For those of you who know the extended version of the Loock family, you know that the 24th of a July is a big deal for us. Like major. The Days of '47 parade has been a tradition every single year of my life, and frankly, I'd be lost without it. This year, however, we started our adventure early with..
THE 2ND ANNUAL BIG BEACH BASH
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| This is a picture from last year's beach bash. We're a good looking family, if you Ask me. The Big Beach Bash consists of the following; Two wave runners, a tube, lots and lots of food, a giant blow up water trampoline(new this year,) Lots of sunscreen, and crazy people. Add all that together, and you get one HECK of a party! The big beach bash, for me, started on Friday. Spencer, Hannah,  and I loaded up our car and headed to Echo Reservoir. It was a BEAUTIFUL day; the water was clear and blue, the sun was beaming in the sky, I was ready to get on the most beautiful machine ever- aka my therapy---------^The Wave Runner!!! I had a little control issue with this machine. I HAD to be driving. I had to be in charge. It was literally my therapy to be cruising at 50 miles and hour, wind flying through my hair, the cool spray of the water splashing in my face, the beauty of the surrounding mountains, singing at the top of your lungs with no one being able to hear you, that moment when you hit a big wave and a rush of adrenaline races through you as you're airborne for what's only a moment, and the overall feeling of gliding through the crystal clear water enjoying God's beautiful creations from the mountains and trees, to the fish and ducks, to your loving family and friends. Like I said. Therapy. THE #1 MEMORY OF THE WEEKEND; THE SKINNY DIP: So Hannah and I are out on the lake. I am driving, of course, and Hannah is clutching me close behind. We are just RACING across the lake at what seemed to be a hundred miles an hour. The exhilaration of ride brought us to a restful stop. Machine off. Just floating in the middle of the lake. Hannah, being her playful self, willingly dives off the back of the waverunner and into the lake. "Laur, the water's great! Get in!!" I, being the nervous-that-a-fish-would-rub-up-against-my-leg self, was reluctant. But as the sun beat down, hot against my skin, the water looked SOOOOO inviting. So I closed my eyes and jumped, just PRAYING that any sort of lake... fish, creature, monster, whatever would keep it's distance. So there we are. Bobbing up and down in the middle of the lake, in the middle of they day, when Hannah gets this great idea that we should SKINNY DIP. "Come on," she says, "You can cross if off of your bucket list!" This is when the nervous Lauren left, and the more daring ready-for-an-adventure-I-can-tell-my-children Lauren kicked in. I ripped off my suit. Careful to keep my life jacket on, and wearing a one piece suit proved this task to be difficult, but I was determined. Before I knew it, we were both floating around... butt naked... mind you, this is the middle of the lake, the middle of the day. We probably should've thought twice about our decision. So Then, Hannah decides that we've got to make it count, as if bobbing in the lake now naked wasn't enough. So we decide to swim a lap around the waverunner. Easily done. Next, Hannah got the great idea to DIVE off the wave runner. Mind you, Butt naked, the middle of the lake, middle of the day. I was nervous as crap, but she'd offered 5 bucks. As a poor college student, 5 bucks is like a meal- sure. So I cautiously looked for boats-- none nearby. I had my swimming suit in hand, nearby, for quick access. I then quickly jumped on the machine, and within a split second I went from an upright position, to a diving position, to back bobbing the water. MOST EXHILARATING MOMENT OF MY LIFE! We hurried and got our suits back on, and soaking wet, made our way back to the dock and our curious family who wondered why we'd been gone sooo long. Well, we confessed, and from then on that's all we heard the entire weekend-"I didn't know you were so adventurous!" "They didn't really do it, they're pulling your leg" "Now girls, try to keep your clothes ON tonight." "What's skinny dipping?" Haha, definitely a memory for the books. Am I glad I did it? OF COURSE! No one will truly know the freedom felt that day in the middle of the lake, in the middle of the day. That one was for you Grandma Loock. We knew you'd be proud. Did I get my five bucks? No. I told Han she could keep it if she'd let me continue being in control of the waverunner. I'm telling ya. Therapy! The rest of the lake adventure was a blast. The one concern was my dear Grandpa Loock who hadn't slept in days. We were happy to have him there, but concerned for him at the same time. Love you Gramps, Hope you feel better soon! Some memories of the BIG BEACH BASH: 1. KING OF THE TRAMP  This game is only fun for the King. Trust me. 2. MY FAILED SPRAY TAN  Note to Self: Do not get a spray tan when your previous sun burn is in the process of peeling. You WILL be called carrot. People WILL look at you funny. You WILL NOT pick up hot guys at the lake. The end. 3. THE PURE BEAUTY OF IT ALL  4. SPENCER GETTING ARRESTED BY THE THE STATE PARK POLICE MAN. Unfortunately I did not get a picture of this moment, but man, you can sure imagine it. 5. LEE-BIEBER Enough said. 6. DESPICABLE ME PROJECTED ON THE DECK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS Spencer, the babysitter, entertained the little kids. Yay. 7. TRYING TO BLOW UP THE QUEEN SIZE AIR MATTRESS BY MOUTH Nice try, Mom. 8. THE 'SKINNY-DIP' TALK ALL NIGHT. THE CONFESSION TIME. Turns out most everyone had skinny-dipped at one point or another. Randy and Merri even did it on their honeymoon. 10. THE ROLLED OVER WAVE RUNNER Not the most fun moment. Definitely a memory though. 11. SLEEPING ON THE DECK OF THE CABIN-- THE STARS, THE MOON, THE SUNRISE Breathtaking. 12. OUR 5 COURSE BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING. Burritos, eggs, pancakes, muffins, juice, fruit, bacon, sausage, hamburger meat. If you could dream it, you could eat it. 13. TESTIMONY MEETING BETWEEN TAMMY, HANNAH, ANTHON, AND MYSELF. Who knew you could get so deep on the drive to the lake. 14. THE HICK BAND THAT PLAYED AT OUR SPOT AT THE LAKE They really thought they were good. And They were. At one, and only one beat. All In all. I had a great Beach Bash. Thanks to Tammy, and Anthon for ALL their hard work. And thank you for my amazing family for putting a smile on my face, memories to recall. I can hardly wait for next year! |
