“Would you ever consider a Monday update?” a reader named Molly commented a while back. “It could complement to the ‘Have a Great Weekend’ posts. I’m always curious how the party went, which dress you chose, how the movie was, etc.” I’ve done a few weekend recaps since then, and here’s another — and please share your own in the comments…

Long-time readers may be as shocked as I am that Toby is LEARNING TO DRIVE. Time flies! We’ve been taking our old VW to empty parking lots so he can get the hang of accelerating, braking, turning, parking, and giving me a heart attack every now and again.

Also, on a walk through Manhattan, I came across an all-cat bookstore in the East Village. I took a photo for my cat-loving niece, along with a promise to bring her there next time she visits.

On Saturday, we went to the bar mitzvah of a beloved family friend, which was an absolute joy from start to finish. He did an incredible job standing in front of a synagogue full of 12- and 13-year-olds (the most discerning audience) and sharing his interpretation of the Torah.

Afterward, we sang, danced, ate pizza, and played arcade games…

…but the preteens were probably most entranced by the self-cleaning toilet across the street. It was low-key sick, as they say.

I was also moved by this congratulatory note from the boy’s uncles. What a wise and beautiful sentiment to hear at age 13.

Also, over the past week, I photographed people in Brooklyn for a street style issue of Big Salad (free for all)…

…so I laughed when I ran into a stranger this weekend and realized we were dressed exactly alike.

Finally, the boys and I are celebrating Mother’s Day tonight (since they were with their dad yesterday) and might see the movie The Sheep Detectives — we keep hearing great reviews. “In the 1980s and ’90s, movie studios routinely released family-friendly, PG-rated movies that actually lived up to that rating: They were intended for the whole family to watch, with parental guidance,” wrote Alissa Wilkinson in The New York Times. “Mature themes — death, divorce, other of life’s darker elements — might be mixed into lighter comedy. They weren’t kids’ movies that adults could endure, but meant for audiences of varied ages.” Have you seen it?

So! What were you up to this weekend? Walks? Books? Ice cream? I’d love to hear the highs, the lows, anything you’d like to share. xoxoxo

P.S. Lots of fun things, and are you religious?