Summer Trip: July 23, Day 4

Captions coming soon...

Saturday we tried to go to the Jewel Caves. Unfortunately, I forgot that we were in a tourist trap in the middle of tourist season, and that with national parks you can't just waltz in any time you like. There were "guided tours" of the caves, and you had to get a ticket (they weren't cheap, either) to be able to enter. All of the tours we could attend were sold out, unfortunately. We had to get back to pick up Grandpa and Grandma Jan to go to their ward's Pioneer Day Picnic at the park in Newcastle, WY.

Since we couldn't go into the cave, we settled for a walk to the cave entrance and later a picnic lunch.

Oh, and before we left for the Pioneer Picnic, Grandpa taught his granddaughters how to shoot a .22. Zoë did great. Megan was terrified until Miranda (with mom's help) shot a bullseye, then she tried it, too. I'll post videos of these later.

Jewel Caves:

This isn't the actual mouth of the Jewel Cave, but it is a small cavern (we didn't even get to go into that). But, I got the girls to (almost) pose for a picture together.

Megan thought these benches looked more like teeter-totters.

Picnic Lunch:

Lunch, YUM!

My Giggliest Girl!

So playful and energetic. She's full of passion!

Sweet girl. She's showing and sharing her lunch.

Shooting with Grandpa

Grandpa offered to teach the girls how to shoot a gun. I asked for specific instructions first (I'd shot a gun once before with a high school boyfriend.) After shooting off a .22 for a while, Zoë decided she was ready to try. Megan headed inside the house. Veronica followed Miranda, who was intrigued...

She was so nervous, it took her nearly 10 minutes to fire her first shot. But, she did really well, and even got close to the bulls eye a few times!

Still learning posture and how to hold the weapon.

I was "helping" Miranda shoot the gun here. Amazingly enough, she was so relaxed and comfortable that I was able to shoot the bullseye with her a few times! (from 5 meters). Megan was a lot more stiff and controlling, and way upset that I didn't get bullseyes with her.

Pioneer Picnic

Toe-to-Toe
Two of the most stubborn people I love!