I can’t believe that it was over seven years ago that Matt asked me to spend the rest of my life with him.

BBQing in the rain

It was Canada Day weekend in 2006. We were at our friend Christina’s family cottage as per usual. It’s located in Tiny Township near Midland, Ontario. The cottage is super nice and the beach is full of soft sand and water that’s often the perfect warmish/coolish temperature during a hot Ontario summer day.

Sneaking a kiss, but obviously getting caught.

I wondered if something was up with Matt when he was determined to get fireworks while we were at the IGA supermarket that Friday night at the cottage. It seemed odd that he was so insistent, but I chalked it up to his enthusiasm for a good weekend.

Originally, his plan was to set off some fireworks and then propose under the lit up sky. But Mother Nature had other plans because it was far too windy and there was threats of rain throughout the weekend.

His backup plan? He asked me to go for a walk; just the two of us.

I remember us walking, but I can’t for the life of me recall anything that we discussed because I was in total shock when he suddenly got down on one knee in the sand and popped out a ring, asking me to marry him.

I of course said yes!

Funny enough, all of our friends and Christina’s family knew that this was the big weekend he was going to pop the question. In a way, it was the worst kept secret, but they managed to keep it from me!

The first photo after our walk.

In fact, a lot of planning had gone into that weekend. Matt had arranged things with Christina (who had to tell her family because she found it so hard not to tell me) and our friends who were with us that weekend also knew. So did our friend Steve who had taken photos of the engagement ring prior to the weekend so that Matt could email photos of the ring to my family, my Toronto Mama Sybil, and his parents the day before we went away for the weekend. He even snuck up some sparkling wine without me knowing so that we could crack open a few bottles to celebrate with everyone.

Just engaged!

That evening, Matt’s parents came to the cottage and had dinner with us at the same restaurant where his parents got engaged. Christina had brought some extra clothes so that I’d have a decent outfit since I was in cottage mode and wearing some pretty scraggly shorts and shirts.

It was an amazing weekend. One that I’ll never forget.

Oh and we did eventually get to set off those fireworks.

Happy anniversary Matt! On July 7th, we’ll celebrate six years of marriage! XOXO