November 2019 – Page 2

Life Lately

Posted on November 6, 2019May 19, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Happy Wednesday! Just a little post about life lately.

I’m one of those weirdos who loves the “fall back” daylight savings time. It’s always an adjustment for all of us even with the gaining an extra hour in our favor, but I like that evening time seems to start sooner and we get a bit of daylight in the morning to get everyone out the door.

I’ve made multiple batches of pumpkin bread and pumpkin muffins from the Trader Joe’s mix…I’ve even frozen some of what I’ve baked….but on Sunday, I made my first pumpkin pie of the season. It was so good, and definitely is a family favorite.

Homer is a hot mess. I love him, but he’s like having ten toddlers sometimes. On Saturday, Hadley let Homer in from the backyard and asked me if I’d seen his collar. Well, I found it…in three pieces in the backyard. I’m assuming it was too loose (which makes me nervous as I hope he didn’t get stuck on something), but the three parts were also chewed on, so I’m assuming that was his doing. Later, when it was time to trick-or-treat, I put his harness on him and then the leash…only to realize he had chewed through his red nylon leash. Instead of my #WeHeartHomer hashtag, I feel like #HotMessHomer should be trending.

Hayden started his indoor soccer season on Sunday. They had an exciting victory over a really good team. I love watching indoor soccer since it’s fast paced and the clock doesn’t stop! haha.

We had a day off yesterday for Election Day. I love that the kids come with me to vote. I’m trying to instill in them the importance of exercising their civic duties.

I love a good cookie cake, so that’s what we usually get for birthdays (and Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc). I used to just get one from the grocery store, but a couple of years ago some friends mentioned the Great American Cookie cookie cakes, and I haven’t looked back. Monday night, the kids chose their cakes for their party this weekend.

Then…we stopped by Party City to pick out balloons and pick up party supplies. I lost Hadley for a minute…but then I found her!

I started a new book on Sunday: The Affair by Colette Freedman, and I’m really enjoying it.

With barely a break in activities, basketball has started up for both kids and Hadley is doing club cross country. I really wish there was a safe Uber option for kids…oh wait–I think that’s me!

That’s just a little peek into our Life…Lately.

I hope you are having a great week.

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook: Show Me and Sweet Tea

Holidays

Halloween Recap

Posted on November 4, 2019May 19, 2020 by jgalvinwhite

Halloween 2019…also known as the week long Halloween. Our Halloween festivities started off last Sunday at our church’s Halloween Festival where the kids could trick-or-treat on Spooky Street, play on inflatables and other games, and eat chili. They had a great time loading up on treats and seeing their friends.

Plot twist with Halloween: with a forecast of rain, highs in the 40s (with temps dropping), and gusty winds, some communities, including ours, moved trick-or-treating to Saturday from 3-5. This isn’t the first time trick-or-treating has been moved due to weather, and I kind of rolled my eyes at the idea…that being said, Thursday legit felt like winter! By Thursday evening, I wasn’t mad about a low key evening at home, an easy dinner, and some tv watching with the kids. Since it was Halloween, there were no other activities planned, so we were kind of forced to slow down and have some time at home. We had eaten dinner by 6 (never happens), kids were showered and clean by 7 (really never happens), and then we actually had time to catch up on our family tv shows.

I read Andrea’s post on Thursday morning for an easy dinner of Zombie Brains and Bloody Fingers. Sounded easy, fun, and delish, so I stopped by Trader Joe’s on my way home from school to get what we needed. The kids loved it.

Trick-or-treating in the daylight on Saturday felt a little odd…but to be honest, I ended up enjoying it. We weren’t rushed to beat the daylight, it was a Saturday, so no rushing home after school to get ready, and then we had time after trick-or-treating to hang out with friends while the kids swapped candy. Then we ate chili and soup and hung out…while not worrying about an early bedtime.

It was sunny and high 40s, so not super warm, but definitely better than how it would have been Thursday night.

The kids chose their costumes pretty easily this year…and, as always, thank goodness for Amazon. Hayden has an interest in Ghostbusters, so I showed him the costume online and said, “Do you want to be that?” and he said yes. Hadley was adamant on being a nerd…and instantly loved the “Nerdy Girls Rock” shirt she found on Amazon. The bowtie, suspenders, and socks were in a pack together…and when the glasses arrived, she said, “We have to put tape on them like they’ve been broken.” Lastly, she asked me to bring a dictionary home from school. Girlfriend had a vision for her costume!

Hadley in costume (and character!)

Hayden’s costume did come with a proton pack…and I figured it was only a matter of time before Homer popped it!! We made it to Halloween though!

My brother’s family comes over for Halloween. The kids know we need to get a cousin pic on the steps!

I call this the “OG of trick-or-treaters” pic. These kids have grown up together, and I’m blessed to call their moms my friends! The oldest two (twins!) are in middle school now…Also, all except for “Dorothy” have November birthdays, so we see each other quite a bit in the November/December months.

For fun (or to make me cry)…here’s our first year trick-or-treating together ….2010.

We trick-or-treated with lots of friends and ran into many other friends and neighbors.

Homer dressed as a “good dog” this year…definitely a disguise. haha

I can’t get over all the candy they get each year! It’s insane…and this year they received many full sized candy bars. Crazy!

We definitely had an awesome (week of) Halloween. Up next: birthday party planning for these two almost ten year olds!

Have a great week.

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea

Flashback Friday, Friday Favorites, Holidays, Kids

Flashback (Friday) Favorites {#6}

Posted on November 1, 2019August 20, 2021 by jgalvinwhite

I’m smushing two blogging ideas into one…Flashback Friday + Friday Favorites.

It’s hard to believe, but my kids are about to be T E N !!! One of my favorite birthday traditions is that each year I buy them a birthday shirt with their name and age on it. I typically use the photo for their birthday invites. I’ve had great luck finding a new shirt each year, usually from an Etsy shop. I’ve used a variety of shops and have always been impressed with the quality and design. Admittedly, as the kids get older, they aren’t as into the shirts (especially Hayden), but my goal has always been to get them a shirt each year until they are 10…so this year, we will probably be wrapping up this tradition…and I’m ok with that…I think 😉 #Imnotcryingyourecrying

Here’s a stroll down memory lane!

This is their first picture together at 4 days old. Hadley was in the NICU for thirteen days, and we snapped this photo before taking Hayden home with us. It broke my heart to leave her, but I knew she was in great hands with the awesome doctors and nurses in the NICU.

For their first birthday, I splurged on their sweet little outfits. They still hang up in their closets. I can’t ever picture myself parting with them.

Two years old…I remember clearly that this was the hardest picture to get of them…they wouldn’t stand still OR look at the camera!!

I think the three-year-old pic will always be my fave. First of all, they sat still. Secondly, the smiled. Thirdly, pinchy cheek cute! *also the last time Hayden probably wore jeans!

Four years old…also known as the last time they probably held hands. haha!

Five years old and Hayden had lost a couple of bottom teeth!

Six years old and Hadley caught up with Hayden in the losing teeth department (and looking like a big girl with her boots!)

Seven years old is probably my second favorite pic! They still look like they need their mama, but they are also so grown up at the same time!

Eight years old! Big kids.

Nine years old and ready for their last year in the single digits (and they definitely look like really big kids!)

I’ve already taken their pic with their number T E N shirts on, but I’ll save it for the real day. November 20th.

Don’t forget to check out Erika, Narci, and Andrea’s Friday Favorites posts.

I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Our weekend includes trick-or-treating tomorrow afternoon as our trick-or-treat time was moved from Thursday to tomorrow due to weather.

Take care,

Jen

Instagram: @showmeandsweettea

Facebook Page: Show Me and Sweet Tea