Ambrosia Creative

Can’t possibly be any happier to find Easter eggs filled with candy and money.

Can’t possibly be any more thrilled to stop for a photo.

As Kai would put it, Easter weekend was epic (his word du jour). Grandma Kirk visited from California earlier this week, followed by a visit from Lola and Lolo who went all out with eggs and Easter baskets for the kids…leaving meeeee off the hook this year – sigh of relief! We’re dealing with some fallout though between the boys, one of which was not on board with splitting the money finds 50/50, but such is life and its tough (tough!) lessons.

We’re starting our full week of spring break tomorrow, kicking it off by going hog wild at a playdate, then running errands at Target, and possibly finishing it up with a chocolate milk bender.

Hope you have a happy Halloween! It’ll be our chilliest trick-or-treating experience ever, but we’re glad for the good fortune of even getting out tonight. Much like Irene of last year, Sandy didn’t reach inland NC. So be of calm heart my California friends that sent concerned texts and phone calls! Our thoughts go out those recovering from devastation and loss and also to all aid and rescue workers.

And this little Olivia…a very cute, albeit unlikely companion to my two ninjas don’t you think? As my kids have always been of the headstrong sort, I figured this would be the one year to foist my Halloween vision of a costume onto Mara. The oppression! I commissioned the talented Miranda to make an infant version of her popular Olivia the Pig costume. If you’re already thinking ahead to 2013, Miranda booked up pretty quickly around September and October FYI.

If you follow other Mormon bloggers, you may have caught an obligatory post or tweet that something called General Conference happened this weekend. I’m going to mention the same (smiley face) only because a wonderful change in church policy had been announced in which the age females could serve a mission is now 19, lowered from 21. Church leaders had previously said that the 21-years-of-age requirement was an effort to keep the number of women serving missions down. I personally found this limiting to women in the church, not to mention troubling since there is much emphasis on marrying off young. But upon hearing the announcement, I felt tears in my eyes because this means Mara has the choice to serve a mission sooner, just as her brothers may choose. It also means that church leaders finally realize that a larger female representation in the mission field is of importance and value. My hope is that the church is listening. Change is slow, but it’s happening.

Earlier this week we piled in a car along with Ryan’s parents visiting from California and day-tripped to Asheville, a very pretty city that reminded me of San Luis (which, incidentally, I gush about in a recent guest post for Molly at My Favorite Things). Lucky us, some crazy-crowded street fair was going on, and I have a tendency towards irritability with crowds, heat, and guys roaring out judgements and condemnations through a bull horn. But does any of that even matter when you get to enjoy a giant DONUT?

Mara sprouted some brand new teeth and I can’t help sharing. They’re barely visible, but trust me as a nursing mom — they are present and they are cute. Kee-yute. And I love the way babes eat. Not too many humans can get away with spitting sweet potato in your face or throwing that leg up on the table like a boss.

Unrelated, today marks exactly one year since we’ve made our cross-country move. We’ve come a long way from those first few weeks, now having beds and hot water and all. And despite my resistance and myopia, we’ve carved out a home for ourselves. It has been a year filled with joy, doubt, uncertainties, and vulnerabilities, but when I pause and step back for a look, I see that it is all trending positive.