Oh Spring Break Where Did You Go?

Man where did Spring Break go? It was a much needed break from school. My kids were getting tired of each other and me. And I have to admit I was getting a little tired of them!! Shhhh please don't tell. I was really looking forward to spending the week with my girls and Cory. We made no plans other than cleaning some things out around the house. That is exactly what we did!!!

The girls were asked to model in the Spring Fashion Show here in Brownfield. Taryn had done this when she was little and so she was excited to get to do it again. Rhealee modeled for the local pharmacy and Taryn was in the Easter Parade showing off her Easter clothes. It was a wam-bam ordeal for myself. I left school at 10:55, picked Taryn up from Thursday school at 11:15, arrived at the church for the style show in time to change both girls and get in line with Rhealee. Rhealee modeled at Noon as we came off the stage I dropped her off with Joyce and picked Taryn up from Joyce. Taryn was in the wrong outfit so we did a quick wardrobe change, lined up, she did her thing, then we changed outfit and she went again. As soon as she finished, I gathered their things and rushed back to school. I had to be back on campus by 12:55, I got there at 12:58. Not too bad, but still a crazy lunch hour.

Here are some pics of the girls in their outfits before modeling. I wasn't smooth enough to get a picture of them while they were modeling.

Taryn in her Easter dress. Grandma had bought this for her a while back and for that I was thankful. We found out Taryn was modeling the night before so I was glade to have this in the closet already!!!

Rhealee in her outfit from the pharmacy. It's not the best picture of the outfit, but it is really cute!

Taryn in her egg hunting outfit. This was a battle picking out what she would wear. I wanted one thing and she wanted this. You can see who won this battle!!!

Friday afternoon after school was out, we packed up and headed to Lockney for the weekend. We met up with Gramps in Lubbock to buy some things for Rhealee's birthday party. The girls went on to Lockney with Gramps while Cory and I stayed in Lubbock to get some other things done. By the time we got there the girls were wiped out and asleep!! That happens a bunch with grandparents.

This is Taryn asleep in "her" bed at Doakie and Gramps house. Notice the BIG green monkey in the bed with her, that is Rusty the Monkey. hehe not to be confused with Uncle Rusty!!

Taryn had a blast at Rhealee's party playing with all the balloons that we had blown up. She played and played with her cousin's!! What is it with balloons that will keep kids entertained for hours?

We came home from Lockney on Sunday and had plans of doing not much on Monday and that is exactly what we did. It rained and snowed most of the day so we did a little laundry and watched t.v. for most of the day. Taryn went over to Ganky's to play with Megan but the rest of us stayed home and did nothing! It was very relaxing!!!

On Tuesday Cory cleaned out one of the back storage sheds. He cleaned out the shed that we hadn't been in for several years and most of the stuff in there was junk, so he did a lot of throwing away. In the process of cleaning out the shed he disturbed the guest that were staying there, free of charge. Well one of those guest became dinner for a Hawk. Yes, I said Hawk. We had a very large Hawk in our backyard!!!!

Cory was kind/brave enough to go out in the backyard and take a picture for me. In the process of taking the picture the Hawk decided that Cory was apparently interested in his meal so he came at Cory and Cory took off running. It was rather amusing, I was waiting for him to squeal like a little girl.

This is a really good picture that Cory took. You can see this birds fine dinning in his claws. Taryn wanted to know what it was he was eating and I told her a big mouse!!! She said, "but I like mice!" Well, sorry kid but mommy doesn't and that bird is welcome to come back for dinner anytime he wants!! Free of charge, my treat!!!

We couldn't let St. Patrick's Day pass without celebrating!!! So in honor of Rusty's birthday, my NaNa (who always treated us to meals of green), and St. Paddy's day I created green pancakes!! At first Taryn didn't want to eat them, but after explaining to her that it was just food coloring she ate every bite!! As did Rhealee!! They are my girls, nothing is better for breakfast than pancakes if you ask me.

Wednesday was so pretty, Cory finished cleaning out the back storage sheds and then the garage. I spent the morning running errands while the girls played at Ganky's. Then I spent the early afternoon cleaning out cabinets in the hallway. Man was I in a purging mood and did a bunch of things get tossed!!! When we picked the girls up from Joyce's the day was too pretty to waste away inside so we spent it playing. Rhealee took her first spin in the wagon with Taryn and then Taryn decided she wanted to pull Rhealee so I spent the rest of the time watching Cory clean and the girls playing. It made me very excited for Summer to get here!!!

Taryn loves her wagon!!! She loved pulling Rhealee around even more!!

I love this picture of Rhealee. Her little arms up in the air express exactly what her face was saying. She loved being in the wagon and loved having Taryn pull her around, and around, and around!!! I can see how we will be spending many morning in the summer!!

We spent Thursday in Lubbock going and paying on our season tickets, eating lunch with Gramps and Aunt Kami, going to Rhealee's 1 year check-up, getting Cory's eyes checked, getting Cory his first pair of glasses, and looking for a new kitchen table. It was a very busy day and the only day we left town!!

Friday started out pretty so Cory and I headed to Sundown to play a few holes of golf. We met up with the golf coach and some of the kids on the team. We played 9 holes before we decided it was getting cold and we really wanted to finish some things around the house. Taryn spent the night with Megan at Ganky's house so Cory and I ordered a pizza and watched a movie.

Saturday we spent the day doing little things around the house and not much of anything else. We have no big plans for Sunday except relaxing and getting ready to start back into the daily routine of school and track.

We have plans to go to Dallas next weekend with my family to see Rusty. WE are excited about getting away for the weekend.

Hope everyone has had a relaxing week and has a great week coming up!!!

Rhealee Grace....

Rhealee Grace at 1 year:

*Weigh 19lbs. 2oz (25%)
*Measure 30 inches long (90%)
*Head was 18cm, I think (95%)
*You are down to drinking 1-2 bottles a day.
*You love sippy cups.
*You love deli ham
*You love anything with lots of sugar in it (that's my girl)
*You love taking baths
*You love being outside
*You walk every where you go these days
*You can walk very quickly, almost run when you get excited
*You love playing peek-a-boo
*You have learned to play hide and seek
*You squeal with delight when somebody chases you (melts my heart)
*You can wave bye-bye
*You can say no and shake your body
*You babble and talk ALL the time
*You have learned how to climb up the steps to sisters bed!!!!
*You love playing in sister's room
*You love playing with sister
*You like mac-n-cheese
*You like fruit
*You like yogurt
*You like giving kisses
*You like being a stinker and not giving kisses and laughing about it
*You love to see yourself in the mirror (we are in so much trouble)
*You enjoy sticking your tongue out at people
*You love snuggling baby dolls
*You like to give your baby's kisses

You have become very independent in the last couple of weeks. You are loving the freedom you have of walking. You and sister and playing together and you love having her attention and playing with her toys.

You do like to pull hair (we are working on this issue)
You do still like to wake up at least once during the night
You have become very difficult to put to sleep
You just wont give up the bottle
You are not consistent on what food you like


I love how the list of what you don't do/like is so much shorter than the what you do like list.

You are full of personality and it is coming out more and more each day. You make us laugh and you diffently keep us on our toes. We are so thankful that we get to be your family and watch you grow everyday.

Happy Birthday Rhealee Grace!!!

We had a wonderful weekend celebrating Rhealee's first birthday. We decided some time back that having her party in Lockney at Doakie and Gramps would be the best thing to do. The weather in West Texas is hard to predict and my house is really not big enough to hold all of our family and friends comfortably for very long.

The day didn't start out the way we had really planned. Rhealee woke up with what we thought was a stomach bug and she made it very difficult for anybody to get any work done. She is such a trooper though and when it came time for the party she was in a great mood and loved every minute of the attention she was getting.

So that being said, my mom was very kind in offering her house, dishes and services. And for that we are thankful. We planned a cute little brunch. The spread of food we had on the table was crazy. Chips, hot sauce, guacamole, little smokies (Cory's request), stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, two different kinds of pinwheels, mini corn dogs, mini quiches, sushi, mini cinnamon rolls, and two different kinds of punch. We were in no means short on food, and in no means did we leave much food to be put away. It was all so good!!!!

Instead of a big cake, my wonderful Aunt Tammie made three different kinds of cupcakes. She has an amazing talent and I hope one day to have the knowledge and skill she has of baking cakes/cupcakes. I made myself sick off those things. I think my final count of the day was four cupcakes. I had to try one of each kind and then have a second of my favorite. hehehe!!!

Here are some pics from the party. Hope you enjoy!!!

All the cousins sitting on the sun porch. From Left to Right: Taryn, Sydni, Rhealee, Kagen and Payten. What a fine looking group (and no we did not plan Taryn and Payten's outfits)! Rhealee sitting with her presents. She had a very good birthday. She is really loving her own rocking chair! She knew exactly what that was and what to do with it, now she does not have to share with sister!!!

Aunt Christina putting the finishing touches on the cupcake tower. Look at all that food!!!! We really did put a major dent in all this food as there was not much left to put away!

Rhealee and her PaPa. She loves him, but I think he loves her a little more!!! He is known as the baby hog!!!

Rhealee and I. In the background is my mom, Aunt Christina and Uncle Don. Not the best picture but it is the only on I got of Rhealee and I on her birthday.

Rhealee in her chair again. Thanks to Great-Grandma for making this moment possible.

Rhealee and Ganky (Cory's mom). Rhealee is holding her new favorite baby doll that Aunt Tammie gave her. It smells like vanilla, yumm-0!

I love this pic of all the little girls helping me unwrap presents. In the picture is my niece Megan, Taryn and my cousin Sydni. They were such great helpers!!!

Rhealee you look like such a big girl in this picture. I love your outfit and the balloon tied to your arm to complete the look. A BIG thanks goes out to Kylee for making the tu-tu in such short notice. It looks great with the onesie!

This last minute frog purchase by Cory just may be Rhealee's favorite toy. When you push the hand it plays a song about shaking it. Rhealee is loving shaking her body like a mad woman when it comes on. The girl can be in another room but will still start shaking her whole body if she hears the song. It is cracking us up. Thanks Cory for your randomness and feeling the need to purchase this toy!! What great laughter it has brought our house!!

Another cool toy that Rhealee is loving!! It lights up and plays music all while looking like a jewelry box!

Another shot of Rhealee in her rocking chair. Can you tell what she really liked and was pleased too sit in all day!!

The cute little banner I picked up at Target!! I thought I would be real ambitious and make this, but never got around to doing so and then came across this for next to nothing in cost. Glade I decided to wait. Loved it and saved it for parties to come!

Rhealee playing with a balloon. No party is complete without tons of balloons and that is just what we had. Rhealee enjoyed them and so did all the other little guys.

Since Rhealee wasn't feeling good on Saturday at the party we decided we would wait and let her have her special cake later. She felt fine on Sunday so after lunch we let her go to town. We sang her happy birthday and she was really not sure what to think about that. You can tell from the look on her face, either my singing is really bad or she has no idea what is going on.

Taryn loved the fact that we were going to let Rhealee eat the cake with her hands. Rhealee on the other hand wasn't really sure what we wanted her too do. So after a minute or so we let Taryn show her how it was done. They both thought this was funny. After Taryn showed her Rhealee went to town.

Just being funny, I thought I would take the cake to her face. This is how she preferred to eat the cake. But then again who wouldn't. She was eating cake, being fed and not getting dirty. Now that is the life.

Look at that face. And yes her mouth is full of cake. She really enjoyed the icing!!!

Going face first in for some more icing. That is my daughter, she knows good icing when she taste it. And let me tell you that is some of the best icing you will ever taste. Aunt Tammie makes some sinfully good icing to go along with some sinfully good cupcakes and cakes.

After all that sugar, it was time for Rhealee to take a nap. And what better place to do so then on her daddy's chest!!! This is my favorite picture from the weekend.

We had a great weekend and are truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Thanks to everyone who came and helped us celebrate. To those who couldn't make it we missed you!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RHEALEE GRACE!!!!

Oh How You've Changed in a Year

I had really planned on getting this post up last week on Rhealee's actual birthday, but I got busy with Bunco's, packing and getting ready for a birthday party. So here we go just a week late, which is better than never I suppose.





Rhealee turned 1 last Friday, March 12th. Man, this year has flown by so fast. It seemed like just yesterday that we were packing up and heading towards Lubbock to welcome her into the world. I have to admit I was a little weepy last Friday morning thinking back on what a great and exciting day it was March 12, 2009.

The whole family was ready to have Rhealee here, but I don't think anybody was as excited as Taryn was. Even though she had no idea how her world would change, she was just ready to be a big sister. What a great big sister she has been and it is all natural. She is such a little mother and still loves to help me with Rhealee (even when that means telling her no!).

Rhealee you were born on a cold and rainy day (the week before it had been in the 90's). You took way too long to decide you were ready to join us on the outside world, but when you did decide after a long day you let the whole world know you were here with those lungs. You are still letting everybody know you are here with those lungs!!!

The day you were born you weighed 8lbs 120z and were 22in long. You were a very long and healthy baby! Even though you were on the big size in weight, you were so long you looked super little.

Here I am getting ready to leave for the hospital on March 12, 2009. All I have to say about this is that is one BIG Belly!!!

Here's Rhealee on her 1st birthday!!! What a difference a year has made baby!! You are getting to be such a big girl!!!!

February Review in Pictures.....

Well I didn't do so well in taking pictures during the month of February. It just amazes me how fast a day goes by!! I usually realize after the girls are asleep that I didn't get a picture taken, and you can only have so many of them sleeping. So in March I am trying really hard to remember to take a picture!!!!

Speaking of March, Little Miss Rhealee will be 1 in just a couple of days!!!! Can you believe that a year has gone by already? Where did that time go? So with out any delay here is the month of February in pictures through the eyes of Momma Golden!!!

Feb. 1st (the date was wrong on my camera): Rhealee and her funny faces!!!

Feb. 2nd: Rhealee had an awful cough and felt really bad, so Cory took her to Dr. Landry and we had a round of antibiotics and steroids. He took both girls to Lubbock by himself and it was really an adventure. Complete with myself getting flowers because a 3yr old insisted on buying them for me!!! I have taught her well :)

Feb. 4th: Ladies Night Out!!! Every girl needs dinner and conversation with some other mommies!!! We had supper at Carino's and spent hours talking!!

Feb. 5th: Taryn and Doakie at Cheddar's.

Feb. 7th: Rhealee and Taryn had gone to Ganky's to play for a bit and this is how Rhealee came home. One pooped puppy!!!

Feb. 8th: Taryn helped me make some Petei Fours for Valentines Day! She loved rolling out the fondant and of course she loved eating them also!

Feb. 9th: These were my airplane ride to Austin buddies. Alyson Coats and Kristi Downs. We were on our way to Austin for the TCEA conference. What a great time we had!!!

Feb. 10th: This is what was left of my cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, while in Austin!! Ohh it is probably a good thing that I don't live near one of these restaurants!!!!

Feb. 12th: I flew in from Austin on Friday morning and had a full afternoon at school before heading to Lubbock on a last minute idea to take Taryn to see the Rockin' Disney Road Show! She loved every minute of the show and is asking to go back!

Feb. 13th: We were sadden by the death of our dear family friend Eloise McFarland. We went to Lubbock to be with Aunt Christina and her family. Rhealee was enjoying a cookie in this picture!

Feb. 14th: Valentines Day was pretty uneventful in our house this year. We did enjoy pizza for supper and ice cream for desserts. Notice Rhealee eyeballing her sister's ice cream. Taryn had been really good about sharing, but sharing was quickly turning into all Rhealee's! There is a huge gap here with no pictures for several days. Don't ask me why because I have no idea. I just forgot to take pictures for several days. OOOPs!

Feb. 18th: Cory and Taryn snuggled up watching cartoons. This is Taryn's favorite pre-bedtime activity. And of course there is nowhere better to watch cartoons then in our bed.

Feb. 20th: Cory and I getting ready to leave on our date day. The girls were in Lockney for the weekend so we went to Lubbock for dinner and a movie.

Feb. 21st: Taryn doing the "Freeze Dance" in the car on the way home from Doakie and Gramps. Silly girl came up with this song and dance all on her own. She has one of the best imaginations! Feb. 22nd: When basketball season ended for the JV team Cory and I decided that we wanted to host this team. They didn't win a great number of games this year, but they did grow so much as a team and as individuals. So for a small fee I fed them some of the best chow that might have ever laid their hands on. hehe!! They filled their tummies full of chicken spaghetti, garlic bread, brownies and cookie bars!! After dinner they enjoyed a movie before the snow blew in!!! I have to add that Taryn was loving all the attention from these boys. She was not afraid to tell them how it was!


Feb. 23rd: We woke up to about 3-4 inches of snow. When we went to bed at 11:30 there was nothing on the ground, but a few flakes. So we were surprised to see this the following morning. We enjoyed a 2hr. delay for school. All this snow was gone by shortly after noon. Man you gotta love West Texas.

Feb. 26th: Taryn dressed and ready to go!! She has such a wonderful sense of style!

Feb. 27th: We watched the Gunnel's kids for a couple of hours while their mom went to workout. Taryn loved having them over to play and I have to admit that I enjoyed it also. I got so much done while she was busy playing with her friends! The girls were hungry and needed a snack, so they shared the step ladder and ate their fruit cups!! What cuties!

So there you go, that is our month in pictures!!!! Hope you enjoyed sharing a little piece of our lives with us!!!