Every July, the Fair comes to Jackson. They set it up in about six hours and then open it up for people to come [risking their lives] and ride. IS THAT NOT SUPER SKETCHY TO ANYONE ELSE?! IT'S. TERRIFYING. PEOPLE.

Somehow Bailie, Katie, and Jeff convinced me to come with them after work. I think it was probably because Katie let me sneak her little brother's unlimited rides pass. Or they just caught me in a moment of weakness. But either way, it was horrid. 

before I knew this was a death wish

We went on the Ring of Fire TWICE IN A ROW and the first time Katie and I were shoved right into the front row. It was awful. Then the second time we went, Bailie and I were stuck in the middle and the carni left us hanging upside down for what felt like a million years. We rode Pharoah's Fury and Katie showed me that if you lift your feet off the ground when you swing up, you slide out of your seat. SCARY. Then we rode this ride called "Freak Out" that had a super long line so I figured it would be fun and not that bad- wrong. It was so scary. It  sent us spinning and swinging and twisting above everyone and I thought I was going to die right then and there. Then Katie made me get in line for the Zipper but there was no way I was getting on that one. So I escaped and ran onto this ride that I thought would be a nice and calm swing ride but instead it lifted you way up into the freezing cold and dark air and sling shotted you around and around. So then I made Katie and Bailie leave with me. I thought I was going to throw up or pass out or die or something. The fair is awful. Don't go- you'll die there.

 Hopefully, the fair becomes discontinued or burns to the ground or something while I'm in Alaska so I'll never be threatened by it again. But for the rest of you, don't you dare get on those sketchy rides. It's not worth it. I don't even think that the Deep Fried Oreos are worth it either. Those things will stop your heart from beating in about two seconds.

Will someone please explain why you would like the fair anyways?

Thanks. 

Love, Caitie

Daddy & Daughters Campout

I can remember being so salty whenever they announced the upcoming "Fathe's & Sons Campout" that our ward goes on every summer. Max and my dad always had so much fun and I was so mad that they never had a "Daddy & Daughters Campout". But I finally got one this year! There's seriously so many perks to having a dad in the bishopric and a mom as the Young Women's President- just saying.

We picked up Pica's before heading up to Dog Creek for the campout. Because it was National Hammock Day, our family went FULL OUT hammock nerd. It was awesome. We brought our Tensile to sleep in and set up our three hammocks below for an optimum dinner eating location.

"this Pica's burrito is glorious"

The little girls' favorite thing was collecting all of the seashells that we found at our campsite and throughout the forest. I didn't realize there were so many until we literally had paper bowls full of them. Also, please enjoy little Miss Addie's (purple top and teal shorts) face and sass in all of these photos. She is seriously so amazing.

After a glow stick party at the fire, everyone started to head to bed so we climbed up into the Tensile and I had THE HARDEST time staying up in my corner without slipping down into the middle all night. But whatever, we made it through the night. And I think Daddy & Daughter camping is way cooler than Father's & Son's because we had pancakes AND hot chocolate this morning for breakfast.

Good morning my little rays of sunshine!

Apparently we only buy blue sleeping bags in this family.

Look at our sweet little spot. I LOVE THE WILDERNESS.

After camping, we came back home and started working on the remodel on our front porch.

I even got to drive the backhoe. Well, not really. I just spun it around in a circle and then lifted the bucket up and down. Slow and steady wins the race here people. Maybe next time I can actually pick something up. We'll just have to see.

Go camping with your dad because dads rock.

Love, Caitie

The Power Went Out

The power went out in Jackson today & it was amazing. I was working at Lee's Tees when it happened at started laughing at the mad mixed up scramble of some people shuffling out the front door while others still coming up to me and asking if I could check for a size or ring them up at the register (sorry sir, we have literally no power if you couldn't tell by the dark room we're standing in right now). But the moral of the story is that we got to go home early! Like six hours early! I wish that I could work a four hour shift every day at Lee's Tees, it's so much better than a ten.

With the power (and internet) out at my house as well, we decided to take a zillion photos on Photo Booth on my laptop and they're freaking hilarious. So here you go.

I think we should bring back Photo Booth profile pictures.

But hopefully the power will be back soon.

Love, Caitie

Bearpaw Lake

Remember my pep talk about going outside from my last post? I went outside again.

Once Hannah Jane came back from Girl's Camp Friday afternoon, we packed up our backpacks and headed into GTNP.

Having a National Park in your backyard is the coolest thing ever.

Because we had had a late afternoon start, we decided to do a smaller hike into Bearpaw Lake and camp there for the night then turn around Saturday morning and come home. 

I adore these peeps of mine.

Bearpaw Lake is a much smaller lake than the other ones in GTNP and it's right between Leigh Lake & Jackson Lake and it's right at the base of Mt. Moran. It's a cool and secret little spot and it's only an eight mile hike round-trip so that's another perk.

camp. camp. camp.

pano for your pleasure of the view from our campsite

huckleberries

So there's this deer (we named her Becky) who kept wandering through our camp and 

was not afraid to be within touching distance of us- she only seemed annoyed when we would call out to her,  

"BECKY KOO KOO KOO BECKY" (like in Finding Dory) but she stuck around anyways.

this is me yelling at Becky for ditching out on our selfie.
I know, it's pretty.

It was only 6:30pm by the time we made it to camp and set up, so we trekked back a mile or so and went swimming in Leigh Lake. Because the majority of lakes in Jackson are straight melted snow- it was FREEZING and so we had to lay out on the rocks for a little while to thaw out before heading back to camp. It took us a while to get a fire started because we had these waterproof matches that kept snapping in half or they had too much waterproof coating on them to even light. 

But we figured it out. Go Girl's Camp. 

the cutest little campsite you ever did see

ready for star gazing

camping dessert "Roasty-O's"
(they were just the leftover mini Oreos from Girl's Camp)

MORE SELFIES

Here's the thing about thunderstorms in the mountains: the boom of the thunder ricochets off of the rocks and so it's SUPER DUPER loud (and a little bit terrifying). And it just seems like every time I sleep out, it rains. So when it started raining at 3am, I pulled my mummy sleeping bag hood on and rolled over. I'm used to this.

Bearpaw Lake at 5:08am

Here's Emily looking super awesome at 7am and straight out of bed.

Camping Beauty Queen.

GOOD MORNING BECKY

We were packed up and back on the trail before 9am. That's probably some kind of record.

sorry I have lemon Luna Bar in my mouth

sad to head back into the real world

pretty. pretty. pretty.

This is where it gets funny/I feel so guilty & stupid: so we were hiking along (like ten minutes from the parking lot) and this old Park Service volunteer cornered us and asked to see our permit.

Emily: Like our park permit? It's in the car in the parking lot.

Park Ranger: No, your camping permit ladies. You need one if you want to camp in the Park.

Me: We don't have one of those. I didn't think we needed one.

Park Ranger (getting mad): Where are you guys from?

Emily: Here.

Park Ranger (actually mad): Are you serious?! Then you should have no excuse not to know about having a camping permit. It's all over our website. How could you not know that?

Emily: I didn't see anything on the website about that.

Me: And we passed another park ranger about twenty minutes ago and she didn't say anything about a permit. She only warned us about a bear sighting in the area.

Park Ranger (still mad): Well, you ladies were illegally camping on Bearpaw Lake without a permit and that's about a $150 citation and because you seem so oblivious to the rules, I would triple that for your federal crime to $450. How about that?

All of us: I'm so sorry sir! We had no idea. We'll make sure to get one next time.

Park Ranger (still mad & after a long pause): I'm going to let you go this time because you're so close to the parking lot. Go get some pizza and beer.

Emily: We don't drink beer. How about soda pop or something?

Park Ranger (still mad): Have a nice day.

*all of us start BOOKING IT to the parking lot

Bring a camping permit when you camp. Apparently it's on the website.

EXCUSE ME PARK RANGER IT'S IN FINE PRINT

dang this parking lot view is amazing

adventure toes

Here's a super cutie selfie from 6am (joke).

Go and play outside people.

Love, Caitie