Montana -Miss Elena is 2

Upon our arrival back in Billings, we decide to drive out to Pompey's Pillar and have a walkabout.  It is hard for me to believe, but after all of my years living here, I have never visited this place.  What is up with that?

The plan is for a short hike up to where the signature of Captain Clark is and back as it is dang cold today.  It is not a sun-shiny Yellowstone Valley day.  Drat.

We head to Rhiana's new house for the day and Mister quickly gets to work helping Kyle put together chairs for the new dining room.  Miss Elena is offering help all along the way.

That evening, we are treated to a wonderful dinner and sit at the brand new table.  Rhiana and Kyle have done such a nice job with the house and they have great plans for working on it as well.  Love the old historic homes.

The next morning it is time to get to work.  We have one very cool, very detailed cake to get to work on.  It takes hours and hours with BOTH of us working on it but, -- is this not wonderful?  And the best part is that I got a whole day to spend with my daughter in the process.  It just doesn't get much better than that.



Look at this little princess with her castle.  Now that is the picture of royalty.  Yes, indeed.

Party time!  Cousins and friends started showing up along with grown-ups too.  The house filled with stories, laughter, and the ever constant chatter of little ones.

Elena had gotten a trampoline for her birthday and so that was the main attraction and held all the little people's attention for quite awhile.  The backyard was just abuzz with activity.

A most delightful Mommy and Me moment.

Cousins Hyrum and Zyra are along for the day as well.

Soon it is time for the birthday girl to open her gifts and blow out the candles on her cake.  Doesn't everything look perfect?

Elena was allowed to help deconstruct the cake in order to serve it.  Hmmm - sure did go faster on her part than constructing it did on ours.



Mister and I had purchased a pretty pink Strider bike for her birthday.  It is a tradition that we started a few years ago and have been trying to continue it.  Check this out -- she is on her bike - on the table.

Everyone continued visiting and just enjoying the day.  The older kids all ran off and played together, but Miss Zyra kind of hung around the adults.  Naturally, Grandpa had to grab a couple of her quiet moments as well.  Super nice day.