Fourth of July

This was the first year in a long time that we were actually home on the Fourth of July.  It was so nice to enjoy the Corona parade and see friends and neighbors there too.  Our city does a great job celebrating, and we really do have a "home town" feel on holidays like this.  The parade was a lot of fun and we had great weather too.  The highlights of the parade were seeing our neighbors in the parade, getting handed lots of candy and little toys, and seeing our favorite story teller Mr. Z from the library.

After the parade we drove up to Lake Arrowhead to spend some time in a condo with Oma.  We had such a good time!  One of her friends offered to take us out on their boat that evening to watch the Fourth of July fireworks out on the lake.  We had such a great view.  I don't think that I have ever been that close to fireworks before.  (Too bad we didn't get any pictures).  The kids loved it and especially loved being out on their boat.  They were so good that they got to go out on another ride the next day.  We love being up at the Lake Arrowhead condo.  It is so nice to read and relax, and let the kids dig in the sand and swim in the lake.  We walked around the lake with all of the kids this year and that was really fun too.  There are some advantages to having all older kids now - even though that often makes me sad.  It was fun for the kids to have a sleepover and build a fort in their own room and to watch Kylie and Chad swim out to the dock all by themselves.  I will remember Cameron playing "wipeout" with his self made obstacle courses he built with floaties and rafts.  :)

Happy Fourth of July!  Can't wait until next year!

Cameron wore himself out that day!  Too cute!