Fun With the Cousins

 

Despite the heat and the generally lazy days of summer,

guests are usually a good reason to get out of the house

and do something different.

 

The heat made us think of the mountains and the fact

that it is cooler up there than in the valley.

So, if we wanted to do something outside, it would

have to be somewhere higher in elevation.

 

Big Trees State Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

From there we headed over to...

 

Columbia State Park

 

Columbia, a historic mining town,
 is in the foothills so was lower in elevation

and higher in temperature.

We attempted to cool off by going to the ice cream parlor,

candy shop, and finally by buying bottles of ice cold sarsaparilla.

 

 

 

We also engaged in some bowling with cannon balls

and wooden pins. 

 

After church the following Sunday, we headed high in the Sierra's

to our traditional camping spot.

It was wonderful to see so much green after the brown of the valley.

 

 

 

 

 At the end of the week their parents arrived to take the girls back home.

No one was too thrilled at the idea of parting.

Yet, everyone knew that the relaxation of summer was drawing to a close

and it was time to get back into a normal schedule.