I Told You So

I told you so.

Are is there a more powerful phrase in a marriage?

Hmm.

I can think of a few runners up, but this one immediately draws a line in the sand, don't you think?

Just last week, I mentioned to Eli that the seasons are changing quickly. 

Perhaps we could talk about taking the screen gazebo down from our front deck. 

The cold or the wind might get it.

He was indifferent.

Get ready for it.

I told you so.

By the time we got home from work and school today, our gazebo was bent to smithereens. 

We had a good warm day, with a good strong wind, not unlike a Chinook. 

Clearly, the Chinook had it in for our gazebo. 

Apparently, they just can't get along.

Here are a few other "I told you so" pictures...

I told you school had a greater purpose. 

Seriously.  I love reading comics in the bathroom! 

If you don't do this in your staff room, be the anonymous comic poster. 

It's funny. 

I told you that gloves can go on your feet. 

Miss A was so very proud of this idea!

I told you colouring by number rocks.

Or rockets.

Sorry.  I couldn't resist that pun. 

Mommy, I told you I could reach the machine to change the DVD.

I just needed a ballerina tutu and my hair in a bun. 

I told you I'd love colour by number so much that I'd cover the fridge.

This is Miss G's masterpiece, in case you are wondering. 

I told you God makes rainbow ponies. 

I told you this is a picture of Mommy.

She has long hair.

This masterpiece is brought to you by Miss A. 

I told you that sidewalk chalk is awesome.

Who wants a piece of boring white paper when the world is a blank canvas?

I told you that you were a beautiful printer.

This is Miss G's first ever homework for Kindergarten.

I told you I love you. 

I told you I love you, too. 

And I always will, my precious little girls. 

I told you that you'd love Kindergarten.

Even on your first day when you may or may not have tried to pinch your teacher.

Just saying...

Even on the first night when you realized that you were not the boss of Kindergarten. (Mrs. F is.  That was a real let down for Miss G)

Even on the first week when you were practicing sharing, so you could be a super sharer.

I told you that you would be proud to be you.

Because we already are so proud of you.

Miss G got a happy face on her hand today because she had a happy day.

It was a day full of sharing and playing.

It was a day full of smiling and listening.

It was like a musical when they all break out into song.

Well, maybe not.

But it was a great day!

Congratulations, Miss G!

I told you I'd keep on blogging.

But, I've got to tell you, this first week of full-time work (coupled with the girls beginning full-time school, and getting ready for Eli returning to full-time work) knocked me off my feet for a few days.

On the long weekend, I just wanted to hang out with my very favourite people.

(Eli and the girls, in case you were wondering.)

I also dedicated the weekend to re-reading the Twilight series. 

I'm wrapping up Breaking Dawn now. 

I love brain candy books that I can devour in under a week. 

Mmmm.  Brain candy...

I little bit want to be bit by a vampire.

So, I took a mini-break from the blog. 

I didn't think you'd want my play-by-play commentary on the Twilight series.  

And, now I'm back.

Oh.  And, Eli??

I told you so.

What We Did Last Weekend

Last weekend, Eli went fishing. 

I know.  You are all shocked.

It was shocking.

He wants me to feature some boat and fishing shots in this blog post, so get ready!

This is Eli's boat. 

We've called it Squishy's Butt. 

If you've seen Finding Nemo as much as we have you will find the name amusing. 

It's from two different scenes in Nemo. 

I could also call it Eli's Mistress. 

This is what it looks like from Eli's boat when he is fishing. 

He sends me these kinds of pictures all day from his Blackberry while he's fishing. 

Because, I care. 

Then, I tell him to email them to his buddy Serge or my Uncle Romeo. 

They actually care. 

This is Eli's boat again. 

In case you've forgotten it. 

Seriously. 

He has almost as many pictures of his boat with his phone camera as the girls! 

This is a fairly large lake trout that Eli caught. 

He thinks it is very important to send me pictures of his fish at all times. 

I've had to put a stop to photos of the fish once they are filleted. 

I cannot pretend to care about that. 

Oh!  Look at that!

It's Eli's boat!!

Had you forgotten what it looked like?

Well, here it is.

Again. 

This is a pretty massive beaver dam.

The girls do love getting photos of the beaver dam.

I think they are so amazing.

Industrious little flat-tailed beavers.

So diligent.

The girls just love to learn about beavers. 

This is one of Eli's pit stops. 

The views are amazing. 

So, last weekend, on Saturday, after Eli finished his morning of fishing, and I committed to one full weekend day away from my classroom, I drove the girls to Vee Lake to meet Eli for a family picnic on a remote island. 

We put-put-putted through the shallows of Vee Lake, and approached a very small canal which led to a larger lake, called Walsh Lake.  How do you like that, Melissa? 

How beautiful is that?

Can you see the leaves changing?

The girls love their life jackets, and I'm very glad that they willingly accept this all important boating safety feature. 

It's surprising how many adults we see boating without life jackets on, but Eli and I always have them on when we are on the lakes. 

With or without the girls, I'm glad that Eli is always wearing his life jacket or survival suit. 

They really do love Daddy's very fast blue boat, and like to wear their toques so their ears don't get cold in the wind. 

I had mine on, too, in the boat.

Eli docked on a beautiful rocky island, and we had a picnic lunch.

It was a great chance to connect as a family.

I have been so busy fretting about getting ready for school, and it was one of the first times we've had some good quality family time in about a week. 

The air was rather still, and it was a crisp autumn day, but so comfortable to be outdoors. 

Oh, would you look at that!

It's Eli's boat.

Again.

He asked me specifically to take this with my Canon camera.

For posterity sake.

Because, God forbid, we do not document his boat enough! 

The girls had a wonderful time throwing rocks into the lake once they were done their picnic. 

Miss G has quite an arm on her! 

Look at the focus! 

There's my guy.

Handsome, eh ladies?

You can look, but you can't touch.

Mostly, because I'm in Yellowknife, and you are probably far away.

Or related to me,

Or, well, he's Eli! 

Miss A loves to throw rocks, too. 

She gets so proud of herself! 

The clouds were awesome this day! 

My little ladies. 

Enjoying nature and the beauty of the North. 

There is no point in being up here unless we take advantage of all it has to offer! 

Eli got my camera and wanted a picture of his two favourite ladies.

Me and the boat.

Crestliner.

Starts with a "C."

Like "cookie." 

Then, he thought it would be funny to take pictures of my tooshie as I walked away. 

I gave him "the Look."

"The Look" is also know as "The Hairy Eyeball" by some in the teacher crowd. 

I kept going. 

Then I ran.

He says all men do this when armed with a camera.

I won't argue with it.

It is my experience 100% of the time. 

The girls wrapped up the island picnic with more rock throwing. 

And I packed up our lunch boxes. 

Then, I called the girls over. 

And, we piled back into the boat.

Both girls are very helpful at steering the boat with Eli.

He's a good Daddy.