getting caught up...

Well, the worst case scenario for me and the Cowboy Carnival did indeed happen last week. My computer crashed andwe lost everything and had to have it rebuilt. Well, we are back online now, but I am scrambling to get things done this week for the carnival. So, sorry I have to neglect you all for a bit. I will try to post this weekend or early next week. We do have some good pictures from branding last weekend and Aunt Karrie and Madison's visit. Hope you all have a good week. Kyle is home as of last night, and Natalie and Baby Beckett are doing just fine. So, I guess all the important things that really matter are in order!!!

A Birthday For Momma...

Well, I had a great birthday to start me off into my 31st year. My dad told me on my 15th birthday that I was half way to 30, which is something I've thought about every year since then. Now I'm there, which his half way to 60, which is (unless science really evolves over the next few decades) is well over half way to dead! Anyway, it was fun to have a quiet celebration. Being pregnant makes it really easy to do that! We went to Hyattville Saturday night for prime rib and then to Jill's for cake. She remembered that carrot cake is my favorite and bought me a yummy one, but Mom, nothing beats the homemade ones you used to make me! I did miss seeing all of my Portland/California family, but we'll have a great visit in July. After dinner Kyle and Guy lit leftover fireworks from 4th of July.

We spent the night and Sunday I filled in as Sunday School teacher, which was fun. We talked about sharing. We then headed over to Forshee's and had a fun time visiting and branding. It was in the 50's when we got there and a few hours later it had droped about 25 degrees and was snowing with terrible wind! It was still a fun time, and Natalie loved playing with Baby Kruze. She also got to ride Wyatt's pony, so now she wants one of those!

Here is a shot of Natalie and Dyle in the golf cart Saturday. We made a family affair out of it. I miss riding around with him like I used to, even though golf holds absolutely no interest for me what so ever. Sorry, Dad. Natalie came along and had fun chasing spare balls and robins on the fairways, and she was asleep in my arms by the 14th hole.
Here is Momma's birthday picture in Hyattville. Just think, next year there will be a little boy in it! Yes, we are still excited.
Here is Natalie enjoying her first sparkler. She wasn't sure about them at first, but then really liked them. I think we went through three packages of them!
And here is Kyle's destructive behavior for the night. He and Guy were setting off some sort of firecracker and he accidentally hit a bird's nest and set it on fire. Don't worry, it was one from last year and had no one living in it at the time. It was pretty funny that of all the things to accidentally hit, that was it.

Anyway, that was our weekend. Natalie and I had a fun birthday lunch Monday and dinner tonight with friends. We also had a fun play date at the park today before my dentist appointment. The weather was beautiful! Jill was kind enough to take my place today visiting the publisher again in Cody. That project will be finished one of these days... Kyle will leave for North Dakota again tomorrow, so please send prayers for a safe trip. It's sad it had to happen now because Aunt Karrie and Cousin Madison are coming this weekend for Grandpa Eddie's 80th birthday. It will be a shame he has to miss it, but we LOVE him for working so hard for our family and so I can stay home with Natalie. I know it will be hard for him. We hope you all had a fun and safe weekend and that a good week is in store. Hugs to all.

Our Big News...

OK, I know it's beena while sonce we got some pictures posted, but my allergies have been so bad the last week I can hardly sleep. Need I say more? Trying to keep up with Natalie on three hours of sleep is no easy task. I can't wait to try it when her BROTHER gets here in a few months!!! Yes, we had an ultrasound today and found out we are having a boy. We went in not wanting to know (I did, Kyle didn't), but he was flashing us and made Kyle curious. We know the technician, and he said he knew what it was if we wanted to know, so we agreed. We are so excited. Kyle had his cell phone in the room and started calling people right away! Everything looks great.

Anyway, on to our little Miss Natalie. Above is a picture of her and her friend Lathan collecting the offering together at church last Sunday. It is so cute to watch, and she really has the hang of it now. There was a little pushiness when they both wanted to carry the plate at the same time, but Kyle was helping and convinced them to take turns.

And here is Natalie with Grandpa and Patches on the garden swing at Grandma Phyllis's house. That lamb puts up with a lot! We did buy her a nice new halter and lead this week so she can learn how to lead well for a parade this summer. Grandpa Chauncey wants her to dress as little Bo Peep and lead patches. We'll be sure to post a video of that one.

All else is well with the Tharp family. I have a book club meeting tonight, and Kyle will be home all weekend! We plan to celebrate my 30th birthday (Monday) on Saturday night in Hyattville at the bar with prime rib. Maybe it's because I'm pregnant, but 30 is really not bothering me like it should, which is just fine. Then we're headed to church so I can fill in as Sunday school teacher, then off to the Forshee's for their first branding. I love branding, but no one lets you do much when you're pregnant! I think we'll be branding out calves soon. Hope all is well with everyone and that we all count our blessings this weekend. Hugs to all.

P.S.

I forgot to mention that Natalie and I had a wonderful time painting our nails red the other night, and then she had a wonderful time painting the kitchen floor red while I answered the phone! I forgot she has learned how to unscrew tops off of things now, and I left the polish where she could reach it. A lot of damage can be done in about 30 seconds on the phone! I managed to get it all off the floor, but one of my kitchen rugs will soon have a date with the burn barrel. :)

A Quick Post

Well, I have been sick with a sore throat and swollen glands for two days, so Daddy was a HUGE help and stayed home yesterday. After my three hour morning nap, he had already fed Natalie lunch (fruit included), and I asked him if he wanted to take her somewhere special. Well, of course he wanted to, so they went to meet Curious George at the library! He said she was so cute and kept waving to him as they read Curious George stories. Afterward they got to give him a high five. After a stop for ice cream on the way home, she ran in the door and kept saying how big he was. I wish I could have been there, but I'm glad they got some good bonding time in, especially since he'll head back up to North Dakota again soon. It really is the little moments that make magic, right? Just thought you all would get a smile out of that story.
Earlier in the week Natalie checked out her first library books, which was really fun. She has also been playing in her purple princess dress a lot (thanks Cassidy!). I'll try to get some more pictures this weekend. Have a Cowboy Carnival meeting tonight, and our good friends from Billings are coming down to stay for the weekend. Should be a lot of fun. The baby has also been a little active the last few days. It's not uncommon to feel movement earlier in your second pregnancy, and I thought that's what it was, but not sure. My Doc confirmed this week that it's about time for that, so we know the little guy is healthy and likes to move! We'll do the ultrasound probably late next week. Hope everyone is having a good week. Hugs to all.

A Fun Few Days

Well, we've had a fun-filled few days. Natalie and I headed up to Baby Claire's dedication in church this past weekend, which was really fun. We stopped for a few hours in Billings to get her pictures done. I used Kiddie Kandid in the mall this time, and that was quite an experience, but we learned a lesson or two. First, DON'T EVER GO ALONE!!! Thank goodness my friend Lauren met us and hung out, helping to keep Natalie occupied for the hour we had to wait because they were running behind. She's five months pregnant with a little girl, so I convinced her it was good practice! Thanks Brune! You're a life saver. Second, DON'T GO ON A WEEKEND!!! It was crazy.

All in all, it was a good time. Miss Natalie could not have been more patient and perfect. She only napped 20 minutes on the ride up, so I was expecting a meltdown any time. After about $15 in quarters spent on the kiddie rides, it was finally her turn, and she was so excited. She sat and did exactly what the lady asked her to do and just kept saying, "It's my turn! It's my turn!" The lady said she was the best kid she had all day, and I believe her. I hadn't had her pictures professionally done since she was a year old, and I figured this would be the last time before the new baby comes. It really was a bonding day, though, just like the ones every mom dreams about with her little girl. I felt so blessed to have such a remarkable child who never ceases to amaze me. She went potty in the public restroom twice and never had an accident the whole time in the mall, despite all the distractions. She even treated folks in the restroom to a fine rendidtion of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. No fits, no crying and one orange julius later we were done and happy.

Then we were on our way to Suzi's house. It was so much fun to visit and play with Baby Claire. They played so well together (above), and it made me see how great Natalie will be with a brother or sister in a few months. We spent the night and went to church in the morning. It was really nice to see the extended Arlian/Smith family and experience Suzi and Randy's church in Columbus. Pastor Jay gave a great sermon that was touching and inspiring. He asked when our last "God moment" was when we felt God's presence in our daily lives, and I immediately answered (in my head) yesterday with Natalie at the mall. It may sound silly, but it really was a spiritual bonding and maturing for me yesterday as the mother of this beautiful girl. Not that I don't feel blessed each day, but at home it's easier to get lost in daily chores and schedules and miss some special little moments. If if has to happen in a mall, so be it!
On the way home Sunday we stopped by Great Grandpa Chauncey's in Powell to see all the baby lambs and play a bit...
Here is a picture of his beautiful male peacock strutting for the ladies. Grandpa is lucky to have so many beautiful birds right out his front door. Spring has really sprung!
Below is a picture of Natalie and Grandpa feeding the birds, which include turkeys, peacocks, chickens and roosters! She had so much fun.
Well, that was our weekend in a nutshell. Kyle had to stay home because he was on call, and he will be home another week or two, then head back to North Dakota. We finished layering our garden today and will cover it to "let it cook" tomorrow. Thanks again Ray and Cindy!!! Kyle also got to go with me to my doctor appointment today. I'm almost half way there at over 17 weeks already! I can't believe it. To put everyone's minds at ease, they only heard one heartbeat today and I'm measuring exactly normal for ONE child, so no more scare of twins! That would have been a blessing in it's own way, but we're just as happy with one! We will have our ultrasound in two to three weeks and as of tonight will not be finding out what sex it is. It's Daddy's choice this time, and he wants a surprise. Hope you all had a fun and safe weekend. Hugs to all.

An Outside Makeover...Life and Beauty Abound

Well, we spent a good part of the day outside getting some spring projects underway (before we get another snow!). My neighbor Cindy was so kind and came over for hours today to help us "layer" our garden so it will be ready to plant in a short while. We layered cardboard and newspaper with hundreds of pounds of manuer and straw. It's called "lasagna gardening" and I can't wait to plant! Cindy was also a big help with Natalie as we spent most of the afternoon outside. Here is a picture of Miss Natalie taking Patches for a ride in her Gator when Grandma Jill came over. It was too cute! Patches has a little too much energy to stay in for long, but she is getting the hang of the leash when Natalie drags her all over the yard!
Here was the first stage of the garden project today... Burning! That was, of course, left up to Daddy because fire tends to scare Momma...Kyle said when the flames started up (Don't worry, Cindy had the hose running) hundreds of wolf spiders ran out of the brush! Great, now they'll probably all come inside.
And Cindy was kind enough to bring over their tractor so we didn't have to haul manuer by hand and wheelbarrow! What a chore that would have been. Cindy told me, I think this is right, that on average each horse puts out about 5,000 pounds of poop a year! Considering we have five, that's a lot to layer on a garden!
And here is the most amusing photo...It was so kind of Daddy to teach Natalie how to draw her own tatoos on this morning. I just rolled my eyes and told him he's as bad as his dad teaching her how to light matches!!! Anyway, he washed it all off this morning, then tonight she drew all over herself with a red marker and said her tatoos were "owies." She decided she needed a bandaid for the "owies" on her lip! Can it get any crazier around here?

Also, I tried my hand at baking tonight. I have for some reason been craving bread pudding since I tasted it for the first time in Deadwood last week, so I decided I better make some. I had a recipe and then added my own special touches, and it turned out really good! That craving is now satisfied. The other one I have during the day is fresh smoothies Natalie and I make at home, so that should counteract the calories in the bread pudding, right? Got to love how you have no control over your body for 9 months! Hope you all have a great weekend. Hugs to all.