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.
Live. Learn. Love. Eat. 
Looks like a great trip. Glad you had a good time.
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I love the picture of the girls sleeping in the tent. I would be interested to know what you ate and how you prepared food for your camping trip. We have been thinking about camping but the food part is intimidating to us.
Also, it is nice to see Mom in some of the pics!
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We had a lot of food with us! I brought some of our regular favorites (oatmeal, organic cereals, puffed wheat, granola, unsweetened almond milk, Ezekiel english muffins, whole wheat bread, natural peanut butter, jam, home baked cookies and leftover birthday cake, organic corn chips, crackers, rice cakes, unsweetened apple sauce, fruitsource bars, juice, apples, bananas, peaches, berries, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, hummus, apricots, raisins, cranberries, pecans, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews) and mostly lived off of those. We had to buy some not organic, but still vegan foods too and the girls and Craig got french fries from a restaurant a few times. It wasn’t perfect eating, but it was still healthy and vegan (except for those animal crackers that were bought in a bulk bin, which could contain milk), so that was what mattered to me. Lot’s of veggie and hummus sandwiches and oatmeal, toast or sandwiches with peanut butter and jam and banana, cereal with berries or bananas, corn chips and nuts and dried fruit to snack on, etc. We have a cooler to store food in and we bought fresh fruit and veggies from the store everyday too. Craig bought the potato and carrot thing and roasted it over the fire. Kesa got veggie dogs one day too to roast. Dandies makes vegan marshmallow too. It is possible to do a vegan camping trip. 🙂
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Oh ya! I figured that I should be in a picture sometimes too, so I got Craig to take a few of me with the girls. 🙂 Thanks for noticing.
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I agree it was great to see MOM! Looks like a great time with great memories.
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Beautiful! Really makes me want to go camping.
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Hey Tiffany, I am glad you shared your family’s vacation with us:) I am from Maine. (I’ve written you before) moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico where I met my husband person (we’re not married).And we have two girls together. It’s been a rocky road for me and probably should have left before now but have stayed together and things are ok. Anyway I’m responding because I look at your pictures longingly because I wish I had that, that,… what I remember of growing up in Maine, the nature, the camping trips to beautiful lakes, the simplicity, I wanted that for my girls but I just don’t. I feel like I needed to move to get some clarity and help with my/our parenting. So I moved us (mostly my decision) to the very close to Baltimore Maryland area where his overbearing very mainstream consumer but again a big help with the girls mom and we are surrounded by the urban consumer environment. And I know I am grateful for what I do have and it’s always possible to change but I know they won’t have what I wanted for them because of the mistakes I made. And anyway I always look at your blog for inspiration. Jenn
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Thanks for your comment Jenn. I hope things turn out for you and your girls and that you have a happy life together, no matter where you are. Hope that you are having a great day! 🙂
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What an amazing trip! Autumn is looking more grown up these days! That’s neat you got your favorite campsite. We definitely plan on having some family camping trips when we move to the US. They do have some places to camp here in Malaysia, but I’m not comfortable with jungle bugs and snakes LOL
I love the photos of Serafina having fun in the mud – nothing like the carefree nature of a small child 🙂
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Looks like a wonderful camping holiday- Canada looks amazing! Its really nice to see you in some pics with your girls Tiff!! your all so naturally beautiful..don’t let Autumn ever colour dye her stunning fiery locks – they are enchanting! have a great day! 🙂
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Thank you Cody! I love Autumn’s beautiful red hair too! 🙂
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What an amazing looking campground! I wish there was something more like that here in BC. Seems that most of ours are tightly packed camp sites with little to no privacy (not my idea of camping at all).
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Yea, I agree. It is nice to have the privacy. Otherwise, why take a camping trip? One day I would like to do real camping in the wild somewhere, but it is not really possible with the kids (especially so young). 🙂
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