The Wheeler Family

I must admit, I was NOT looking forward to the Fourth of July. Chris had made arrangements for us to work in Muscatine with a church group fundraising project and since we would be there I knew he and the kids would want to see the parade. I was worried that it would be hot, that there would be massive amounts of walking, and that the bugs would be ridiculously awful because of all the recent flooding.

We started off our Fourth of July festivities by arriving in Muscatine right before the parade started. We had made plans for the kids and I to ride on the Trolley with Becca, Elena, and her parents while Chris and Josh watched the parade with the other kids. Parking was nightmarish, but luckily we found a spot quickly and started walking towards the parade route waiting for Josh to call us and tell us where to meet. We couldn’t get ahold of Josh, so we called Becca and she told us where the Trolley was. We got there right as they were starting to pull away to start the parade so we ALL jumped on!

The kids grabbed some American flags to wave out the window while Chris laughed as Dan Clark teased him about being a Democrat for the day (the Trolley was covered in advertisements for various Democratic candidates).

They were out of little flags so I didn’t get to wave, but to prove I was there and enjoyed the parade I allowed Becca to take a picture of me…

Near the end of the ride we came upon Josh and the kids who climbed up on the Trolley with some of their candy loot from the parade, Josh thought it would be so much fun to throw the candy out to more people instead of keeping for ourselves. Everyone thought this was a great idea except for poor Jacob who was not happy to lose his hard earned candy…

After the parade was finished Chris, the kids, and I drove to our meeting spot for the church group. We walked over to Salvatore’s and got some pizza to eat while we waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Once they did we split up, read the instructions, and sent them off with their merchandise. Chris and Michael went to one end of the riverfront and Audrey and I stayed near 2nd Street. Most of our job was being in a central location so that the church group members could come back and replenish their selling supplies, so really it was a bit of hanging around. To entertain herself, Audrey asked if she could get an italian ices. At first I was hesitant, but she really wanted to try it, so we got some…

She thoroughly enjoyed it and didn’t ask for anything else the rest of the evening…

Soon is was nearly dark and the fireworks prematurely started. Before we knew it, they were done and the rushed part of our work began where people came back with their unsold products and the money. Thankfully with Audrey there it was a smooth operation, and we headed back to the car. I will admit that I was very worn out when we got home, but it really was a fun day spent with my family and friends!