#summeratthelake

Over the past week I had no clues to any presents and hardly had enough time to search for them. Yesterday morning, I woke up 12 years old believing that I had undergone the most unsuccessful present hunt to date. I thought this birthday would be the most disappointing one yet... but oh boy, was I ever wrong! It turns out that I do in fact, like surprises. My birthday started off early, I had hardly gotten any rest because I was so anxious for my big day. I woke up before the sun did, and enjoyed my classic cottage breakfast: a nectarine in one hand and a butter tart form Ms. Nell’s in the other. A mere half an hour later;

Mom asked me “Are you ready to be thrown in the lake?!”.

I shouted back “Don’t you dare, Mummy! I absolutely am not ready to be thrown into the lake!”

The entire lake must have heard us playfully bickering. Before I knew it, I was thrown in at the end of the dock in my favourite red and white flannel pajamas as my family sung me happy birthday. This is a birthday tradition at the cottage. The lake always has a chill to it in the morning, it woke me right up! I pulled myself up out of the lake and hopped from each stepping stone on my tip toes up to the cottage to cozy myself up in a big towel. There was something special about this summer day. Today was one of those summer days where the sun on your skin is just right and there is not a cloud in the sky.

For my birthday, the only plans I had made were to swim to blueberry island, have chicken quesadillas for dinner and enjoy s’mores around the campfire for dessert. I got just exactly that and more. The best days at the cottage always seem to go right by in a blink of an eye. Before the day was over, it was moment that I had been waiting for,

“Erin, did you find any of your birthday presents this year?” my Dad asked.

Feeling a little bit embarrassed, I fibbed, and boastfully responded, “Of course I did. I always do!”

My parents shared a smile, and I began to open up my presents. I came to the conclusion that it’s more fun when you don’t know what’s under the wrapping of each present.

“I didn’t find any of the presents this year, Dad. You two managed to trick me… Where did you hide them?” I asked.

“I know you didn’t, kiddo! We hid them in the McNaughton’s garage next door! We couldn’t hide them inside anymore… you have been getting too sneaky the past couple years. So your mother and I had to step up our game.” Dad said.