It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas....

So Taryn is in L-O-V-E with Christmas trees! On Thanksgiving Day my siblings put up my mom and dad's tree and then we put up the tree at PaPa's house. She was so excited for Christmas!! She slept in the living room with my mom and dad's tree the rest of the time we were there. I knew I had to get her a tree for her room, luckily Grandma had a 4ft tree she wasnt using so we brought it home. On the way home we stopped at Wal-Mart and let her pick some ornaments herself. She picked just plain silver balls! When we got home she was so excited to put it up and that is just what we did. She then proceeded to sleep beside the tree on the floor in her sleeping bag for the following 2 nights.

The tree isn't decorated the way I would have done it, but I had to relinquish some control and let Taryn decorate her own tree. Here is how it turned out.

This is her favorite ball. She picked it out last year and it dosent match my tree so I was more than happy to let her put it in her room. Ragedy Andy and the minuature Golden Books Ornaments I bought many years ago when I worked at Hallmark.

Here's her little tree in her room. Next year I plan on adding some more color to the tree. Notice all the ornaments are at the bottom of the tree :)

Here are some pics of our big tree in the living room. We just L-O-V-E our tree with all the silver, red and black.

This is the top of the tree. Its hard to tell in the picture but star is metal and a little rustic. I love the big balls nestled into the tree.

One of my favorite ornaments. I got this at a Bunco Christmas party several years ago. I look forward to our ornament exchange every year!!

Every tree needs a little bling bling. I would love to have some more like this one (hint hint)!

This is a picture of one of the big balls that I love. It is also a picture one of the only non-red and black ornamets, but it is one of Cory's milatary ornaments so it ahs to go on the tree!

The inspiration for my tree!!! Got love a Red Raider Tree in desguise.

Here is a complete picture of my big tree. Notice there are very few ornaments near the bottom. That would be because of a very busy 8 month old that loves balls!

Cory and Taryn putting the finishing touches on the tree. They are such gobbers!!!

Eight Months!!!

Rhealee turned 8 months this past Thursday. Time sure does fly when you are having fun!! She is very entertaining and keeps us on our toes at all times. At 8 months:
*you have 3 teeth. Two on the bottom and one on top (with a 4th working its way through).
*you have been crawling for about 3 months
*you are pulling up on everything and walk around the edges
*you love to drink juice from a sippy cup!
*you love to feed yourself food.
*you love veggie dip crackers, puffs, Mum-Mums and pancakes
*you can say "mama" and no matter anybody tries to tell me I know that is what you are saying
*you love to play with baby dolls, esp. Taryn's
*you love to squeal and chase Taryn around the house
*you have several favorite toys including the "dancing" music bug, your linking cubes, and the dump truck you can push around.
*you sleep through the night
*you wear size 6-9 month clothing
*you love to be free to roam around the house

At 8 months:
*we call you the "goat" because you put everything and I do mean everything in your mouth. Here are just a few things you have tried to eat so far: a quarter, a goat head, an earphone cover, paper lots and lots of paper, Polly Pockets, if you find it on the floor you put it in your mouth!

*you have gotten your first goose egg on your head and very large bruise. You tried to sneak out the back door at Jennifer's and fell face first onto the back porch. You cried like crazy but bounced back very quickly.

*you got your hand and p.j's stuck on a sticky trap and instead of being scared or upset you found it funny and proceeded to wave it around in the air and squeal.

*you babble and talk all of the time and you are just a funny girl.

I could write pages of the things you do that amazes us everyday. Who knows what you will do next? You want to keep up with sister so bad and try very hard, I think this is why you are growing up so fast. You have a wonderful big sister that you have to keep up with.

You love your juice and get very excited in the evenings when you get to have a little!! You are a very messy eater and love to try and feed yourself! You love your food especially anything orange and fruit!

Sister put this hat on your head and you found it very funny! You didn't want me to take it off of you and so we just left it on the rest of the evening!

Sister let you try a Cheetos and of course you loved it!! I have to watch sister because she thinks you need to try everything so she is always trying to put food on your tray!

We love you so much and enjoy watching you grow and change everyday!!! You are such an amazing little thing that keeps us on our toes and constantly laughing. You are so smart and so advanced at such a young age and it is truly amazing to see what you learn everyday!! We are truly blessed to have you in our lives and are thankful that you are healthy and growing! Thanks for being a part of our lives and teaching us how to love a little more everyday!

Trunk or Treat

We had Trunk or Treat at church on the Sunday before Halloween. Taryn was an orphan and Rhealee was a little pumpkin. They were pretty cute! It was a goregous day until we got to Trunk or Treat and a cold front moved in almost on the dot of the start of the event. It got very cold very quick so we didnt do much of the activities.

The best thing of the night was the fact that several people thought Taryn was dressed up like a mininite. We got a really good laugh out of this. Taryn still didnt understand Trick or Treating so we were fortunate not to have to go but one time. I know next year she will understand so I wont get out of Halloween so easy.

Halloween actually feel on a Saturday night and Tech played at home so we didnt actually go out on Halloween.

My little orphan and pumpkin. Rhealee really dosent like Taryn holding her right now, so I had to try this picture several times before getting one that was half way decent. Taryn walking around at Trunk or Treat. There were about a dozen families from church set up with differnt activities for the kids to do and win candy and prizes. Taryn played golf, went fishing, did a cake walk, threw bean bags, threw a ball into a net, swung a ball at coke bottles to knock them down, went duck hunting, and threw rings around the bottles. She wanted to do everything and wanted to do it more than once, but it was very cold!

Rhealee just along for the ride. She didnt have a clue what was going on, but loved all the attention from everyone at church.

Taryn throwing balls to win a prize. She loves playing games so this was right up her alley.

Taryn, Rhealee and their "Fairy" Godmother Paige. Paige was dressed up like Snow White and Greg was her prince charming. I didnt get a picture of them together but they were adorable.

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Harvest Festival Little Miss....

We let Taryn run for Little Miss Harvest Festival this year. This was a new experience for us and it was a lot of work, but fun at the same time. We had to sale candles, make a float and do a little modeling. Building the float was the hardest thing. We waited to last minute to start and it was several late nights and some frustration. We sold a bunch of candles and of course she looked exceptionally cute in her "princess" dress.

Taryn didnt win this year, but that is ok. She thinks she won because Mrs. Debbie gave her a princess wand and princess necklace. That is ok with me that she thinks she won, I'm not quite ready to deal with the disappointment of lossing just yet.

In conjunction with the Harvest Festival there is always a Talent show. Mrs. Debbie asked Taryn to perform as an Orphan in an Annie number this year. She loved going to the practices and learning "Hard Knock Life". We had to listen to that song probably 2oo hundered times and practice the motions. She would do so good at home and in the car, but the minute she would get on stage to practice, she would get distracted by everything else going and forget to sing and dance! Oh well I think she was still the cutest thing up there!

I dont know if we will do the pagent again, we will just have to see when that time comes next year. Here are some pics from the Harvest Festival.


Taryn and her Daddy at the pagent on Saturday afternoon. The parking was a nightmare and I missed them walking across the stage. It was so cold that Saturday, but that didnt seem to bother Taryn. She sat up there and smiled the entire time! What a trooper.

Taryn on her float at the parade! It was so cold, we had to bundle her up and you couldnt see her cute little tu-tu!

Here's Cory pulling Taryn down Broadway in the parade!
At the Talent Show they introduced all the Little Miss contestants. She was so cute and looked so big!!

This is Taryn on stage during the Talent Show waiting to sing "Hard Knock Life"! I must say she is one cute orphan.

Taryn striking a pose before going on stage as an orphan. Anybody want to adopt this little cute orphan! She comes full of spunk and attitude!

The "princess" eating her Cheetos! She loves to wear this dress and has no problem wearing it out in public!

Pink out the Jones....

Well I am finally over the "flu" that I had a couple of weeks ago and that is a good thing. I am still trying to catch up on everything from laundry to school work. Luckily nobody else in my house caught the same bug that I had. I am so thankful for this, but know that our battle is not over for the flu season yet. Actually it has only just begun.

Brownfield had the week off this past Friday, so we enjoyed having daddy home at an early hour and then for the entire weekend. Friday night we cooked pizza, did a little housework and just hung out as a family.

Saturday morning we got up and Taryn and I fixed "bubble bread" and enjoyed every minute of our time together. She really loves to help me in the kitchen and I hope she keeps this love. It is a great way for us to spend time together and she always has the cutest stories to tell while we are cooking.

After breakfast we all got dressed for the Tech football game. I really didn't know what to do with myself since Cory was here and actually riding to the game with us. I am getting used to doing these things on my own and it was a nice welcomed changed to have him with us.

We picked up our friend Alyson on the way to the game so that she could go eat lunch with us and my mom and dad before the game. We had some great Fudruckers at the bubble before the game started.

It was a perfect day for some football. It was cloudy, cool and a little drizzle in the air (there were times that it was a pretty heavy sprinkle). This makes you excited for some football. Tech had declared October 3rd as Pink out the Jones Day in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. This was really cool and strange at the same time. It was strange because game days, regardless of if it is a home game or an away game are red shirt day. So dressing my family and myself in pink was different. It was really neat to see the student body turn out in so much pink in support of a great cause.

While waiting for the game to get started, we say Brandon Carter, Tech offensive line player, sitting in the stands. He had been suspended indefinitely and was there ready to cheer on his team.

The game was pretty hard to watch, Taylor Potts struggled for most of the first half. There never seemed to be a good rhythm between the team. Potts was injured late in the 2nd quarter and the back-up quarterback was brought in. He was up beat and changed the tempo of the game. After half-time the game got a little more interesting and we enjoyed cheering our RED RAIDERS on to a victory!!

Taryn, Rhealee and their Aunt Kami at the game.

Rhealee and Papa at the game.

Tech running onto the field at the beginning of the game. I just love the atmosphere at a Tech football game!

Masked Rider and Goin' Band from Raiderland during pre-game.

The student body turned out in pink this group reads, "Tech Cares". Pretty cool if you ask me.

Just another shot of all the student body in all their pink. Several of the Tech players were wearing pink shirts, head bands, etc also. Each player also had a pink ribbon on their helmet.

The guy caring the Baylor flag is my sister's boyfriend Michael. Go BAYRO!!

Rhealee and her Gramps getting ready for the game!

Taryn with her "Guns up" ready to watch "Go Tech Go!" She does so good at football games for a 3yr old. She really likes to see everything that is going on and stays pretty interested in the game.

Rhealee and Alyson Coats before the game.

This is just a cool picture of Rhealee that I took. She is very interested in what is going on around her.

I learning how to work a photo editing program so this is just a picture that I played with and really liked how it turned out.

Brandon Carter in the stands before the game. Again just playing with the photo and thought this was cool.

This is going to be a busy week in the Golden house. It is the week of Harvest Festival. We have to get Taryn's float built and finished before Friday. She has the talent show on Thursday night. She is singing in an Annie number as an orphan and loves it!! She loves being on stage and doesn't want to leave. The big girls have to guide her off stage, that's my girl! Friday night we have a practice for the pageant. Saturday we have a parade that we have to be ready for by 9 a.m. followed by the pageant itself. The pageant is at 1, if Taryn were to win we would be missing the Tech ball game that starts at 6 because she would have to be at the crowing of the Harvest Festival Queen. Somewhere in all of this busy crazy week I need to run to Lubbock, clean house and fold all the laundry.

I hope Taryn does well in the pageant, she has enjoyed selling candles and practicing and I am so proud of her for working hard. I am still struggling with the fact that she is big enough to be going to Thursday school (which she loves) and participating in the Little Miss Harvest Festival. Before long it will be Rhealee getting ready for all of this. Man time does fly!

P.S. if you read the blog, please leave me a comment occassionally. I never know if anybody reads this or not and often think I am the only one. I would love to hear from you!

Feeling Better...just in time for some football!

I have had the flu since Sunday and today I am just starting to feel like normal. The girls have been staying with their Ganky since Monday night and then they went to stay with their Doakie and Gramps for the rest of the weekend. This has been the hardest week on me not being able to see my girls (or anybody for that fact).

Cory has been great going over and seeing the girls and having dinner with them before coming home trying to take care of the daily household chores and taking care of me.

Cory took his Middls School football team to Lubbock-Cooper last night and of course I was unable to attend. He said they all tried really hard but neither team could pull out a win. It has been a hard year in the football world. Tonight will be a tough challange for the varsity team. I hate that we wont be there to watch the Cubs, but I'm supposed to stay in lock-down through tomorrow. So I guess I'll be listening to this game on the radio or getting updates from coaches wives at the game.

Tomorrow we will be watching our Red Raiders take on the UofH at Houston. I am just thankful that it is an away game this week and I am not missing a game. I can watch it from the comfort of my own living room while I am still trying to get better.

Whose Reading?

Football Season is Here!!!!

Football season is here and that means game night Thursday night, Friday night and most Saturday nights. This time of year finds us very busy and seeing a little less of Cory. Taryn enjoys going to the ball games and Rhealee has done very good so far. We have only made it to one of the Middle school games and will probably only make it to the home games. The girls didnt make it to the first High School game and Rhealee didnt make it to the second game but has now made it to 2 games and has done great.

Taryn loves going to the High School games. She has several friends that are also Coaches kids so they play well together during the game and she loves to watch the band at halftime. Then she is excited to get to go to the Field House after the games and eat with her daddy and play in the weight room. The kids have so much fun playing on the pads and making obstalce courses and pigging out on cookies. Taryn also loves cheering for her daddy and banging her Thunder sticks!

Both of the girls made it to the first Tech game but not the second, due to the chance of rain. I dont know how many of the Tech games the girls will make, but hopefully they will make it to a couple more. Here are a few pics from the beginning of football season.

Taryn, Rhealee and Keeli (Rhealee's friend). Look at Rhealee trying trying to conqure that big bag of football stuff.
Taryn and Keeli crawling around on the field house floor. They are so funny together playing with the helmet and whatever else they could find.

Taryn enjoying her "dotdog" at a home football game.

Rhealee loves to jump up and down so she gets passed from person to person during the game. She is such a good sport and stays happy as long as she can jump.

6 Months Old

The 12th of September meant that Rhealee turned 6 months old. Where have these months gone? At her 6 month check up she weighed 15 lbs 3 oz. She was 27.4 inches long. Her head was 16.8 inches. So her weight was in the 50%, her length she was in the 100+% and her head was in 75% What a growing girl.

At 6 month Rhealee is crawling, sitting up by herself, pulling herself up, eating big girl food, she has two bottom teeth, and has found her tounge, hands and her voice.

She has become a much happier baby since she figured out how to crawl. Now she can follow sister around the house and keep up with her pretty good. She figured out how to crawl and sit up within a week of each other she also got her two front teeth within that week also. It was an amazing week of development for her.

Taryn and Rhealee at 6 months. Look at her sitting up by herself! What a big girl. Enjoying some veggies and laughing all at the same time. Look real close and you can see the two pearly whites she has on the bottom.

For some reason she loves to lay in the dirty clothes when I have them sorted down the hall. One morning while I was getting ready for school she had been crawling around the bedroom, then she got real quite so I went to look for her and this is where I found her. It's not the first nor the last time she has done this. Silly girl!

Trying to figure out how to crawl. She would get very frustrated trying to make everything move at the same time. Just hanging out in my diaper, playing with sister. That is the look of determination on her face!

Big Blue Eyes! I think she looks a little like her daddy. What do you think?