Hello, week 19.

I spent the beginning part of the week getting my garden in.

This is my third year gardening, and I think it will be my most productive year.

I planted Jet Star tomatoes, Super Sweet 100 tomatoes, sweet mint, cilantro, red bell pepper, basil, thyme, rosemary, and oregano.  I already have blossoms on two of my tomato plants.  Grow, plants, grow!

This week I ate almond butter pancakes every morning.

Seriously, so good.

And we took a big trip to Home Depot to finish off some last minute projects.

And Kate’s class had a Mother’s Day Tea.  Kate refused to let me have any of the tea.  Or any of the Mother’s Day snacks.  She permitted me to watch her eat the Mother’s Day spread.  I guess with this giant baby belly, she figures I’ve had enough to eat.

I hung around with the other parents and watched her play on the playground with her amigos.  It’s no wonder she comes home with banged up knees.  What a wild girl.  I’m crying because she only has two more weeks of school before we head into the long, school-less summer.

It’s week 18.

And it was a big week in preparation for our friend’s wedding on Saturday.

Kate and I both got hair cuts.  (Her first hair cut was back in October.)

And I prepped for my Duluth Trading Post blog post and giveaway (you can still enter!).

Unfortunately I couldn’t get any pictures of Kate actually walking down the aisle since I was behind her and trying to stay out of the way.

But I managed to snap these shots of her playing around the water feature after the ceremony.

And these of her playing corn hole with her Meme and Papa Mark.  I think they let her cheat.

We’re so proud of how she handled her flower girl duties.  She did so well, we’re thinking of renting her out.  Any takers?

It’s week 17.

Kate and I were bachelorettes this week while Dan was in Europe for a work trip.  It was a long week.

Kate got into the clips for my hot rollers.  Belle ate paper products.  I don’t know how moms and dads who go solo all the time manage not to pull their hair out with both hands and run shrieking down the street.

Fortunately we had lots of activities to keep us busy, including gymnastics.  I tried Kate in ballet, and she liked it well enough.  But she loves loves gymnastics.  That kid is so darn flexible.  And she can flip herself around that bar all on her own.

I also signed Kate up for a Princess Belle meet and greet at a local indoor play place.

She’s deep into the princess phase now, and she loved meeting Princess Belle.  Princess Belle made all the little girls anointed princesses, complete with a certificate that our Belle promptly ate.  Oh well.

I’m still teaching BodyStep and feeling good.  I plan to teach until my water breaks or contractions start.  Whichever comes first.  It feels good to move, and I like to keep to my routine at all costs.  Doing my thing feels good.  I’m not about to sit on my couch just waiting for this kid to make his debut.  I do tend to scare my participants when I jump over the bench   Whatever, Fairfax hospital is right down the street.  He he

Hi, week 16.

Another nice week around here.  Well deserved since winter rudely hung around much longer than it was welcome.

Kate insisted on chocolate cake and Cheez Its for lunch one day.  I allowed it.  A preschooler tantrum?  Ain’t nobody got time for that.

And she continues to be a clothes horse.  Girlfriend changes her clothes approximately 18 times a day.  On this day, she finally selected black and white polka dot shorts, a blue paisley shirt, and a gold cardigan.

Oh, and my front yard was in bloom with lovely tulips.

And then a pack of deer came and ate all the tops off of my tulips.  So now I have a front yard full of tulip stems and no beautiful flowers.  I thought that was why we have a coonhound, for barking and chasing away deer.

We ended the week with a trip to the circus.  Last year Kate liked the cirus, but this year she loved the circus.  She said the trapeze portion of the show was her favorite.  Apparently the circus is tiring because after she promptly fell asleep in the car.

Hey, week 15.

Nice weather finally makes it’s way into Northern Virginia.

We spent some time chasing Kate up and down our street on her two-wheeler.

And we were in charge of the class bear, again.  Just glad we got him back to school without any Belle-sized holes torn out of his body.

We also met playgroup at the park.

I love this age because Kate can navigate the playground equipment by herself, allowing me to watch from below.  This is good because I’m not sure my 30-week plus belly can fit between those narrow playground bars.

We ended the week with a wedding.  It’s rare I get out of my exercise clothes or uniform of leggings and tank tops.  It was fun to be fancy.  Plus the weather was awesomely delightful, and Dan and I got to spend time with his parents, brother, and his brother’s lovely girlfriend.  A check plus weekend.

Hi, week 14.

I failed to order more color ink, so I’m rocking some black and whites in this layout.

While Dan distracted Kate, I quickly tossed (I mean…carefully hid) some eggs in our backyard.

Unlike last year, Kate was totally into hunting for eggs this year.  I just about peed my pants each time she found one and screamed GREEN ONE or OH, MAMA, PINK ONE!

In other news, I ordered Glennon Melton’s new book, Carry On, Warrior.  I read Momastery on and off, and I’m a fan of Glennon’s work.

This book was wonderful.  It inspired me to think about who I am as a mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, person.  And I love her philosophy on spirituality and religion.  I’ll fully review this book in an upcoming post along with some other books I’ve read recently.

And, in sad news, I spilled an ENTIRE cup of coffee all over my laptop, pajamas, the couch cushions, and the floor.  When I tilted my laptop, coffee came pouring out of it.  Luckily, Dan heard my colorful exclaimation of language after the incident and came running to perform emergency surgery on my laptop.

It appears to be working.  And fortunately we have a computer rider on our homeowner’s insurance in case my computer starts acting wonky.

Whomp, whomp.  I’m sure glad I married a computer engineer.

It’s week 13.

I made a yummy tortellini soup with a bunch of random stuff I had on hand, played princesses and puzzles, and it was warm enough for some coonhound lounging outside.

Obviously one needs to wear one’s tutu while playing puzzles.

Clearly.

In other news, Dan and I snagged last minute tickets to see Aziz Ansari (a.k.a. Tom Haverford on Parks and Rec).  We don’t usually do spontaneous, so this was a treat.

The show was at DAR Constitution Hall downtown, so we had dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant before the show.  Aziz did not disappoint.  If you have the chance to see him, go!

We spent Saturday afternoon at my parent’s house for a little early Easter egg hunt and my sister’s birthday celebration.  Kate loved hunting for egg’s at Susie’s house (a.k.a my mom), and it was a good thing we took advantage of the lovely weather because the actual Easter Sunday ended up being rainy and yucky.

Oh, and if you’re thinking, wow, Sarah, getting artsy with the black and white, I have to say, no, it’s just that my printer ran out of ink.

Until next time.

Hello, there, week 12.

Another pretty typical week.

I read Brene Brown’s Daring Greatly, and so far it’s my favorite read of the year.

Kate is also showing signs of playing by herself for more than two minutes at a time.

She likes to set her little table and “bake” in her kitchen.  Although when I ask her to make something for me, she declines.

“Mama, don’t talk to me because I have to bake.”

…In other news…I passed my AFAA group fitness certification.  After taking an eight-hour-long training and performing both practical and multiple choice tests, I’m relieved I passed.

And that’s all she wrote!

It’s week 11.

Playing a little bit of Project Life catch up.

The weather’s been yucky around here, so I’ve been listening to music that reminds me of summer.

And I’ve been trying the new Cover Girl 3-in-1 foundation, which, I’m happy to report, is my new favorite foundation of all time.

While the weather hasn’t felt like spring, I stocked up on spring/summer clothes for Kate (and some for me) at Old Navy.

My tulips have no regard for the cold temperatures and insist on popping up.  Here’s hoping they make it!

Come on spring, we’re ready for you!

Hello, week 10.

Playing a little catch up.

Another week, another trip to the grocery, another bribery donut.  Chocolate icing with sprinkles, obviously.

And froot loops and poptarts for breakfast.  Whatever works.

I also spent the week busting through books on my Kindle.

And removing Kate’s crown and tutu she insists on sleeping with.

And a little ray of sunshine this week:  a postcard from Hawaii from my friend, Rachel, who got married in Hawaii!  How awesome is that?  Definitely more exciting than our week