Getting outside is my favorite family activity. The kids vibrant creativity and inquisitive, slow approach to every little thing. The uninterrupted time to just be. Together. I find that when we are home, I fill quiet spaces with chores. And I stack them on top of each other. I check email while drinking my coffee, I unload the dishwasher while Margot tells me about her day at school.
When we are hiking or swimming or skiing or biking or camping — we connect, deeply. We connect with ourselves, with each other and with the natural world creating a transcendent boom. Every step into the simple, lovely act of existing outside together pushes us into ourselves and opens us to each other.
As Ruby’s carved pumpkin’s smile sags on our deck and as I sit by the now every-morning stove fire, as we prepare for a very frosty camping trip this coming weekend, I am sharing images from our August car camping adventure. The one where it was 100 degrees, we drove through forest fires, swam in rivers and slept in our bathing suits. They’ve been patiently waiting in a folder (ahem, next to 23 other folders) to have the stage here. It’s time.
I have been thinking a lot about what it is that I hope for my children to be or have. I want my daughters to pursue life with authenticity and altruism. I hope they are lifelong students, leaning into beautiful, powerful, fulfilling, inclusive, productive acts of love. I want them to appreciate, feel and engage with great passion and integrity, even when – especially when – it’s hard. I want them to find abundance right here, now.
And I want family – both by blood and by choice – to hug my daughters’ commitment to happiness and truth-seeking. I want their relationship to always be as real and important as the hearts that beat in their chests.
trip deets:
Lewis and Clark Caverns Campground
Lewis and Clark Caverns
Varney Bridge Campground
Virginia City ghost town
car camping kit and checklist
28 Comments
Love your roadtrip/camping photos; just gorgeous! We’re about 10 hours north of you, and love camping, but I’ve found that the mosquitoes have deterred us from getting out as much as we did pre-kids. We don’t want to DEET our little ones; your girls don’t look like they’ve been eaten alive – do you not have too many bugs, or do you have a repellent that works well for your family (one that repels mosquitoes but maybe doesn’t smell strongly enough to invite bears into the tent at night)?
Mosquitos aren’t as much of an issue here as they are elsewhere but we do get them! I am one of those people who rarely gets bit. What is that about anyway?! For the rest of the family we use lavender and citronella essential oils with success! The brand we like is Young Living (one of their consultants sponsors this space and there is a link in my sidebar). I know there are other therapeutic-grade oils out there as well.
Thanks, we’ll have to give that a try…or head to Montana to camp!
Beautiful. Just beautiful. I have tears in my eyes. The photos are amazing, as always. Your family radiates such happiness and fulfillment. LOVE!
Beautiful photos!! The flashback to camping and playing in the hot summer weather as we are getting ready for a long Montana winter makes me long for summer already!!!
loving the pictures, some great sunset one, We are looking to take our holidays in the form of camping this next year as a way of having an adventure and cos we’re skint too.
I always appreciate how well you can articulate exactly what it is you want for your kids’ lives. Lovely photos, as always.
You have such a beautiful family. Thanks for sharing your trip.
Gorgeous photos, Nici. Wow! We were in Montana last year just after the forest fires and it was such a devastating sight… I love camping and roatriping for the same reasons you mention: the real connection we have when we don’t have to attend to our daily tasks. This is probably why I struggle so much to settle back to our home life after a year on the road (and just before that 5 months in Costa Rica)… I pause many times a day to just be with me daughters (we homeschool), to truly connect, but it’s not the same as when we are hiking together. Your words really resonate with me.
I promise to hug your daughters’ commitment to happiness and truth-seeking…..they are my everything!
Love you Burb, Mom
Thank you for posting these. I swear, in the middle of my stressful work day, I so look forward to a glimpse of your sweet life. It is just so lovely!
Much love to you all!
I love the photos. Camping and outdoor adventures filled my youth and I hope to give my kids the same upbringing…we haven’t even been camping with them, yet! In fact, Ryan and I have not camped since we moved to Oregon from Colorado almost 8 years ago! We need to go camping!
I promise to do it next year…for now, we plan to get Lorelai on skis this year!! Woo-hoo!
Thanks for sharing, Nici!
Dear Dig,
I love your writing! I love your attitude! A friend told me about your work in this space years ago, and I turn to it often. You are a role model for this Texas mama raising 3 preschoolers, which is so strange to say as we’ve never met. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Jenn
This makes me a little sad that summer is over. We camped last weekend and it was COLD but the girls did great! I wish we would randomly run into you guys sometime…maybe we can talk you into trying out Teton Pass this winter! Have fun and stay warm this weekend!
Amazing photos!
It’s funny how similar our campsites look: Coleman stove, tub-o-gear, dog under table, quilts and real pillows in tent. The only thing that’s missing from our scene is the kids. Someday soon though! Great photos, makes me want to take a big summer camping/road trip again. Thanks for sharing!
PS I have no idea how you avoid the scourge of skeeters, but I get eaten alive! I’m going to try your essential oils recommendation though. Thanks for the tip!
I wonder if it is pH? Or blood type? I sat lakeside this summer with my mom. She wore long sleeves, pants, socks and was swatting them away from her face. I was in a sundress and natta. Crazy! I mean, I am so not complaining but it is so interesting!
Way to make me miss Summer, Nici!! 😉
Such beautiful words and hopes for your daughters. I adore this!
Beautifully written. “Every step into the simple, lovely act of existing outside together pushes us into ourselves and opens us to each other”. YES!! I would love for you to write a book. Reading about your experiences and family makes my heart leap and wanting a family of my own. Love.
you certainly are one blessed mama.
Oh.My.Gracious.
what an amazing family experience!!
i could so totally live vicariously through you and your precious family.
Lovely pictures, lovely sentiments.
Your blog makes me want to sell everything we have, and move to Montana..love it!
Ooooooooooooooooooooh but the light in those tent photos. It is so incredible – I want to pour it into a glass and drink what I imagine is its honey sweet syrup.
Glorious trip. Simply glorious.
I love how your family tent gets a bit glampy when you include Alice’s bed.
I have a great appreciation of your ability to craft your thoughts and emotions into beautiful posts.
The beginning of this post – the part about being able to connect deeply in the outdoors, as opposed to the layers of chores in everyday life? Yes, that is me, my family, and my life. We camped this past weekend and I was reminded about all of that again. Beautiful post, Nici.
Q. Two albums and a movie. Are you sure you can?t fit anything else in this year?
THIS IS A COOL OUTFIT YOU HAVE HERE! >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.