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This month, we’re doubling up! May and June were jam-packed with memories, so I figured—why not combine the updates and make one big, happy recap?
There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!
May
Name Day Festivities
May is special to me because it’s the month of my Name Day—meniny in Slovak. If you’re not from a country that celebrates these, you’re probably thinking, what the heck is a Name Day? I get that a lot. Basically, it’s like having a second birthday, but instead of being tied to when you were born, it’s tied to your name. Every day of the year has names assigned to it—yes, actual names—and if yours falls on that date, you celebrate.
In Slovakia, you’ll find these names printed right there in the calendar. Usually, it’s just one or two names listed per day, even though more might be officially tied to it. Most kids are named from this list, and trust me, Name Days are a thing. You get messages, flowers, chocolates, and little gifts. At work, people might bring in treats for their coworkers, and it’s totally normal for everyone to stop by your desk with a smile and a “Happy Name Day!”
Growing up, it was a big deal. Almost as important as your actual birthday. But I’ve lived outside of Slovakia for over 25 years now, and the tradition has faded a bit for me. My husband and daughters don’t have Slovak names, so Name Days don’t pop up for them in any calendar.
This year, I asked my husband for one thing: a seafood boil. He absolutely delivered—crab legs, mussels, shrimp, corn, potatoes, and a whole lot of melted butter. And London, my daughter, wanted to give me a makeover. She curled my hair and did my makeup, and I felt loved and glowy and grateful. It was a simple yet special celebration.
Adventure Park Fun
Another fun thing we did in May was visit The Adventure Park in Nashville—not once, but twice! The first time was for a birthday party for one of our Slovak friends, and the second time was just a week later with my daughter’s friend and her mom. If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend it. It’s a total blast—full of ziplining, rope courses, and tree-climbing fun. According to their website, there are 162 challenge elements, 31 zip lines, 13 treetop trails, and five different difficulty levels. It’s a self-guided tree-to-tree climbing adventure that’s not just for kids—it’s truly fun for the whole family.
When you arrive, you check in, sign an electronic waiver, and go through a safety briefing. Then you harness up (with staff checking everything, so don’t worry!) and head over to the practice area to get the hang of the gear. Once you’re comfortable, it’s up to the Main Platform to start your adventure.
The first time we went, it was in the evening for one of their “Glow in the Park” events, which felt so magical. The trees and platforms were all lit up with glowing lights, and the whole place looked like something out of a fairy tale. The kids were off climbing and zipping around, while the adults got to hang out by the fire and have some real adult conversation—so rare and so appreciated.
The second time, I joined in the fun. It was my first time doing the course myself, and I have to say—it was awesome. My daughter, her friend, her friend’s mom, and I all started with the easiest trail to get comfortable. We were there for hours and had the best time. I should probably mention, though, that I could barely walk for the next two days. Apparently I used muscles that have been napping for years! !
End-of-School Activities
As May came to a close, so did the school year. That meant a flurry of field trips, end-of-school celebrations, award shows, and all the excitement that comes with wrapping up another school year.
A Surgery
But May also brought something much less fun: my daughter London had to have surgery. We had lots of doctor appointments, pre-op visits, and then the big day itself. Any surgery is scary, but it’s a whole different kind of worry when it’s your child. Thankfully, everything went well. After two nights in the hospital, we got to go home. It’s been a month now—the stitches are out, and she’s healing beautifully. She still has some activity restrictions, but she’s in great spirits and doing so well. I’m so proud of her.
June
My Birthday
And then came June, which started with my birthday! Yep—my Name Day and my birthday are exactly one week apart, so I usually get a double celebration. This year, with the timing around London’s surgery, we kept it pretty low-key. No big party or anything, but I still felt very loved. I got sweet messages, thoughtful gifts, delicious food, and honestly, that’s all I needed. One gift I especially loved was a beautiful bread basket—perfect timing, since I started my sourdough baking journey this year. If you’re curious, you can read more in the full post here.
One-on-One Weekends with Brooklyn
As you might know, I’ve started a tradition of doing one-on-one weekends with each of my daughters. Since London got two in a row (thanks to our Boston trip in April), it was Brooklyn’s turn—and I owed her two back-to-back weekends. So in June, we spent two weekends at the lake, just the two of us, and it was fabulous.
We watched a bunch of great cartoons—Moana, Moana 2, Wish, Over the Moon, Migration, Home, and Back to the Outback, to name a few. We had delicious food: French toast, cucumber salad, gluten-free spaghetti, salads, fruit, and the usual Chipotle and Starbucks runs. We played so many games, including a bunch of new ones we just got—like Yeti in My Spaghetti, Hedbanz, Sum Swamp, and of course, Throw Throw Burrito—and even did some cross-stitching together.
On the way home, we made a spontaneous stop at The Walls Art Park in Waverly, TN. It’s this amazing outdoor space where graffiti artists are encouraged to fill the walls with art. The park has 30 walls and 80 painting spots, and it’s open every single day from dawn to dusk. What’s really cool is that the art is always changing—old murals get painted over with new ones, so every visit feels different. If you’re ever in the area, it’s 100% worth a stop. Here’s the link in case you want to check it out:
There are a few park guidelines (which you can find on the website or at the park itself), but overall, it’s a space for creativity to flow—and it really feels like you’re walking through a living, breathing gallery.
That’s a Wrap on May and June
Looking back, May and June had a little bit of everything—celebrations, challenges, laughter, healing, and a whole lot of love. Life moved fast, but it left behind some beautiful memories. I’ll be carrying these memories with me as we step into whatever July has in store for us.
Thanks for reading, until next time. 💛
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