Summer Boating in the Heat of the Day

I know I haven't posted pictures in a little while.

Nanny called to register a request for more pictures.

I am on vacation, and somehow turning on the computer seemed like a lot of work...

But, I'm back. 

I have been busy figuring out ways to turn my blog into a keepsake book for the family (more on that when they arrive), archiving the girls' Preschool and Kindergarten years (which I will post about), and I went into my classroom yesterday to set it up with a super-helpful friend (pictures of the room to follow once it is fully set up). 

So, you see, I haven't been lazy, but just planning future blog posts!

Last weekend, we went out for a boat ride and to fish with the girls and Papa. 

The water was as smooth as glass.  In short, a perfect day to be on the boat. 

We absolutely HAD to go on the boat last weekend, because Miss G was adamant that we would.  Daddy has a perfectly enthusiastic little skipper. 

Miss A was pretty excited to go fishing, too.  It is breezy when we are buzzing up the lake, hence Daddy's sweater as a blanket, but aside from that it was a HOT day. 

Daddy loves his boat.  We all know that.

Papa loves it, too!  Yee haw!! 

And, I am very useful for packing lunches and making sure all the right stuffies and books come along to keep the girls entertained when the fishing turns into waiting. 

Nice 'do, Captain.

A wee bit windswept, are we? 

The girls like to watch as Daddy's down rigger lowers deep into the water to catch fish. 

And the stuffies are always on standby to ooh and aah when the fish are caught. 

While Daddy fished, Miss A and I helped to steer the boat to where the fish were swimming below. 

Papa supervised, and gave a heart-wrenching rendition of the Titanic scene, "I'm the king of the world!"

Miss G then told Papa that he must be mistaken because the Titanic is sunk in the ocean, so he can't be on the Titanic.  He is on Daddy's boat.  Duh!

We snacked and waited for fish. 

Having Papa on board for some extra snuggles was really nice. 

After a few bites, and one smallish trout (which is big by most standards, but small in the North-- we put him back), Daddy began to pack up, and THAT is when a big ol' trout was caught for supper. 

In the meantime, Miss A and Papa were having a jumpin' good time in the bow of the boat. 

"Higher, Papa!  Higher!" 

We toured around the Lake to check out the beautiful rocky landscape.  The lakes here are unbelievable.  These rocky islands are deep (and I mean DEEP) right up to the edge.  Likewise, there are towers of rocks to be careful of in the lake. 

With all of the fishing gear stored away, we promised the girls a visit to an island. 

We motored right along, until Eli found a great island for a stop. 

The island choice was an instant hit for the girls because they found this water snail on a rock, under the water, right on the shore of the island.

They named him Snail White.

Miss G commented, "I never saw a snail before, but I know that was a snail, and now I have seen a water snail!" 

The girls peeled off the layers to go for a swim to cool off in the water. 

Their toes are so cute. 

We were lucky that this island had a nice shelf all around it, so the girls could wade out a bit, and Daddy could splash them. 

Miss A took time to wave at any boats that went by. 

Miss G did make it in the water, and promptly screamed, "Put me back!!!"

It will take a bit more practice to trust the lake as opposed to the pool.  And, according to Daddy, it was colder than expected.

Miss A helped Miss G get her footing on the rock when she got out. 

Dried off and dressed, Miss A played with her shadow. 

Miss G joined Daddy as he filleted the trout for supper.  She is so into everything to do with fishing except eating the fish. 

Papa and Miss A threw rock after rock into the lake, and Miss A squealed with delight when ever Papa made a big splash. 

I took pictures.  I'm such a helpful fisher.

Mobile Pictures

Do you remember using the rotary phone to dial only 5 numbers to call somewhere in town, and how terribly annoying it was when they made us dial all SEVEN numbers to place a local call?

And, do you remember when voice mail was cool and new and the phone company would give us a whole weekend to make as many free voice mail messages as possible, so we did, but then they went back to charging us, like 10 cents a message?

And, do you remember when car phones were for the really crazy rich people, like in Rainman, when Charlie Babbitt uses a huge honker to place a call, and it was practically larger than the car seat itself?

And, do you remember when we would call it a telephone, then just phone, and now cell (or mobile, if you are feelin' fancy)?

And, do you remember your phone being only a phone, and having a cord on it (sometimes a really long cord)? 

Man, what I wouldn't have given back in the day for my own phone line to my room...

Anyways, this is what my phone has been up to lately. 

I use it as my back up camera when I have momentarily stepped away from the Big Red Beautiful Camera, and need to snatch a great shot.

Hey, do you remember your first digital camera that cost you an entire week's pay?  Yeah, all of our phones now have way better quality than those first dinosaurs (decade old digital dinosaurs, to be exact).

When Eli took me in to get a smart phone prior to our move to the North, the guy at the store actually laughed at my phone.  "Hey!  I remember these!  I had one when I was, like 12."

I digress, and I present to you my mobile pictures (because I'm fancy).

Miss G wanted to help Daddy mow the tiny patch of grass in front of our house. 

It's so tiny compared to our lawn in Nova Scotia, that often Daddy just mows over to the neighbours yard.  It still only takes about 7 minutes. 

Miss G and I went on a bike ride to get ice cream at the Reddi Mart.  Her Kindergarten teacher and I walked her whole class there on the last day of school, and she thinks that's a pretty special treat, still!

At the beach, Miss G is a seagull chasing machine! 

Miss A was very proud of herself for using a butter knife to get a cheese snack ready. 

After a visit to Weaver and Devore, the girls wanted to pose with the cut outs. 

Miss A enjoying a hot hot hot afternoon in the shade in front of our house with the turtle pool. 

This is how Eli brought home the hexagonal picnic table I chose for our front deck (I love it!).  The girls were so excited, "Mommy!!  Daddy's car looks like a prince!" 

I snapped this picture earlier in July.  Time of day? 

Before 3 am!!  Hello, midnight sun! 

Miss A drew this awesome picture of Wubbzy.  She loves Wubbzy. 

The girls love to make mail and special deliveries for everyone at the house.  Here, Miss A made a heart card for Papa with a treehouse she would like him to build.

Here is Dad, caught in the act.  Eli made him and ice cream cone with TWO cones (because that is his favourite part!).  Papa was so pleased. 

Another day, Eli had Papa try his famous barbeque hot wings.  It was painful. 

Very very hot!! 

Here are the girls outside at the Dancing Moose Cafe. 

The best part of the lunch visit to a restaurant in Old Town was being so close to the float panes as they took off.  Can you see the spray? 

The girls were pretty impressed... and man, was this a HOT day! 

Nanny thought it was a pretty cool place to have lunch, too. 

Miss G felt indignant that there was no actual dancing moose at the Dancing Moose Cafe (false advertisement?), but she did like this wall hanging with the dancing moose under the northern lights. 

Miss A is lounging in a chair outside the Glassworks in Old Town (downtown) Yellowknife. 

Ah ha!  Back and the beach, chasing sea gulls.  You know, Miss G can get pretty close to them when she is sneaking, and before she yells caa caa!!  I wonder what she would do if she caught one? 

This month, the girls have been taking swim lessons, and they are really enjoying them! 

Miss G has discovered that frozen yogurt tubes are a lot like ice cream, and she likes them. 

Miss A likes them a lot, too. 

This was snapped at 4:24 am when I was driving Nanny and Papa off at the airport for the family reunion in Saskatoon. 

Back to the pool... this time practicing floats in the deep end! 

Miss A is a starfish! 

Ice cream from the ice cream truck??  What a lucky day!  Thank you, Daddy! 

This was the potty line at the air show... the girls were patient, and the planes provided entertainment. 

Ronald McDonald was there, too, and the girls went back to back with him to see who was taller... I think Ronald won, by almost double! 

The girls thought he was swell. 

But the super fast planes were cooler. 

Another line!  This time, for cotton candy and lollipops. 

While at the air show, Miss A collected rocks, and set them up for circle time, but she didn't have a story to read them. 

She was pretty tuckered out by the end of the day... 

One morning, I was sitting on the deck sipping tea when I head some traffic at the bird feeder Monique helped the girls paint for us as a going away present.  Can you see the bird's tail feathers?

This is the sky at nearly 1 am when I went to get Papa from the airport, upon his return from the reunion.  It was very smoky from forest fires, but you can still see that the sun was not yet set! 

Miss A decided to open up a Movie Store (also called a Woovie Store).  Our little entrepreneur! 

The Northern Bugs are nasty! 

Check out this bite Miss G got on Friday when we rode our bikes to the pool for the girls' lesson. 

I'm told that people build up immunity over time to the bites, but both girls swell like crazy after a year up here!  (Eli and I both do, too.) 

Yesterday, we took Papa to Mark's Work Wearhouse for a mini work clothes shopping spree, and the girls had a wonderful time with the mirrors. 

Mommy!  Six girls! 

And, I took this picture today.

Even the girls laughed as we drove behind this souped up Jeep-type vehicle.

I think it's pretty appropriate to living in the North, too.

As long as you are upright and moving:  no problem!