It’s been a long and stressful week.
Doctor’s appointments that didn’t go the way I’d hoped, along with a canceled surgery, didn’t do my mental health any favors. Add in the end of the quarter with grades being due, and all in all…it just wasn’t the best week.
So I was really grateful to take a day for myself and finish an amazing tattoo my husband gifted me.
It takes up my whole back and it’s one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done. It has all of my kids’ birth flowers — flowers we’ll absolutely be adding to the butterfly garden. It also has four sharks, one for each kiddo.
A hammerhead for my oldest, who is brilliant, helpful, and incredibly scientific.
A thresher for my second, who is creative, smart, and honestly…a little wild sometimes.
A mako for my oldest twin — headstrong and determined (just like her momma).
And a nurse shark for my youngest twin — my sweet soul who gives the best hugs and kisses.
It was nice to have that time to myself and finish such a beautiful and meaningful piece.
Then the weekend came, and the weather felt like a breath of fresh air.
The sun was shining (so much that my very pale self is now sunburned), the wind was cool, and the temperature was perfect.
My husband knew I needed to get out of my head a little. So we grabbed the youngest, got coffee, and headed out for a garden run.
And let me tell you…
We bought so. many. plants.
We finished setting up the space for our butterfly, pollinator, and tea garden. We’ll be adding soil throughout the week and planting next weekend…because of course the weather forecast said “hold my beer” and decided to bring another cold front. Insert eye roll.
But we’re ready.
This weekend we brought home:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Pole beans
- Cucumbers
- Strawberries
- Squash
- Zucchini
- Okra
- Onions
- Lettuce
We also found an aloe plant, which I was ridiculously excited about…only to discover it had a pup, so technically I came home with two aloe plants.
Bonus.
We grabbed some really fun herbs too:
- Pineapple sage
- Apple mint
- Pineapple mint
I know this probably sounds like a bit of a ramble, but the possibilities with everything we’re growing feel endless.
And honestly, it was just really nice to spend time outside with my husband. As much as our kids are everything to us, it’s nice to step away sometimes and just go back to us.
Even if it was during nap time.
But hey — we’ll take it.
We also added a new section for herbs in the vegetable garden (check out the picture!). We’re planning to grow a bunch of them in gutters, which is honestly such a cheap and easy setup.
This summer our backyard is going to be alive.
Butterflies.
Dragonflies.
Fireflies (hopefully).
Bees.
Birds.
Hummingbirds.
We’re even adding beehives, which I’m ridiculously excited about. Fresh honey for baking, cooking, and tea — and we’ll be using the wax for chapsticks and candles too. How cool is that?
Between the herbs for infused olive oils, dried herbs for seasoning, and teas, plus all the vegetables (and potatoes too!) we’re hoping for a pretty amazing harvest this year.
We’re doing our best to live more intentionally.
And honestly?
There’s something really wonderful about the process.
Sun on your skin. Dirt under your nails. Growing food. Watching butterflies land on flowers your kids helped plant.
It’s messy, imperfect, and sometimes chaotic.
But man… it’s beautiful.
