Camping and turning 30

Since my dad was a little boy, the Lindbloms have made a yearly, summer camping trip a tradition. 50 years later, it's still going strong! So if you want to see oodles (and I mean oodles! There is almost no counting how many Lindblom spawn there is at this point) of Lindbloms, come to Woods Canyon Lake some weekend in late July. :)

I was grateful the boys fell asleep on the drive over. I was also grateful that Steve and Rebekah could help me set up my tent before the rains came down and the floods came up! And it's probably thanks to my vigilant mother that my boys never got lost, run over or burned in the fire. (Collin only fell in once. That kid is turning out to be extremely accident prone.) 

Jeffy helped me get my gear into the tent. Then he taught Collin how to be manly and spit. Awesome.

Of course, there had to be lots of dirt bikes, quads and razors racing around. That was A-OK by Collin! Now, how many Grandpas give out dirt bike rides?! It's teaching my high strungness to chill out. :)

If I could just read and lay in a hammock all day, I'd be a happy camper!

 Bahahaha. I love when make unintented, corny puns!

Travis drove up after he got off work, so it was really late by the time he pulled in. Grandma was a big help until then! We got caught in a long downpour, and me with two crying, cold boys in shorts and flip flops. For about 1 hour it was as I now like to say, "OUR PETS HEADS WERE FALLING OFF!!!" (Oh man, I just picked myself up off the floor. That probably makes no sense at all, but I think it's freaking hilarious. Bear with me!)

The next day we spent our time playing games, eating too much, and visiting with all those oodles of cousins and offspring. We haven't been family camping in 5 years, so it was a lot of fun to spend time with everyone. As the day was coming to a close and we were getting to be the last of the few families there, I could feel the depression closing in again. It was almost time to return to the land of "I don't want to go there". I forget who suggested it first.. maybe Marcie... but suddenly, going to Mesa for the rest of the weekend was becoming an option. Playing heavy on this decision was the fact that I was turning 30 the next day. That's usually supposed to be a fairly depressing birthday in and of itself. Now, I was adding in the fact that I would be turning 30 in a nasty, dirty house, full of boxes and everything that makes me squirm... unorganization. 

So around 5pm, when everyone was getting in their cars to leave, I announced, "We're going to Mesa!" We took a right turn onto the highway instead of a left and in 2 hours I was sitting at Serranos with my family. I have to give it to Trav... he didn't even have a change of clothes with him. (Trevor to the rescue!) I married the most laid back, easy going guy ever. Love him.

Welp, the next day dawned, as tomorrows always do, and I didn't melt or grow wrinkles or anything. Just turned 30. And I have to admit, I like the way 30 feels. 

We went to church, had my favorite dinner, Snoring Enchiladas, and I blew out the candles on my raspberry dessert "cake". My mom gave me the best present... not having to make dinner. :) Shelley came over later and we partied the night away... or chatted on the couch. No fireworks, but no Gallup either, so I was pretty content. I was only sad when I had to say goodbye to Trav. Work called. They needed their dentist back. Boo.

The next day was Marcie Moos birthday, so I just had to stick around for that! I also got to go out to a birthday lunch with my Mesa besties, Jenni, Jess, LaRee and Shell Bell! Kneaders was pretty darn tasty. That night we had pizza and DQ to celebrate with Marcie, and theeeeeen, we found out that she and Austin got engaged that day! Whoop whoop! Sept. 27 will be a FuN DaY!!

The next morning, I finally resigned myself to the fact that I should unpack a few boxes before we needed to leave for California. So on Tuesday, we drove back to Gallup. We pulled in late and I spent another night feeling like my world was closing in around me. The only thing that helped, was a very special birthday package from the one and only Miss Rachel. A gift of {30}. She is always so creative. I felt very loved.

Collin was pretty taken with these glasses from the package.. as he is with all things "accessories".

Wed.-Friday I unpacked boxes, cleaned and tried to organize a few things, all while doing laundry and packing for a week in Oceanside! Then, Friday night after Trav got off work, we were driving back to Mesa. We stayed with my parents for the night (the Shaheens stayed at Trav's parents), and the next morning, we were hitting the road to Cali! Never a dull moment this summer.