TRAKS Reunion

In High School, I had a great group of girlfriends. As cool as we thought we were, we were actually pretty dorky! We called ourselves TRAKS...for Tricia, Robyn, Amanda, Katie, Stephanie. Cool, I know. In the ten years since High School, my circles of friends have totally changed. I have college friends, mission friends, Joe's friends, and since-being-married friends. This weekend was our 10-year High School reunion, and for the first time in 10 years, we had a totally TRAKS weekend! It was great for me to remember how lucky I am to still have these friends.

These girls were my friends at a totally crucial time of life...High School. Post-High School friends have helped me remain true to who I am, but TRAKS helped me become who I am. We all made some pretty dumb decisions time and again, but we loved each other, supported each other, cried with each other, and helped keep each other somewhat in check. And while the rest of our Class of 98 was out partying, we were busy making our own talk shows, going to church dances, water skiing at the lake house, taking pictures of the pizza guy, making prank calls, day dreaming, cheerleading, playing basketball, waking up for early morning seminary, playing Mafia, watching X-Files, having pool parties, breaking our legs, and being super dorky. (Trust me...I have pictures.)

I really hope my kids are as lucky. Our friendship has survived 4 marriages, 1 divorce, 9 1/2 kids, 2 LDS missions, 1 parent's death. Lots of happiness. Lots of heartbreak.

Needless to say, it was great to see my girls.

We kicked off the weekend with some hot-tub fun. (Never mind the biting ants when we were close to the edge).

After a few (literally 4 for me--thanks to Avery) hours of sleep, Katie and I woke up to Turbo Jam (Katie obviously knows what she's doing much better than I do!)

Then it was on to pedicures, smoothies, shopping, and pre-reunion prep! (Avery even had her toenails painted!)

The time for the big reunion finally arrived. I dropped off my crying baby to her adopted California Grandma's house, and it was time to par-tay.

1st stop: Brea Mall for a "family photo"

2nd stop: Red Robin for dinner

3rd stop: Back to put my hysterically-attached-to-her-mama baby to sleep.

4th stop: House of Blues in Anaheim

It was pretty much like a "High School party that we never went to". Lots and lots of drunkenness. A few awkward conversations. Mostly lots of fun seeing faces I haven't thought of or seen in years.

So we paid $60 (since we bought tickets early) for everyone else's booze...and a cup of Sprite. But it was worth it. And our husbands are probably glad they stayed home.

We were kicked out at 11 pm, and were invited to continue the party at another local bar. We pretended we were going to go, but knew no one would remember that we weren't there, anyway (since I'm pretty sure the 5 of us were about the only ones not drinking). Psssst...can I get a refund?
So we left as TRAKS, and our own party continued with Hot Chocolate and another sleepless night. It was great.

Other trip highlights:

• Going to the Single's Ward with Stephanie. Every time Avery even breathed, all eyes were on us! I forgot what church was like in a quiet ward!
• Hanging out with Mandy and family. It was nice to relax (and sleep!) before returning to my tornado of a 2-year old!
• Bringing home some special souveniers...ants! They somehow found their way into my diaper bag and appeared on Avery's head on the plane ride home...ewwwww!
• Being so excited to see the aforementioned tornado, and Joe!

Thanks for the fun weekend, girls! Let's not wait another 10 years to do it again!