4th of July- Part 2

The morning of the 4th started with the parade through downtown Clear Lake.  It was super hot, and we got there about an hour early to get a spot so we were basically melting by the time it got started!  All the shady spots were already taken!

Andrew had fun with his flag while we waited.  But he also got tired, I think because he was so hot.

Luckily he got a little love from daddy and rested while we waited.

I didn't get too many pictures of the actual parade, but I had to snap this one quick!  Andrew went crazy over the Lightning McQueen!  The car was decorated to look like McQueen, it was pretty cool!

The funny thing about the parade this year was, Andrew finally figured out how to run out and get the candy!

In past years, he would just sit there and maybe pick up one piece, but then he'd open it and try to eat it, rather than getting any more.  He didn't quite get it!  But this year, I explained that he could get more if he put it in his bag and ran out with the other kids, and he did!

He would come back with fistfuls of it!  He sure held his own, I didn't have to help him at all!  He also figured if he just stood there, looked cute and waved at the people with the candy, they'd throw a big pile of it right at him!  Ha!  It was so funny.

Since we were so hot, after the parade we decided to make it a day on the lake!  It is always cooler on the water!

We parked the boat at the beach so Andrew could walk onto shore.  He loved playing in the sand and throwing rocks into the water.

He had the best time figuring out that his life jacket would hold him up.  He wants to swim independently so badly, and he loved that he could go out where he couldn't touch bottom and still kick his legs and swim!

He was way over his head here, but look how excited he was!  We were all clapping and cheering him on!

He got so tired after our day of boating and swimming, that he crashed on the boat ride back!  Napping on the boat is just the best!

And it's a good thing he napped, because we had to stay up late for this amazing fireworks display!

Clear Lake has the best fireworks ever- the pictures just don't do it justice.  But it was about 35 minutes of entertainment, with no breaks in between!  They just kept going and going!  Usually there is a big space between shooting them off, but not here!  And the best part... how they reflect on the water.  It is so fun to watch all the boats out on the water, too.  Some years we take our boat out, but it is so busy and sometimes stressful, so we decided to stick to the shore this year.  And we completed the evening with delicious homemade ice cream afterwards!  Mmmm!

Just another wonderful weekend at the lake!

4th of July- Part 1

We had such a special 4th of July this year!  I have yet to miss a 4th of July at the lake, and I hope it always stays that way!  I can't imagine being anywhere else.  There's something about being in a "lake town" over the 4th, it just adds extra spirit to the already festive mood!

The night before we headed to the lake, we spent the night with my mom so we could just get up and leave early.  Andrew enjoyed some swimming in my mom's neighborhood pool before we grilled out.  He is so funny in the water- he has learned a new thing...

Doesn't he look like he's directing traffic or something?  Ha!  This is him getting ready to jump in the pool to my mom.  But he keeps telling her to move back farther!  I'm not sure if he doesn't realize he needs her to catch him since he can't touch bottom, but I don't think he cares!  Ha! (I posted a short video at the end of this post of him "directing" at the pool).

The lake was beautiful.  It wasn't too choppy and the sun was under so it wasn't as hot as it could have been.  The first thing we did when we arrived is take a boat ride!  This is one of my favorite views from the boat- City Beach.  It is where all the action is!  The carnival sets up here overlooking the water by the seawall (where Craig and I got engaged!)

Out littler boater!

Andrew enjoys the boat so much, and I love it.  This summer we are having more trouble with him on the boat because he wants to drive all the time, and doesn't watch where he's going!  Ha!  And over the 4th, the lake is so busy, there are boats everywhere!  He is constantly wanting to move around the boat and test out all the seats!  He never sits still so it is hard to go fast, but then he gets mad when we slow down!  Ha! 

Ga Ga and Papa dropped us off at the dock downtown so we could walk up to the carnival.  It was wristband day, which means unlimited rides for this little man for 5 hours straight!  Ha!

He loved this alligator roller coaster.  I lost count how many times he rode it!

The funny thing this year was, I am 38 weeks pregnant, so obviously no rides for me (it was enough for me to truck along with the camera in the heat taking pictures!)  I think at least 5 people asked me when I was due!  The problem was, Andrew was pretty much not interested in the kiddie rides anymore (how did that happen??) so daddy ended up having to get a wrist band too!  Ha!

 

Craig was such a trooper.  He went on all the rides with Andrew, over and over again.  I just kept thinking how lucky I am to have picked out such a good daddy for my kids.  And such a fun daddy too!

I couldn't get over it when Andrew said he wanted to ride the Tilt-a-whirl.  Um... what??  Yeah, my baby went on the Tilt-a-whirl.  I couldn't believe it.  And he loved it and wanted to ride again right away!

We took a little break for lunch at one of our favorite lake restaurants!

Andrew loved the spaghetti!

And we all enjoyed the best pizza ever! (And none other than canadian bacon/pineapple...my favorite!)  Craig even let me choose the kind since, you know, I'm pregnant and all!

After lunch it was more rides... Andrew discovered they had a super slide, and he just went crazy.  I think they went on this at least 10 times!  Once they got to the bottom, they just got right back in line again!

He enjoyed the Merry Go Round, too!

I couldn't believe this... Andrew also wanted to ride the ferris wheel!  I couldn't get his picture because they were enclosed in the little cart (no objection by me!) but you can see Craig waving in the picture!  Andrew was all excited because he saw the lake and boats from the top!

We avoided the long Tilt-a-whirl line again by convincing him to go on the Dizzy Dragons instead (the kiddie version of the Tilt-a-whirl!)  He loved it because of the dragon theme!

Of course he and daddy had to ride the Bumper Cars- this is always Craig's favorite ride.  Can't you tell how much fun he's having!?

After a great day at the carnival, we headed back to the hotel and went swimming.  Andrew loves jumping in the water now!

My cousins met us at the hotel to go swimming with us, which Andrew just thought was the best thing ever!  I was trying to get them all to jump at the same time... no success!  Ha!

Andrew just loved playing with the kids in the pool.

I had to post this picture, even though Andrew was being a stinker and not smiling!  Ha!  Look at my huge belly!  Do you think I'm about to pop?  Ha!  I sure feel like it!

After we all took showers, the kids cuddled up on the bed and watched a movie!  I love how Andrew is "in charge" of the equipment!  Ha!

Andrew helped Papa make popcorn, too.  Another favorite tradition!  He loves holding the bag as the popcorn comes flying out.

We had a great first day at the lake!  I'll post about the 4th soon.  I need to get all caught up on updates before next Tuesday...only 5 more days as a family of THREE!!!

*Here is the video of Andrew swimming at my mom's (we were laughing at him in the background because he was so.stinkin.funny!)*

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