Category: Kids

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#208}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Overall, ours was pretty good. It helped having Tuesday off to regroup after a busy weekend.

That being said, the end of the school year activities are in full force, and the alarm clock is officially a nuisance.

Of course, I had some favorites this week, so I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Last Friday, was the end of season county championship track meet for our district. So, only middle schools in our district had teams running. Unfortunately, the first half of the meet was rainy. Hadley ran the 4×200 and 400 in the rain, and Hadey ran the 1600 in a steady rain as well.

Hadley was battling some nerves, but both kids ran great. Hayden won the 1600 and 3200 while Hadley placed 6th in the 400 and 7th in the 200, and her relay teams placed 2nd in the 4×400 and 3rd in the 4×200. Her 4×400 relay is in the top 5 in the state.

For the second half of the meet, the rain stopped. Yay!

It was a long meet and a late night, but they collected their hardware before we left.

Hadley was up bright and early on Saturday for volleyball. She got to play libero again, and she was excited for that opportunity. This was the last tournament of club season. They went 3-0 on Saturday, and won their first two games on Sunday which put them in the championship game of the gold bracket.

While they did lose that game, they earned a medal for 2nd place, and went 5-1 on the weekend. It was a great way to end club season.

She’s had the best experience with great coaches and amazing teammates, so it was extra special to end on a high note.

In my Mother’s Day recap, I shared about the ferns we got for the front porch. Travis noticed there was a nest with an egg in one of them on Saturday, and then on Sunday when I took a peek, there were two eggs. Now, there are four eggs!

It wouldn’t be summer without a nest in my fern for a bit!

I’ve had a Sonic diet cherry limeade twice this week. Tuesday, we didn’t have school (definitely a favorite) for election day. It was nice to ease into the day, but we were pretty busy for the rest of the day.

The kids did a workout on my school’s track, and I went to vote. After the workout, we went to Sonic. They got lunch and slushies, and I got a Diet Cherry Limeade. It certainly hit the spot.

A local church brought Sonic drinks to us yesterday as a way to support our school, and we appreciated the love.

Yesterday, Hadley came home with her artwork and pieces from art class this semester. She drew Homer, and a self-portrait and made a cup and coaster as well. I love seeing her creations.

Favorite Clothes:

I’m officially trying to wear some of my favorite outfits the past couple of weeks of school.

I wore a cardigan with the dress below, but had taken it off for the pic.

I told you I’m loving my new Target sandals. I’ve been wearing them often (and see the above three pics as proof!)

Trader Joe’s:

Amy messaged me that Trader Joe’s has their Brazil Nut Body Butter out, and I missed out on it last summer. So, I headed to TJ after school on Wednesday and stocked up! (along with a few other items)

And…how cute is this little plant? It’s the perfect touch for the stand on my island tray.

Favorite Meal:

Well, I don’t have a picture of it, but we had chicken sandwiches the other night, and they were a hit.

It was basically Chick-fil-A dinner at home. I used these chicken patties from Aldi, and then put them on a brioche bun with pickles and CFA sauce. I made waffle fries in the air fryer. It was a quick and easy dinner that everyone loved.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This right here…

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Well, in honor the kids having their 8th grade promotion ceremony next week, here’s a flashback to 5th grade graduation three years ago.

Where does the time go?

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

May Memes
Summer Sandals
Middle School Recap

*side note: When I shared my summer sandals post, I mentioned the Instagram Reel that Hadley helped me create. I said if it got 1,000 views, maybe I’d pay her $10 for her time and effort. Well, the reel gained a little traction with more than 1k views. This is a small feat for a small time blogger who rarely posts on Instagram. haha

I guess I better go find some cash!

What are your weekend plans? As I mentioned in Tuesday’s post, it’s been a hard couple of weeks at school. This week has felt really somber and even stressful sometimes as the school year wraps up.

I hope to find some time to relax a bit as we head into the week with 8th grade graduation (cue the tears!) and finish up the school year.

As always, thanks for reading.

Posted in Kids, School

Middle School Memories

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, a week from today, it will officially be summer for us.

How is middle school already over for my two?

While they still have a few more days, they turn in their Chromebooks today which means it’s pretty much fun and games the next couple of days.

You know I like a recap, so I thought it would be fun to have all of the middle school memories in one place.

Here’s a stroll down memory lane.

6th grade:

The week before school started, the kids went to the 6th grade orientation week. They were very nervous, but the nerves eased up with each passing day.

I think this was a three day session, and on the last day, they picked up their schedules. There were two sixth grade teams, and the counselor said they always put twins on the same team, but not in the same classes. Well, a lot of their friends were on the other team, and my mama heart was very nervous for them. That being said, they were kind of forced out of their shell and did a good job making new friends….and that orientation definitely helped them feel comfortable at a new school.

Notice the mask around Hayden’s neck…They started the school year wearing masks.

First day of 6th grade:

They look like babies!!

Hayden started the school year on the cross county team. It’s crazy to think that while he loved running, we didn’t know what to expect as he started running with middle school runners.

In late September, Travis ended up with Covid. Then, Hayden had it followed by Hadley. They all ended up being home for around ten days…remember all the Covid regulations?!? Right before our fall break in early October, the kids went back to school.

Since Hayden missed his school cross country pics, my brother-in-law took some of Hayden, and they turned out amazing.

Hadley made the dance team and started going to Young Life/Wyldlife which has been an amazing group for her.

In the winter, Hayden made the basketball team.

The 6th grade team ended up runner-up in the district tournament which was a amazing because they had a tough start to the season.

We survived our first middle school science fair projects.

On March 16, 2022, they finally went to school without a mask…and sent me the selfie smiles to prove it.

Track started after spring break.

In the state meet, they both ran the 4×800 relay.

They accomplished a lot and had so much fun. I also realized how much I enjoyed track meets. Track is such a mix of kids and such a variety of events that I think it’s one of the best sports for a student athlete.

May 25, 2022 was the last day of 6th grade. We They officially survived the first year of middle school.

At the end of the year, they obliged with an end of 6th grade interview for me.

7th:

In 7th grade, they didn’t get their schedules until the first day of school…and were surprised to find that they had gym class together. haha

In 7th grade, foreign language begins, and Hayden chose Spanish while Hadley chose French.

Hadley joined Student Council and continued with Wydlife.

Hayden started cross country, and Travis became the coach.

My brother-in-law took the team pics, and he got another good one of Hayden.



Hayden had a great season, and it was fun watching Travis and Hayden together.

In October of 7th grade year, Hadley got her braces off…

….and tried out for the volleyball team. A group of her friends decided they wanted to play, and they all made the team.

We had so much fun watching them play, and I think they surprised themselves with how good they were.

The girls finally got to experience a school dance! In January of 7th grade, the school organized a school wide dance (mixer) with music and games.

I worked the check in table, and the girls were so nervous when they checked in. I just think they didn’t know what to expect.

Hayden opted to go to a basketball game with his friends instead of go to the dance. Are we surprised?!?!

They completed another science fair project.

In January, the 7th grade basketball season started for Hayden….

…and he got his braces off!

They both went to the 7th grade Valentine’s Day dance. Again, Hadley was excited, and Hayden was hesitant. Hadley pretty much drags him through life. haha

Track started in the spring.

In 6th grade, Hadley ran the 800 and 400….but by 7th grade, she really upped her speed and started running the 200 (as well as the 400).

Hayden continued running the 1600 as well as the 3200 and 800.

In the state meet, Hadley ran the 400, Hayden ran the mile, and they both ran a couple of relays.

I wrote a 7th grade recap post at the end of the year.

The last day of school was May 26, 2023.

Hadley went to Wyldlife camp last summer, and she loved every minute.

8th:

While they are never super excited for school to start, at least they knew they were “top dogs,” and there weren’t any nerves.

They were in the same gym class again as well as the same Language Arts class. Oh…the stories I get to hear…(mostly, Hadley filling me in on Hayden and his friends’ shenanigans!)

Like all the other years, Hayden (and Travis) had cross country in the fall…and another great pic thanks to my brother-in-law.

Hayden ended up winning the end of season county cross country meet, and we were so happy for him.

He had a strong showing at the state meet placing in the top 10.

The kids always attended sporting events throughout middle school, but it seemed like they didn’t want to miss anything in 8th grade. They had fun supporting their friends.

Hadley had another fun season of volleyball.

We had 8th grade night!

In January, Hayden started his 8th grade basketball season.

Of course, the season concluded with an 8th grade night for him.

I do feel like these seasons went by in a blink.

This year, they went to the cotillion dances. I loved hearing a recap of each dance.

With each passing dance, they were less nervous.

And, of course, they’ve had one more track season.

The season is wrapping up, but they’ve accomplished their goals this year. They’ve both improved on their times, they’ve qualified for state in events that they’ve been working on, and Hayden won the district 1600 and 3200 races last week while Hadley’s 4×400 relay team is one of the top in the state.

Hayden also ran in the Dream Mile a couple of weeks ago which was a major goal for him during his 8th grade season.

While he was doing that, Hadley was at the 8th grade dance. Of course, she had lots of fun.

The state meet is up next.

School Pics:

I’ve shared these before, but the difference in the kids’ pictures from year to year blows my mind.

Some other thoughts:

I know I share a lot about sports and what they accomplish, but they’ve accomplished a lot in academics too. I firmly believe that the middle school years are a time to prepare for high school….and we’ve had struggles and celebrations.

They’ve had to learn study habits, time management, how to advocate for themselves and many other life skills.

While they know hard work pays off in athletics, they’ve learned that same lesson in academics. They’ve been on the honor roll every quarter, tried various elective classes, joined clubs, and more.

Overall, I think they will look back on their middle school years with some fond memories. I remind them that the middle school years can be really tough for some kids, and while it hasn’t been smooth sailing for them all the time, they really have learned lessons, grown, matured, made decisions, and formed friendships.

I’m thankful for the teachers and coaches who have championed and supported the kids through the years.

Now people are asking me if the kids are ready for high school and my response has been that it’s more about the fact that they are over middle school! (and very ready for summer)

Next week, they have their 8th grade promotion ceremony and a pool party with friends.

Then, it will officially be summer!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#207}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Fridays in May just hit different. I feel like we’re crawling to the finish line of the school year!

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

The 8th grade dance!

Y’all, I know. I know. I’ve shared lots of dance photos this year, but those were the four cotillion dances. Friday night’s 8th grade dance is the only school dance of the year.

Friday night, Hadley & Co. were ready to mingle with their classmates. The theme was “Vegas” hence the “little black dress” attire. Of course, kids could wear whatever they wanted, but these girls leaned in to black dresses.

I still had store credit, so Hadley got another cute dress from Hello Molly.

They danced the night away, got Chick-fil-A on the way home, and had a great time.

Meanwhile…

Travis and I were with Hayden at a track meet in Louisville. Hayden ran in the “Dream Mile” which is a race with the top 16 middle school milers in the state.

It was a beautiful evening to watch him run.

He has gotten to know most of these guys over the past couple of years from cross country and track. It’s neat to see them chat beforehand, run together, and support each other, while exhausted, at the end of the race.

It was a fast race and the pace was pushed; Hayden had a 4 second PR…4:48 mile.

Mother’s Day was great! After a busy Friday night and Saturday, Sunday was a bit more low-key. I appreciated the gifts, the family time, and then sunshine!

I’m loving my new candles for spring. I think Summer Rose Bud is my favorite.

Favorite Mom Meme:

This has been an issue for quite some time. haha

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

The end of the school year means field day in elementary schools. I used to love that day.

When I was in the 4th grade, I was on crutches at the end of the year, and couldn’t participate in field day. I was so bummed.

The past few years, my kids have had the middle school version of field day. At least they’ve been able to get outside and have fun for a bit with their friends. They also usually sign years book on that day which is fun.

Flashback to elementary field day.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week:

Share Our Lives
Mother’s Day Recap
Wednesday Hodgepodge

What are your weekend plans?

These two have a track meet. I ordered their individual track pics, and when I opened my email, the photographer had also made one of them together!

Hadley has her last volleyball tournament this weekend, and otherwise, we might get outside if the weather allows!

I hope you have a great weekend,

Posted in Books and Shows, Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#205}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? We had amazing weather, but I feel like the temps heated up quickly! It was nice to be outside a bit more, go for walks, and enjoy some time on my front porch.

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Well, I know I share about track every week, but this really is a fun season (of track…and of life), and I can’t say enough how much I love that track is the one thing they both still do.

Friday night, I got this sweet pic of Hadley cheering Hayden on as he ran the 3200, finishing with a state qualifying time.

Don’t get me wrong…there are many times they don’t get along, but I do think they encourage each other more often than not.

Hadley has had her eye on the prize trying to run a state qualifying time in the 200m, and she’s accomplished that the past couple of meets.

Friday night was a late one, but my mom got this pic of the kids after the meet, and I think it’s a good one!

The last cotillion dance was a fun one! Hadley’s dress was my favorite one she’s worn so far. It’s the “fun is calling” dress from Hello Molly, and it comes in a variety of colors.

The moms of the girls in this group have shared some dress stories…some dresses never arriving, wrong material, not what they ordered, etc.

Thankfully, for these dances, we’ve had lots of luck from Hello Molly and Lulus. (FYI for returns, Lulus will give you a full refund if return within the window of time…but Hello Molly only does store credit. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. haha)

I stopped by Aldi’s for a few snacks, and this “charcuterie party platter” was a hit.

My mom came to visit last week, and we celebrated her birthday a bit early. I was going to order a bundt cake, but I thought an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins sounded good.

It was pretty and tasted delish.

Smiles and ready for cake…

I shared some new book trackers and added them to my Instagram highlight.

These have been a fun and creative outlet for me.

Feel free to use them to share what you are reading! Tag me if you do. 🙂

Here are a couple that I made for this month:

How cute is my SSYS dress?

I ordered this in early spring, and I was excited to wear it yesterday now that the weather is warmer. It’s the “Taylor” dress, and while sizes do seem limited, there are a few colors. I wear my typical size large, so I think they do a great job running true to size with what they design.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Honestly, I am surprised that I don’t feel like we have more laundry than we do. Sunday continues to be laundry day, and everyone usually has one load. One thing that still is an issue is getting the laundry put away! The kids put their own clothes away, but tend to be on their own timelines for that. haha!

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

I’m sure I share this every year, but the week of Derby is big around here…even at school…especially elementary schools.

The kids made these hats in kindergarten, and were so excited to show them to me when they got home.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:

Monday Memes
Cotillion Recap
April Books
April Workouts

What are your weekend plans?

We have a slight break from sports this weekend, but today is the Kentucky Oaks, and tomorrow is the “most exciting two minutes in sports” is when the Kentucky Derby horses “run for the roses.”

Have a great weekend.

Posted in Kids

Cotillion Recap

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello!

Well, the kids had their last cotillion dance of the year, and it’s hard to believe we are in a season of “lasts’ for middle school. I received a couple of cotillion questions, and I thought it would be nice to have all the dances and memories in one post, so that’s what’s on tap for today.

The kids have friends and neighbors a couple of years older, so over the past few years, I’ve seen the cotillion pictures without really knowing what it is.

Every school submits names of interested 8th graders to the Lexington Cotillion Club coordinator who then sends invitations to those on the list. If you receive an invite, you of course don’t have to go…and that’s probably would have been Hayden’s preference. haha

There’s a total fee for cotillion dances whether you go to one dance or all four dances. Students receive an invite in the mail for every dance, and RSVP if they can’t come to that dance. There is a theme for every dance, and two of the dances are informal and the other two are more formal. For the formal dances, boys are supposed to wear ties, but can even wear suits or tuxes, and the girls are supposed to wear long dresses.

As you can see from the photos I share, the kids seem to follow the dress code loosely.

For each dance, the kids check in and get a name tag and dance card. The dance card has eight lines on it, and for five of the dances, there are names written in. Then, there are “girl’s choice,” boy’s choice,” and “everyone’s choice” written on the other lines.

Most of the time, the kids dance whenever they want, but there are eight dances on the dance card, and when those are announced, the girls are supposed to go to the part of the ballroom based on their last name, and the boy comes to find them to dance. Let’s just say that I think it’s pretty rare for that part of the dance etiquette to actually happen.

When I talk to others who went to cotillion five years ago or twenty years ago, it seems that this dance as always been at the same hotel and most of the kids socialize more than dance. haha

All of the dances are from 7:30 -10:30 which is such an odd time…and the hotel isn’t close to our house. We always carpooled which was nice, but after dropping kids off (and usually a pit-stop at McDonald’s for food and ice cream), it was 11:30 before everyone got home.

They have light snacks and punch for the kids and there are a few parent chaperones for each dance to help the club coordinator.

With cotillion, to my knowledge, there’s not really an etiquette class, but Lexington does have something called Halls School of Dance for 6th graders. Halls takes place once a week over a couple of months. It’s definitely more formal with girls wearing gloves and tights, and boys have to wear coat and tie. The kids learn different dances and etiquette and then there is a dance at the end where parents can come watch.

Halls is quite a Lexington tradition, but my kids didn’t participate when they in the 6th grade because it was on Thursday nights when Hadley had her competition dance classes, and I didn’t force Hayden to do it. Hadley really wanted to, and I would have let her if it was just a couple of weeks, but Halls was around eight sessions I think.

I’m guessing when Lexington Cotillion Club started, it was probably more formal than it is now.

Anyway, cotillion is something that I’m glad the kids did…even if one of my kids was more excited about it than the other.

Here’s a look back on cotillion season:

Harvest Moon:

The first dance was in October, and it was informal. That day, Hayden had the state cross country meet, and then he wanted to go to the UK football game, so only Hadley went.

She got together with friends to get ready, and I stopped by to see her before they left for the dance. They spent a couple of hours getting ready, had some snacks, and were a bundle of nerves when they left.

When Hadley got to the dance, she texted me that she didn’t know anyone on the dance card…which I replied, “That’s the point!” haha

Of all the dances, I know this one was the most awkward as the kids got the “lay of the land” and figured out how cotillion worked. Overall, she had lots of fun.

Glitter and Gold Gala:

This was the first “formal” of the dances. Hayden had a cross country meet in Louisville that day, so we were gone for most of the day.

Once we got home, I took Hadley to get her hair trimmed, and she got it curled too.

The kids let me snap a quick pic that I ended up using last minute as our Christmas card.

Then, we met at a friend’s house to hang out a bit while the girls finished getting ready. Then, we carpooled to dinner. Since this was a more “formal” dance and we knew many of the kids would be busier in the spring with baseball, soccer, etc., we went ahead and reserved a room at a nearby restaurant for the kids to hang out and eat beforehand. There were about 30 kids.

The parents hung out too until it was time for the kids to go to the dance.

It was nice hanging out with parents for a bit during a busy holiday season.

Overall, the kids had a great time, but they seemed to stay pretty much with their friend groups.

Malibu Mingle:

The February cotillion theme was “Malibu Mingle.” The boys took the less formal theme and ran with it …wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirts.

My friend picked up Hayden and took him and her son to meet up with the rest of the boys for dinner.

Again, the girls met at a friend’s house to finish getting ready together while the moms had some appetizers and a glass of wine.

They added leis to their outfits for the Hawaiian/Malibu theme.

This dance, the kids really seemed to branch out from their friend groups. Hadley gave me all the details when they got home…but mostly about new kids that they met from nearby schools.

Belles and Bowties:

This past Saturday was the fourth and final cotillion dance. This time, the girls got ready at our house. I got a few snacks for them to eat while they got ready.

Like the December dance, we reserved a room at the same restaurant for the kids to eat before the dance.

Before we left, I quickly got a couple of pics of the kids. Hadley’s dress was my favorite one she wore from all four dances.

My mom got some individual pics of them which I appreciated.

The girls…so pretty in their spring colored dresses.

Friends for life.

A group pic before we left, and then a girl group and whole group photo at the restaurant. The boys are tough to wrangle!

After the kids went to the dance, the moms hung out for a bit for a drink and some appetizers.

When the kids got home around 11:00, Hadley filled me in that it was the most fun dance. It seemed like they got lots of pictures with friends that they’d made from other schools and some of their dance partners. Sounds like Hayden even had a good time 😉

While Hadley was into the cotillion activities more than Hayden, he did make the most of it and had fun. I know they will remember their cotillion experience, and this has been a fun 8th grade tradition for them.

May will be a busy month for us as they wrap up their 8th grade track season, have an 8th grade dance and 8th grade promotion. The middle school years have flown by!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#204}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

How was your week? Ours was good, but I think the end of the school year fatigue is setting in!

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

Track meets!

Friday night, Hayden ran in a very competitive mile race in Louisville during the Eastern Relays meet.

Hayden came in 3rd with a PR for the mile.

Since I wasn’t there, and Travis is too busy cheering/coaching him, I loved seeing some professional photos of the race.

Hayden sent me this pic which made me smile.

While Travis was with Hayden in Louisville, Hadley was running in a meet in Lexington. She ran the 400 and had a PR as well as the 4×200 which had a state qualifying time. The Friday night track meets can go past 10:00, so we were happy she was finished running by 8:30.

On Monday night, she ran the 100m dash for the first time ever, and won her heat and came in 3rd overall. She was happy with that run.

Over the weekend, she had a volleyball tournament. Her coach had her play libero for the first time, and Hadley was excited for that opportunity. She typically plays back row, but the libero can be subbed in and out with more freedom and gets to play a bit more.

Her team saw some tough competition, but still made it to the gold bracket. They had a fun weekend.

I saw this on Facebook, and loved it. What a cute idea for a book display this time of the year.

My trusty slow cooker that I’ve had for years had to be replaced. The insert cracked quite a while ago, but it was finally time for a new one. I ordered this one for Drew Barrymore’s Walmart line, and so far I like it.

I drink a few protein shakes a week, and I usually stick with the Premier Protein brand. We’ve tried Core Power recently, and the kids like it too. Honestly, the chocolate tastes like chocolate milk…so good, so we ordered a couple of packs from Amazon since our Kroger doesn’t always have it.

Travis and I were able to get to Keeneland yesterday afternoon which was nice. The temps were cool, but the sun was shining…and he “broke even” on the day which is a win in my book. 😆

Remember the Lego flowers I gave Hadley for Valentine’s Day because she thought they’d be cute in her room?! Turns out…Hadley doesn’t like putting the Lego flowers together. My mom saved the day. The bouquet turned out really cute.

Favorite Mom Meme:

Well, this one doesn’t make me laugh…but it is relatable. *sigh*

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

This pic from 2014 has always been a fave. Hadley having no boundaries…and Hayden wishing she had some!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week in case you missed one:

ABC’s of Spring
Wednesday hodgePodge
Monthly Musings

What’s been the best part of your week? See you back here on Monday!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#196}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday. Also, it’s March 1st. Wow! February both felt like the longest and the shortest month!

I hope you’ve had a great week.

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

Before I get to today’s post, I wanted to say thanks for all the love for Hadley’s post last Friday. She read the comments and smiled! Let me know if you have any topics you’d like her to share about in the future.

Here are some favorites from the week:

Fave Pics:

It’s hard to believe that Hayden’s last middle school basketball season is almost over.

Last week, we got the professional photos back, and they were so good. I like this one…

…but of course I love seeing my boy smile.

Last week, was the last home game, so they had 8th grade night for the boys. A couple of the team moms are amazing, and put together a really nice celebration for the boys. Hadley’s favorite part of the “goody bag” was the “fat head” of Hayden. haha

The middle school years have felt both long and short. Hayden’s grown so much over the past couple of years, both literally and figuratively, and it was nice to celebrate him (and this team)

Last weekend, was the 8th grade tournament, so we had a busy weekend of basketball.

Fave show:

Well, I dragged it out as long as a I could. I didn’t want to see it end, so I paced myself watching the 6th and final season of The Crown.

It ended nicely, but I wish there was one more season to recap the last few years.

Fave Moment:

I didn’t have to cook Sunday night! We went to Tony’s, a steakhouse in downtown Lex, for dinner…just the four of us.

Let me tell you…Hadley ordered the filet mignon without batting an eye. Whereas, Hayden always says things are too expensive, and wondered if they had “fish and chips” on the menu. 😆

He settled on splitting a steak and some sides with Travis.

I got the “Rig-a-Tony,” and it was pretty good.

Favorite Foods:

Speaking of food…I tried a couple new recipes this week, and the kids loved both of them.

I made this stir fry on Monday night. I did do a pound and a half of ground turkey instead of just one pound. I wanted to make sure I had enough to take for lunch a couple of days.

This Pizza Pasta bake was delish too. I made enough for 8×11 casserole dish rather than 8×8 size. Again, I wanted to make sure we had enough leftovers.

Am I the only one who didn’t know about the Cool Wrap at Chick-fil-A? It’s so good. I drizzled some of the avocado lime ranch dressing on it which made it even better. I had a professional learning/planning meeting on Monday, and this is what I ordered. I had half of one yesterday for lunch too.

Favorite Find:

I saw these cute colorful bunnies on Amazon, and knew that I “had” to have them. I think this weekend I will go ahead and decorate for Easter since I don’t decorate for St. Patrick’s Day.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley was telling us a story about something funny that happened at school. She said, “I crackled,” and I looked at her…and we both started laughing. I guess “crackled” is a combo of “cackled” and “cracked up.” 😄

Favorite Mom Meme:

Well, I feel like this applies more to having little kids, but it’s still so true.

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday

It’s hard to believe that Hayden has been playing basketball for over ten years.

With high school next year, I don’t know what he might decide to play, so I will cherish the basketball memories while I can.

Weekly Recap:

Here are my post this week in case you missed one:

Share 4 Somethings
Monday Memes
February Books
Monthly Musings

What are your weekend plans? Overall, we don’t have much going on which is very much needed.

Thanks for reading,

{This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Thanks for supporting my blog.}

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids, Self-care

Hadley’s Favorite Products

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

Why do the shorter weeks sometimes feel like the longest? It’s been a good week, but I’ve felt a bit “off” not knowing what day is what!

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

Today, I’m switching things up. Rather than share some “favorites” from the week, I asked Hadley to write a post. Recently, I saw a funny reel on Instagram about a mom who said she had to go into her daughter’s room to use the “good” beauty products. Relatable…haha

So, I thought today’s post would be a fun way to share some of her favorite products that she uses almost daily.

I’d say there’s something for everyone…not just for teens!

Here’s Hadley:

My mom is giving me the honor of writing another blog post. I will be showing you guys my favorite products and why I like them.

Here’s the line up:

My mom gets me most of these products at Target or Kroger, but I bet you can get them from Amazon too.

  • Fragrance mist: This is from Bath and Body Works, and I think I have used it for over a year now! Every time I see my friends, they compliment it and everyone always loves it. I use a couple of different sprays, but this is the one I’m using now. These sprays have a light scent, not as heavy as perfume.
  • Dry shampoo: The Bariste brand is my favorite, but the Kroger one works well too. This is perfect when it isn’t quite hair wash day yet and you need something to get you through the day without your hair looking greasy.
  • Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel: This moisturizer is so good, and I don’t plan on changing it anytime soon! You will love it if you like a super light-weight and hydrating moisturizer.
  • Aquaphor: Aquaphor is my ride or die, my forever and always! I use it every single day. It lasts for a while, and it is super easy to apply on the go if you need a little shine or even just something to keep your lips from getting chapped.
  • CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing lotion – This PM moisturizer is also super light-weight and very smooth. I apply this every night at the end of my routine, and it keeps my skin from getting dry.
  • Garnier Cleansing Water – This Micellar water is also my ride or die. I use this for everything…as a toner, to get my makeup off, and to just get all the dirt off my face. You will never catch me not using this on the daily.
  • Covergirl mascara – I don’t know much about mascara and which one is good and which one is bad but this seems to be doing the job! I get compliments on my lashes everyday (it could be my natural long lashes or the mascara) either way I love this mascara and it gets the job done.
  • Dime Blue Facial Oil: My mom first bought this oil over a year ago, and I use it (and Hayden does too when needed) This oil is amazing for when you have a pimple that showed up to the party uninvited! I put this on at night when I have a pimple and when I wake up it’s gone (or at least more under control)! It’s super easy to use, and it has a light blue tint to it…but it soaks in clear. This definitely is the party saver.
  • Glow Recipe serum: I got this serum for Christmas from my grandma, and I love it! I’m almost out so I gotta get me a new one ASAP. I use it both morning and night, and it’s super easy and smooth to rub in and it keeps my skin clean and clear!

So, those are some of my favorite products!

Weekly Recap:

I had a couple of posts this week:

Weekend Top 5
Hadley’s Room Refresh

What are your weekend plans? Hayden has a basketball tournament, and I have a few errands to run as well as a few things on my “to do” list. I guess that’s a pretty typical weekend for us.

I will have a bonus post tomorrow for Share 4 Somethings.

Thanks for reading,

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#189}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday.

How was your week? Our week had a little of everything: downtime, productivity, activities, school and more.

I’m linking up with Andrea and Erika for the first Friday Favorites of 2024.

Here are some recent favorites:

Last week, in my Christmas Recap, I shared that my favorite Christmas gift were these photos of the kids that Trav had his brother take as a surprise gift for me.

Later, my brother-in-law sent me the digital copies of the photos including a link to all that he took.

Travis had the best ones framed, but I love them all.

Both kids:

Hayden:

Hadley:

I love seeing Hadley’s sweet and silly side, Hayden’s focused side, and both of their personalities when they are together.

Over break, Hayden and friends went to a local basketball tournament. One of UK Coach Cal’s recruits was playing, so he was there and the boys got a picture with him.

They also got a quick pic with Reed Sheppard on this way out.

The boys were pretty excited.

Hadley has been asking for a room refresh, and my friend, an interior designer, put together this inspo board, and Hadley opened it on Christmas morning.

Over break, Travis took advantage of having some time off, and painted Hadley’s room after Hadley purged trash and donations. Then, we went ahead and ordered quite a few things including a new bed, bedside tables, and vanity. Hadley and I went out shopping for lamps, bedding, and other odds and ends. Everything we ordered arrived while we were on break, so we’ve continued to put her room together piece by piece.

The rug arrived this week, and it really tied everything together.

We still need to decide on wallpaper and a few other things, but her room is probably 80% finished, and she loves it.

Here’s a sneak peek:

Over break, I wanted to watch The Last Thing He Told Me and Lessons in Chemistry, both on Apple TV.

After Christmas, when I wasn’t feeling well, I settled in to watch them both…Travis watched them with me too.

I’ve read, and enjoyed the books, and I thought both series did the books justice. I highly recommend them both.

I had a few after Christmas purchases, including this sweater/jacket from Amazon. I love the gold double zipper detail.

Also, it seems that this could be dressed up or down. I wore it out to dinner one night with jeans and sneakers. It can also easily be worn with leggings….and I will definitely wear it to school with pants.

Y’all –it’s 49% off and less than $20!

A few weeks ago when we were at Target, these ice cream bars caught my attention. They are so good…10/10 recommend (and a saw a few other flavors at Target too)

Favorite Mom Meme:

It was time for these kids to go back to school!

Weekly Recap:

I started the year off strong with a blog post every day:

2023 Recap
12 months of Dessert
Currently
Bloganuary: Colleges

This weekend I hope to continue Bloganuary with a Saturday post, and then on Sunday I’m sharing my Prime Purchases for the month because on Monday we have our first Share Our Lives (formerly Not Just a Mom) post of 2024.

Share Our Lives:

I always love starting the year off with some (re)-introductions….and a look at the jobs I’ve had will be fun too.

We’d love to you have join us for this link up on the second Monday of every month.

What are your weekend plans? I’ve still felt crummy all week. My sinus infection is better, and I don’t have a fever, but I’ve still felt achy, tired, and run down. I’m not sure what’s going on. I actually had a Covid test on hand, so I went ahead and took that to rule it out…but maybe I have some other kind of lingering virus.

Thankfully, we don’t have much going on this weekend, so I’m hoping to kick this crud to the curb.

See you here tomorrow on the blog!

Posted in Friday Favorites, Kids

Friday Favorites {#187}

Posted on by jgalvinwhite

Hello and happy Friday!

This was our last full week before break, but we still have a couple of days next week. It’s really been messing with me that break doesn’t start after school today!

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

Here are some favorites from the week:

We tried a new pizza place last Friday night before heading to my school’s basketball game. The pizza was really good, and the kids had fun playing a couple of rounds of skee ball before we headed to the game.

Last Saturday, Hayden had his final cross country race of club season in Louisville. We were thankful the rain held off until right after the race, but I’ve never seen a race with so many runners. Hayden had a pretty good race considering there were over 450 runners.

Now, Hayden has a couple weeks of rest before basketball and indoor track start. Out of curiosity, I asked Hayden how many miles he ran in 2023, and he said 930! He’s on an app with other runners (kind of like social media for runners, I guess) where they track their mileage and encourage each other.

Anyway, we’re proud of all that he’s accomplished these past few months.

Then, I “raced” back to Lexington to help Hadley get ready for cotillion.

Hayden and Travis got home with about thirty minutes to spare as Hayden was going to cotillion too. While I don’t think cotillion was Hayden’s favorite activity of the week, I sure loved seeing the kids dressed up and looking nice.

(Also, Travis is the real MVP driving all over town finding clothes that fit Hayden last week! haha)

This dance was a more formal dance, and the theme was “Glitter and Gold Gala.”

We went to a friend’s house beforehand, so the girls could finish getting ready together. Then, most of the 8th graders from the kids’ school met up at a restaurant before the dance. The kids had a room to themselves, and they ate and hung out before the dance. The parents hung out for a bit too before heading home (and then back to pick the kids up at 10:30!) Saturday was a long day and a late night for all, but we enjoyed it.

On Sunday, Hadley and I baked some cookies.

Per tradition, we made Peanut Butter Blossoms, and we tried our hand at Cornflake Wreaths too. They were both delish. I think we might make the peanut butter cookies again because they didn’t last long at our house. This weekend, we might make them and the Chocolate Crinkle cookies we usually make.

Do you like my new mug? Landyn had a few seasonal things for sale, and I couldn’t resist.

Favorite Kid Quote:

Hadley was trying to persuade me about something, and I told her I would talk to Travis. She said, “Mom, everybody knows that moms are the man of the house” 😆 haha! #whereisthelie

Favorite Mom Meme:

LOL

Bonus Fave: Flashback Friday:

Oh my. Look at these cuties by the tree in 2010. I loved those little jammies…

…they had their names on their bottoms!

Weekly Recap:

Here are my posts from the week, including a couple of fun linkups and a stroll down memory lane:

NJAM
LEt’s Look
Ornaments

What are your weekend plans? We have some holiday fun and basketball on tap. Thankfully, I don’t have to get up early tomorrow, and I’m so excited about that.

See you back here on Monday!