Lots of Firsts

Well, sorry for being a bad updater lately, but we've had a lot going on! We've had a few weeks of firsts in the Tharp Clan...Beckett's first Cowboy Carnival, Cousin Madison's first horse ride, Natalie's first music class, my first night away from Beckett and our first pony just arrived yesterday! Kyle was gone in Rock Springs last week, was home for 2 days then left again for North Dakota, so it's just we three amigos again for a while. Hopefully he'll be home by this weekend. The weather has been icky (yes, we do need the rain), so we're going to try and hit a matine movie this afternoon just to get out of the house! We'll see how long Beckett lasts. We're all finally (mostly) over the colds we've had for a few weeks, and Karrie and Madison left just yesterday again and we miss them already! Here is a recap of our "Life Way Out Yonder..."


Kyle and Nattie found the first water snakes of the season, which Natalie wanted to keep and name. However, Daddy convinced her that they did not want to live in the house (nor did Mommy want them to live in the house) so they let them go in the irrigation canal.

Cowboy Carnival was a wet one again, so our numbers were not that great. It was a good time, though, and here is a picture of Guy and Aunt Pam riding his two three-year-olds in the horse race. We were shocked that Buford beat JJ because he's such a lazy little guy sometimes, but he proved himself! In the later race Pam was neck and neck for first place and they called it that she got second. We all thought differently, of course!

Here is Natalie on a pony at the Cowboy Carnival. This is pretty much what Chocolate looks like, or will look like once we get her broke to ride next year...

Madison petting a little calf...

And Beckett hanging out with a cracker waiting for the races to start.

The lovely cousins dressed up and ready to dance to our new favorite band that Grandpa Guy discovered...Michael Franti.

I went on a little retreat with some of my MOPS mommy friends this past Friday for one night. We stayed at the Circle J Ranch in Ten Sleep, right along the Ten Sleep Creek. It was so high and fast with all the spring runoff...but very beautiful. I was OK with that first night away (wondering how Kyle was doing) but was itching to get back the next morning! We stayed up late chatting, and I went on a walk to get some pictures and did some reading the next morning before our late breakfast. It was really nice.

And the kids and I went to get Chocolate yesterday. It took a little bit to get her in the trailer, but once the was in she was fine. She seemed pretty calm when we unloaded her and she and Momma Stormy are now pasture mates. Here they are taking a nap...

And here's one a little closer. She's only one year old and not broke yet, but once it dries up outside we'll go out and start grooming her and getting her used to us. She's never once whinnied for her old friends and seems right at home here. NAtalie keeps opening the back door to yell hello to her. On the way out there yesterday she kept singing "we're getting my pony...we're getting my pony today!" It was too cute. She's definitely a horse lover at heart.

And here's our not-so-baby Beckett. He'll be 9 months old tomorrow! I just can't believe it. He still has no teeth yet, is eating lots of baby food and mushy bananas and loving to play with big sister. They laugh a lot together now, which is really fun to see.

Natalie had her first music class yesterday and had a blast. Parents awre encouraged NOT to watch so the kids can do their own thing, but that's OK because my friend Amber's girls are doing it too, so we get a little mommy chat time! She came out saying she had so much fun and can now say the word "instruments" perfectly! She got to play the cymbals. I think it's so important to encourage music and arts for kids. I can't wait for the December concert. In other news, Kyle is now fully recovered from his surgery and much more comfortable now! We're so excited to have a date night the 25th to go to a Big and Ritch concert with Guy and Jill. We even have a sitter all lined up. That's about it for all of us. Hope you all have had a great few weeks and a good start to the summer vacation! Hugs to all.

"Let your children observe you being generous to those in need." ~Unknown