Punchbuggy Punkins: By request: how we lost our 8 year old in the mountains

My good friend, Nicole, invited us and another family to spend the weekend in Frisco. We absolutely immediately accepted. They both have children the same ages as ours and our dhs are all good buddies.

Day 1: We left town a bit later than expected because the children were in Totus Tuus and they couldn't possible leave one moment before it ended. When the last drop of water in the squirt guns had been expelled and the last bit of chocolate syrup covered the teachers faces we were finally able to get moving. (BTW- 2 thumbs up for the program. This was our 2nd year. The kids had a blast and I'm super impressed with their excitement about going to Mass)

We fought terrible traffic and a freaking huge ass thunderstorm arriving just past 6pm. The "cabin" turned out to be a multi-million dollar house on the river with a pool and hot tub. There were 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms and a huge "attic" like space that had 2 sets of bunk beds, 2 futons and 2 alcove beds. All the little girls quickly claimed that space as their own.

Day 2: THE BIKE RIDE

A bike ride sounded like a fabulous idea. I had recently purchased this and was anxious to try it out. The husbands decided to rent bikes with the tag along attachment for the six year olds. Nicole's dh, Dave, pulled a trailer with my Tommy and their little girl, Kamee, in it.

We were all set. Frisco has big beautiful bike trails. After a quick discussion it was decided that we would ride to Breckenridge instead of Copper Mountain. Breck was longer (10.4 miles each way) but Cooper was much steeper. We set off, all 21 of us. Megan moved up to the front of the pack despite having a one speed bike and I settled near the back of the group. At first everyone waited at the mile markers until everyone else arrived but the waits were longer and longer each time. It was decided that the lead group should continue on and we'd all meet up in Breck.

At the 8 mile mark Johnny got increasingly fussy. It was chilly and he was overtired. I was having trouble keeping up with the back of the pack and decided to turn around. Dh kissed us goodbye and continued on. I truly don't think I could have made it the entire way and I was glad to have had an excuse to quit. I remember at one point having to walk the bike up a particularly steep hill thinking if a bear was to attack us I would'nt have the energy/strength to save my baby. It was very odd to be all alone in the middle of the mountains.

We made it safely home and Johnny quickly fell asleep. 1 1/2 hours later dh called. His rented bike broke. The chain snapped. Johnny and I jumped in the van and met him at Summit Hospital (the only place near the trail that was accessible by car). Dave had stayed behind to help dh. Once the kids (Tommy, Julie and Johnny) were loaded we left for the rental shop. I dropped dh and the broken bike off and took the other kids back home. Everyone else was meeting at the rental shop.

25 minuted later Dave called. "Hi...um...I was wondering...um...is..um...is Megan with you?" OMG, I could totally hear the panic in his voice. Everyone had made it back to the shop except for Megs. My baby was gone. Lost in the mountains. all. alone. I immediately began praying to St. Anthony and burst into tears.

The police were called but Megan arrived back at the house before them. She somehow got ahead of the group and missed the turn off. She ended up riding past Frisco, past I-70 towards Cooper. She noticed that the surroundings seemed unfamiliar, left the bike path found Main Street and asked a family how to get to the bike rental shop. As she was riding to the shop she recognized the street that we turned off and somehow found her way back home.

She wasn't the least bit upset. I still get a lump in my throat thinking about what could have happened...

We settled our nerves by leaving the babies with the men and hitting the outlet malls. The men then repaid us by golfing all morning and then making us attend a Corvette show Sunday.

My camera was being uncoraprative so we only have a couple of lame pics from the weekend.

Isn't this bear just too darn cute? This was out our bedroom window.