carlsbad caverns - new mexico

down under.........in new mexico

from the top of the sand dunes of monahans to a chilly 800 ft. below ground level to the caverns of carlsbad, n.m -- today we took tyler and kathryn to another west texas(nm) wonder. funny, how all my life, living out here and actually visiting carlsbad many times to see my grandmother, we never went out to the caverns. what an amazing trip it was, unbelievable sight. we all had an incredible time, "hiking" down the caves and seeing and learning about the spectacular sights and ecosystems. we even had lunch and a break at the cafe -- along with a bathroom, gift shop, and elevators at the 750' mark. none of us could figure out how they came in and made this place underground so "modern." ..... all the walkways and ammenities and electricity. we weren't able to see the bats, as they are all migrated south to mexico for the winter months -- i think i was glad about that......over 400,000 of them fly out every day (when they are there) at dusk to eat insects for thier meals and return every morning at dawn -- must be an amazing sight to sit and observe that. anyway......would highly recommend it to you if you are ever in the area----it's a pretty good workout though--thank goodness it was all DOWNhill and you had to take the elevator to get back up to the street level!

it's NOT snow..... white sands of WEST TEXAS

this gives a whole new meaning to "playing in the sand." what fun we had taking the kids to Monahans. this is a place i spent many of my young years at -- birthday parties, dune-buggy rides, waxing and surfing my own personal "surf board," eating gritty, sandy hotdogs (only the best), and grinding the sand between my teeth and emptying pockets full of sand out. I loved it when we got in the car yesterday and kathryn was like - "i have sand all in my teeth." welcome to west texas! :)

beaches of west texas.............

better known as the Monahans Sandhills State Park. Fun time there today with Tyler and Kathryn. Not quiet the same as the Florida beaches and much more of a workout!

this sand is sooooooo cold!!

prepping the disc with a little wax

READY........

SET..........

GO - TYLER - GO.....

the big hunt....they really do have deer out here!!

tyler finally made it to midland for the holidays (via a 5 day stop over in coppell with his roommate, brooks - to visit his family and to camp out overnight to shop at the REI garage sale) just in time for the big west texas hunt with the mccrary men. it was a very successful hunt with all the guys getting a buck and a few doe too. unfortunately, bruce's father was not able to come this year due to a bout with strep throat. however, we have plenty of venison for a while........ tyler and his 8 point........

bruce and his 6 point

the mccrary men --- brothers/cousins/uncles/nephews --bruce/tyler and jeffrey/guy--could jeff and tyler pass for brothers or what!!

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW.....

we woke up to a beautiful snow on Thanksgiving morning. Snowed ALL day, flakes as big as feathers. it was so beautiful. snowed thursday, played football playoff game on friday NIGHT -- and yes it was COLD-- freezing - and yes we got beat after sitting out in the mist and below freezing temps for 4 hours!!
- then the snow returned on sat and then again on sunday -- sunday morning going to church out here in the wide open fields - nobody on the roads -- was an amazing site. wish i would have had my camera then..........

rOaD TRiP 2007 -- NAC to MidLaNd

what a GREAT weekend -- the girls come to midland from Nac!! who-hoo!! Julie, Jill, Cynthia, Kim and then Hannah came up from TECH to spend the weekend with us. Friday Night Lights was the main agenda - and the REBELS were REBEL STRONG "trashing" those crosstown rival dawgs from Midland high to a crowd of about 20,000. It was so much fun. Also on the weekend was plenty of shopping, food, church, laughs, hugs, talking and a little bit of blood, (sorry jill), sweat and tears -- plenty of those came sunday. thank you so much for coming to see us.... i LoVe you dearest friends and miss you!!!!

it's been a long time...............

OK...now I have a new camera for Christmas, so maybe I will update our blog. It's been way too long. We have been in Midland now 6 months!!! Can not believe it. Still an adjustment for me. Bruce is loving it. Still giving it time and one day at a time. Tyler is home for the holidays and that is good. Dreading the holidays coming to an end............Tyler back to College Station and me -- back to my dreaded job............. Keep the prayers coming.