Independence Day - Part 1

Today was a busy day. We did a lot on Independence Day, or, more specifically, Independence Day Eve. Because July 4 falls on a Sunday this year, well, July 3 became the de facto big day of celebration around the country. And accordingly, Muscatine, Davenport, Moline, Buffalo, and many other towns in the area had their big holiday celebrations today. We spent part of the day on the river trail in Moline and Hampton, IL and then headed to Buffalo, IA for the evening.

True to the spirit of the day, you talked a lot about parades today. I told you about the Buffalo Lighted Boat Parade and I think it just got your wheels turning. So when we arrived at Remember When Ice Cream Parlor, you grabbed Bella's leash and said, "I'm having a parade!"

And that you did.


Hardly shocking that today was a real scorcher and having ridden several miles from East Moline to Hampton we were both ready to cool down with something frozen. You hopped right onto one of their barstools and gave your order:

"I want vanilla ice cream."

The lady helping you said: "Do you want anything on that?"

You thought for a moment and added: "I want Oreo cookies."

"Do you want chocolate?"

"Yes."

"Whipped cream?"

"Yes."

"Sprinkles?

"Yes."

"Chocolate or hot fudge?"

"Yes."

Now, slow down your hoedown there, little lady... I think if she would've kept listing ingredients you would've said "yes" to every single one of them. We all had a laugh and you ended up with a little vanilla ice cream/chocolate syrup sundae. Perfect.


Now, the neat old historic building in which Remember When is built has a pretty red side door and you promptly hopped up onto this and began striking poses for me to snap with our -- thankfully still operating -- camera. This is new. Though you can be a real hambone at times, for the most part, you don't have the patience for sitting still for posed photos. I have to admit: I hope this camera-loving Adessa is a new phase for you that will last a long, long time.


One more sweet photo of my gorgeous little girl.

Daddy