LakeMac 2012

Several years ago my friends decided to create a tradition of going to Lake McConaughy.  With friends in Colorado, and friends in Nebraska it was the perfect meeting spot.  We were able to go one of the first years, and the was prior to us having kids.  My friend had a child and it was fun being able to see him experience the lake but couldn't help but think how fun it would be when we all had children.  Last year we skipped on it because we were BURNT out.  We had just completed our Colorado move, I started my job, we had moved into our house, and I was just a bit too preggars and not interested in camping.

This year we were determined to make it happen because we all (well MOST of us) have kids and I just felt it was so important for us to all have our friend time.  Most of our group (at the least those of us willing to camp...no names JESS!) agreed that we were going!  I was pumped and was not about to let our last camping experience turn us away!!  Two days prior to LakeMac 2012 people started dropping like flies--wedding, money/school issues, and lastly RSV:(  Boo.  But my awesome dedicated friend Cristy was willing to drive 4+ hours by herself, with her two little ones to camp darnit because she believes in TRADITION.   love that about her!  

Our first night, I told Russ that I'd be putting up the tent by myself thankyouverymuch.  No problem.  I remembered back to our Tetons days.  Cristy and company didn't arrive til dark-so Cristy and I took on the watching of 4 kids while putting up her tent, while Russ accompanied Cristy's mom back to her hotel.  And darnit- we did it.

That next day we had a blast.  Since LakeMac is know for it's sand-Aylen couldn't get enough.  Ryker severely enjoyed it too.  Our other friend Gert came and her child played with ours and it was so awesome.  We went to the water and it is amazing how much it feels like the ocean.  I know I know....a huge gigantic leap Momma.  But seriously, the waves crashing in feels more like an ocean than a lake.  It was Aylen's first time with waves and he rocked it.  HE LOVED "jumping the waves" with both Daddy and I.  It was one of those surreal moments, because one of my favorite little kid memories is when I was with my Dad at the Gulf of Mexico visiting my Grandparents.  We were jumping waves, and I remember getting knocked over by Dad who had just gotten knocked over himself by a ginormous wave.  In my head, I remember Dad being really proud of me because I wanted to continue being in the water and I didn't let that moment freak me out.  It is a known fact that water calms me, settles me, and completes me still to this day.  So to see my little 2 year old son out there "jumping the waves" despite these waves slamming into his little 3 foot frame and being a bit cold so much so that he kept shivering as he spoke-my Momma heart was proud.  OH so proud of him!  (SIDENOTE-Aylen John we will be going to the real ocean soon, I PROMISE YOU!)

As my friends and I sat at the beach, then back at the campfire it was so fun just to look around at what we have created.  Seriously, I just can't get over the fact that we were all friends in college that did our fair share of partying and being crazy and now here we are as mothers.  It's just so wicked.  Everything has changed.  What we talk about, when we go to bed, the number of beverages we enjoy or not, what we do for fun, how we manage our time, how we talk care of our selves, our relationships, the rules we set for our children....  It is so awesome to get together with friends because being that we are all with children it gets so HARD to keep in touch sometimes.  I miss them a ton.  And wish that we could all be closer so that our children could play more, and we could chat about life.  Nonetheless, I'm thankful for our traditions and knowing that we will always have this place every Labor Day year to be together.  Thank you friends for being there for me and being so amazing!

Love,
Momma