"a pig fire"

On the way home from Missoula, we stopped in Billings for the 4th annual Jonestown pig roast.  I grew up attending similar affairs in Missoula and when Carl and the original "boys" stopped hosting them there, Bill started hosting them in Billings.  This was my first time attending the Billings version and Ben's fist all-around.  It was a challenge to keep an eye on Ben with so much land to cover and so little fear of leaving well-known surroundings but truck beds, horses and a neighbors inflatable water slide gave me a few breaks. We hung out at Bill's Friday afternoon and evening and did the same Saturday.  We stayed at a nearby hotel but did set up MeeMee's camper to practice and for a place of refuge if Ben needed it. We woke up Sunday ans swam a bit at the hotel before heading to pack up the camper and say our good-byes.  By mid-morning we were on the road to East Rosebud Creek and MeeMee's MT property.

 

It was fun to snuggle with my monkey on this trip but he clearly doesn't understand the concept of "his side of the bed."

I was so thankful to MeeMee for watching Ben in the mornings so I could work out.

Yep-the makings of the world's biggest and craziest bonfire.

 

This El Camino bed was Ben's favorite play spot.  Bernie's daughter Rain (on the left) was great with Ben and little Austin followed him everywhere.

These tickles with Uncle Carl warm my heart and I'm sure there are similar pics of me sitting just where Ben is.

The next-door horses were very sweet and Ben loved petting them and talking to them frequently.

The fire begins......

.....and ends.

The fire got VERY hot VERY quickly and as we sat far enough away to be comfortable the mosquitoes feasted away.:(  I was reminded several times on this trip that my hippie mama bug spray does little to fend off the blood-suckers of the big sky.  

The fire department did come quickly after the fire started and people lined up in their cars for blocks to watch.  Somehow Ben put the whole event together perfectly when MeeMee asked him if it was a big fire.  "No MeeMee! It's a PIG FIRE!!!"  Well put, Benjamizzle. :) 

With that we bid the party adieu.