Birthday weekend for the books! 🎉
Papa Bear drove us all the way to Marion, Montana, where we camped at the beautiful Little Bitterroot Lake Campground. The drive was almost six hours long, no matter which way we went from Great Falls. By the time we finally pulled into camp, I think Papa Bear was ready to kill me. 😂
It was definitely a tense drive, especially with all the lakes, the crazy amount of people out and about, and just the general chaos that comes with a long drive. But we made it, got everything set up, and slowly but surely, all that driving stress melted away.
This adventure included my sister Kristie, Ari and her man Ryan, their son Paul, one of our cubs, Skyla, and her son Riley. There really isn’t anything better than being surrounded by family, friends, and wagging tails. That’s the kind of weekend that fills your soul.
Saturday morning came, and Ryan and Ari picked us up on the pontoon boat for an afternoon out on the lake. Of course, the pups got to come along for the adventure too. Watching all three of them take in the boat ride, the water, and everything around them made the day even more special.
By the time we got back to land, Papa Bear was pretty much spent from the beginning of our weekend. But, as always, he handled every bit of my crazy chaos like the trooper he is. 😂
Since Papa Bear needed a little time-out, the girls and I hopped into the SxS and went looking for an adventure.
And an adventure we found!
We rode through some absolutely gorgeous scenery, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and somehow managed not to get lost, which honestly felt like a miracle considering our limited OnX access. Every trail we came across made us want to keep going, because naturally, if there is another trail, we HAVE to see where it goes.
Eventually, though, reality called.
Mostly because we needed to get back to camp and start getting dinner ready, since everyone was coming over to celebrate my birthday.
That evening, everyone gathered around camp to celebrate another trip around the sun for me. We ate delicious grub until everyone’s bellies were full, laughed until our cheeks hurt, and made memories that I know I’ll carry with me forever.
And, of course, there were plenty of moments when Papa Bear could only shake his head at my silly chaos. At this point, I’m pretty sure he’s accepted that this is just part of the package. 😂
But wait…
Whoa!!! We gotta backtrack because, for some reason, I completely forgot to mention Friday night!
Sooooo, let’s get to it…
Friday evening, everyone gathered around the table to catch up on life, laugh, and simply enjoy each other’s company. The conversations lasted well into the night, filled with stories, jokes, and plenty of laughs.
Of course, Papa Bear eventually had to bring it to our attention that us ladies are LOUD MOUTHS!
It was after 10 p.m., so you know what that means…
QUIET TIME!!!
Crazy Kristie needed to find her way into her cocoon before she turned into a grizzly bear. 😂
Eventually, we moved into the camper to enjoy some more time with our cub Skyla and her cub Riley. But before long, we had to give the cubs the boot for the night so Papa Bear and I could make our way to the Purple Den.
And once we hit that mattress, we melted into some much-needed sleep.
My birthday weekend came together so perfectly. Good food, endless laughter, ridiculous stories, beautiful scenery, and the people I love most made for the perfect celebration.
Birthdays aren’t really about the gifts. They’re about making memories with the people who fill your heart.
And this weekend gave me exactly that.
It gave me memories I’ll treasure for a lifetime.
By the end of the weekend, we were exhausted, sun-kissed, full of good food, and already ready for the next adventure.
Because honestly, this is what perfect birthdays are all about.
No fancy plans.
No big production.
Just amazing people, beautiful places, wagging tails, a little chaos, and enough shenanigans to keep us laughing for years to come.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way. ❤️
Leave a Reply