Fall Is In the Air

Fall is in the air and that only means one thing....FOOTBALL!!!! I love high school football and I especially love college football. My Friday nights are spent at the football field and Saturday's are spent watching it on television. I start Saturday's with Game Day and then watch as many games as I possible can!! Nothing is better than watching Texas Tech, even though it is not looking to be a good year, I still look forward to home games and watching them when they are away.

This year Friday night football is a change for me, we have moved from an 11 man school to a six man school. I am having to learn the difference and it has made for some fun games. The best part about six man is the 45 rule. If one team has 45 points more points than the other at half time the game is over. Anytime after half a team is ahead by 45 points the game is over. It has made for some early nights this fall. Our Buffaloes have been having a pretty good year with only 1 loss so far.

Here are the girls in their black and gold tutus. They are standing with Coach Rendon's wife Jennifer and her daughter Emma. Jennifer keeps Rhealee for us!! Are they not just the cutest little Lady Buffs you have ever seen!!!This is Rhealee with her "CHEEEESSEEEE!!!" face!! Taryn playing ball in her tutu. Good thing she isn't afraid to get dirty!Doing their victory dance!! Rhealee really doesn't want to do it, but Taryn isn't giving her much choice.

I have been doing some jewelry making and crafting these past couple of weeks. I had a friend host an open house, so I made a bunch of necklaces and took them in hopes of selling a few. It was a fun night and I am looking forward to doing some more open houses.

I also took a couple of old screens and spray painted them black. I am going to hang them in the laundry room to display Taryn's school work. I am so excited to get them finished and hung!! I am proud of myself for my creativity.

To start this is what they looked liked.And this is what a couple of coats of good ole' spray paint will get you. Next step, hanging them in the laundry room

We are in the Full Swing of School

Well, summer sure did fly by!! It seems like only yesterday we were packing up our classrooms and ending the year. We had a busy summer between foot surgery, packing, moving, vacation, unpacking and starting a new school. Now with school in full swing (we are starting the 4th week) we haven't slowed down very much.

The start of school signaled my "baby" big girl, Taryn starting PreK. I was not ready for her to be this big, but she is was ready to go to school. We knew this was a good choice for us when we decided to move, as it would be an opportunity for her to meet kids and a good transition into Kindergarten. She was so excited for the first day and looked so cute carrying her backpack and supplies into class. I was very surprised that neither one of us cried that morning. I had to try really hard and Cory had to hold my hand as we walked back down the hall to our rooms, but I knew I would have a classroom full of 4th graders waiting on me.

Taryn is loving going to school and learning new stuff. It is amazing what she is learning and remembering already. She loves taking her lunch (ugggh!! it's easier on me when she eats in the cafeteria), she loves Friday's and getting to buy tattoos to wear for school spirit, and she is loving telling Rhealee about her day (not that Rhealee really cares).

Cory is loving high school students and loving not having such a full schedule and being home more. Now that he is a girls coach, he does not have as long of hours as he did when coaching football. He is still busy on Friday nights keeping the stats and putting the info into the computer, but he is home much earlier. He is loving being back in 6-man football.

I am getting in the swing of 4th grade. It has been an adjustment from 2nd grade. 4th graders are much more independent than 2nd graders. I am not spending part of my day reminding them to tie their shoes, wipe their nose, etc.. I still have to remind them to stop talking so much, but they are much more independent and able to do on their own!! This makes me happy. I am loving 6-man football. It is fast and fun to watch. It helps that our team has 45 the other 3 teams we have played so far!! It's been nice the 2 home games we have had, getting to come home early on Friday nights. What was strange for me was putting on black and gold instead of red and black the first day.

Ok, so this is my short little catch up! I promise to get back in the swing of blogging. It seems like I always have more to talk about during the school year when we actually have a social life!!!

Happy Birthday TARYN RHEA!!!!!!

Wow, I can't believe my first born is turned 4 today!! It seems like only yesterday we were welcoming into the world, scared to death and excited all in one big emotion.

Taryn at 4 you:

count to 20 (when you think nobody is listening)

sing your ABC's all by yourself

dress yourself and have a strong opinion if I pick out your clothes

you make your bed

you love to play in the water especially the big pool in Brownfield

your favorite food is PIZZA (you are your father's daughter)

you love to go to church

you love to sing songs (especially made up songs)

you love to help cook

you love to boss your baby sister around

you love to still be rocked at night

you love books, you love to look at them and you love to be read too

you love to play with your basketball goal (you want daddy to teach you like he does "them boys" with your heavy accent)

you love to watch Olivia, Max and Ruby and The Backyardiagans

you love to go for a pedicure

you love when Miss Debbie cuts your hair

you are the most kind hearted loving child

you give the best hugs and kisses

you give the best compliments (I personally love to hear you say "Your the best mommy ever!")

you love life!!!

you are getting ready to start Pre-K :(

you love to help in anything that is going on and want to be involved

you can type your name on a cell phone and send it in a text message :)

Daddy and I love you so much and are so thankful that we get to be your parents and get to watch you grow up!!! So many people love you and play a role in who you have become today. It makes me sad that you are growing up so quickly but I know that you are growing up to be a very smart, loving, beautiful young lady and that makes me one proud Momma!!!

For your birthday today, I cooked you strawberry muffins (I wish I could say there were from scratch) for breakfast, then you spent the day with Papa and Carol while we were at a workshop. For supper we let you pick what you wanted and of course you chose pizza, surprise, surprise!! So we met in Lockeny and had pizza along with a cookie cake that I made you. I think you had a pretty good day!!

We will be having your big party on Saturday as you celebrate it with Aunt Kami who will be graduating from Texas Tech that day. You were born the August that she started college so we are celebrating together at Gattiland (pizza again!)

I love you baby, to the moon and back!!

P.S. I would love to show you a picture from her birth day but I don't know exactly where that disk would be. I have a feeling it is one of the few boxes still left in the garage. So for a trip down memory lane, go back and look at August 2006 pics.

And I Said Hey...What's Goin' On....

So be warned....this is a long post. For the few of you that do read this, I apologize now for this being so long. I have just been flat lazy!!! There is no other excuse for length of time between post except pure laziness So hold on to your seats and I will get you caught up on the crazy world of the Golden's.

To begin with we are moving. Yep, I knew the day would come when being a coach's wife would really stink. That day has come and we are packing our bags and moving to a new school. The move is about an hour and a half northeast of where we are now. We are going to a much, much, much smaller school. We have been at a low/mid size 3A now we will be at a 6-man school. Cory will be teaching High School math and the assistant girls coach for all sports. He is really excited about coaching girls and moving up. I will be teaching the only 4th grade class at the school. I am S-C-A-R-E-D to death. I have only taught 3 years and those have all been in 2nd grade. I am comfortable in 2nd grade, I like 2nd grade, I rock as a 2nd grade teacher!! Now I am going to be teaching a new grade with no other teachers to help me or bounce ideas off of. To top it off, I have been teaching a non-TAKS grade, now I will be responsible for 3 subjects that are TAKS tested!!! Oh I am praying for some good ol' guidance in this department. All I can say is hold on to your hats, we are in for a ride!!

Since we are moving we have decided to put Taryn in Pre-K. This will be a good opportunity for her to meet kids her age and puts her in the same building as we will be in. This will be easier transition for her then putting her in a new daycare for a year then sending her off to school. She will sure miss her Jenny though. Jenny has been the best thing for us these past 3 1/2 years.

Speaking of little Miss Taryn, she took her first dance class this afternoon. Even though we are moving we decided it would be good for her to go ahead and start dance class as planned. She will go 6 weeks this summer every Monday from 4:45-5:15. Here she is dressed for her first class today. She kept asking about every 5 min if it was time to get dressed yet. I finally let her put her new dance gear on about an hour before class. Cory took the picture, so it's not the best, but it shows her enthusiasm for going and her gear.

When we picked her up she couldn't stop talking about class and then had to spend about 30 minutes showing us what she learned once we got home. I am glad she enjoyed it and I can't wait to see what she learns over the summer. June 4th marked the day of a long journey for us. I underwent outpatient foot surgery to repair my big toe that had been broken for some time. I decided when I turned 30 I would go to the Podiatrist and have what I thought was a bunion looked at hopefully become pain free in my foot. Well after an x-ray and exam the Dr. Sean decided that it wasn't a bunion but a broken toe. To repair the toe he would have to break my toe, restretch the muscles that were way out of place and put a screw in my foot. I was warned that it would be 4 weeks of little activity and no driving. After those 4 weeks we are looking at another 4 weeks of the pretty shoe while the foot continues to heal.

Isn't this just a pretty foot!! And it will make a nice battle scar! I had surgery on a Friday and Cory took care of me the rest of the day. The following morning we headed for San Angelo for a Shrimp Boil with my PaPa. I was told by many people that this was probably not the best idea I had ever had, but being the bull headed child that I am, I wouldn't listen and insisted on going. Needless to say it wasn't the best idea I ever had. I slept most of the way in the car and then spent the rest of the day in a little pain. It was so stinkin hot at the lake that didn't help the swelling in my foot by any means. By bedtime I was miserable and done!!! Sunday was a little better, slept all the way home and went straight to bed when we got to the house.

Last week was a busy week, dr. appointment, signed contracts, found a rent house, Buncos at my house, and packing of my classroom. I spent most mornings in bed with my foot propped up but we had somewhere to go almost every afternoon. Wednesday I did stay in bed and rest until suppertime. This week my foot is feeling better and for that I am thankful.

The Sunday after school got out, Cory had to drive the State Choir kids to Austin. So I tagged along and we had a nice little mini-vacation. I slept late and did not much of anything. Monday night we ate at a really cool restaurant in downtown Austin called Eddie V's Grille/Lounge. It was really neat and jazzy. We enjoyed a quiet meal while the kids and sponsor ate at another restaurant just up the block and around the corner. We had a nice little date. Tuesday we hit the outlet malls before heading home. If I could have, I would have spent a small fortune in Carter's. With Taryn starting school, I wanted to stock up on great deals for her fall clothes. Cory, put a stop to that and I only purchased a couple of things for each girl. Maybe I can convince him to make another trip before school starts, hmmm probably not.

Road Trip would not be complete without my fave Dr. Pepper and peanuts!!! The only time I have this treat is on Road Trips!!!

The skyline somewhere around Sweetwater, TX. I just love looking up at these things. They are so massive in size, it's just amazing.


We celebrated Payten's 2nd birthday at the end of May, just a couple of days early. They had her party at a big playground in Plainview. It was hot, but the kids enjoyed playing and running. We had wonderful burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and cake!! I love birthdays!!!

Rhealee really thought she was one of the "Big" kids. She tried so hard keeping up with them at the play area, but just couldn't move as fast as they could. She had fun trying though, and going down the slide no less than 100 times.

Taryn Rhea loved playing in the playvillage. She was running up and down and around so fast it was hard to keep up with her. She loves being outside and playing. She also has no problem striking a pose for the camera.


The week before school was out, I had a Zumbathon to be at and Cory had a Middle School Athletics dance to attend. So there was no question where the girls were going. They went to the dance. Cory said they had a blast and that the kids had a blast with them!! Here are some pics that Cory took at the Athletic Dance.

Taryn dancing with Mitchell. She knows him from church so she had no problem getting out on the dance floor with him. He taught her several dances and she was oh so pleased to show them to me when we got home!

Due to scheduling conflicts and stomach bug, we weren't able to celebrate my birthday with the Lindsey's until a couple of days after my actual birthday. This is ok though because they spoiled me rotten. What I expected to be a simple meal turned out to be steak and potatoes, yummm-o that is my favorite meal!!! For dessert it was none other than my fave Banana Split Cake. This is heaven all mixed together in a 9x13 dish!!! I could and would eat the whole thing if nobody was watching!!

I have been so fortunate to have Paige and her family in my life and my girls lives. We will miss them so much when we move away. But she will still be a fairy-godmother to my girls and we will still be seeing a bunch of them, that you can count on.

Doesn't this just scream HEAVEN!!!!! Oh look at that goodness just sitting there waiting to be devoured!!!
May 13th marked a big day in Miss Taryn's little world. She graduated from Thursday school. This is an amazing program that our church offers to the community and she has really enjoyed going and feeling like a big girl. I am so amazed at what she learned this year and I am a little sad that she will not be going next year, nor will Rhealee get the opportunity.

Here she is getting her little diploma.

On stage singing her little heart out about a BIG MOUTH FROG!!! We sing this song multiple times a day, it is one of her faves.

She just looks so stinking big in these pictures. It makes me sad how fast our children grow up right before our eyes and we don't always realize it. It seems like only yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital.

We had a shower at school for one of the first year teachers from 2nd grade who got married in Hawaii just a week after school got out. No jealousy here, nope not from me!!!

I wasn't able to make it to the shower, due to a workshop conflict but I did get to make the center piece for the table and this is what I came up with. What do you think? Not to shabby for a novice floral arranger.

Ok, breath now....that post is over. Hehehe!! I will try and be better at posting as we go through the moving process and as we get settled into our new home.

Until then.....HAPPY SUMMER!!!

Oh No its the BIG...3-0!!!

So I have reached a milestone in my life. This past Monday I turned 30!!! I was dreading this birthday, but as it turns out it isn't so bad being 30. I really don't feel any different than I did at 29. Except for the fact that I will be having my foot cut open and surgery at 30. But more about that at a later time.

So to start my birthday celebration I went to dinner on Thursday the 6th with some girl-friends, including my sister!! My dear friend Cathie made this divine Key Lime Mouse Pie. It was soooo goood!! This is Cathie and myself (ignore my sunburn we had been outside all day at school!!). Cathie is the reason on know my hubby!!

We ended the evening celebrating Gabe and Ashlee's engagement!!!

Friday we didn't have school and the girls had gone to stay with my parents so Cory and I slept in!! Then my hubby went and got me my favorite breakfast....Breakfast Burritos!!! Then I spent most of the day laying around feeling awful thanks to my sinus and allergies. We did go get some dinner at a local Mexican food restaurant followed by a Blizzard. Then we crawled and bed to watch a movie and I was asleep shortly after 9.

Saturday we met my family for lunch in Lubbock at a new place I have been dying to try it is called Rain Uptown. It was soooo good. During the day they have a very diverse menu anything from pancakes to pasta dishes. At night though it goes very grown up, table clothes, candle light and menu of nothing but Italian dishes. I can't wait to go back on a date with my hubby....(hint hint).

My brother was in town so he got to join us for lunch along with my sister, mom, dad and Grandma.

Rhealee loved the balloons!!!

Taryn getting some lovin' from her Doakie.

My "princess" ice cream cake. It was peanut butter and chocolate. It was cute and good.

Taryn and her Uncle Rusty...they both love taking their own pictures.

We celebrated Mother's Day in between my birthday celebrations. We spent the weekend with my mom and dad and enjoyed lunch with them. I fixed that divine pie that my friend Cathie had made and my family approved of it also, so I will be adding it to my recipe book.

Monday was my actual birthday and I treated myself to a burrito on the way to school along with a Sonic coke. The day was uneventful for the most part. My hubby did take me to dinner and it was a "surprise" party but one thing was missing...Cory forgot to invite any of our friends!!!

Here are all the empty seats that were supposed to contain my friends.Here's all the family that Cory was able to remember to invite. Hehe this is something he won't be living down anytime soon.

You see we got calls to interview at a different school and they could interview us both on Monday and when this all came about Cory got distracted and didn't follow through with calling and inviting friends to come join us for dinner. Then when I cancelled my interview and he changed his, it was too late for him to get people there for the Surprise Party. Like I said he owes me big time and I wont be letting him live this down anytime soon!!

McTeacher Night....

So in the past two weeks we have eaten at McDonald's twice! That is more than we there in a six month period. We did it all in good cause. Both the Middle School and Oak Grove teachers worked to raise money for their campus. I went and took the girls while Cory and his co-workers were working it at the McyDee's. I loved getting to sit and visit with people I don't normally get to visit with. It was so neat to see so many people from the community coming out to support the schools.

When it was Oak Grove night Cory and the girls came up and had supper then when I was finished with my shift we sat and hung out with friends. It was a really great time both nights and everyone involved had a blast!!!


Here I am working it behind the counter with Mr. Snyder! The smell of the food coming by me as I put the order on the tray was driving me nuts. I was starving by the time my shift was over!!
Ashlee and I rockin' our hats!!
Taryn Rhea enjoying her ice cream cone. This thing was bigger than she was. Needless to say most of it melted before she could eat it all!!
Coach Rubio, Mr. Hayes and Cory. Don't they look like they are having so much fun!!

Rhealee enjoyed her chocolate chip cookies. By the way I am in love with McDonald's Oatmeal Raisin cookies. They are yumm-o!!


Yes that is Cory mopping the floor. And yes I am the one who spilled the drink!!! Save this picture cause this sure doesn't happen very often!!

Ashlee's Getting Married!!!

I am so excited for some of my dearest friends, Ashlee and Gabe. Cory and I along with my aunt introduced these two crazy kids on New Years Eve 2009. I knew it would be the perfect match and I am becoming right.

Yesterday was Ashlee's birthday and Gabe had come up with a plan that involved dressing her classroom in t-shirts that said "Just Say Yes" on them. I got with our principal had her come take Ashlee to her office so we could get everything ready. We got her class dressed in their shirts and lined up in the hall. When she came around the corner they were holding letters over their shirt that spelled out "Happy Birthday" and they were singing to her. She still had no idea, until they dropped their sheets of paper and she read their shirts. Then Gabe came out of her classroom and got down on one knee. It was so romantic and sweet!!! Of course she said YES!!

I am so excited for them and can't wait to see them start their lives together. I wish them the best of luck even if it means she will moving away and I won't get to work with her everyday.

Here are some pictures from the exciting moments of the Great Proposal. Enjoy!! I'm off to plan a wedding now :).!!!


Here she comes with her flowers Gabe had delivered for her birthday. We are singing and she is really surprised.Here is Gabe coming out of Ashlee's room surprising her!Getting down on one knee! What will she say?I think she said Yes!!! Getting the ring (it's gorgeous!!)!Ahhh how sweet is this moment!!!The Happy Engaged Couple!! She said Yes!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

So I am trying really hard to keep this blog more up to date and not waiting a month in between and then doing a dozen post. So here is our weekend wrap up.

Friday night was a lazy night around here. We had pizza that was left-over from the pizza party my class won!! My class was named "Outstanding Classroom" for the 5th Six Weeks!!

Cory had plans for taking Miss Taryn out on a little date to our local movie theater. I told Taryn that she needed to put on some nice clothes and fix her hair. So she picked out a dress and matching bow. Cory smiled and groaned all at the same time. You see he had planned on going to the movie in his typical "coaching" attire, wind suite pants and a t-shirt. He was very kind to change into jeans and a shirt. They were off to see "How to Tame Your Dragon" complete with popcorn and a sprite.

Rhealee and I stayed and held down the fort. I was really surprised when they came home early than I expected them. Apparently the movies sound was a little off at the beginning and it bothered Taryn. They stayed for about half of the movie before Cory asked if she was ok and she said she was scared, so they came home.

Here they are getting ready to leave for their date. Not the best picture but at least I remembered to get one.

Saturday we had plans of staying home, being lazy, working on laundry and cleaning house. I got up and fixed pancakes on Taryn's request. During the process of getting breakfast ready my mom called and said they were headed to Levelland for 4-H event. So we changed our pace and got dressed to head over for lunch with them. We had a yummy lunch and then headed to Wal-Mart to get our grocery shopping done for the week. I have to admit that my weekly budget does better when I don't have 3 extra sets of hands helping me! Oh well I still managed to stay pretty close to my budget. Including an unplanned pie.

A co-worker of Cory's made this pie for us after Rhealee was born last year and it has been a Golden family fave ever since.

I don't know if this pie has a real name, but we call it "The Divine" pie!! It is one of the easiest things you can make and very quick. We have tried many different varieties of this and they have all been great.

Here is everything you will need to make this pie.1 pie crust

1 pkg cream cheese

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup of lemon juice

1 tsp of vanilla

Carmel and Chocolate to drizzle

Oh and one of these:

Just the best kitchen helper a mom could ask for.

Ok back to the pie: Combine the sweetened condensed milk and cream cheese in your mixer and beat until well combined. Then add the lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth.

Just look at that sweet little hand helping me!!! What get's better than that?

Once combined, then pour half of the mixture into a graham cracker crust and drizzle with carmel and chocolate. Then pour the rest of the mixture into the pie and top with more carmel and chocolate.

Freeze for 1 hour before devouring and enjoying every bite!!!

Sunday wasn't very eventful in this house. We went to church, got some lunch, took naps, worked on laundry and got ready for the week.

I did have Cory complete one little project for me though. You see about a month ago the device I had holding all my necklaces up feel off the wall from all the weight. So today I bought a stronger hanger and had Cory put it in the closet for me!! Now all my necklaces are hanging nice and neat!!!

So that was our weekend. Nothing exciting, but that's ok. The coming week is a short week at school!!! YIPPIE!!! But it is a busy week, but it does include a girls night out!!! Hope you have a great week!!