!

                            

They had a dog named Harley, and when we entered their home he started going BONKERS...and by bonkers we mean he was so excited he was running so fast he stayed in one place (they had hardwood flooring)

The little one is so precious... it was nice to see happy people, in a happy home..who are so devoted to their children 

We had Chili for supper, which was AWESOME! We also had garlic bread and ate cookies, ice cream, and blueberry crumble!! We were definitely spoiled by this family :) 

                        

The Family was nice enough to lend us their snow shoes (REAL SNOW SHOES) for the remainder of our time here in the north! We also discussed with them going to reserves that are further north, where we will only be able to go in by plane. The family has a few friends that fly north on a regular basis, who may be willing to take us... now that would be something!! Below is a picture of Susy getting ready to put the snow shoes in the back of the beast around 6:30 pm..we were just on our way to Winnipeg to fix our cellphone situation as we all had no service in Sioux Lookout. 

 

We finally arrived to Manitoba at 10 to 10. The roads were in bad condition, but Christina is a superhero and was able to drive us all the way through :)! 

This picture was taken at a gas station, around 11:15.. 15 minutes from where we were staying...it was very cold out, and all of the trees branches were covered in icicles...we were glad to finally make it. When we arrived at the motel we decided to make some popcorn and throw on Romy and Michele's High School Reunion...needless to say we all fell asleep pretty quickly. When Susy woke up in the middle of the night, Sara was hogging her and Christina's bed (they were snuggle buddies for the night) ...Christina had no blankets and not even a quarter of the bed...Sara did pre-warn her she was a bed hog. Sara woke up once during the night..and saw that not only did Christina not have any room on the bed..but that she was also playing big spoon..and had her arm wrapped around Christina....trying not to giggle she rolled over to give her some room to breathe...only to find herself waking up doing the same thing....lesson learned and note to self..NO ONE SLEEP IN THE SAME BED WITH SARA

Day 8

We puttered around the house all day, doing a little bit of cleaning... We decided to take out the garbage for a little while so our cabin didn't smell raunchy...what happens? no dogs, no four legged anything...a bunch of RAVENS got into the garbage and left a wonderful surprise outside of our front door...haha after a long morning...Susy went to go pick up some baking supplies and Christina and Sara went for a walk down the trails near Cedars Bay..

On the road there, we stopped to check out this opening...we're guessing it may have been a parking lot of some kind? We did not know what for, but the view was awesome!

The walk was beautiful, just look for yourself.....this is what we were surrounded by...snow covered forest...we both were speechless

Looking up to the sky from the trail

We finally made it to the bay, the snow was quite deep, about as high as our winter boots. The ice was frozen so we followed the trail across the bay :)

Looking back before we made it across the bay, we found the cabin that a family was telling us about...you can stay there...but he said you would have to make sure you bundled up...If we stayed there..we probably would be sleeping in snow suits...as it is now minus 26 tonight...We think we should just probably stay in our heated Cabin with heated tile floors :)

As we were walking home, Susy pulled up beside us and asked us if we wanted to grab a lift with her...but we were enjoying ourselves so we kept trucking...although Susy looked extremely warm..and both of our faces were frozen..snot included...this is our view coming back 

 When we got back after supper...we wanted Susy to teach us how to make her cookies...we have never been so thankful to have someone who actually knows how to bake...and not pull something out of a box...or bake brownies in a microwave hahahaha

While we were waiting on the cookies...Christina chit chatted with her pals via internet...we are thanking the man or woman (every night) who created wifi

Sooo I go to take a picture of the final product...and Christina decided to snatch a warm one...even though there were 12 other cookies that had came out of the oven earlier....she is now officially known as the cookie monster...we can say that because there's no such thing anymore...apparently its now the veggie monster (LAME)

Sooo Sara had Susy help make her Fiance a heart cookie....and although he will never get to eat it...at least he has a picture of it.....ALL three of us are actually creating this blog and eating it at this VERY MOMENT...sucks to be you Andre :)

 Susy had a Skype date with her husband Deryck and her family...she was so pleased to see them...and Christina and Sara were able to say hello! We all miss our families, fiance, and friends so much and we cannot wait to see all of your faces when we get back!!! We love you guys!

Day 7..Fundraising Dinner

We came home in the morning to this.....but because the owners are so awesome...he shoveled our driveway..and also shoveled the whole road with their tractor :)

Later in the evening, we met up with the owners and headed off to the Fundraiser Dinner for Laurie the native woman who was being sent over seas..Ahead of us is their vehicle

We sat down at the table and the owners of the Cabin and their friends decided to tell us how crazy they were...their definition of crazy and wild...bringing appetizers and a table cloth to the dinner...We were laughing from our toes 

As you can see...we only have four hours of sleep...and our placement is also emotionally exhausting...Sara can barely open her eyes

After we ate our appetizers..we finally made our rounds for the spaghetti supper..and did a trip up to the silent auction...

As the kids played at the one end of the gym, the parents and elders all sat laughing and talking...we were so pleased to feel so welcomed..We also had the opportunity to meet with a nurse who does outpost nursing in the community, after chatting with her..she invited all three of us out to her clinic..gave us numerous names of nurses in other outposts to get into contact with..and we will visit her in the near future so she can take us to visit some of the reserves nursing stations that are accessible by road.... the only road... :)...just networking and making connections.. NO BIG DEAL

We were so honored to have the opportunity to attend this fundraiser... so many community members had shown up to support Laurie...the dinner and auction raised around $ 3, 900.00!!!! But..like students we bet too low....no prizes for us.... a $45 dollar lemon meringue pie is a little out of our price range no matter how yummy :) 

Day 6

While Christina and Sara were sleeping...Susy decided to follow the trails, and she walked out to a grey and misty day 

It then started to freeze and rain....YUCK

It was so cold..the flowers became encased in little ice capsules....figure that one out 

When Susy arrived back to the cabin..two hours later...the snow storm had started...and we all would be working a night shift together 

Thought we could just hop into "The Beast" at 7.....turns out..we may need to start the vehicle..a half an hour before we want to go....ANYWHERE....Sara was laughing in the car like a princess...snapping shots of Christina and Susy scraping the windows with spatulas hahahahhaha (don't try this at home)...time to invest in a brush and scraper we suppose? maybe?

  BUUUUUURRRRRRRRR

After our night shift together we were lucky enough to have one of our preceptors let us take his extra brush and scraper..... so we could see our way home....we also got stuck on the way up the hill back to our place..a bird was nestled into the snow on the road...all fat and apparently wanting to commit suicide...haha we saw him...and drove around :)...he's lucky we have fourwheel drive or he would be dinner