July 4th Fun!

This year we couldn't really go anywhere for the 4th of July, because I didn't want to risk going into labor in the middle of the desert somewhere. So we tried to find something fun to do around here. We decided to go check out the Hoover Dam and drive over the new bridge that has been done for some months now and we just haven't gotten around to seeing yet. So we packed a picnic lunch and drove over to see it. When we drove to the other side of the bridge you enter into AZ and we told Isaiah that we were in Arizona, so he looked around and said, "Where's Zachy, Ike?" His cousins Zachy and Ike live in AZ and he was wondering where they were since he couldn't see them, so we had to try and explain to him that they lived in a different part of AZ. Anyway I thought that was really funny.

After we drove over, we decided it would be fun to park and walk  out over the bridge on this walkway that they have. Zaya had fun going up all of the stairs and ramps they had to get to the top. It had a great view of the Dam but it was pretty freaky! It was also raining and windy, but it was just enough rain that we all thought it felt good and was a nice change from the heat, but some of the pictures aren't the best because of it.

Then we decided to drive out past Search Light, which I am still not even sure where this little town is and go to some cove that Casey wanted to fish. It was like an hour away or so. Anyway we got there and it was so hot! and packed with lots of Hispanics, but we did manage to hike through the sand a ways to a spot in the back where there weren't too many people and found a nice little shady spot to have lunch and wade out in the water. Luckily it was much cooler down by the water, or we never would have lasted. Casey didn't have much luck fishing there because his lures kept getting snagged, but we all had lots of fun exploring a new part of Nevada and being somewhat adventurous. Zaya loved throwing the rocks in the water and watching them splash!

Hoover Dam (view from the bridge walkway)

Up on the walkway

Another scary view! It is so high up!

My cute boys!

Not looking the best with the rain, but at least we are both smiling and looking at the camera :)

I thought these were cute!

So funny!

View of Lake Mead from a look out point.

Silly Zaya eating some apple. It was really bright so I am squinting  pretty bad!

Out at Cotton Wood Cove ( I think that is what it was called)

Eating an apple while Zaya throws his rocks!

Relaxing in the shade

It was so bright outside, but I still like this pic.

 After this we all came home and showered and slept and relaxed then at night we went into town to watch some fireworks. We didn't end up in the best of locations, but we still got to see a few fireworks and it was still pretty fun. Zaya did not enjoy the few little ones we bought to do with him. He is deathly afraid of fireworks up close and hates the loud noises they make. He kept crying and saying that he wanted to go back in the house. He really learned to like the ones from far off though, and thought they were really pretty. A few nights after the 4th Zaya was asking me where the fireworks were and I told him I didn't think there would be any but we could go down and do some sparklers if he wanted. He said that he was excited and that he liked sparklers, so i thought we would give it another shot. Well as soon as he saw what I had in my hands as we went out the back door, he realized what was going on and started to get all worried and said, "Put it back mom. Put it back." I asked him if he wanted to watch me do some, but he would have none of it, so despite my efforts we still have a bunch of little fireworks that have yet to be set off. :)

Fireworks