Celebrate, Travel, Celebrate

Saturday was full of fun.  (Seems to be a theme here—we are having lots of fun lately!!)

We woke at the Prairie Pines Campground in Rantoul, IL to yet another lovely September day.  I awoke early and since I had wifi at this park got online.  It was then that I realized that it was Jim Smith’s birthday. 

Now how can we celebrate our neighbor’s birthday before we pull out?  While Ken dug out candles, we did’t have a cake, cupcake, muffin, cookie, nothing to put those candles on….hmmmm.  Well, a bit of duct-tape-ingenuity won the day. 

We went out to surprise Jim on his birthday with candles taped and lit on top of a Bud Lite can!

We got on the road before 10 am heading down I-57 and I-72 where there was a sea of orange heading the opposite direction to the University of Illinois football game.

We were certainly happy we had made reservations at Beaver Dam State Park since the park was full except for our site that waiting for us.  It’s wonderful to pull in to a park where you are known.  The host couples were sitting outside and told us our site was ready and waiting, just wondering when we’d pull in.  A packed park is not our preference but we aren’t planning a lot of time out-and-about the park on this visit so no big deal.

Since we had evening plans, after a quick lunch of brats, coleslaw and chips, Ken kicked up his feet and watched college football while I did little cleanup items like updating  actuals in our budget spreadsheet, and then took a nap.

Saturday evening, a couple of Kyle’s law firm and tennis friends hosted a party for Kyle and Jenni at a local pub, The WoodDuck.

They did a really impressive job of decorating in Jenni’s theme of black and white tulle, including beautiful monogrammed  candles, table runners, and a montage of picture frames with black/white photos of Jenni and Kyle. 

 

 

 

 

 

The candles, holders, and picture frames were all gifts from the hosts to the happy couple.  Really nice touch!

 

 

 

 

 

While the decorations were a perfect fit for Jenni, the food was a perfect fit for Kyle!  They had a buffet of absolutely awesome pub food including hot wings, shrimp cocktail, bbq sandwiches, even jalepeno stuffed olives—they obviously have paid attention to our boy’s favorites!!

The finishing touch was a beautiful cake.

 

 

 

Later in the evening, the kids opened some really nice gifts.  I think this bow is now the prettiest I’ve seen on their gifts so far!

 

 

 

 

 

It was a really enjoyable evening meeting so many wonderful people and knowing  Kyle could call them his new hometown friends after having made Carlinville his home just two years ago last month.  It does a Mom’s heart good!!

We drove the 9 miles back to the rig amid a light show across the skies as a late summer rainstorm pressed in.  By the time we were in bed the downpour had begun and continued through the night.  The rain made for nice sleeping except when the weather alarm went off middle of the night with a flash flood warning.  I’m not complaining though since it is comforting to have the weather radio and know that we won’t sleep through weather warnings, even if flash floods are not an issue here up on the hill at Beaver Dam. 

Well, it’s Sunday morning, and I’ve just drained the coffee pot.  Time to make a second pot!

Hugs, C