There's lots to do this weekend, especially with Mother's Day coming up. (Note to Dads: See below for some ideas).

But I'm going to have to start by plugging our TriangleMom2Mom launch party.

It's 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, at Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., in downtown Raleigh. We'll have the usual fun at Marbles, plus live performances from Cotton the Clown, Trish Miller and the Sandbox Band. You can meet some of our featured bloggers and eat some free cake too.

Normal admission applies ($5 per person), but there will be some giveaways and deals.

Please come and introduce yourself!

In this week's Family Outing column in The N&O's What's Up section, I feature the Carolina Ballet's Sleeping Beauty and the other Sleeping Beauty - City Ballet's twist on the classic tale.

The Carolina Ballet's performance at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh runs May 15 to May 18. And with ticket prices between $15 to $65 a piece, it might not be the best place to find out if your child can sit through an entire ballet.

Tickets are $7 for the City Ballet's performance at Ravenscroft School in North Raleigh. It runs today through Sunday. Kids might enjoy watching the dancers - kids themselves ages 4 to 18 - on stage. And the classical score is mingled with some popular music, which might help with short attention spans.

Still, activities are planned for kids at the Carolina Ballet's performance as well. At 10:30 a.m., May 17, girls and boys can come dressed as princesses and princes for a costume contest. The ballet is something I'll take my daughter too. Just not sure she's ready yet at age 3.

Check out Durham's Museum of Life and Science bat program on Saturday. Pre-registration is required for many of the programs, including a couple by Rob Mies, a TV personality and director for the Organization of Bat Conservation, but, as of Thursday afternoon, there were spots available.

There are several Mother's Day events as well.

The rangers over at Eno River State Park are offering two hikes — the Mother's Day Weekend Mountain Laurel Hike, at 2 p.m., Saturday, and the Mother's Day Stroll, at 10 a.m., Sunday. These walks are not stroller friendly, so don't plan on bringing it. Make sure you call ahead to pre-register for the free hikes and so you can find out the exact locations.

Cary also is offering some Mother's Day-themed events. There's still time to sign up for Cary's Mother's Day Ball, 7 to 10 p.m., Saturday. The ball, $17 per person for Cary residents and $22 for non-Cary residents, includes music, refreshments and a 5x7 family photo (get there at 6 p.m if you want a photo). Moms, kids, dads, grandmas and everyone else is welcome. Registration is required.

The Stevens Nature Center's Celebration of Nature (a celebration of Mother Nature on Mother's Day) is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve in Cary. No registration required. Lots of free activities, programs and ice cream.

For more events this weekend and next week, check out our calendar.

Every Friday, TriangleMom2Mom.com features family-friendly events coming up.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!