More Cute Boy Pictures!

I was just looking at my pictures tonight and thought I would share these happy faces with you!

Our Newest Family Member...Meet Brooks

This is our newest family member....Brooks McKay Hansen. I get to claim the winning prize of a chocolate chip cookie for choosing the middle name! He is very sweet and perfect. I was able to fly down the day after he was born and ride home with them from the hospital. What a special day!

Boys, boys and more boys......

I was surrounded by boys last week! When I got home, I realized that is all I have on my camera. Thought I would share these cute pictures of Brady, Bennett, Beau and Case. Case looks so grown up in the middle of the boys (He's the blonde headed boy with blue eyes.)

Catchin' Up.....My Month in Review

I think this is the longest that I have gone without writing anything. I've been a busy gal! I'm just about to finish my 5th class "Business Ethics" and move on to "Compensation and Benefits".

On August 17th, I began a new job. After 16 months of unemployment, I accepted a position as Human Resources Manager with Cornell Companies - Hudson Correctional Facility. Yes, a prison!!! You can check out their website at www.cornellcompanies.com for information regarding their facilities. Sounds kinda scary, but I've gotten over the shock of walking into a prison. It is very intimidating and of course, you always want to remain aware of what's going on in your surroundings. We are actually in the activation phase of the facility and will bring our first inmates onsite in November. They have spent $27 million to build this facility. It's very interesting and should be quite an experience in many ways....and it's a job. I feel very lucky to remain in my field of expertise while continuing to complete my bachelors degree. I have to admit that the first couple of weeks were a killer (play on words) while getting back in the swing of work life. After all, I was in control of my day, lunches, errands, farm chores, etc. All is good now and I'm up at 5:30 a.m. to begin my work day. Sounds so early, doesn't it?

In the mean time, you all be good. I don't want to see any of you on the other side of the walls.....

A Dear Friend Comes for a Visit.....

Brenda and I have been friends for 41 years. I was 9 and she was 11 when my family moved into the neighborhood. Neither one of us recall how we met, but we know we've been close ever since. We've seen our children grow up, supported each other during our heart breaks, and we've been there for each other during the most happiest and difficult of times. As the old saying goes, "A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." (Anonymous) She experienced what farm life is like. From morning chores to putting the hay down. Here, she's riding along with Gary in the swather.
Kenzi wanted to ride horses, so Ron saddled up Snipper. I won't tell you how long it took her to recover from a sore butt!
We ventured out to Fort Collins to check out CSU, and Estes Park for back-to-back day trips.
We enjoyed lunch along side of the Big Thompson River in Estes Park.
As I stood in the airport saying goodbye to my dear friend and her daughter, tears rolled from both our eyes. As they walked away, a man gently tapped me on the shoulder (I think he was an angel), and handed me a small slip of paper that read, "Saying goodbye can be hard, but I've learned that true friendship and love continue to grow over the longest distances and time." (Bill Wells - DIA)

I can sum up my week with one word on what I value in life: "Relationships" - Priceless!

It was a wonderful week....that's all!

The Day Has Come......

Tuesday, July 21....Cheryl's birthday. When I asked her if she wanted to help with the chickens (I'll spare you the details) she offered to come to our home for fried chicken. It was her birthday!

Before:
After:

One more thing: Happy Birthday Cheryl! I celebrate with parties and cake!

Happy "50" Birthday to Me!

A few friends (42 friends to be exact) stopped by this weekend to wish me a "happy 50th birthday". I turned a half-a-century old. That's the only time I'm going to say that....I think I prefer what the cake says "49 and holding". A BIG SURPRISE visitor really got me. Kathy and Michael flew in from Austin, TX for my party. I had no idea they were coming. I still did not know when this picture was taken. Although I had a "gut feeling" they might be here, Nina was sure to keep the secret. But, Kathy did "tell a lie" when I got her on the phone that morning. She LIED to me about her whereabouts. I have the "bestest" of friends in the whole world. They really LOVE me:

All my cards and gifts! Notice the kissing piggy salt/pepper shakers from my sis in TX; flowers from John/Cheryl's garden and book "Women Turning 50"; painted pony from Nina; red hat and Boyd Bear "Fifty is Nifty" from Kathy/Michael; and a Willow Tree "Angel of Friendship" figure from Kathy/Rob L and my many cards. Not pictured is the hand made walking cane, prunes and vitamins for Women over 50 compliments of Michelle and Don C.

In Memory of Tiger AKA "Six Meters Gone"

It is with much sadness that I write this blog. Today we had to put Tiger down. She had intestinal problems and could not overcome it. She was our AAA mare and leaves a 6 month old filly "Babe" pictured here in January. These animals become our family on the farm.