(no title)

Kids

Baseball Wrap Up

Posted on June 9, 2022June 8, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, this is probably a post that’s more for me than anyone else. I want to have all of my baseball memories in one spot!

Hayden headed into this spring baseball season with some hesitation. I think he was worried about juggling both track and baseball. I will say there weren’t any other kids on the middle school track team who played baseball. We got “lucky” with the schedule as he only missed one baseball game for a track meet, but it was a lot to juggle.

I did encourage him to finish up baseball with his 12-year-old season because I knew he’d have fun with his team, be a leader for the younger kids, and, honestly, I knew he still had some baseball left in him.

As the kids have gotten older, of course they’ve had to make decisions and start cutting out sports or activities because we can’t do all the things all the time! Hadley did gymnastics for a couple of years and stopped with Girl Scouts once she got to middle school while Hayden played soccer off and on for a few years. Hayden has really found his groove with running, and I think that will be a focus for him moving forward.

Baseball is the one sport that stuck with Hayden…for the past nine years.

Like many sports, baseball was an outlet for Hayden to temper his anxiety and shyness.

Like most things in life, Hayden started baseball with his sister by his side and some of his best baseball memories include Trav as his coach.

I will never forget seeing him on the pitcher’s mound for the first time. I texted Trav and said, “What (the heck) is he doing out there?” Trav said, “He wanted to try give it a try.” As an introvert on the mound, he blossomed with confidence after hearing, “Strikkkkeee!” for the first time.

From digging in the dirt to striking out batters…From t-ball to the Majors…From losses to wins and all the memories in between…Hayden has accomplished so much and made us very proud.

While he accomplished so much on the field, our hearts swelled with pride when he was given the Sportsmanship award last fall. I’m not entirely sure what goes on in a baseball dugout, but I love hearing him cheer for his teammates and give tips to the younger players.

Through the years…

…from the Mud Hens…

…to the Timber Rattlers…

…to the Twins…(how fitting!)

….to the Mariners…

…to Turkey Feet…

…and Crush in the summer…

…to the Reds as an 11 and…

…12 year old…

Hayden has had quite the baseball “career.”

The last game:

Honestly, I’ve been a bit emotional this season…not necessarily tears, but just more about savoring each baseball moment. Every at bat, every play at first, and every pitch meant something a little bit more this season.

We snapped a photo before his end of season tournament game because you just never know when the last game will be.

Hayden played first which is where you’d usually find him if he wasn’t pitching this season.

He had a couple of great hits to do what he could for his team.

Ultimately, they lost, so Saturday was the end of the season. And…we were all ok! While a win would have been nice, it just wasn’t in the cards for the Reds that day.

A few fave photos through the years…

During one of Hayden’s coach pitch seasons, the Twins won the end of the season tournament.

Lots of memories with Hadley playing on the same team, digging in the dirt, Trav coaching third base, and post-season awards.

This is one of my favorite baseball photos that my talented brother-in-law snapped after a game when Hayden was 8 (I think!)

So many at bats, so many strike outs while pitching, and so much advice from Trav through the years…

Quite a few stolen bases too!

He played through many hot summer games and usually had a smile on his face. Those games provided additional memories for us as a family, more laundry for me, and a few rings and trophies for Hayden.

It’s been an honor to watch him grow, mature, and flourish on the field.

Hayden…We are proud of you. We’ll always be your biggest fans. No one supports you like your dad or loves you like your mom.

It’s been quite the ride, and there’s nothing better than seeing your kids have fun, learn life lessons, make choices, and grow into who they are supposed to be.

If you need me, you can find me clapping for Hadley after her upcoming recital and cheering for Hayden as he runs track, cross country, and up and down the court for basketball.

See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Let's look

Let’s Look

Posted on June 8, 2022June 7, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! I hope you are having a great week so far!

Well, yesterday was the first Tuesday of the month, so I shared my Amazon purchases, and today is the second Wednesday of the month which means that I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at:

How you organize for the new year in January.
What you eat in a week in February.
Your faves from high school/college in March. (I didn’t have a post that month.)
How you plan/do date nights in April.
Your hometown in May.

Well, this week I’m trying to get us into a summer routine. Sometimes lunch is chicken tenders and fries at the pool. I do try to have us eat at home most days and then just pack snacks for the pool. On Fridays, I usually let the kids pick somewhere to drive-thru which usually means Chick-fil-A, Raising Canes, Sonic, or Taco Bell.

I’ve shared some lunch posts before, but here are some fave options when I’m at home:

Shrimp tacos are pretty easy to make. I just sautee some shrimp in EVOO and the Chile Lime seasoning from Trader Joe’s. I add lettuce cabbage with a sprinkle of cheese and a drizzle of Ranch dressing.

To me, nothing says summer like a snack plate. I just love that I’m home to have more than 18 minutes to eat, and can just put together a plate of favorites based on what we have at home.

Anything can go on the plate: cheese, fruit, almonds, pickles, lunch meat, prosciutto, sausage, etc. I usually have one meat, one cheese, one fruit and then go from there.

I eat this Cheeseburger Bowl on repeat! I just cook ground turkey and add in taco seasoning. Then, I put the meat on top of some lettuce and add a few chopped up pickles, a sprinkle of cheese, and then a drizzle of the Magnifisauce from Trader Joe’s.

Other quick lunches we have often: quesadilla, grilled cheese, turkey sausage with sides like fruit, pretzels and hummus or peppers.

This recent Not Just a Mom post has some lunch ideas and links back to some previous posts I’ve shared as well.

Truly, one of my favorite parts of summer is not packing a lunch, picking and choosing what to eat based on what I have at home, and having some extra time to eat as well.

What are your “go-to” summer lunches?

Amazon

Prime Purchases: June 2022

Posted on June 7, 2022June 6, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, I didn’t mean to take Monday off from blogging, but a couple hours at the pool on Sunday turned into staying until 7:00, a lazy dinner, and an episode of Ozark with Travis…which I guess is how summer should be.

It’s the first Tuesday of the month (I actually had to check my calendar!), so I’m linking up with Tanya for this month’s…

This month I bought…

I have quite the assortment of purchases this month…

Shoes

Well let me start off with a random situation. These thin strap sandals are SO comfy (and so cute) I’ve worn them to school all day long, and my feet love them. That being said, they make an airy sound when I walk. I checked with Amy, and hers do it too! Let’s just say I won’t wear them on testing days at school! So random.

These block heeled sandals were perfect for Hadley to pair with the dress she wore to friend’s bat mitzvah.

She danced the night away in them, and loves them.

Pool Season

It’s pool season which means I’m looking for all my beach towels. Honestly, I haven’t bought any new towels in a couple of years.

I wanted to try these Turkish towels because I like how light and long they are.

They are officially my “go to” pool towel.

I also picked up these thicker cabana striped beach towels, and they are great quality and super soft.

Is it even summer if I don’t buy a new swim cover up?

I love this cover up so much that I will probably get it in one more color before the summer is over.

This & That:

Right as the school year was wrapping up, my favorite pens were starting to run out. I decided to go ahead and buy a new pack to finish out the year.

We logged a lot of time bleacher sitting between baseball and track this spring. I have a nice cushy stadium seat that Travis got for me, but I went ahead and picked up this two pack of Coleman stadium seats to keep in the back of the car. I purchased them right before my dad visited because I knew he’d need a seat at the track meet.

Confession: I love a tennis skirt…and I don’t play tennis! I actually have a couple that I love that I got at TJ Maxx a couple of summers ago. (Pro tip: TJ Maxx has some great workout wear options!), but I wanted a new one, and this one is perfect!

Summer uniform (just can’t wait to have tanner legs!)

What are some of your summer Amazon purchases? See you back here tomorrow for Let’s Look.

{this post contains Amazon affiliate links…}

Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#115}

Posted on June 3, 2022June 2, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Friday! This week was a good one, but it was a doozy! I was busy most of the week coordinating summer school while still also managing my kids’ busy social lives and schedules. I relied heavily on my mom friends, and I’m grateful for them!

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

Here are my favorites from the week:

On my weekly Trader Joe’s run, I saw this candle when I checked out. I picked one up. The Mango Tangerine scent is perfect for summer.

The studio dance photos came in this week, and they are so great!

Then, the moms split the cost on some of the group photos. This is such a great group of girls.

Swim team started this week for Hadley. She had her first swim meet on Wednesday night. This is her second year in the 11-12 age group, and she’s happy to be on the older end of the age group!

She definitely found her stride (stroke?! 😆) with each race on Wednesday. She swam free, back, breast, and free relay. She got second in the breast stroke and her relay team was first! The swim meets make for late evenings, but it’s always fun to watch them swim and improve each week.

While Hadley’s been swimming, Hayden has been busy at basketball camp during the day, and baseball at night.

Tuesday night was the last regular season game, and here is lucky number 7 up to bat.

The tournament starts this weekend, and then that’s a wrap on baseball for Hayden (forever?) #sadbaseballmom

Favorite Mom Meme:

This is me pretty often but definitely this week!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

In honor of the first swim meet of the season, here’s a throwback to the kids’ first ever swim meet in 2017. Hayden “retired” in 2019, but Hadley continues to swim and loves it.

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week. Here they are:

Life Lately

May Books

I hope you have a great weekend! See you back here next week.

Books and Shows

May 2022: What I’ve Been Reading

Posted on June 2, 2022June 1, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

I’m a bit late sharing my May books, but this week has been a bit hectic with summer school.

This month I read…

{As always, book summaries are from Goodreads…}

Save Me From Dangerous Men

Summary:

Nikki Griffin isn’t your typical private investigator. In her office above her bookstore’s shelves and stacks, where she luxuriates in books and the comfort they provide, she also tracks certain men. Dangerous men. Men who have hurt the women they claim to love. And Nikki likes to teach those men a lesson, to teach them what it feels like to be hurt and helpless, so she can be sure that their victims are safe from them forever.

When a regular PI job tailing Karen, a tech company’s disgruntled employee who might be selling secrets, turns ugly and Karen’s life is threatened, Nikki has to break cover and intervene. Karen tells Nikki that there are people after her. Dangerous men. She says she’ll tell Nikki what’s really going on. But then something goes wrong, and suddenly Nikki is no longer just solving a case—she’s trying hard to stay alive.

Part Lisbeth Salander, part Jack Reacher, part Jessica Jones, Nikki Griffin is a kickass character who readers will root for as she seeks to right the world’s wrongs. S.A. Lelchuk’s Save Me from Dangerous Men marks the beginning of a gripping new series and the launch of a fabulous new character

Quick Thoughts:

A friend gave me this book to read, and I really enjoyed it. The main character was definitely a force to be reckoned with and it was fun keeping up with her. She definitely didn’t shy away from dangerous situations and Nikki was definitely a character to root for!

Rating:

A Stranger’s Game

Summary:

A wealthy hotel heiress.

Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, but she’s happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island.

A suspicious death.

When Torie learns that her best friend has drowned, she knows this is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.

A fight for the truth.

Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, trying to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter rescuing baby turtles, she finds a tentative ally.

But the more they dig, the more ties they find to Torie’s mother’s death twenty years before. Someone will risk anything—even more murder—to hide the truth.

Quick Thoughts:

This book was a good mix of suspense, romance, and “who done it?” I loved the setting of Jekyll and the Torie’s background as a wealthy heiress who wants to blend in. I read this one pretty quickly, and I loved how events from the past and the present were woven together.

Rating:

The Summer Getaway

Summary:

Single mom Robyn Caldwell needs a new plan for her future. She has always put her family first. Now, with her kids grown, she yearns for a change. But what can she do when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could ruin everything?

Take a vacation, of course. Press reset. When her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane to sunny California.

But it’s hard to get away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she loves follows her across the country. Somehow, their baggage doesn’t feel as heavy in the sun-drenched, mishmash mansion. The more time Robyn spends with free-spirited Lillian, the more possibilities she sees—for dreams, love, family. She can have everything she ever wanted, if only she can muster the courage to take a chance on herself.

Quick Thoughts:

I still have a few pages left of this book, but I wanted to go ahead and share it. It was my first “summer” book, and I really enjoyed it. (Warning?) There were a few “R rated” references/moments. The main character Robyn had so much going on as a mom trying to figure out the next steps of her future. Her aunt Lillian was a sweet addition to the story, and the various characters all played off of each other nicely. This was a good light-hearted read with a few predictable parts.

Rating:

I’m not sure if I’ve ever had a solid 4 star month…there’s usually at least one five star book, but overall these were pretty good!

Summer Reading

Just a reminder….here’s my Summer Reading List…and I can already check one off that list!

I hope the summer is off to a great start for you. See you back here tomorrow for Friday Favorites.

Kids, Life Lately

Life Lately

Posted on May 31, 2022May 30, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello there!

I hope you had a great weekend. Memorial Day always kicks off summer, but it’s an important time to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared a post, but today I’m getting caught up!

I’m sharing a bit of Life…lately.

A couple of weeks ago, Hadley attended a friend’s bat mitzvah, and looked so grown up!

She borrowed a dress from a friend, and then we ordered these cute shoes from Amazon. The outfit came together nicely. She had a great time with her friends.

We also had Youth Sunday at church. The kids all looked so grown up. Hayden handed out the bulletins and Hadley helped with offering.

It’s peony season at Trader Joe’s which I love!

Of course, we’ve had lots of sporting events including a recent CATS game. Travis took them, and Hadley sent me this photo. They had a great time.

Hayden was excited to get his baseball signed by a few players.

Then, we also watched my school’s baseball team the regional tournament.

We celebrated the last day of school. 6th grade seemed to fly by!

On Friday night, we went to see Top Gun Maverick.

It was SO good. I don’t know the last time I enjoyed a movie so much. I loved the nods to the first one, and we were on the edge of our seats with the action. The kids enjoyed it too.

They’ve been busy finishing up track season.

Two weekends ago they ran in a race just to get in more practice and work in speed. Then, this past Saturday, they ran in the state meet.

Both were in the 4×800 relay, but then Hadley got moved up from alternate to run the 4×400. So, Hadley ran in the first and last race of the meet. 😂 At least the weather was beautiful.

Anyway, they both did their part in they relays and ended on a high note for the season.

…and it’s officially summer. Of course, Memorial Day weekend is the most crowded, but we all went to the pool on Sunday and I had a skinny marg to kick off summer.

The kids spent a few hours there yesterday too, but I had a hair appointment and a few other errands like going to Trader Joe’s. Travis and I watched an episode of Ozark before grilling out for dinner.

With summer, I will still blog but it may be bit less…I will just see where the days take me…

Later this week, I will share the books I read in May and some Friday Favorites.

Kids, School

School’s Out…for the Summer

Posted on May 26, 2022May 25, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

It’s official…

Yesterday, I shared the end of the school year 6th grade interview, and today I’m sharing the last day of school photos.

first day:

vs. last day…

I knew Hayden grew this year, but the proof is in this photo from yesterday!

Hayden:

First vs. Last Day of 6th Grade:

Hayden was involved in:

Cross Country
Basketball
Track
Beta Club
Wyldlife

Hadley:

First vs. Last Day of 6th Grade:

Hadley was involved in:

Dance
Track
Chorus
Wyldlife
Student Council

When your mom is a teacher…

It’s probably both a blessing and a curse to have a mom as a teacher. When the year started, I wasn’t sure what to expect in regards to communication with teachers and classwork. Their school has two teams for each grade, and my kids were on the same team. The lead teacher sent daily emails with activities, assignments, and due dates. It was so nice because they had the same teachers which meant the same assignments and due dates. I got the notifications on assignments and grades. If an assignment was flagged missing, I definitely let my kids know.

This year, I really tried to help the kids stay organized and plan their time wisely. I encouraged them to talk to their teachers, ask questions, and advocate for themselves. Bless Hadley’s heart. Every year she wants all the colored pens, sticky notes, and cute folders that Target has to offer. While she does tend to stay pretty organized, some of that falls to the wayside as a school year continues. Hayden subscribes to “shove everything in my backpack even though I have folders and binders” method of organization. Aye yai yai!

While sometimes I felt like we had to talk with them a bit too much about expectations, I also know that if we didn’t teach them these skills, then who would?

In the teaching world, we use “gradual release model” as best practice with our students. This year felt a lot like “I do” (in regards to teaching expectations and academic habits) and now we will work towards “we do” and “you do” in 7th and 8th grades. 😉I’m hoping some of these habits will roll into next year, and the kids will know how to manage their time, study, and meet deadlines with less help from Travis or myself.

The kids learned so much this year. It’s a big transition moving from elementary school with one teacher to having 8 classes in a day. Also, with 8 different teachers come a variety of expectations and procedures. They ended the first quarter at home for two weeks with Covid. That being said, both kids made the Honor Roll every quarter and their grades continued to improve throughout the year. The kids are both pretty well-rounded, and with the transition to middle school and as active as they are, I will take it.

Middle school can be a really difficult time for kids. I continue to be thankful for the community of people that it takes to keep my kids headed in the right direction. From teachers to coaches to family and parents of friends, it definitely takes a village, and I appreciate everyone’s help!

I’m going to take a few blogging days off as I finish up the odds and ends of the school year and just take a moment to decompress from the weight of the world right now.

Thanks so much for reading.

Kids, School

End of the School Year Interview: 6th Grade

Posted on May 25, 2022May 24, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello! Well, we made it! Today, is the…

and the last lunch of the year is packed 😅

This year really did go by so quickly! Maybe it was because it was a “normal” year after a year and a half of non-traditional instruction. The kids really did have a great first year of middle school.

I tweaked the questions that I’ve asked them in the past in order to include a few specific middle school questions.

Hayden’s Thoughts:

What was the best part of this year? Meeting new people
Who was your favorite teacher? my Language Arts and PE teachers
What was your favorite thing to learn about this year? In Health, we learned about fitness.
What was your favorite class? PE
What is something hard you did? Math
What do you want to be when you grow up? Undecided
What was something fun that you did at school this year? Going outside during class
What is one word you would use to describe this school year? Chaotic
What was your favorite school activity and why? Being with my teammates in basketball and track
What is one thing you enjoy about middle school? Having more freedom

Mom’s Thoughts:

I’m proud of you because you persevered through obstacles and never gave up.
One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you run.
It’s been fun to watch you: grow as a learner and as an athlete.
Three things I love about you: your tenacity, your inquisitiveness, and your quiet leadership abilities.
You strengthened our family by: becoming more responsible and taking ownership in your learning and training.

Hadley’s Thoughts:

What was the best part of this year? Meeting new friends and walking to classes with friends.
Who was your favorite teacher? my math teacher
What was your favorite thing to learn about this year? budgeting basics in Tech Ed
What was your favorite class? Math
What is something hard you did? Writing two essays for Language Arts at once.
What do you want to be when you grow up? An elementary teacher
What was something fun that you did at school this year? Sometimes we’d have free time in class to play games or talk with friends.
What is one word you would use to describe this school year? A learning experience (more than one word…but relatable ;))
What was your favorite school activity and why? Ice cream party for track because our hard work paid off.
What is one thing you enjoy about middle school? Having eight different teachers during the day.

Mom’s Thoughts:

I’m proud of you because…you stayed true to yourself but also blossomed in a new school environment.
One of my favorite memories of you this year was: watching you dance and run.
It’s been fun to watch you: make new friends and keep your elementary friendships too.
Three things I love about you: your generosity, your inclusiveness, and your desire to try new things
You strengthened our family by: being happy, silly, and sweet.

This first year of middle school flew by! I was probably more nervous about the transition to middle school than they were. Overall, I’m proud of their academic effort as well as their willingness to spread their wings in a new school. They’ve met some great friends, continued to grow friendships, were active in clubs and sports, and took on more responsibilities at school and at home.

*As this school year wraps up, and I write this post about my kids’ year, I can’t help but think of the horrific events that unfolded at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas yesterday. I’m absolutely heartbroken for that community and my prayers are for those who lost loved ones in this senseless act of violence.

I’m hugging my kids extra tight.

Books and Shows

Summer Reading 2022

Posted on May 24, 2022May 23, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

My Summer Reading title made me laugh when I typed it out. Students see “summer reading” and groan…I see it and get excited for sunshine and reading by the pool!

Last year was my first year sharing books I wanted to read in the summer.

This was my 2021 list, and I read four of the six books. The two I didn’t read were Big Summer and That Summer.

My 2022 Summer Reading List:

Summer Love
One Italian Summer
Under the Southern Sky
The Hotel Nantucket
The Summer Job
The Boardwalk Book Shop
The Summer Getaway
Out of the Clear Blue Sky

Some of these books were already on my “Summer Reads” list on Goodreads, and others I added to that list thanks to Sarah’s extensive book list!

Now, I highly doubt I will read all eight. My goal is to read five of these. I love a list, but I also don’t want to feel forced to read. Some of these books aren’t even out yet, and some I’m on a long wait list at the library.

That being said, I did pick up three of them at the library on Friday.

So, I will just continue to see what becomes available and read as I go. Of course, I will read other books too, but I’m sooo looking forward to lounging by the pool and getting caught up on reading.

What are you reading this summer? I’d love to add it to my Goodreads list!

Tomorrow is the last day of school…and we are ready for it! Like really, really, really ready for it!

Memes

Monday Memes

Posted on May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 by jgalvinwhite

Hello and Happy Monday! How was your weekend?

Our was..you guessed it…busy! The kids both had friends spend the night on Friday. Then, we spent most of Saturday in Louisville for a track meet that continued to be delayed due lightning, so they never ran. Hadley had big plans on Saturday night while the rest of us just hung out at home. Sunday, the kids were busy at church and then we went back to Louisville for them both to run the 800 m race.

It was a great weekend, but I’m ready to get these last few days of school over with, so we can enjoy summer.

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite memes from the month!

1.

Current mood:

my friend sent me this one and I definitely LOL’d.

2.

…and…

The answer is three. Three days left of school.

3.

Once May hits, I’m soooo over packing lunches. Hayden buys school lunch, and Hadley basically packs the same lunch every single day. I’m mostly tired of making lunch for myself.

4.

LOL

5.

Tis the season to hydrate…poolside!

6.

I also now pick up my kids from places while already in my pjs…I send texts like, “be ready and don’t make me come inside!”

7.

I heart carbs. (We went out to lunch after the track meet yesterday. Hayden ordered chicken fingers, and when they waitress asked what two sides he’d like, he said, “mashed potatoes and fries!” That’s my boy!)