Cottage Week 2025

Originally when we started making plans, cottage week was set to take place during the third week of August, but sometimes things need to change. Emily reached out to me at the beginning of June and asked if we could come up the first week of July. I was a little disappointed, because I was just so exhausted from the school year and I wanted to do nothing at home and I like August better, better weather and not as many bugs, but goodness gracious, our friends are hosting us at their beautiful cottage, so of course we said yes!

Last summer Emily and John Inca embarked on an ambitious cottage expansion. We visited during construction and it was a marvel. What they had accomplished, largely by themselves, was incredible. Emily and John Inca had hoped that they would have been finished by the beginning of this summer, but they weren't. We love our generous friends. We love our family fun and we love that they invited us into the chaos of the race to finish the renos before they could start renting out their cottage this summer. 

Our first trip to their newly purchased cottage was in 2023. This was the pic I took of the exterior with the added bonus of cute Fiona.

Fast forward to 2025 and the cottage now looks like this! (I borrowed this pic from Emily's airbnb listing.)

Originally the cottage had one small downstairs bedroom, a loft that had a partition and could be used as two sleeping areas, a bathroom with a shower, a kitchen, and a small living room area. The cottage renovation saw the addition of a great room joining the original cottage to the garage which had been converted into three bedrooms, a laundry room and another bathroom. The kitchen was doubled in size and spanned the new great room and the original cottage. The great room is gorgeous. The converted garage is amazing. The new cottage is just stunning. 

We got there on Sunday night and landed in the middle of the race to beat the clock. Ken wanted to do as much cooking as possible, the kids had each other, and I helped Emily do shopping errands and I read.

Monday June 30

I meant to re-take my exterior shot without a sun flare, later in the day, but never remembered to do that.

I love Hazel and Fiona's friendship. And I keep hoping that someday Hazel will smile nicely. I will continue to dream lol.

The lake is so serene!

Tuesday July 1

Canada Day! The day started with breakfast that included maple syrup of course and the application of many tattoos. 

Breakfast was quickly followed up with a boat regatta around the lake. It was too cute. The neighbours all paddled around the lake together. It felt very Canadian and lovely.

I watched from the dock happily feeling thankful to be Canadian.

Emily and Hazel and Fiona and Bella had a grand time. And Emily brought some neighbours back to the cottage for a tour.

The henna fun began. Lauren had purchased a henna kit from amazon and there was much henna-ing!

The artistry of Lauren and Alice was amazing!

I like him. 

Milo on the dock!

Emily invited Nermine up for the day and it was so lovely to see her again. I hadn't seen her in a very long time. We all had a lovely time visiting.

Ken let the girls paint his nails white. It was highly unfortunate.

Alice did Nermine's hair and Lauren did some henna.

And then Nermine took a group shot for us for cottage week 2025!

Emily bought one box of fireworks and it was awesome.

Jinx poured cement to create a step between the great room and the garage and the doggies decided to leave their prints. At least the girls told me it was both doggies.

I love watching our kids hang out as teenagers and just having fun together.

Wednesday July 2

The necessary pic of Milo and Bella. 

Kate started her online grade 11 physics class today. There might have been a little anxiety going on.

I loved walking the dogs with Emily every day. I did not like the bugs. But I loved the walk and the talk.

I might have actually gone in the water today! And it was perfection. 

The leftover fireworks demolished the bucket and a little bit the dock. Eek!

I sat here and read an ebook on my phone. I finished two books while at the cottage. They were perfect cottage reads, "Pride and Politics" and "Sense and Second Chances" by Brittany Larsen. They are both on the Deseret Bookshelf Plus app and they are reimagined Jane Austen books with an LDS twist and I loved them. This is the perfect view for reading.

I love that the puppy paws are under a board forever enshrined in the cottage. LOVE! (And as previously mentioned I hope it's both!)

I might have missed the last/only bonfire tonight because I might have been talking with Kate who might have been having some big feelings about summer school. I love my Kate and I'm so thankful that I get to be her Mom. She is so capable and so determined and so hardworking and someday she'll be able to sing her own praises and manage her anxiety better because she wants to.

Thursday July 3

I'm so grateful for this beautiful human and the friendship that has lasted more than twenty years. I'm so grateful that our husbands and children have formed bonds of awesome friendship too. 

I really wish I'd gotten a shot of Holden and Kate together. They don't cuddle lol but they do chat and game a bit together.

The drive home was thankfully uneventful and beautiful.

Can't remember where this was, but Alice Street! Yay!

I'm so thankful for amazing friendships, beautiful cottages and a relaxing start to the summer. Thank you Lim-Anderson family for an amazing cottage week. We love you guys!

Alice's Grade 8 Graduation

What a hot day! Alice looked beautiful. She looked so good. The graduation ceremony itself was really well done. The graduates are an accomplished group. But man oh man was it hot!

Alice worked really hard this year and had a very successful, very happy year. She was the Queen of Hearts in the school's production of Alice in Wonderland, she received the Music award and the English award. She was also on the honour roll. She loved her teachers (almost all of them) and her friends. She had an amazing trip to Ottawa. It was a good year.

We're proud of you Alice! We think you're really awesome!

The Birthday Questions - Fiona - Age 12

 (Today is Fiona's original due date! So maybe that makes up for it taking us 12 days to answer the birthday questions? Or maybe it was me getting sick, writing report cards and a song.)

1. What is your favourite color? Pink

2. What is your favourite toy? My vanity

3. What is your favourite fruit? Raspberries  

4. What is your favourite tv show? Bluey

5. What is your favourite thing to eat for lunch? Butter pasta with parmesan  

6. What is your favourite outfit? Jean shorts and my GAP sweatshirt   

7. What is your favourite game? Hide and Seek     

8. What is your favourite snack? Gogo squeeze 

9. What is your favourite animal? Bunny

10. What is your favourite song? Enough For You – Olivia Rodrigo      

11. What is your favourite book? Bluey at the Beach      

12. Who is your best friend? Hazel, Avlyn, Victoria, Aubrey, Mercedes, Ryleigh      

13. What is your favourite cereal? I don’t like cereal

14. What is your favourite thing to do outside? Play with Avlyn 

15. What is your favourite drink? Lemonade

16. What is your favourite holiday? My birthday or Christmas or Easter

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? My bunnies        

18. What is your favourite thing to eat for breakfast? Smoothies

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? The Keg

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Architect, interior designer, fashionista, doctor. (Mom’s answer – taller)

Fiona's Friend Party

When Fiona wasn't sure if she wanted a party or not this year, I thought, I would be totally okay if she didn't have a party. Eventually she decided that she did want a party, but that it was going to be really chill. That was something I was more than a little okay with!

Fiona had a really fun/silly/great time with her friends. They hung out in the basement, opened presents, hung out some more, ate food. It was just all really good and Fiona was happy, and she enjoyed her party. YAY!

Fiona took most of the pictures in here. I was working and she came upstairs to grab my phone because she knew I wanted pictures. I love her! Happy Birthday Fiona, 12 looks really good on you!

Fiona's Birthday - Family Dinner

Fiona wanted to go to Uncle Andrew's Keg in Mississauga for dinner on her birthday. When I asked Andrew he said no and made a reservation at the Ken in Ajax, which was so sweet. When I told Fiona I was a little worried she'd be disappointed. Turns out she just wanted to see Uncle Andrew and was actually really excited that we only had to drive 10 minutes, not over an hour! Grandma and CJ were able to join us too which was awesome. Kate wasn't feeling well, and didn't think there was anything she would want to eat so she didn't join us which was a bummer.

We had a lovely dinner. Andrew came over for a bit afterward which was fun. But the most important thing was that Fiona had a lovely dinner with her family. Even if the enormous balloon that CJ picked out was a little embarrassing. (In Fiona's mind that is.)

I think Fiona has had a really awesome birthday so far!