Proud to be New Mexicans...

Ruidoso!

We finally went to Ruidoso after talking about it forever! We figured it was time to do a little exploring in our new state. It's only about a 2.5 hour drive, so it was a great weekend trip. Matt was a little hesitant, but ended up loving it! We stayed at a cute B&B called Casa del Cocinero. It was a neat experience and made the trip a lot more comfortable than motel 6 would have been! Skiing was a lot of fun, although we are definitely still paying the price. I took many many many tumbles and Matt really only had one big spill (show off)! We're definitely going to go back, so let us know if y'all are coming thru NM and we'll join up with you on the slopes ;)

We don't have any pics though, because my only pocket was on my backside and with all that falling down, I didn't think that taking the camera out there would be such a good idea!

Alison update

Little Alison's surgeries have all gone well and Mary is hoping she'll be home by St. Patrick's Day (she is Irish, afterall)! Here's a pic of 6 week old Alison and Mary...

Move over Chicago!

Hobbs is the new WINDY CITY! Let me set the scene for you North Texans and Kentuckians...
Yesterday I pulled up to go to class and parked in a normal parking spot next to another car. As I was getting out of the car, my door got caught in the WIND. I, of course, grab on tighter to the door to keep it from hitting the other car (and having to pay for the damage)! In doing so, I didn't know I would sacrifice my own body for the cause! The door kept right on sailing and took me with it. Who knew I was so light that the wind could just blow me away (HAHAH)! I FELL....HARD....on the pavement. Bloody hands and all. (Quit laughing!!!!) And on top of that, all my papers went flying. By the time I even looked up they were gone -- past the building, etc. On top of THAT, the wind has claimed two boards from our fence (one snapped in half) AND taken off several rows of shingles from our shed.

Move over Chicago...you ain't got nothin on HOBBS!

I have come to a frightening conclusion.
I am the decisive element in the classroom.
It is my personal approach that creates the climate.
It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous.
I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.
I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.
In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis
will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized.

Hain Ginott

We live in the COUNTRY

Ok so I'm driving along, minding my own business and look over at the car next to me....of course he's hauling a trailor with a DEAD HORSE ON IT. Of Course. It's not restrained in anyway, or covered up. Just hanging out in all his rigor mortis glory. So sad, and so....weird. Which, of course, meant that I had to whip out my cell phone and take this pic.

Please pray for baby Alison

Our friends from Kentucky, Matt & Mary, welcomed their second baby girl - Alison - into the world! She's beautiful! Please pray for her as she will be having surgery today to correct a blockage that is keeping her from being able to breathe on her own. This might be an indicator of some other obstacles for Alison, so please pray that she will not be afftected by the Charge Syndrome.

Mantle!!!

This Christmas, my handy hubby made me a MANTLE! From scratch, by hand! I'm so impressed. Our brick fireplace needed a bit of a pick-me-up, so Matt made the mantle and bought me the mirror (he picked it out himself)! I painted the gold screen black and mom found the silver vase. Voila! Check us out, TLC!

Here are the "before" and "after" shots.

Snow Day!

Molly is so much fun! Here she is in the snow! Check out those ears-a-floppin! Also, for your added enjoyment, a snow/ice covered TUMBLEWEED in our back yard (there are lots more)!

Ice Storm!

Our Willow tree full of ice! Unfortunately, the ice storm kept me from Traci's shower in Snyder, which was a major bummer! Hopefully, I'll get to catch up with her the next time she's in the Permian Basin -ha!

In Biznass!

Well, it's official! We are in business! We are no longer on anyone else's payroll...scary and so exciting! WHOOOHOOO!

Round up the Trees!

We decided to store our Christmas tree in the corral until we take it to the recycling place! Here's Molly helping Matt with the tree....

See how rocky the corral is? We're not sure what to do with it. Any suggestions? So far the winning suggestion is a retirement park for our parents and their mobile homes! heehee

Christmas in NM!

We continued celebrating at our house with both sides of parents!

Set table for New Year's Eve dinner....and Matt and I toasting (beer bottle vs. Waterford glass -- heehee).

Christmas in Michigan!

We had a great visit in Michigan with Dean and Grandma Fleharty. We had a nice dinner out on Christmas Eve, went to church, and opened presents. While we were there, Detroit broke a temp. record at 56 degrees....no snow for us! The neighborhoods up there organize and coordinate their decorations for Christmas Eve. They put out luminarias all along the street and move their cars into the driveways so passers-by can see the full effects...Gorgeous! Come on other states...we should do that too!

We flew to Dallas on Christmas day, but one of the legs on our original flight got canceled!! We ended up being re-routed to Newark and then on to Dallas. Most of our actual Christmas day was in the airport :)

Kilgore Family Party

Friday night, the whole Kilgore family (minus Matteo) got together. ASK got some yummy Jones soda (haha - turkey, antacid, etc.)! We ate a ton of snickerdoodles too! Here's a SUPER easy and very tasty recipe:

SNICKERDOODLES
1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Bake @ 350 for 10 minutes, or until they look done!

As usual, we had an entertaining bunch :)

Matt LOVES his boiled peanuts! Kristi and Lex hooked him up with a SIX POUND CAN of boiled peanuts! Hilarious.

Kilgore Cousins

Lex, Kristi, Mylynka, Me, Granny, Kevin & Nahee (Mom was taking the pic)! Since we missed Kevin & Nahee's wedding party, we all got together at Grannys and then went to lunch at El Paseo.

Carrollton Christmas!