Author: jgalvinwhite

Posted in Weekend Top 5

Hello Monday

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello Monday! How was your weekend? Today, I’m linking up with Tanya (and others!) to share about my weekend!

We weekend started off with an action-packed Friday evening, followed by a somewhat busy Saturday and a slower Sunday.

Here’s my:

I mentioned in my Friday post that last week was Read Across America week, so the kids had dress up days at school. They didn’t participate too much, but there was hat day, wear stripes, wear favorite color, be kind, and…

Friday was Career Day. I was fussing at them at 9:32 PM on Thursday when they were brainstorming what they could wear. I was like, “Hey y’all (who are supposed to be in bed!), you didn’t participate on the ‘easy’ days, but you want to put together a career outfit?!” 😆

Hayden waffles between wanting to be a pro baseball player (but felt ‘weird’ wearing baseball pants to school 😂 ) and a professional runner (Don’t worry…his backup plan is “something with numbers and sports”…fingers crossed he’s not a bookie)…Anyway, Hadley is pretty consistent with her desire to be an elementary school teacher.

Hadley said, “Well, I know I can wear my hair in a bun and glasses, but what else can I wear?” I suggested a cardigan and name badge. She really wanted to borrow my school badge and couldn’t comprehend why I needed my badge at school. Besides identification purposes, it’s what gets me in the building! She was so proud of herself for putting together her own Ms. White ID badge.

Hayden got dressed and added his race number from last week’s track meet.

Hadley’s teacher sent me a few photos, and they were so sweet. She said the kids called her “Ms. White” all day, but one classmate told her she spelled “Ms.” wrong. Her teacher told me that Hadley responded, and said, “No, it’s not wrong. I looked it up, and I did it right because I’m not married.” Sis has an answer for everything!

Friday night, Hayden’s basketball team played in the league championship…and WON! They were so excited. Hayden had an amazing game! I always say it’s fun watching him play, but what’s even better is seeing the boys support each other throughout the season and watching Travis coach him. Memories for a lifetime!

After the big win, the team (and their families) had pizza dinner together at a local restaurant. We had the whole upstairs area for the families, so it was nice to socialize and celebrate. Most of these boys have played together for years, and we’ve been seeing these families pretty consistently since early November, so it was fun to celebrate all together.

Afterwards, Travis made a pit stop at Insomnia cookies for dessert at home. These cookies are SO good. Insomnia will also deliver them right to your front door, hot and fresh out of the oven!

We had a slow start to our Saturday, and I know Hadley’s favorite part of the weekend was hanging out with one of her dearest friends. These two are five days apart, went to the same sitter growing up, and text/Facetime often! They always pick right up where they’ve left off.

Hadley and I made an afternoon pit stop at Orange Leaf. We hadn’t had OL in forever, so it was the perfect afternoon treat.

Let’s just say that OL probably loses money on the flat rate fee for Hadley’s order. 😬

I put out a few Easter decorations this weekend. I don’t put much out, but I love a cute bunny…or five! I bought two of these ceramic egg/bunnies at Kroger of all places. They were only $4 each. I will share my Easter decor some time soon. A sweet little touch to my sun room tray are these wooden farm house style beads that I found on Amazon. They arrived on Saturday just as I was putting out my bunnies.

Sunday

Sunday had a few highlights as well. The past couple of years, I’ve made green pancakes and sprinkled Lucky Charm marshmallows on them for St. Patrick’s Day breakfast. When I say the morning struggle is very real now that we are back to school, I’m not kidding! I went ahead and made these pancakes yesterday morning rather than waiting until Wednesday. I made a few extras, so we can reheat them on Wednesday morning.

The kids looked so cute after church, and they let me snap their photo. (Real talk: I had to convince Hayden to stand still for the photo, and five seconds before this, they were trying to slap each other #sigh!)

Hadley’s dress is new from Matilda Jane, and Hayden looks so handsome in his hand-me-down Vineyard Vines button up!

The rest of Sunday was pretty chill. My brother brought his kids over, so they could play with Hayden and Hadley for a bit. In the afternoon, I ran to Target, did laundry, and got organized for the week.

The weather was overcast and chilly which was perfect for a new recipe I tried for dinner: Taco Pie, and it was easy and delish.

The rest of the evening, we just relaxed and got to bed at a decent time…Daylight Savings time worked in my favor with the clock saying 9:00 bedtime even if it only “felt” like 8:00! I will take what I can get with the help at bedtime!

This meme was appropriate for the time change:

digital mom blog

This week, I hope to post: Tuesday Talk, Let’s Look, and Friday Favorites.

As always, thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a great week.

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#58}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, we made it through a full week of school back in our buildings! Hayden and Hadley have been in school for a week and a half, and my school has had 9th and 12th graders back in the building this week. Next week, sophomores and juniors will be back, and we will just have two weeks until Spring Break.

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites post.

Favorite Food:

Crepes! While my mom was visiting, she and Hadley made crepes, and we enjoyed them for dessert one night.

Favorite Pic:

GG with her grandkids! Both of my parents and my brother and sister-in-law are fully vaccinated. Travis has had his first dose, so we were able to start seeing out of town family again.

Favorite Moment:

The kids had their first (ever!) track meet on Sunday. The meet took place at an awesome facility in Louisville. The wake up time was early, but the meet was run so efficiently that we were home by early afternoon.

Of course, my kids are distance runners, but their coach encouraged them to try new events like shorter distances, and Hayden even tried the long jump! Hadley ran the 60m, the 200 and the 400. Hayden ran the 200, the 800, and did the long jump.

They did great overall and had fun! (and the grandmas were able to cheer them on!)

Another favorite moment was seeing school buses at my school on Monday! We’ve had a great week back. The 9th and 12th graders have been wearing their masks, arriving to class on time, and keeping their distance when they can.

Favorite Kid Quote:

At the track meet, Hayden and Hadley ran in the 11-12 year old age groups. So, there were some older kids (middle school!) running. After Hayden’s 800 race, he said, “Mom, I was running against ‘men’ with hair… ON their LEGS!” I couldn’t stop laughing.

Favorite Clothing Item:

I’ve had this long sleeve T-shirt on my Nordstrom list for quite some time. It arrived earlier this week, and I love it.

I ordered it in the Pink Paradise color. It’s perfect for wearing over my workout top, but I also think it will look cute front tucked with white denim! I love a shirt that’s versatile!

Favorite Mom Memes:

This was the first full week for Hayden and Hadley….and they had Read Across America dress up days….AND Wednesday was picture day. Thankfully the dress up days only entailed wearing a hat, stripes, and favorite color.

And…sigh! My kids are getting too old for these things, so I didn’t force the issue. On favorite color day, I laughed as they both got out of the car wearing head to toe gray and black. They take after their mother…haha

I enjoy cooking, and as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’ve relied on my slow cooker this week. Wednesday night’s “one pot” meal was really good, and I announced to everyone that they couldn’t have seconds because the leftovers were for dinner last night! I wanted to cook as few of days as possible.

A Couple More Faves:

Hadley teaching cousin Layla some ballet moves was very sweet!

No photo, but I was able to catch up with a good friend on Wednesday night. She brought over my (belated) birthday present which was so thoughtful, and we enjoyed some wine.

Lastly, Wednesday was Picture Day at school. I know it sounds silly, but I actually had the thought a few times while we were doing online learning that I’d be sad if there was no official 5th grade picture!

Hadley emailed me on Wednesday to tell me that 5th graders were the last students to get their pictures taken, and she hoped her hair would still be curly by the end of the day!

With St. Patrick’s Day next week, I thought I’d share my Corned beef and Cabbage recipe one more time. My favorite is actually the Irish Soda Bread I make. We already had this meal when my dad was visiting, so I doubt I will make it again even though it’s made in the slow cooker!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’m feeling nostalgic…This Read Across America Week photo from 2018 reminds me of when they were younger and all about the dress up days and activities.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week!

Not Just a Mom: Fave Phone APPS
Currently
Thursday Thoughts

I think we have a somewhat low key weekend on tap which is just what we need after these last couple of busy weeks.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by. Have a great weekend.

Posted in Everyday Life, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts: One Year of the Pandemic

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

With Hayden and Hadley finally getting back to school last week, and then this week 9th and 12th graders back in my building, I’ve certainly been reflecting on the upcoming one year mark of the pandemic shutting everything down and causing everyone’s life to come to a screeching halt.

Friday, March 13, 2020 was our last day of school. Friday the 13th will always be an easy day to remember as coinciding with the pandemic ramping up. Teachers always pay attention to a date like Friday the 13th as well as when there’s a full moon 😂

Anyway, just as I was thinking I may write about this past year piggybacking on last week’s Back to School post, I read Shelly ‘s post (at The Queen in Between blog) sharing that she had listened to Laura Tremaine’s podcast – 10 Questions to Mark One Year of the Pandemic.

I thought I’d use these 10 questions as a guide to reflect on this past year.

1. What was life like in early 2020?

Life was very “normal” in early 2020. I think it was late February when we started to hear more about the Coronavirus. The week before school shut down, I went with Hadley’s Girl Scout troop on an overnight field trip in Ohio. There was definitely talk of precautions that would be put in place at COSI to make the field trip safe. On Tuesday, March 10, we gave the ACT at school while school closure talk was heightened. The governor started holding daily afternoon press conferences. My dad was about to visit, and my brother and I were shocked he still decided to visit as with each day and each press conference more restrictions were being put into place. He arrived on Thursday, March 12. While I made dinner, I asked him to pay attention to the daily briefing because we’d heard that he’d make an announcement about school closures. He then said, March 13th would be the last day of in person learning for a while.

2. What was the biggest change?

The biggest change was life coming to a screeching halt! All of the sudden, we were supposed to stay home, learn online, and not socialize.

3. What were your coping mechanisms?

Unfortunately, I think one of my coping mechanisms was cooking and baking! lol

Also, when I feel like life is “out of control,” I try to control what I can! So, I continued with a routine, made sure to get outside for a walk, and keep life as normal as possible for Hayden and Hadley.

4. What did connection in your relationships look like?

Well, as a family, we spent a lot of time together. We went from running everywhere with school and activities to all four of us being at home. We had to be more intentional with family relationships with phone calls, text messages, Zoom, and Face time.

I felt like it was difficult navigating some friendships. No friendships were lost during this time, but there were varying degrees of opinions and following of protocols based on health issues or beliefs.

5. What will you remember the most?

Honestly, I will remember this extra time together as a family of four. I’m a rule follower and an introvert, so when things shut down and we were told to stay home, I kind of embraced it. Of course, once days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, of course, I missed “what was,” but the kids were at a great age to be home. They could be independent, but then we also made time for things that we wouldn’t usually have done like “Game Night” on a Wednesday or bike rides as a family.

6. What was the biggest challenge?

For me, the biggest challenge was knowing the right thing to do. Again, as a rule follower, I had no trouble following the rules of stay home, masking up, and keeping distance. My anxiety crept up when some restrictions were lessened, and it was time to make decisions about the kids playing sports, going on vacation, visiting family, etc.

I also worried about loved ones staying healthy and safe as well as family who live alone.

7. What was a beautiful memory?

One specific memory doesn’t pop into mind, but again, the time at home as a family was very meaningful. I also *mostly* enjoyed being home with them for school. (We had a good balance with them going to the pod two days a week). We are already back to being very busy, so I’m already reflecting on when we were able to slow down and not have 100 things on our plates.

Another beautiful memory was getting the vaccine. Again, I feel blessed that teachers were made a priority, so they would feel safe once students returned to school. Now, that second vaccine knocked me on my tail, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

8. What do you believe now that you didn’t one year ago?

It’s amazing how resilient and adaptable people are when they have to be.

Also, not that I didn’t know it before, but there are so many good people in the world. First responders, front line workers, educators, and others were all tested, but felt the support of people near and far. Also, communities, schools, neighbors and others all came together when needed.

9. What would you do differently?

I’m not sure there’s anything I would do differently. It is just crazy to me how from mid-March to the beginning of April, each day with each daily briefing from the governor added a new layer of severity with the pandemic. We went from thinking schools would be shut down for two weeks to students in our district not returning to the classrooms for almost a year. It wasn’t that I didn’t take it seriously, it’s just that I’ve never lived through anything like that, so, like most, I thought this would all be short-lived. I actually appreciated the layered implementation of restrictions because it gave us time to plan and adjust rather than panic.

10. What will you carry forward?

Besides always having hand sanitizer nearby??😬 I will remember the goodness of others and cherish the memories and time at home with my family.

Final Thoughts:

I can’t believe that it’s been a year of social distancing, mask wearing, and constant hand sanitizing.

I counted my blessings throughout this entire year. I’ve been thankful for a cozy home, a job, food on the table, the health and wellness of my family, and feeling safe and secure during this time. It was never lost on me that there were doctors and nurses working 80 hours a week, people lost loved ones, and others hardly left their homes.

It wasn’t easy, and some days were harder than others. As a mom and a teacher, I sometimes felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I felt anxious, overwhelmed, and exhausted at times. Once Hayden and Hadley returned to school, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. It was only then that I realized the amount of stress I’d sometimes been carrying with underlying worry.

The month of March always brings a sense of renewal to me with the weather, the school year winding down, and summer on the horizon. I’m hoping that we continue move forward, with no setbacks, so that Covid can be in the rearview mirror sooner rather than later!

What was your biggest challenge this past year, and what has been a beautiful memory for you?

I hope you’re having a great week! See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Posted in Currently

Currently

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, I feel like we’ve either had nothing going on or too much! Of course, we are back to school, we’ve had family visiting, and winter activities are overlapping with spring activities.

I thought I’d just share a bit about what we’re currently up to!

I’m currently…

Adjusting:

I’m continuing to adjust to the early alarm clock since we are all back to school.

In previous years, I could wake up around 6:00 to get 45 minutes of “me time” before the hustle and bustle of the day began. This year, the kids’ school starts 10 minutes earlier, and we are out of practice with the early morning routine. I can’t bring myself to get up in the 5’s just yet, so I’m only getting about 25 minutes of quiet time in the morning.

When I’m in a really great routine, I try to get up early (5:15-5:30) to get a workout in a couple days a week. At the moment, that sounds like an unreasonable ask of myself 😂 Maybe next week, I will phase in that plan!

Appreciating:

I’m so appreciative of the fact that Hayden and Hadley have embraced going back to school. They are so excited to be the “big kids” of the school, see their teachers and play with their friends. So far, it’s been a pretty smooth transition (once we are up and out the door!)

I will say that I hate that they have to sit behind plastic dividers and wear masks, but Hadley is thriving being able to socialize more with her teacher and her classmates. Hayden is more focused now and is doing a great job as well adjusting to in person learning.

I also appreciate my teacher friend sending me this photo of Hayden. It’s always so fun to get a glimpse of them during the day. This is another thing I will miss about our elementary years being about over.

waiting in line for music class

Wanting:

I’m wanting (needing!) Homer to realize that we don’t have time for his nonsense in the morning. I joked that I didn’t know how he’d react to us going back to school, but for the past week, he often refuses to come inside the house and hesitates to go in his kennel!

I took this photo yesterday morning of him. It got to the point where when we tried to coax him in, he’d run off. Eventually, he let Travis put the leash on him. The photo I should have gotten was the tug-of-war that ensued between Homer and Travis…to the point where Travis had to pick Homer up to get him inside! haha

Watching:

I watched the Meghan and Harry interview with Oprah. Did you see it? What did you think? I was pretty shocked at all that was shared. The Royals have always intrigued me.

I wonder if they regret anything they shared?!

photo c/o NY Times

Reading:

I just started reading Layla and I’m also reading The Giver of the Stars. I usually don’t read two hardback books at once, but I’d started Giver when Layla became available at the library from my requested books list.

Planning:

I’m starting to plan Easter basket ideas. For Easter, I usually get the kids each a swimsuit, pajamas, flip flops, and a book. Sometimes, I find a game and a few other odds and ends to include in their baskets. The Easter Bunny brings candy and hides the eggs.

Easter 2020

Cooking:

Back to school = quick dinners! As much as I enjoy my Instant Pot and Air Fryer, my slow cooker is my fave for guaranteed delicious meals!

This week we’re having:

Reflecting:

I’m reflecting on that fact that it’s been a year since the pandemic shut everything down, and our lives came to a screeching halt! With the vaccine and now (finally) having my kids and students back in the school buildings, this week has just definitely been one of reflection.

Assuming I have time to finish it, I will have a more reflective pandemic post tomorrow 🙂

What have you been up to lately?! I hope you are having a great week!

Posted in Not Just a Mom

Not Just a Mom: Favorite Phone Apps

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? My mom has been visiting us, the weather was beautiful out, and we only had a few activities. Overall, it was a good one, and now we tackle the first full week back at school for in person learning!

Believe it or not, it’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting our fun Not Just a Mom link up with these lovely ladies:

Today’s topic is: Favorite Phone Apps.

I feel like there are two types of people…those who have their apps organized in folders and those who don’t organize them. Which one do you think I am? haha

Folders, of course!

(*Also, yes–the 153 unread emails are of concern to me as well! Some of them are so far back in time that I can’t even scroll to delete them!)

Most Often Used Apps:

These are the apps I tend to use the most often:

~Notes: I have all kinds of notes on my phone: to do lists, gift ideas, books I’ve read and more. I’d be lost without the Notes app.

~WordPress: Of course, this app is so helpful in uploading photos for my posts, and then I type the content on my computer.

~Podcasts: I try to listen to Podcasts when I’m working out or working a little in my classroom.

~Amazon: Amazon…always for the win! They changed the icon recently!

~Venmo: Venmo comes in so handy for paying the sitters or paying friends when needed.

~Instagram: Instagram is definitely my favorite form of social media.

~Kroger: I use the Kroger app every week to place my Click List order. This past month, I’ve tried really hard to place my order on Friday for Saturday pickup. I’ve pretty much always scheduled Sunday pick ups, and this month it’s been so nice to get this task completed leaving more time on Sunday to prep for the week

Apps I Love:

These are some apps I love to use as well:

~Pic Collage: I love using Pic Collage to create collages of photos to add to my blog posts. The app has so many cute backgrounds to choose from, and the photos can be organized in a variety of ways.

~Libby Library: The Libby app makes it easy for me to check out library books for my Kindle.

~My Fitness Pal: I use My Fitness Pal to log my meals each day and count my macros.

~Beach Body On Demand: I’ve only started using this app in November when I started subscribing to Beach Body. The app is perfect for searching for workout programs and previewing workouts. I’ve actually done workouts using the app as opposed to casting them to my television when our internet has been glitchy. There’s definitely no excuse to miss a workout when I can use this app on my phone as a back up plan.

~Water Reminder: I’ve been using this app pretty much daily to track my water. Some days I still fall short of my water intake goal, but this app provides a good visual for me.

~Shutterfly: I upload all my photos from my phone using the Shutterfly app. I’ve been using this app since the kids were born in 2009. I have so many folders and albums with all of my pictures.

~Chick-fil-A: Nothing like a pandemic to force you to order food from your phone! I’m still pretty new to the CFA app, but I love that it saves my recent orders and my points accumulate for an occasional free brownie!

~Shop: The Shop app is a pretty new find for me as well. It’s so nice to have all my online purchases in one spot, and tracking packages is so easy this way. Again, I don’t have to search or scroll to find emails for purchases. All my purchases are in one place.

~Light Room: I’ve used the Light Room app for a couple of years to add filters to some of my photos. I’m not a professional photographer, so this app is so nice to help lighten photos.

One More App:

I’m also getting the hang of using the Goodreads app. I’ve had it for a while, but just this year I’ve decided to put book ideas on it. That being said, I added a ton of books from my “to read” book list that used to be on my phone and now I’ve realized I should probably organized those books onto shelves. So, I will probably do that at some point and have mystery books, auto/bio, beach reads, etc. all organized on one shelf.

What are some of your favorite apps?

Next month’s topic is: Favorite Family Memories. We’d love to have you join us for that link up!

Thanks so much for reading. Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts on their favorite apps! I hope you have a great week!

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Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#57}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Shew…this week has been exhausting. I’m so happy that it’s almost the weekend. I hope you’ve had a great first week of March. I saw this meme and thought it was very timely 😂

This week was nice with family visiting and beautiful weather, but with kids’ activities and return to in person learning, I feel like I usually feel those first few weeks of August! The “Back to School” exhaustion is real!

As always, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites post.

Today, I’m sharing a random assortment of favorites!

Travis made a “deal” with Hayden and and his friend that if they scored a combined 40 points in their four games last weekend, he’d buy them dinner. Their teams ended the weekend 3-1, and the boys scored a combined 43 points. Hayden was excited. The meal is still TBD, but it was fun to watch them play their games.

Sunday night, Hadley packed her lunch for the pod on Monday. I didn’t check on it until Monday morning, and saw that she’d packed Easter candy, a crumbled up chocolate Cliff bar, two Hawaiian rolls, pepperoni and…more pepperoni. The random assortment made me laugh.

The kids requested Air Fryer donuts on Tuesday morning. After I made them, I sat them on the counter with my coffee, and caught the sun light shining! So pretty…and the donuts were delish.

Homer had his yearly check up and shots this week. Pooks weighs almost 55 lbs…I honestly thought he’s weigh more than that. He’s certainly our favorite.

My dad usually visits around St. Patrick’s Day, so I typically make corned beef, cabbage, and Irish soda bread. While we still have a couple of weeks until March 17th, I went ahead and made our traditional feast on Tuesday since he was in town. Honestly, the Irish soda bread is my fave.

My dad visiting was a favorite of the week. He always asks for a pic with the kids all lined up on the front porch steps…and then my brother and I hopped in for a quick photo.

Due to Covid, we haven’t seen our Missouri family as often as we usually do. Now, it’s my mom’s turn to visit.

The final pod photo was also a favorite of the week. On Tuesday, the kids all had pizza for lunch, and then were sent home with fresh baked cookie and a sweet note from their pod teacher.

Our “Back to School” breakfast was a fave. Of course, that tradition is usually in August, but I decided to serve up donuts, yogurts, and juice boxes for their return to in person learning on Wednesday.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Hadley’s “Back to School” light up sign was so fun. She was definitely in the “back to school” spirit.

Hadley’s email to me on their first day back was the highlight of my week.

Then, I received the sweetest email from school with their photos! I missed them more than I thought I would on Wednesday. Of course, I was excited for them to get back to school, but we really have been together most days over the past year, so it felt odd not having them around.

My new New Balance shoes arrived this week, and they are definitely a favorite. I ordered them from Joe’s New Balance Outlet, and I’ve used that site before with great success. These are even cuter in person than I expected them to be…and I got them for a great price…(which is always a favorite!)

Favorite Mom Meme:

These memes cracked me up when I saw them this week…

This is SO true in my house!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This sweet pic of the kids playing at the park is from March 2013 is a favorite from the past. Hadley’s little pink Chucks are the best!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week in case you missed one!

Girl Scout Cookies
March Prime Purchases
Return to In Person Learning

Monday is the Not Just a Mom link up, and the topic is Favorite Phone Apps. I hope you’ll link up if you’re a blogger!

This weekend, we have a few activities, my mom is visiting, and the weather looks very much like spring! See you back here on Monday.

Posted in Kids, School, Thursday Thoughts

Thursday Thoughts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Thursday. How is your week going?! We are in that transition to back to school (yay!) which means earlier wake up calls, the hustle and bustle of making lunches and packing backpacks, and the rush of getting out the door. While that all can be exhausting, I’m here for it!

Today, I’m reflecting on the last 355 days at home for virtual learning as I know it’s a time the kids and I will always remember, and this post will be perfect to have those thoughts all in one place.

Virtual Learning:

  • March – May 2020: We all mastered Google Meet and Google Classroom. We lived in two weeks chunks of time while decisions were made at the state and district level about in person learning. Most days, the kids could sleep in before joining their class Google Meet at 10:00. They were on with their teachers for about an hour before completing their work for the day. Even a field trip and field day took place virtually. We missed out on fun events like the school carnival. I heard the sadness in their teachers’ voices as they said goodbye for the summer. None of us realized how long we’d be out of school.
  • August 2020: Back to school was delayed a few weeks, and we started school on August 26 rather than August 12th. Leading up to the first day of school, we drove through the car line at school to pick up materials and meet the teachers from our car while wearing masks. We decided to send the kids to a pod (at my friend Amy’s with their school friends…mostly girls, much to Hayden’s chagrin!) two days a week. “Back to School Night” was held via Zoom.
  • August 2020-March 2021: Synchronous and Asynchronous instruction were the new “buzz words” for the year. We mastered Zoom, Canvas, and Google Classroom. The kids’ school day was much more structured, and they spent most of the morning on Zoom. They had a 1.5 hour chunk of time for lunch and would often play with their friends in the neighborhood or at the school play ground. They would get back on Zoom in the afternoon for the last hour of the school day. Parent/teacher conferences we held via telephone. We lived in bigger chunks of time while waiting for decisions on return to in person learning. The number of school activities the kids missed out on is endless: field trips, lunch bunch, spaghetti/puzzle night, chorus concerts, academic team, clubs, the books fair, and more. January 2021: Their school schedule basically remained the same, but with an earlier start time and a bit more structure with the goal of prepping for a return to in person learning. Late February 2021: We learned that K-2 would begin on February 22 and 3rd-5th grades would start on March 3.

What we thought would be a few weeks in March and April of 2020 turned into months…and almost of a year of learning at home.

Real talk: I actually teared up typing this time line…I can’t believe we’ve made it through this time. There have certainly been ups, downs, learning curves, tears, frustration, and more.

Thankfully, they have amazing teachers who have hosted virtual lunch bunch, dropped off gifts on front porches, met with students individually who were struggling academically, made phone calls home with words of encouragement, waved as we drove through the car line, and so much more.

At the pod, the kids were able to read in groups, play games, bake, have holiday parties, learn about the election process, go roller skating, and experience many more fun activities.

Memories at home learning provided us…

and some things I will miss about at home learning...

  • The kids showing me what they are working on and asking for help.
  • Meals: enjoying leisurely breakfasts and lunches. (Bonus: Hadley now can make a quesadilla and soup on her own. Hayden has mastered heating Spaghetti O’s on the stove and can make a mean grilled cheese!)
  • Hearing their awesome teachers and the sweet replies of their classmates.
  • (also) Hearing Hayden and Hadley’s thoughtful responses when sharing answers with their classes.
  • Friday Chick-fil-A lunch
  • Time outside with them during “recess” and going for walks
  • Flexibility and maximizing our time: I’ve been able to start dinner in the slow cooker at 10:00 am vs 7:00 am, they’ve completed chores on a break, and we’ve been able to schedule ortho appointments during lunch break.
  • Extra Homer snuggles
  • Impromptu play dates during recess or learning at home with friends
  • Pajama pants as suitable school attire!

That being said, it’s time. It’s been 355 days since they’ve walked into their school building. They only have nine weeks left in the elementary school building they’ve attended since kindergarten.

Real talk (again!): I’ve also said that their age during this time has been a blessing. They are old enough to work pretty independently, but are young enough to still need me. I will treasure this experience forever, but I’m also happy to release them to the elementary educational professionals 😉

I asked them both what they will miss about at home learning and why they are excited to return to the building. Here are their responses:

Hayden:

I will miss being at home with Homer all day.

I’m excited to actually be in the school building to learn with my teachers and friends.

Hadley:

I will miss being able to stay in my pjs while learning at home.

I’m excited to see my friends and my teacher in person.

A few photos:

First day at the pod: August 26, 2020

Last day at the pod: March 2, 2021

First day of 5th grade: August 26, 2020

First day of in person learning, 5th grade: March 3, 2021

Back to School Breakfast (again!)

I decided to have another back to school breakfast, and was able to put this together pretty quickly thanks to a trip to The Dollar Tree (thanks, Amy, for the idea!) and a few items from my “Back to School Breakfast tub.

I love these little lunch trays from The Dollar Tree, and I assembled an easy breakfast of donuts, yogurts, Cuties, and juice boxes.

I got them each a little notebook and the “Star Student” tags were perfect for the lunch trays.

Other Back to School Breakfast posts:

Back 2 School Bfst Info
Back 2 School BfSt Aug 2020

When they enter the building, they go through a thermal scanner to have their temperatures taken, there are plastic dividers at their desks, they will eat lunch at their desks, they have to stay with their classes at recess, and some of the their specials teachers will come to them.

I received emails from both kids within the first couple hours of school 😂

Hayden was telling me he’d forgotten his watch, and could I bring it to school (the answer was no) 😂, and Hadley’s email brought tears to my eyes. She said she was so happy to be at school and that her teacher cried happy tears!

Their assistant principal sent me pictures of them at their desks. Hadley looks so happy, and I’m proud of Hayden for “going with the flow.” ( I know that’s not easy for him).

Hadley’s teacher shared this photo with me. So far, Hadley has been pretty consistent with her plans to be an elementary school teacher 😊

I know school will look so different compared to when they were last there on March 13, 2020, but I’m forever grateful for the school administrators, teachers and staff who have made this transition from at home learning to in person learning as smooth as possible. The school sign said, ‘Welcome back,” there were lawn letters greeting them with sweet “back to school” wishes, and so many wonderful teachers were outside waving and opening car doors at car line yesterday morning.

Everyone was smiling: students, teachers, and parents, and even a mask couldn’t hide the enthusiasm that returning to the school building after 355 days has brought to everyone.

My wish for the kids: “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!” ~ Dr. Seuss

(read: mom loves you, but bye!) 😉

The weight of the pandemic, as a mom and as a teacher, has been very difficult…probably more difficult than I have realized at times. Getting my kids back to school yesterday was a huge step towards normalcy, and I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. Next week, students start to return to my school building, and I’m so looking forward to that next step as well!

Thanks so much for reading today’s post. I hope you’re having a great week. I know mine sure has taken a turn for the better!

Posted in Amazon

Prime Purchases: March 2021

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! The first Tuesday of the month always sneaks up on me, but it’s always one of my favorite posts to write. I’m sharing my Prime Purchases again this month thanks to Tanya hosting her fun link up!

I only have a few purchases (Trav’s praying paid off 😉) this month, and they are a mix of comfy and random!

I’ve shared these leggings in another post, but they are definitely still a favorite. I wear them all the time. They are soft, comfortable, and have the cute scoop detail at the ankle. They are 7/8 length which is the only length that I wear.

Leggings

The leggings are perfect for my weekend (read: everyday) “momiform” of sneaks, leggings, and over-sized sweatshirt.

Speaking of “momiform,” these joggers are legit. If I’m not in the leggings, I’m probably wearing these joggers. They are perfect for wearing with a t-shirt, a sweatshirt, a sweater and (in my opinion) can be dressed up or down. I’ve worn them to church with a sweater and leopard flats! I look forward to wearing these in the spring with a t-shirt and flip flops!

Joggers

Well, when we had to two straight weeks of winter weather and lost power for two hours, I realized a portable charger sure would come in handy! This two pack arrived before storm number 2 (of 3) rolled in a couple weeks ago. Of course, we didn’t lose power again, but I know these will be good for travel or to keep in my purse in case our phone or iPads need charged while we aren’t home.

2 Pack Portable Charger

I ordered this cute Boxwood wreath as an addition to my new candle pedestal from The Nested Fig.

Mini Boxwood Wreath

It’s super cute and great quality.

I try to buy the kids a game as a Valentine’s Day gift that we can play as a family. Bananagrams is so fun, and we’ve played it quite a few times. I love that you can even play the Solitaire version of this, so it’s a game that can be played with one or many participants.

Bananagrams

I didn’t Prime much this month, but these purchases we good ones! Next month’s link up is on April 6. I have a feeling I will have a few more purchases as Amazon is a main resource for helping me fill up the kids’ Easter baskets!

I hope to post pretty regularly this week, but with family visiting, the transition back to in person learning, and kids’ activities, I’m not sure what I will have time to share.

Currently me: 😂

As always, thanks for stopping by, and make sure to check out the other ladies’ Prime Purchases posts!

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Kids

Girl Scout Cookies

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! (and Happy March 1st!) How was your weekend? Hadley and I went to Target for a few things on Friday including something for her to wear on the first day back to school this week. Somehow, we left with four pairs of workout tights/leggings for her. I think I was #Hadleyed.

Hayden had four total basketball games this weekend which are always fun to watch. And, in true Kentucky weather fashion, we’ve gone from snow and ice to sunshine to rain all in the matter of a week!

One of the tasks Hadley and I accomplished yesterday was sorting her third and final order of Girl Scout cookies. I thought I share about her cookie sales through the years. This last year of elementary school has me feeling all kinds of nostalgia!

Image c/o lcnme.com

Every year, she sells to family and friends, and Travis and I take the cookie form to work. That being said, they are her cookies to sell for her troop, so I always tell her that if she wants me to share about cookie sales on social media, she has to make a video.

These videos have cracked me up through the years. One year, when she mentioned her troop, she said, “Toot toot!” instead of “22” haha! We couldn’t stop laughing.

She always shares any cookie updates, what the favorite cookies are, the new cookies, how much the cookies cost, and whatever else she can think to share in her one minute video.

She also sells door to door in the neighborhood, and she learns so much from interacting with “customers” on those direct sales. Also, her troop typically sells at Kroger during a two hour window of time a couple Saturdays or Sundays in February.

Of course, Covid made things different this year, so there were no cookie booth sales for her troop, but we did go door to door to neighbors who I knew would feel comfortable with her selling cookies; we of course, kept our distance and wore masks during those sales.

She definitely loves this time of the year, and while sorting hundreds of boxes can be daunting, we make it a family affair! Hayden will even help us if needed 😉 (Also, of note: the mom in our troop in charge of cookies is an absolute saint! I’m forever adding to orders I’ve given her, swapping cookies, or asking how much money we owe! I don’t know how she does it, but we sure do appreciate her!)

Cookie Time through the Years…

2018:


I’m fairly certain this wasn’t the first year her troop sold cookies, but it must have been the first year they had a cookie booth a Kroger.

They were so cute in their little cookie costumes. Who could say ‘no’ to these sweet faces?

2019:

Cookie booth at Kroger in 2018 in their second year as Brownies.

I took this picture of Hadley to share on Facebook as a “thank you” post for supporting her sales.

2020:

The cookie booth smiles continued in 2020.

2020 “thank you” photo…

2021:

Who knew when they sold at Kroger in 2020, that there would be no booth sales in 2021?! They always have so much fun together greeting the customers, giving their sales pitch, tallying the cookies sold, and providing the (hopefully!) correct change when the customer makes a purchase. They always worked so well together playing off of each other’s strengths and weaknesses!

2021 cookie photo when her first two rounds of orders were picked up!

We made the final tally over the weekend and Hadley sold…

630 boxes!!! She was so excited.

2021 “thank you” photo:

It’s always fun seeing who orders what, and which cookie is the winner in most boxes sold…It’s always the Thin Mint cookie as the winner! The new “Toast-Yay” cookie was really good, and this was the last year for the S’mores!

  • Toast-yay 45
  • S’more 48
  • Lemonades 55
  • Shortbread 61
  • Thin Mint 134
  • Peanut Butter Patties 92
  • Caramel deLite 111
  • Peanut butter Sandwich 42
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip 28
  • Donated: 14

This year, I think so many people took advantage of cookies being shipped. We were able to reach more than our Kentucky friends and family, and we, of course, appreciate their generosity.

Our family favorites:

  • Hadley: Peanut Butter Patties or Toast-yay
  • Hayden: Lemonades (Every year, he gives Hadley his own money for one box to keep all for himself!)
  • Trav: Caramel deLites
  • Me: Peanut Butter Patties

Thank you:

I created this form a couple of years ago as a way to help with sorting and keep orders straight. Again, I feel like it’s important for Hadley to help and also give thanks to those who have placed ordered.

Being in Girl Scouts has taught Hadley so much. Being a servant leader, navigating life skills, and building confidence are certainly just a few of the things she’s learned while being a part of this sweet little troop!

I can’t believe cookie season is over. We actually did a good job pacing ourselves with the cookie eating! We still have quite a few boxes, and I’ve hidden them in the basement 😉

What are your favorite cookies? Thanks so much for reading, and have a great week!

Posted in Friday Favorites

Friday Favorites {#56}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey! Hey! We made it to Friday. I can’t get over the difference in weather in a matter of just one week. Last week, the kids were sledding and our streets were covered in ice and snow. This week, Hayden has been excited to wear shorts most days and both kids haven’t needed their winter coat!

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites post.

As I occasionally do, I’m sharing the “little” moments as favorites this week. Here’s a look at some small, but meaningful, moments from the week:

Sunday:

On Sunday, the sun was (finally) shining, and the snow began to melt! We needed the milder temps after 2+ weeks of frigid temperatures and ongoing winter weather events.

Monday:

On Monday, I started Muscle Burns Fat: Advanced. I did Muscle Burns Fat earlier in the month, and I loved the program. Since the beginning of January, I’ve lost almost 6 total inches and a few pounds, so I’m hoping MBFA will help me keep chipping away at my #quarantine15!

Tuesday:

Hadley started attending the God’s Girls Reading Group at our church. It was fun picking her and two friends up afterwards and hearing about how the session went for them. The “mini chapters” in this book are perfect for Hadley and provide opportunities for some nice conversations.

Wednesday:

With in person learning on the horizon, the kids’ pod teacher gave them this sweet gift on Wednesday. I love a good hashtag: #podsquadforever

Hand sanitizer, Kleenex, pencils, and a candy necklace…perfect for 5th graders in 2021! I know they will always remember their time at pod, and we are thankful to have had that option and experience.

Another favorite from Wednesday, was I was able to catch up with one of my friends! We met at Agave and Rye for their Happy Hour specials. We had a great time catching up, sipping margs, and eating chips and queso!

Thursday:

My candle pedestal from The Nested Fig arrived a couple weeks ago. The small wreath I ordered from Amazon arrived and was the perfect finishing touch for the candle and pedestal.

I’m enjoying slow mornings at home with this Butterscotch Toffee scented candle from Bath and Body Works while I can.

I also tried cinnamon rolls in the Air Fryer, and they were a hit! Well…for Hayden and Travis, anyway. Hadley doesn’t like cinnamon rolls. (crazy, but true!) They were ready in five minutes. Five minute cinnamon rolls isn’t necessarily a reason to buy an Air Fryer, but I am appreciating being able to make some breakfast favorites during the week instead of just on the weekends.

Favorite Mom Meme:

That mom life though…

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

February 2013 when Hadley came to school with me for a few hours. I loved when she let me put her hair in little pigtails!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week in case you are interested…

Monday Memes
What’s Up Wednesday
February books

Also, I feel like I have a bit of the “blogging blahs…” #workingtitle

Let me know if there are any topics or ideas that you have that you are interested in reading about or that you’ve seen other bloggers share. I always plan around certain link ups or some of my regular posts like books, meals, memes and other ideas, but I’d love to hear some new fresh ideas!

This weekend we have four basketball games to keep us busy, Hayden has also started back with baseball, and Hadley’s working hard on her competition dance routines. We’re also gearing up for in person learning next week, so I feel like there won’t be much rest to be had over the next couple of weeks.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks so much for reading,

{this post contained Amazon affiliate links…}