Dam West Carlyle Lake

What a great weekend.
Started off pretty well as planned, as long as you don't count me forgetting to bring my God-Daughter. You know, getting older you forget things. We'll this time I forgot Amy. Luckily she called & asked us about the new exit by our house & told us she was close. Fortunately we were still close, by QT. So we turned around & picked her up.
Uneventful drive down there, took about an hour. Quick check in & on to site #87. As we pulled up, my sister Peg & Dennis walked over to watch me back CC into the site. Great an audience. But thanks to YouTube Rita & I have this almost to an art. Using the 3 in 1 lesson on backing we were in with one attempt. Perfectly aligned & ready to party. Quick leveling, hook-up, and slide outs. We are done. Waited for Brandi, Saxton, Mica & Kolton then off to dinner.
We all went to meet Jody, Chandler and their kids at Keyesport, IL for fish at "The Keys", awesome walleye. Then we all went back to Dam West. Spent a nice evening drinks & family.....
We decide to celebrate Mother's Day on Saturday so we would have time to enjoy the food, company & great outdoors. Our group woke up early and had a nice breakfast of crockpot oatmeal, granola & raisins. Brandi had to drive into Belleville for some appointments so we took care of the kids.
Peg's site woke up an hour later. Dennis & Chandler fixed them all a breakfast of pancakes & eggs. Somehow my grand kids ate a second breakfast with them, not a little one but a big breakfast.....
Then we were off to the races....the little kids did everything, playing with every toy imaginable. Then riding bikes, playing in the mud...

Chandler seemed to always be in the mix with all 5 little kids. Between running alongside them when they were bike riding or playing ball with them...wow..thank you Chandler. I would have been worn out by noon...
We went for walk to the playground, then decided to go down to the lake. Once we found a nice open spot we walked down to the shore. That's where Kolton found the "dead snake".
First off, it was a really small snake. And we knew it was dead because it was a headless snake. The kids were mesmerized by the snake & after some quick discussion we decided it need a funeral. So here we are, lakeside, with driftwood & a dead snake. Yup, you guessed it burial at sea, well lake.
Chandler found a piece of drift/plywood, carefully laid the snake on it. The kids collected a stick to make a mast. Leaves for a sail & flowers to decorate it. After a few words (not really). We launched the Funeral Pyre.

It went out about 2 feet & sank. But the kids were pleased. Hiked back to the campsite, caught a couple of bugs on the way. All in all, good times......
Big BBQ pork steak dinner with everyone. Bonfire & 's'mores. Perfect day!
Sunday was started with GG omelettes & more playtime. Man these kids keep on going & going & going......
I took the Gustafson's for a walk. Took this picture.

Late Sunday packed up & headed home.
Ironically I forgot Amy again. I know she was with her mom & dad, but she parked her car in CC's spot, so we stopped @ SWIC & they dropped her off.
Got CC home & unpacked. Started the laundry & relaxed.
The weekend went too fast. But we had a GREAT time. Special thanks to Peg & Den, for helping us & having the thing we didn't know we didn't have.
Next weekend, Rita & I are going solo @ Coles Creek....

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