Our Camping Trip {July 25-28}

We survived our first official camping trip as a family of 4 plus 1 (Makena) in Rushing River, Ontario.  The last time we went camping was when Claire was 4 months old and we joined Scott, Susie and the kids in Clear Lake so long ago.  

We made sure we were organized and packed a few days in advanced.  I read up on some other mom blogs who camp regularly with little ones and took some of the tips and tricks.  I packed all our clothes in two small separate rubbermaid tubs.  I read on one blog to pack winter style pjs for little ones because the nights can be cool even if it's smoking hot during the day, plus they kick the covers off themselves and don't ever put them back on.  

I made sure we had all of our camping kitchen type stuff in an extra large bin to take.  We brought a Coleman camping stove, it was left at the camping ground since one of the burns went on it and the other one every once in awhile would flame up, a little scary.  We bought a Coleman rechargeable LED lantern from Canadian Tire.  We borrowed Scott's tent because it was huge, with two tents for each of us that was attached in the middle by a dining room screened in part.  I also needed to buy a coffee press because I NEED my coffee in the morning especially if I'm camping.  I bought a cool single serve from Atmosphere that makes a cup of coffee in 4 mins!  

We pre made almost all of our meals and planned to have simple and fast meals.  We made a pre baked french toast the day before.  It was a huge hit for breakfast on Tuesday.  I cut up lots of veggies and fruit and put them in ziplock bags for lunch along with hummus and crackers and cheese.  I also pre made a quinoa salad minus the dressing.  I grilled chicken breasts a head of time for dinner Monday that we ate salad with as well. Tuesday we heated up campfire chilli I made at home ahead of time too.  We ate the chilli for two dinners in a row and the girls loved it!  And what would a camping experience be like without a yummy dessert of smores!  We also got the girls a jiffy pop to pop one night before bed. 

The girls had an amazing time just exploring around the campsite each day.  They loved everything about camping, eating outside, sleeping together in the tent, swimming in the lake, playing in the sand at the beach, sitting by the campfire, roasting marshmellows, canoeing as a family and hiking along the waterfalls.  

I was a little worried about the girls sleeping in the tent together.  We only have a four man tent from MEC so we were glad to borrow Scott's tent.  If things weren't going well with sleeping Kyle and I would break up and take one girl each or worst came to worst we would pack up and go home.  We booked the camp site back in May and there were no weekends left so it was great Kyle could book some holidays to do this.  The first night the girls went to bed at 9:30 and were talking until probably 10:30, AHH!  I went into their tent and said "The Park Ranger is going to come and if you girls are making too much noise he is going to ask us to leave the campground, do you want that to happen?!?"  Both of them look at me with wide eyes and mouths open "NO Mommy, No."  And that was the end of that, they were out right after that talk.  I also bought them Dollar Store glow sticks and cracked one each for them before bed as a night light, oh man what a lifesaver that was.  "Mommy, look it lights up the whole tent!!"  Score!  The second and third night after being outside ALL day the girls didn't even shudder a peep and were out within minutes.  

When we first arrived our campsite was right on the water, gorgeous views but it didn't work for a family.  It was steep and rocky and pretty muddy and wet from a rainfall the night before.  We started setting up the tent on the site and there wasn't a flat enough surface to hold the large tent we had.  Also we borrowed Scott's truck to tug everything out to Rushing River with us and we had to park it up the hill from the campsite with many many stairs leading up to it, it just didn't work with two little ones.  I asked Kyle if we could switch it, I know it broke his heart because he loves camping right by the water especially since we brought the canoe with us for this trip.  He totally understood and knew it was the right decision.  We moved to a big site up the hill away from the water, fit our tent, and was much closer to the washrooms and showers.  It had lots of privacy and shade from other campsites around us and the truck could be parked right in our campsite too.  

I bought the girls so fun bug hunting kits from the Dollar Store they could use to catch bugs with.  It was the BEST $2 I spent.  It kept them amused for hours catching ants and caterpillars around the campsite.  I also packed lots of colouring, books, mini etshsekch and magnet letters on mini cookie sheets.  While we got meals ready they could play in the tent on their bed with their bag of activities. It was a lifesaver especially in the car on the way out and on the way home too.  

The weather was unreal, hot, sunny and the perfect breeze during the day. The evenings were breezy with a cool temp perfect for sleeping at night.  On Tuesday mid morning we headed out on the canoe with a lunch packed and paddled out to an island on the lake.  We set up shop on the island on the rocky moss to eat our lunch and go for a swim.  The girls had a hoot swimming with Kyle and I.  I was reluctant about going into the water, I always dislike water I can't see the bottom in but I wanted to be brave for the girls so they would go swimming too.  

After dinner and smores for dessert we took turns taking each of the girls in the shower before bed.  I took Claire and she was easy to clean up, Abby on the other hand does not like showers one bit and Kyle said she screamed pretty much the whole time.  

Wednesday we headed into the town of Kenora to check out their popular Farmer Market.  We loved all the vendors they had all laid out under the white tent.  We ate some tacos from a food truck there for lunch, so yummy!  There was a cute little coffee shop we checked out called HoJoes.  I ordered a coffee, MMMM!  They also had a little pop up Lululemon store on the main street that we went too.  I bought Kyle some workout clothes for an anniversary gift since we spoiled me with all Lululemon stuff on Sunday.  They also let dogs in their store and have a jar of dog biscuits for Makena.  

My friend Julie has her cabin five mins from our campground so her and her two girls came down to our campsite by 3ish to hang out at the beach and then they stayed for dinner with us.  The girls loved having Olivia and Leah to play with.  Before they arrived we took the canoe out for one last trip and while the girls swam at the beach with their friends Kyle and Makena stayed out on the canoe to fish together.  

We woke up really early Thursday morning and packed up the site to head home because Kyle had to attend a family funeral at 11 am.  We packed up everything and woke up the girls at the last possible minute.  I made sure I had granola bars and fruit for the breakfast on the way home.  It went much smoother than I thought.  Unfortunately, when we arrived home our fridge gave out along with the bottom freezer part too.  Everything was warm and smelly.  I had to throw almost everything out so that was not fun coming home too.  I think we just finished cleaning up and storing away all the camping stuff, phew it's a lot of work.  We will be heading out in the next couple weeks to buy some more camping stuff that will be on sale to restock our supply. 

Our camping trip was well worth the work and effort. Even after a week the girls are still talking about what we did on our trip.  I think we will be making camping an annual event.  I loved camping as a kid and so did Kyle so we want those same experiences for our girls.