On Friday we got back from an 8 day long family camping trip together for the last part of Craig’s holidays. It was so much fun, that I was sad to have to come home. I love being out in nature…breathing the fresh air…soaking up the sun…swimming in the water…sitting by the fire…sleeping under the stars. I sometimes wish that I could just live out in nature and be right by the water all the time. I am pretty sure that I would stay in the lake until I turned into a fish if I could. I am definitely a natural girl, that’s for sure. I love living naturally and simply and enjoying the little things in life. Put me on a beach or take me for a walk where there are lot’s of trees and I am happy.

We went to Minnedosa again, like last year and also spent some time at Riding Mountain National Park and Brandon. For the first two nights we had to switch camping spots because they were booked, so there was a bit of chaos as we had to move all our stuff three times and take down and put up the tent over and over.

Thankfully, Serafina is content to just sit and look at books for hours.

We got there on Thursday, August 15th and on Saturday our same camping spot as last year was available for us for the whole next 6 nights. The spot is so nice and big and private and surrounded by trees. We love it!

Some of my other favorite memories from our trip include, making toast and oatmeal on the little camp stove and eating outside on the grass together in the shade. Eating tons and tons of blueberries and cherries. YUM!

Making our own yummy food.

Being so hot that we can’t think. Our van has no air conditioning either and it was in the 30’s most days with no wind. Jumping in the lake to cool down. Swimming with Autumn and Kesa. Watching Autumn get more brave in the water each day and even jump off the dock!

Watching the sun go down. Sitting by the fire.

Going to lots of different parks and playgrounds. Watching the girls play and have fun.

Serafina who ALWAYS finds the dirtiest places to play. This year there was a rainstorm one afternoon and once it cleared, she just had to play in the biggest mud puddle she could find and get totally muddy.

I had to take her into the lake and wash her off. We didn’t want her to know that there was a lake right by our camp site because she loves water so much and would never want to leave it.

A flower picked just for me from my husband.

A “smelling bouquet” (a bouquet of flowers for smelling to make you feel happy) of wildflowers picked for me from the girls on one of our many walks.

Seeing the bison at Riding Mountain National Park and finding a bison animal cracker in our animal cracker bag. That made everyone laugh out loud.

Making our wishes at the wishing well.

Autumn (AKA Auty) posing with the lake Audy sign.

Visting Lake Audy and driving through the national park. This year I saw a black bear and a mountain lion from in our van, while we were driving.

It was a great time spent making memories together.