Penn State Chics Dig Nerds

 Last week, we were blessed by visitors.  It was a very fun week reminiscing, chatting, and having fun together.  First, our Colorado cousins, Shannon and P came to visit.  Unfortunately, J couldn't come this time and Amie was at Camp K.  So, the youngest and oldest second cousins were missing.  It is always an enjoyable time with these cousins. Unfortunately, and uncommon June occurrence happened. It was 95-100 degrees all week and felt oppressive. The week before was in the 70's, so it was quite a jump.  However, we still got out and explored. We drove to the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County.  Along the way, we took a short detour to walk through Trough Creek State Park.  Brady thought it was really funny to throw off my balance on the swinging bridge. Rainbow Falls Natalee and Brady tried to push over the Balanced Rock, but were not successful. After a picnic lunch at the famous Lincoln Highway coffee pot building, we went to Flight ...

 

 Last summer at a Sharp family picnic, we mentioned that it would be fun to go on a big family vacation like we used to do.  The last time we went to the beach together, Amie was a baby.  So, that was a long time ago! While trying to stay within a 5 hour radius, we decided to try Sodus Point, NY, which is along Lake Ontario.  We had looked at a lot of places, but it is really difficult to find a place within 5 hours for 26 people or 2-3 houses right beside each other. On the way to Sodus Point, we explored three easy to access waterfalls near Watkins Glen, NY (we already went to Watkins Glen State Park a few years ago , which was absolutely beautiful) The kids enjoyed playing at the beach park.  However, on the first day we were there, algae started to wash in.  Each day we were there, it got worse in this spot. Then, they were completely enthralled by finding a frog.  Throughout the week, they ended up finding multiple frogs and one toad. A group of u...

Last Saturday, the family held a golf tournament in honor of my late Uncle Korie. Some of my family members worked really hard to pull off this fundraiser event.  It was really fun to work along side my friends, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Brady and Dad were in charge of the bag drop. The guests of honor The check in table I was positioned at hole #10, which was the "Beat the Nephew" hole.  It was a gamble, but the goal was to beat my cousin, Deron, and hit the ball closer to the hole than he did. Everyone got in on some of the fun. Some of my cousins watching My brother and his friends played. It was great to spend the day with Deron. Dad and Brady had to measure a few times to see who was closer.  One guy beat Deron by getting a hole in one! I recruited Natalee (and her hurt hand) to help me take pictures of each group of golfers.  Brandy took the money for the hole.   Jesse and Amie came to the tournament later in the day.  Amie had a soccer game and her...

After Washington, we went back to Idaho for a couple days, then started the trek home. Near Billings Montana, we went to Pictograph Caves. The spherical rock formations are called concretions. (That will be on the test at the end:) In South Dakota, we went to Sioux Falls again. There were some pesky little Prairie dogs that wanted to eat our lunch, but they didn't get any.   And, because we saw the sign so many times on the way out, we stopped at the "World's Largest Popcorn Ball" somewhere in Iowa. It was exactly what the name says.  That's basically all we did on the way back. Until next time!

 On our "Idaho" vacation, we also went to Washington. We spent a day or so in Port Orchard, (where we used to live,) but then traveled the rest of the way out to the coast. There was loads of driftwood on Beach 1, so we had fun with it even though it was foggy the whole time we were there. Also while there, we explored tide pools and sea stacks. There were lots of starfish clinging to the rocks, and crabs that scurried under them when we got close.