A Kansas-kind of weekend

Much like our long weekend in Colorado before the baby shower with my family, Ronny and I had a great weekend in Kansas this past weekend spending time with his family, celebrating birthdays and baby showers!

The guys, of course, had to get some pony-time in to doctor a cow.

Hank was thrilled to practice his skills. Although part of those skills are getting tired of walking and riding in the saddle with Ronny. I’m glad Stormy the horse was tolerant of this with both of my boys in the saddle!

Later on at the ranch, Ronny and his brother, Russell, decided it would be fun to get all of the family instruments out. And boy, it was quite the concert!

Silly Uncle Ronny!

Then this little doll showed up, and we were able to celebrate her first birthday!

All of the cousins helped her blow out her candle.

And she so enjoyed the antique pedal tractor that Uncle Ronny restored for her!

She thinks he is pretty great. And I agree with her!

Update from the baby shower to come…

Insta-Monday

I didn’t get around to InstaFriday, so here goes the last few weeks via Instagram.

Ronny and I went to Manhattan for the BJ Angus production sale // catching up with one of my besties, Georgia // checking our stones on K-State’s Senior Sidewalk

New magnet at work //

Walking Hank on a nice day // walking Hank on a cold day all bundled

I received my Honorary State FFA Degree at the Nebraska FFA Convention

Watching my former FFA mentee, McKehna, compete in the pole vault for the Doane Tigers at Concordia University in Seward //

high five for friday.

Stock Show trip to Denver

Over the long holiday weekend, Ronny and I had the opportunity to go with our friends, Matt & Lindsay Hastings, to Denver for the National Western Stock Show.

The weather was beautiful…we didn’t need our coats for most of the time. We even found some Nebraska signs to take our picture with.

While we were there, we enjoyed the cattle shows, horse jumping show and even the dog pull (did you know a 30 pound dog can pull 900 pounds!).

The highlights included walking around and reminiscing in the yards, seeing old friends, spending time with the Hastings, the cowboy church and the rodeo.

We were super impressed with the “One-Armed Bandit” at the rodeo.

Such a fun weekend! We also got to stop by my parents house on Friday evening and show the Hastings my family ranch. Always a great time to see my family and be home.

bulls and blessings.

This Monday was our first bull sale. It’s been a project we’ve been working on for a couple of years and it was awesome to see our hard work rewarded with some high quality Red Angus bulls….and WOW. Were we totally blessed by the support of our customers.

We sold 15 bulls in the sale in which we consigned with Cross Diamond Cattle. You can read about the sale here. The Ford’s and all families involved with this sale are incredible. They are great people who were willing to show us the ropes and get us started in our first sale as Solid Rock Red Angus.

We are excited for this new adventure in our cattle business, although it was kind of hard to see the bulls go. Made me feel better that none of them were going alone – they were going with a “friend” to their new homes.

Mostly, we give thanks to God for this opportunity and adventure. On CHRIST the SOLID ROCK I stand!

Reno & Red Angus

Ronny and I attended our first National Red Angus Association Convention together (I went to one as a Jr. member several years ago) in Reno this past week. We met up with my parents there and several others in the industry that we knew. We also made a lot of new friends and contacts.

We stayed at the Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino…

…and I wanted to come home with this chair.

One of the best sessions during the convention was RAAA President Joe Mushrush’s address – can you tell why we liked it! :)

Downtown Reno was really beautiful as well with their River Walk.

Dad even found gold to pan for!

We did a little gamblin’, eating good steak, and made some new friends – even from Canada!

Up next, the trip to Lake Tahoe…

A trip out West–babies, birthdays & cows

Getting caught up here, we got to spend a quick weekend in Colorado the end of October to celebrate a baby and birthdays!

First, we hosted a baby shower for Ryan and Lindsay – these are the only two pictures I took (because Ronny had the camera – see below). They really gathered a lot of loot for the baby – due December 27 – so be ready to see lots of pictures from this proud aunt!

While the girls were at the shower, Ronny went out to check cows (are you really surprised?!).

Of course Hank went along as well.

Love this milk face.

He even figured out the panoramic feature on our camera – great shot!

The pairs.

It was a great weekend at home with lots of family, lots of celebrating and cheering on the Cats for a K-State win. Not much tops all of that!