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Posted in Kids, School

Last Day of 5th Grade

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, they did it! The graduated from the fifth grade. (I mean, what choice did they have? 😆 , but, of course, I’m very proud of them!)

Here’s a little look at their last day of elementary school!

How it started…

August 2015

How it’s going…

Last Day Photos:

We were up and at ’em a few minutes early, so I could take their last day of school pics! We were going to walk to school, but it started to rain a bit, so we had one final car line drop off.

My friend is a teacher at their school, and she sent me these pics of them as they walked the halls and the little kids cheered for them! I was so happy this tradition was able to continue.

Travis and I settled in to watch each of the kid’s promotion ceremonies as the district said there could be no in person ceremony. I was definitely bummed with that decision, but tried to make the best of it.

Hayden’s class went first…

followed by Hadley’s class…

When their ceremonies were over, they could stay or be picked up early. A few families decided to get together to celebrate the kids, so we walked to check our kids out from school.

The weather had improved, so I took the opportunity to walk to get them like I did on their first day of school.

They were so excited to share about their morning, and show me their promotion certificates.

Both kids had straight A’s this quarter, Hadley also won the Positive Attitude Award for her class, and Hayden was recognized for being the only student in his class perfect attendance, virtually and in person, all year as well as a sportsmanship award.

Celebrating the Graduates:

Once we got home, they let me take a few more photos. I used a local yard sign company to decorate the yard to celebrate the occasion. #Ihavezerochill

Hadley loved the signs, and Hayden hated all the attention. 😂

On Sunday, we had some family over to celebrate another occasion, so we had a Baskin Robbins ice cream cookie cake to celebrate the upcoming graduation.

After we got home from school, the kids put up their backpacks, changed their clothes and got ready to celebrate with some friends!

How fun are these balloons? Another mom picked them up for our festivities.

We had a really great afternoon with friends celebrating these awesome kiddos! I hope to share more later in the week.

As I wrap up my end of the school year posts, I have to thank their teachers. We entrusted them with our children, and they thrived under their guidance. They cheered them on, helped them, taught them, championed them, and did so with grace under pressure. They adjusted their teaching style to an online platform to ensure that they were engaged in academic rigor over the past year. Through the years, they also provided them with fun activities and remembered they were kids who wanted to play in the snow and trade Valentine’s Day cards. Hadley wants to be a teacher because of them. Hayden’s confidence has grown because they provided him with tools to be success at school…and in life. I’m forever indebted to their teachers who have given their all to them over the past six years.

Through the years, the school admin and support staff outdid themselves with events like International Night, school performances, spring carnival, family night spaghetti dinner and so much more. They provided the kids with well-rounded, diverse opportunities. They provided a safe place for my kids to grow, learn, and take risks. Again, I’m forever grateful.

I treasured our time at this school. I know my kids have a wonderful foundation in which to start middle school and move on to the next chapter of their lives. I just wish it all hadn’t gone by so fast. As they say, “Don’t blink.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Thanks for indulging me with my reflective posts and trips down memory lane this week! I feel pretty emotionally drained but have a very grateful heart!

I’m headed to high school graduation today. I bet the parents of those graduating seniors also wonder where the time has gone.

Have a great day!

Posted in Kids, School, Tuesday Talk

Tues Talk: Reflection: The Elementary Years

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

It’s Tuesday Talk with Erika and Ashley.

For this link up, we chat about any topic, and, well, the end of the school year has certainly been on my mind.

And…

Today is the day. Today, my kids will be finished with elementary school. I blinked and they went from toothless grins to braces, from the babies of the school to the oldest ones that the babies look up to, and from teeny tiny to almost as tall as me.

Where. Did. The. Time. Go?

I’m going to take today to reflect through their elementary years. This post is a mix of “why do I do this to myself?” to “there are so many memories, and this post will provide one place to house them all.” So, here we go…

Reflecting through the years…

Kindergarten:

I remember how excited Hadley was to start kindergarten. I also remember how hesitant Hayden was to start “big kid school.” (That being said, he was adamant that he didn’t want to be in Hadley’s class!)

That whole year was filled with new school experiences.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

  • Walking to school
  • Learning to read
  • Pumpkin Patch field trip
  • All about Me posters
  • School lunch!
  • Spring kindergarten performance
  • Ran first ever mile race at the PTA mile/5k
  • 100th day of school celebration
  • They loved their teachers!

1st Grade:

This was a year filled with growth and new school activities. Hayden had “the best teacher ever!” and Hadley loved being her teacher’s helper.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

  • More walking to school
  • Field trip to the Living Arts and Science Center
  • 50th day of school celebration
  • Chess club
  • Pete the Cat 1st grade performance
  • Book Fair
  • Hadley clipped down to yellow one day, and rule follower Hayden exclaimed, “Hadley!” as we walked home from school, and she told me she was talking when the teacher was talking.
  • Field Day fun

2nd Grade:

Second grade was their last year in the primary hall of their school. Hadley learned that “boys can be teachers too!” as her teacher, Mr. B. was assigned to the class about a week before school started. Hayden loved the second grade and his teacher’s Safari theme for learning and room decor.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

  • Academic Team(both kids)
  • Boosterthon Fun Run at school
  • International Night
  • Derby Breakfast (Hayden’s class)
  • Both kids got braces
  • Family Night: spaghetti and puzzles
  • Valentine’s Day parties
  • Making signs in support of teachers when their retirement was being threatened
  • Student led teacher conferences
  • School carnival
  • Safety City field trip
  • Indoor field day
  • Black History Month celebration: class project and third grade school performance.

3rd Grade:

Third grade was the first year in the secondary wing and the first year earning grades on report cards! Hayden had a few rough patches when his teacher left in October for a district level position, followed by a teacher that lasted less than a week, and then a replacement teacher for the remainder of the year. It took him some time to adjust with the sudden changes. Hadley loved her teacher and really excelled that year.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

  • Academic Team (Hadley)
  • PTA movie night
  • Indoor Boosterthon Fun Run
  • Arboretum field trip
  • first KPREP tests
  • Book character dress up day – (Hadley dressed as Pinkalicious)
  • Class science fair
  • Family night: spaghetti and puzzles
  • School carnival
  • Cat in the Hat performances
  • Zoo field trip
  • Girls on the Run
  • Multiplication!
  • Family heritage project

4th Grade:

In the 4th grade, the kids continued to do well in school. Hadley had the same awesome teacher that Hayden had for 2nd grade, and Hayden’s teacher was perfect for him with her love of reading and very structured classroom.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

  • Academic Team (Hadley)
  • Cross Country (both kids–with their dad as the coach!)
  • Chorus (Hadley)
  • Field trip to Newton’s Attic
  • Movie Night
  • Recorders for music class!
  • Science Fair – Hayden earned honorable mention and Hadley made it to the district Science Fair!
  • Family Night: spaghetti and puzzles
  • Read Across America week
  • Packed up their belongings for what they thought would be two weeks…but didn’t return to the building before summer break
  • Waving at their teachers as they drove through the neighborhoods
  • Became proficient at Zoom and Google Classroom
  • Virtual Field Day
  • Said goodbye to their teachers and classmates on Zoom

5th Grade:

Their 5th grade year started with more virtual school. Seven months of virtual school to be exact. The kids both had awesome teachers who did an amazing job teaching via Zoom. The kids attended a pod of learners (friends!) two days a week which provided them with structured school, academic support, and social interaction. They *finally* returned to in person learning on March 8 to close out their elementary years in the same building they’d attended since kindergarten.

Memories, Activities and Field Trips:

first day at the pod in August 2020

return to in person learning March 2021

  • Delayed start to the school year
  • Drive through for textbook and supplies pick up
  • Virtual School
  • Pod two days a week
  • Became distinguished with Zoom and Google Classroom
  • Teacher front porch visits
  • Cross country (both kids, with their dad as their coach…again!)
  • Braces again!
  • G/T dance and dance club (Hadley)
  • Learning the flute (Hadley)
  • Return to in person learning in March which included thermal checks, plastic desk partitions, mask wearing, limited interactions at recess, and lunches in the classroom
  • Oldest kids in the school building
  • Field Day
  • Tie dye day and pizza lunch
  • 5th grade promotion

Final Thoughts:

Today, they enter their elementary school building one final time. This year hasn’t been what we expected, but they adjusted, they made the best of it, and they thrived.

Walking them to school provided me with memories and opportunities for conversations to last a life time. Seeing their independence grow each year was both bittersweet and rewarding. We went from kindergarten where we walked them to their classrooms every day for the first two weeks of school to stopping at the crosswalk and letting them finish the walk to the building on their own. (**and many days pulling into carline with minutes to spare! 😆 )

Letting go at each phase feels natural, but sad as I see the time pass by right before my very eyes.

I will forever treasure our time in this amazing school. The teachers and administration did an amazing job kicking starting their educational career.

Dear Hayden and Hadley,

Happy last day of elementary school!

You’ll move on, you’ll continue to learn, you’ll continue to grow, you’ll make new friends, you’ll keep forever friends, you’ll test your independence (& my patience!), and you’ll continue to become the people you are destined to be.

I tell you all the time how lucky you are to have had the teachers, the administrators, the experiences and the opportunities that you’ve had over the past six years. I know you’ll remember these years fondly.

You’ve made dad and I very proud. Keep leading with your heart, keep being kind, and keep putting your best foot forward. I promise hard work, dedication, and kindness will always pay off.

Through the years, I’ve shared some words of wisdom with you; you know your English teacher mom loves a good quote. Some of my faves are:

“Be silly, be honest, be kind.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson,

“Anything is possible. Anything can be.” ~Shel Silverstein

…and…

“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~A A Milne

So, I will wrap up your elementary years with this:

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” ~Henry David Thoreau

I hope you have the best last day of elementary school. You deserve it! I know this is only the beginning for the both of you! Keep up the good work!

xo,

Mom

P.S. No, I’m not crying…why do you ask? 😉😢

……………………………………………….

Tomorrow, I hope to share our last day of school photos. We have lots of fun planned for today with my 5th grade graduates!

Thanks so much for reading!

Posted in Kids, School

End of School Year Interview: 5th Grade

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a busy but blessed weekend. I hope to share more later in the week.

*Warning!* This week’s theme for posts is all about school…wrapping up the year and the elementary school years. #holdme

I used these questions last year to have the kids reflect on their school year, so I’m using them again this year! I love that I also have an opportunity to share my responses too.

Hayden’s Thoughts:

  • What was the best part of this year? Going back to in person learning.
  • What was your favorite thing about your teacher? She was kind.
  • What was your favorite things to learn about this year? Government and reading Where the Red Fern Grows
  • Who was your best friend? Graham and Jonny
  • What did you like to do at recess? Play 4 square and basketball
  • What is something hard you did? learn at home
  • What do you want to be when you grow up? “Undecided…or maybe a track coach…or a firefighter.”
  • What was something that made you laugh this year? My classmates
  • What was your favorite specials class and why? PE because my teacher is a GOAT
  • What was your favorite school activity or field trip this year? Field Day

Bonus: What is your BEST memory from elementary school? Safety City field trip in 2nd grade

Mom’s Thoughts:

  • I’m proud of you because…you’ve worked so hard to overcome obstacles and have persevered!
  • One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you win the district championship cross country meet.
  • It has been fun to watch you: become more independent in your learning and enjoy your favorite subject areas like reading and social studies.
  • Three things I love about you: your loyalty to your friends, your determination, and your sense of humor.
  • An area you grew in was: confidence when speaking.
  • You strengthened our family by: taking on more responsibilities and becoming more independent.

Hadley’s Thoughts:

  • What was the best part of this year? Going back to in person learning.
  • What was your favorite thing about your teacher? She makes learning fun.
  • What was your favorite thing to learn about this year? Long division (#smartypants)
  • Who was your best friend? Elise
  • What did you like to do at recess? Play four square
  • What is something hard you did? Wear a mask during school.
  • What do you want to be when you grow up? Elementary school teacher
  • What was something that made you laugh this year? Miller (a boy in her class)
  • What was your favorite specials class and why? PE because it’s awesome.
  • What was your favorite school activity or field trip this year? Field Day

Bonus: What is your BEST memory from elementary school? Safety City field trip in the 2nd grade

Mom’s Thoughts:

  • I’m proud of you because: you stayed positive this whole year while learning at home, at the pod, and finally at school.
  • One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you run cross country, improving with each meet, and placing in the top 5 at the district championship.
  • It has been fun to watch you: be a classroom leader.
  • Three things I love about you: your energy, your generous heart, and your outgoing nature.
  • An area you grew in was: musical performance and playing the flute
  • You strengthened our family by: being helpful and remaining focused and positive.
4th grade responses

I can’t believe tomorrow is their last day of elementary. Where has the time gone?

I hope you have a great week.

Linking up with Tanya and others!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Kids

Friday Favorites {#68}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! We’re in the midst of the craziness of May. On top of school and regular activities, the end of the school year field day, teacher gifts, 5th grade graduation prep (and more!) is ongoing.

We have so much to celebrate in the upcoming days, so I’m embracing the busyness, and trying to enjoy these moments as we wrap up the school year and ease into summer.

In true Friday fashion, I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Sit back and grab your cup of coffee…I have quite the list of Friday Favorites today!

Hayden’s baseball team is on a roll. They’ve won six of their last seven games.

He’s had a couple games this week, and Hayden pitched on Monday night and did a great job.

I love seeing his smile!

Hadley had recital photos last week, and they turned out beautifully.

Mother’s Day was lovely.

Cards are my favorite! One from Hayden, one from Hadley, and one from both!

Church and then…

brunch which was delicious.

Along with the cards and my hanging ferns for the front porch, Travis had these planters made which was a pleasant surprise.

Another favorite from the week was that we were able to get our backyard flowers planted. I also love this new riser that I picked up at the At Home store.

The kids both brought home their clay projects from art class. I will miss all the artwork and projects of elementary school.

Hayden’s dog…he said is Homer.

Hadley’s pastel pup!

Hadley wearing my glasses cracked me up! (and, why does she look 16?!)

A few gifts from Etsty came in this week.

This fun pencil sign for our sitter who just finished up student teaching,

Pencil Door Hanger

and I purchased another flower pot for a teacher gift.

Terra Cotta Flower Pot

Field day is always a fave. Hadley’s class helped the younger kids on Wednesday, and she had so much fun. The older kids had field day yesterday. Again, another thing we’ll miss about elementary school.

I have a couple of Amazon finds that I love. This shirt and sandals arrived last week, and I wore the combo to school. I’ve also already worn the shirt with jeans to go out to dinner, and I’ve worn the sandals a few other days as well.

// Babydoll Blouse //

// Sandals //

School outfit this week:

but I did put my cardigan on because my classroom tends to be chilly.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Only two more days of waking the kids up for school before summer begins. The wakeup struggle continues to be real…especially for Hayden.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

Well, I don’t know why I do this to myself, but in the spirit of field day, here are the kids on the morning of their kindergarten field day!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from this week!

Not Just a Mom: concerts
Let’s Look: Outside
Lexington Top 5

This weekend is suuuuppper busy. We have family visiting, my mom’s birthday, baseball and more! Then, just two days left of the school year.

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

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Posted in Everyday Life, Travel

Lexington Top 5

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hey there! Happy Thursday. Today, I’m shining a spotlight on Lexington. I’ve lived here since 2004 when I moved here from Missouri after becoming engaged to Travis.

One of the immediate things I loved about Lexington is the small town feel but in a city. While I miss Missouri, I did feel “at home” when I moved here many years ago. I felt like I was able to navigate pretty easily on my own, I love all that Lexington has to offer, and the activities and restaurant options have only expanded through the years.

Here are the Top 5 things I love about Lex:

Keeneland

Hands down, my favorite activity is Keeneland. “Out-of-towners” always ask about Churchill Downs in Louisville, but I always suggest visiting in October and April when Keeneland has their fall and spring meets. The atmosphere at Keeneland can’t be beat!

At Keeneland this spring with Travis.
I rarely bet…I just watch the horses run!
Fall meet 2018
At the track with dad in April 2018

Restaurants

There are so many awesome restaurants in Lex. Here are some of my faves.

Merrick Inn:

Merrick Inn is a classic Lexington restaurant with a cozy indoor atmosphere and an awesome patio.

Merrick

Carson’s Food and Drink:

Carson’s is a favorite as well. The inside is fun and has a rustic feel. It’s known for it’s cocktails and craft beers as well as it’s wonderful menu.

My birthday dinner this year at Carson’s
Carson’s oscar style salmon

Native Cafe:

The Native Cafe is fairly new and located at Michler’s Greenhouse. The outside atmosphere is picturesque and quaint. Native Cafe is tucked in and quiet while in an urban setting.

June 2020

Windy Corner and Wallace Station:

Windy Corner Market and Wallace Station Deli and Bakery are both located just outside of Lexington. They are great places to go to for outside sitting and great for families. Both have plenty of green space for kids to run around and picnic tables for diners to enjoy their meal.

July 2020

The Stave:

The Stave is another restaurant just outside of Lexington with a wonderful outdoor space and great food.

May 2020
Fun in the creek while we waited on our food.

Bella Cafe:

Bella Cafe is another new restaurant in town. It’s “everyday dining elevated.” I love their grilled salmon salad, and Hadley gives their lemon tart two thumbs up!

Bella cafe

Others Faves:

We also love:

  • OBC Kitchen – bacon in a glass as an appetizer is a MUST!
  • Malones – great steaks…I love their oscar style twin filets!
  • Graze – lots of classic food options, hamburgers, and more!
  • Puccinis – Italian food, affordable, and family friendly!

This is the just tip of the iceberg for restaurant recommendations in and around Lexington.

Sports:

Y’all knows the the city of Lexington bleeds blue. While I’m not necessarily a “super fan,” I do love all of the sporting events and athletics that UK has to offer.

From football, to basketball, to volleyball, along with baseball and softball, there’s something going on every season of the year!

We usually go to one to two volleyball games a season. We often try to hit up the MIZZOU/UK match when it’s in Lex.

In the fall, you’ll find us at most home football games.

So many fun photos through the years.

2019

The girls…

2019

and their moms…haha

2019

Parks:

There are so many great parks and hiking opportunities in and around Lexington.

UK Arboretum:

The Arboretum is always beautiful!

2018

Shaker Village:

Shaker Village is outside of Lexington and is filled with history and has great hiking trails.

July 2020

McConnell Springs:

I took the kids to McConnell Springs last year for the first time, and we had so much fun exploring.

June 2020

Other Parks:

Other parks we enjoy include:

  • Jacobson
  • Masterson Station
  • Woodland Park
  • Raven Run Sanctuary

Activities:

There are so many fun activities throughout the year.

Winter:

The Hillenmeyer Christmas Shop Santa is the best in Lex!

Santa visits through the years…

Mustard Seed Hill was a fun place to visit. It’s located just outside of Lexington in Millersburg, KY. We went there for the first time this past December, and the lights were amazing!

December 2020

The Horse Park’s Southern Lights are a fun family tradition for us.

Ice Skating at Triangle Park is also fun, but the rink is only open for a couple of months around the holidays.

December 2017

Spring:

I already mentioned it, but Keeneland is lots of fun in April.

The Children’s Garden at the Arboretum offers activities and trails.

August 2016

UK baseball and softball games are always fun to watch.

The blue and white football game is a fun way to get a glimpse of the football team for the upcoming season.

April 2016

Summer:

We picked strawberries at Evans Orchard for the first time last summer, and we hope to make it a summer tradition.

June 2020

Picnic with the Pops is a fun event that happens in August. There’s always a theme, and people decorate their tables, wine and dine, and listen to the classical music.

C/o Kentucky.com

The Mid-Summer Nights run is neat activity. There’s a mile race as well as a 5k. There are also booths and snacks like popcorn. We always end up running into friends and others that we know.

fun run August 2016
5k in August 2018

Fall:

My favorite thing to do in the fall is to head to Evan’s Orchard to pick out our pumpkins and get the apple cider donuts.

October 2019
2019

As I mentioned before, we often attend the UK football games at Kroger Field. Tailgating is the best part!

UK games through the years…

Keeneland fun continues in the fall with more racing in October.

2016….Hayden’s horse lost by a nose!

Other Lexington “to do’s”

  • Waveland Museum
  • Explorium
  • Ashland: Henry Clay Estate
  • Bourbon Trail (surrounding Lexington)
  • Mary Todd Lincoln House
  • Horse farm tours
  • Kentucky Horse Park

Shew! This ended up being quite the list! I could get a job at the Kentucky Department of Tourism! 🙂

Anyway, this is just a glimpse of the great things, places, and food that Lexington has to offer.

What’s the best thing about where you live?

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Posted in Home Decor, Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so Shay and Erika are hosting their Let’s Look link up.

  • In January, we looked at our coffee bars (I shared my favorite coffee mugs)
  • In February, we looked at our love languages.
  • In March, we looked at the perfect night in.
  • In April, the topic was: fridge and pantry.

This month’s topics is: outdoor organization.

Well, kind of like when I shared my recent spring cleaning post, I should probably just let Travis write this post. I’m not sure the method to his madness, but he does have our garage and outside area pretty organized.

Today, I thought I’d take this opportunity to share our outdoor spaces.

Warning: photo overload. I will never have to do a yard post ever again 😂

We took this photo on Mother’s Day, and I love it because my Mother’s Day gifts can be seen. The kids and I are so far away that I joked with Travis that he wanted everyone to see the planter boxes he had made for my gift! Every year, I ask for a card and two hanging ferns, but this year, I got the bonus of the beautiful planters and flowers!

Here are the kids picking out my ferns last year:

Mother’s Day 2020

Someone at Trav’s work made the planters.

We also got new cushions for the front porch chairs. The front porch is great for sitting in the afternoon and evening.

I love the button detail on the back cushion, and the accent pillow is my favorite color palette. I found them at the At Home store….and I was lucky to find these because the outdoor section looked like a patio cushion graveyard!

(Do you spy Homer?) 😉

Every spring these pretty bushes bloom, and the flowers smell so pretty. I know nothing about flowers (again, that’s Trav’s expertise), but they are such a pretty surprise each spring.

Every spring, Travis plants New Guinea impatiens in the front. Last year, Hadley helped him!

2020

I have a feeling Travis will fuss at me for showing this area. Every year, he plants something new over here, and this area is just getting started for spring 2021.

In our backyard, we have our fire pit. When we moved in, we had a massive tree in the front yard that was dying, so we had it cut down. We used some of the wood from the trunk for seating around the fire pit.

S’mores roasting last spring…

2020

In June/July the day lilies bloom, and they are so pretty against our fence line.

2016

We try to use our patio as often as possible, and the lights make it feel extra cozy at night.

2019

Travis power washed the patio last weekend. I wish I had taken a “before” photo because the difference is always amazing!

Here it is freshly power washed with flowers and new cushions.

The Japanese Maple is one of my favorite parts of the back yard. The kids climbed on it each time we looked at this house when it was for sale.

They’ve continued to play in it and climb up in through the years…

2015
2016

These green cushions were on our front porch chairs. They are in great condition because our front porch is covered, so we are using them out back now.

While at the At Home store, I picked up the yellow pillows and the riser on the table.

The planters on each side of the loveseat are from Pier One and were on our 2005 wedding registry. They are perfect for the patio.

**We usually put a smaller pot of flowers on the bottom rack of each planter, but last year, Homer snagged the flowers and ran around the yard with them in his mouth! So, the small ones, in the white pots on the table, are going to be a test for Homer 😉

We’ve had this table and chairs since 2004 when we moved into our first home. This set has sat on three patios in the last seventeen years. The are black, and Travis just recently spray painted them to bring them back to life. I kind of rolled my eyes when he said he was going to do that, but they look so great! I can’t believe I forgot that spray paint can fix anything! haha

The seat cushions are new from At Home as well. All of our cushions were at least 5-7 years old, so we’d penciled in replacing them as a “to do” for this spring. Also, the ones before these, were just the seat cushion, and a few had been #homered over the past two summers.

My “home” flower pot is one that I ordered from Etsy last year. I’ve shared the shop in previous posts.

The pots are hand painted and so pretty! We’ve used them as teacher and birthday gifts in the past year.

Speaking of spray paint, this little table was from my childhood backyard. I’ve had it for years, and at one point, I spray painted it green. This year, I wanted to put pots of various sizes and flowers of various colors on it.

Besides peonies, hydrangeas are my favorite flower. We had a hydrangea plant at our last house, and Travis planted another one when we moved into our current house. Also, our hostas get bigger and bigger every year!

I love pink and purple flowers in the spring!

In one week, this will be my view as I sip my morning coffee! I’m pleased with how it turned out.

Next month’s topics is: summer bucket list.

Last summer’s bucket list included: baking, tie dye, vacation, going canoeing, drawing, and golf lessons. I guess I need to get the kids thinking about what they want to do this summer.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and reading today’s post! Make sure to check out the other ladies’ posts too!

Take care,

Posted in Not Just a Mom

Not Just a Mom: Concerts

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! How was your weekend? We had a great one!

Friday night, the kids played with friends until late evening, and otherwise, we just hung out at home.

Saturday’s weather was gorgeous, so I took a walk before running to the grocery store and going to Hayden’s baseball game. Saturday night, we had dinner as a family to celebrate our niece’s college graduation.

Yesterday, was, of course, Mother’s Day. We all slept in and went to church. I did get my wish…no cooking for me yesterday! We went out for a late lunch, and then I took a nap! I read my book and watched a couple of shows for the rest of the afternoon.

Mother’s Day photo with my two faves:

Brunch was delish…

Now, on to today’s post…

It’s the second Monday of the month, so I’m co-hosting our Not Just a Mom link up with these ladies:

Our topic for today is concerts you’ve been to or what to go to.

Well, don’t hate me, but I’m not much of a concert person. Music is probably the only thing Travis and I really differ in. He’d love to go to more concerts and really enjoys music. Music is just not something that I’m drawn to. When I workout or go for a walk, I listen to a podcast. When I’m in the car, I’m usually on the same channel or two. (Also, let me let you in on a little secret: sometimes, when I’m alone in the car, I don’t even turn on the music. I. like. silence. haha!) You’ll never hear me say, “That’s my jam!” #dopeoplestillsaythat ? 😉 When I get in my car after Travis has driven it, the radio is usually blasting!

Anyway, I have been to some concerts through the years, and I always have a good time…and wonder why I don’t make concert going more of a priority.

Here are some concerts through the years…

The teen years…

The very first concert I remember going to was a Billy Joel concert. Actually, it was a rescheduled Billy Joel concert, because the original scheduled date was 1994 when his wife at the time, Christie Brinkley, was in the helicopter crash. I think we ended up seeing him in concert almost an entire year later.

I remember going to see Chicago in concert at an outdoor ampitheater with my mom and her friend when I was in early high school.

I went to a Ricky Martin concert with friends freshman or sophomore year of college.

I never made it to a NKOTB concert, but my fifteen-year-old self always wished that would have happened! I guess when NKOTB reunited a few years ago, even my “in my thirties” year-old self would have loved that too.

First Concert with Travis:

Travis and I went to a David Gray concert in St. Louis in 2002 or 2003. That was the first concert we ever went to together. I still love David Gray. Travis is great about introducing me to various music artists.

Country Music:

The genre I listen to the most is probably country, and have been to a few concerts through the years.

I think the first concert I ever saw with Travis in Lexington was Rascal Flatts. It was many years ago…maybe 2007? Blake Shelton was up and coming, and opened for them.

Travis and I have seen Eric Church twice in concert. The first time was when he was fairly new on the scene. Travis took me to Nashville for my birthday 2014 and surprised me by taking me to the Ryman for a show that had many artists playing a few songs each. Eric Church was one of them and played five or six songs.Then, we saw Church again when he was more established when he came to Rupp in 2015.

2015 with the Chief

We went with friends to see Chris Stapleton at River Bend in Cincinnati a couple of years ago. We all really enjoyed his music, so much so, that the same group of us purchased tickets for his concert in Lexington for last spring. It was then postponed to last month…and now is postponed until next year. I sure hope we can see him again in concert

2017

What are the best concerts you’ve been to? I obviously need to get out more and add some concerts to my list! Hopefully in the next year, the music scene will get back to normal!

Next month, our topic is: Quick Family Dinners. We hope you’ll join us!

Well, I can’t believe it, but this is our last full week of school. Of course, it’s a busy time of the year, so I’m over here just hanging on…but also enjoying this time as well.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter
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Posted in Friday Favorites, Uncategorized

Friday Favorites {#67}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! How was your week? We had a good one! We’ve had state standardized testing this week that both the kids and I have survived, Hayden has had two baseball games, and Hadley has had dance a couple of nights this week. The best part was that they had a couple of free afternoons to play outside with neighborhood kids. Life felt really “normal.” It was nice for them to run around and not be distracted by electronics or have to go to other activities.

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

I’m keeping it pretty simple with three faves from the week.

A favorite has been seeing the kids do what they love. Dance for Hadley and baseball for Hayden. While these activities are going on most weeks, it’s just been nice to see how Hadley’s confidence has developed with each competition, and Hayden has been having fun with baseball. They won an extra inning nail biter last night!

I tried out a new “recipe” after seeing Amy’s breakfast burrito post and then these “carb savvy” tortillas at Trader Joes. On Tuesday night, it was just me for dinner, so I sauteed some peppers and then added in eggs to scramble. I put that on the tortilla with some black beans, shredded cheese, salsa, and guac. It was an easy and delish dinner.

Another favorite was the book I finished. The Wife Upstairs was so good…and the Jane Eyre references made it even better #Englishteachernerd 😉

Also, Hayden loved the first Theodore Boone book by John Grisham, so I picked up books 2 and 3 at the library when I returned The Wife Upstairs. A favorite is definitely that the library is back open for business! It was nice to go in and pick up these books myself! (and another favorite will always be that Hayden loves to read!)

Also, speaking of books. Hayden said his class finished Where the Red Fern Grows. He said the whole class was crying at the end! I didn’t read that book until the 7th grade. I think I may read it again…even though I’m sure I will cry at the end too.

Other Faves:

Other faves from the week include:

  • the weather being pretty nice and the kids being able to play outside quite a bit with their friends.
  • Teacher Appreciation Week!
  • I sat in on 15 AP research presentations, and the seniors did such an amazing job. The future is bright, y’all!

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hayden told me to spell, “I Cup,” so he’s officially ready for middle school with his immaturity level 🤣 #ididntfallforit

Favorite Mom Meme:

Where is the lie?! 😆

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

This memory from 2015 popped up in my Facebook Memories. Sweet Hadley earned the game ball. She was on the same team as Hayden for three years, and it was always so fun to watch them play together.

Weekly Recap:

Somehow I did it again…I had a full week of posting!

Gatlinburg/Dance Competition
Prime Purchases
Currently
Trader Joe’s Haul

Monday is our monthly Not Just a Mom link up. The topic is: concerts you’ve been to/want to go to.

With Mother’s Day this weekend, I know it can be a bittersweet day. I have so much for which to be thankful, but I know what it’s like to feel sad on Mother’s Day.

I hope you have a great weekend! We have a few things on the agenda, but I know one thing I’m not doing this weekend….cooking!…and maybe I can convince someone else to start the laundry?!

Take care,

Posted in Trader Joes

Trader Joe’s Haul

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Well, it’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s. I do my regular grocery shopping every week at Kroger, but then I got to TJ every other week or so to buy some of our favorites. It’s been a while since I’ve shared my purchases, so I’m sharing some items from my recent Trader Joe’s trip.

  • Pretzel Bagels: These are Hadley’s fave (I love them too) She often has half of one for breakfast with peanut butter on it.
  • Marcona Almonds with Rosemary: I love these almonds. I usually buy two bags every time I go. They are a perfect snack!
  • Chomps: Speaking of snacks, Hayden loves Chomps and often packs them in his lunch box.
  • Buffalo Chicken Dip: I love this dip! I typically eat it as is (cold) with mini peppers or corn chips. One time, the TJ cashier mentioned I should try it heated up…DUH! I actually have a buffalo chicken dip recipe that bakes in the oven, so I should have realized this dip heated up would be good. It is!
  • Black Bean Burrito: Hadley and I both love these burritos, and often split one.
  • Corn Chip Dippers: We all love these corn chips…perfect for dipping.
  • EBB Kettle Chips: Again, theses were a new purchase for me, and if you like the EBB seasoning, you’ll love these.
  • Wraps: I usually try a different wrap each time, and this Cubano was so good!
  • Salads: Like the wraps, I usually pick up a different salad each time, and I loved this Crunch Slaw salad.
  • Brussel Sprouts: I know Kroger has packaged brussel sprouts, but a few months ago, I picked these up from Trader Joe’s that come with garlic and seasoning, and do so every time I go there now. Even Hayden loves them when I saute them and serve them as a side dish for dinner.
wrap and EBB chips for lunch
  • Pizza: This flatbread pizza was a new find for me. I haven’t tried it yet, but I love prosciutto and arugula, so I figured this has to be a winner.
  • Turkey Corn Dogs: A couple blogging friends (Hi! Amy and Sarah) mentioned how good the turkey corn dogs are, and they are delish! Of my family of four, I’m the one who loves a corn dog the most! I served these for dinner one night with baked beans and fruit, and it was a great little meal. (The TJ employee who helped me find them in the freezer section suggested putting them in the Air Fryer, and that’s exactly what I did…they turned out perfectly when I used the “frozen” setting on the AF)
  • Biscuits: Shay shared these biscuits in one of her Trader Joe’s posts, and they are often out of stock when I’ve been in my TJ. They were finally in stock, so I picked them up. Hayden has been having one for breakfast all week!
  • Lemon Cake: I love Trader Joe’s boxed mixes. Hadley does too! I especially love the seasonal ones, and I couldn’t pass up the lemon cake. Most Sundays, Hadley will make a dessert, and often times, she uses whatever mix I’ve picked up from Trader Joe’s.

  • I try to pass up these cookies every time I go, but I can’t. We all love them. Remember when Homer ate half an unattended box last summer? 😆 Even Homer loves them!
  • Of course, you know I love flowers from Trader Joe’s. I just feel like they always have such a great variety, and I love to pick up whatever is in season…mums in the fall, tulips in the spring, and my favorite…peonies in early summer.

What about you? What are some of your favorite Trader Joe’s items? Let me know; I love trying some thing new every time I make a Trader Joe’s run.

I hope you have a great day.

Posted in Currently, Kids

Currently

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I love Currently posts, and decided to join Anne’s Currently link up today!

Consuming:

All my Trader Joe’s faves. Tomorrow’s post is all about my latest TJ haul, but my family loves:

the molasses cookies…

and the Everything but the Bagel chips are a new fave of mine.

Exploring:

Gatlinburg! I shared in Monday’s post the details of my weekend there with Hadley for her last dance competition of the season.

Getting:

Ready for summer. The countdown to summer is on. We have less than two weeks left of school, so the summer plans have begun. Plan #1: not setting an alarm 😉 Honestly, sometimes the summer is just as hectic with dance recital, swim team, baseball, and other activities, but at least we have more downtime and time for fun like going to the swimming pool and going on vacation.

Hoping:

to enjoy the month of May.

As a teacher and as a mom, the month of May is a marathon. Mar-a-thon. While I don’t have papers to grade and final exams to give like I used to, it’s still a busy time of the year for me helping students who are struggling academically. May is literally the end of the finish line for students to raise their grades to earn credits.

As a mom, spring is busy with activities anyway, and now we add in school activities and “to do’s” like field day, end of the year fun, teacher gifts, 5th grade promotion and more. When I think about last May and how sad my kids were not to be able to do the usual end of the school year activities, I continue to be thankful that they are ending their school year in person, with their teachers and classmates, and are able to finish out their elementary years in a building they’ve known for six years. I’m going to try to not be stressed and enjoy these last few weeks of them in elementary school.

Seeing:

my kids grow up right before my very eyes. Let’s just say my May posts may have a theme of nostalgia. With less than two weeks left of elementary school, I can’t believe how quickly these years flew by. What a ride. I’ve seen them grow as learners, make friendships, and blossom into pretty neat little people. I pray for the same journey for them in middle school.

first day of K- I remember taking this photo. It feels like yesterday.

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