New giggin’ gear!

Brigham is pretty excited about his new additions to his gigging piano.  I think he’s the only professional pianist locally that brings a real piano, not just an electric keyboard.  It’s a good think he’s built like an ox, because he frequently moves it entirely by himself.  He’s having so much fun!

Sushi Father’s Day

For Father’s Day, we went to the Asian Food Market and bought ingredients for some of Brigham’s favorite Sushi and Thai recipes.  Then we watched you tube for instructions and had some fun results.  Here are the sushi photos:

Swinging

I’m Back

It’s been almost a 2 month break since I have last made a blog entry.  We decided to home school again and I have been pouring my energy into setting up our daily routines, curricula and learning centers!  I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING!!!  I couldn’t be happier!  Here are some photos to update family and friends on the last 2 months of “Larson Life”!

Briggy Jr. is almost ready for nursery!

Every morning he joins dado at the piano or does a squatting-dancing-jig making us all laugh.

Thayne loves his new trike in any weather!

Mom and Briggy at Gateway Discovery Museum.  We went there for Abby’s Birthday.

Here I am with my Visiting Teacher, Carolyn.  Brig and I have been newly called as the Ward Bear Den Leaders!

Ben’s first batch of bread-he was so proud of himself!

We had to call poison control when Briggy Jr. got into dado’s shoe polish.

A homeschooling moment.

Abby diligently studying her music theory.

Ben shoveling Thayne.

Our snow shoveling buddies!  They wanted to surprise dad with a clean driveway when he got home!

Buddy #4 warmly watching from inside and cheering them on.

The spaghetti photo for the grandparents.

Abby started dance in January.  She is crazy about dancing!!!!!!!

Abby turned 5 in January.  She now has her own e-mail and is about to launch her own blog.  If you want to e-mail her… contact me and I’ll hook you up.

We finished reading Charlotte’s Web and started reading Alcatraz vs. the evil librarians.

For Valentine’s Day we made these mouse mail boxes and went to the Homeschooling Friends party.

Here’s Thayne with his Valentine’s Box.

Here’s my headshot for Mrs. Utah.

These are the wonderful 26 contestants.  I’ve really been impressed by these women and enjoyed getting to know them.

Brigham playing football with Ben in the backyard between pruning our trees.  That’s our new goat Sophie.

Ben, Dado, Sophie and the football.

This is our second goat-Annie.  Yep, we milk her every night and the kids LOVE it!  We’ll see how long that lasts! 

Sophie.

Our first ourside meal of 2009!  We are so excited for Spring to help our yard come alive so we can play outside everyday!  Looking forward to lots of playdates!

Now if you are still reading…. you must be either my mom, mother-in-law or one of my closest best friends.  (or weird internet stalker… why else would you read such a LONG entry?)  So if you are in one of the first three categories… leave me a comment and let me know how you are doing!  Love Karmel

Our Sunbeam’s New Trike

Brigham and I had a Sushi date last Saturday and afterwards stopped by DI for a treasure hunt.  Brigham spotted an old rusted trike for a few bucks that I told him wasn’t worth buying.  Nonetheless, he picked it up and took it home with a vision.  A few hours later, he had it stripped apart, repainted, greased, buffed up, back together, tightened up and one super-happy three year old riding it around our house!  WOW!  What an awesome dad!  Thayne’s first Sunday of Sunbeams was this weekend.

Guest Artist

Brigham was invited to play with the Timpview Jazz Ensemble as the guest artist for their Christmas Concert!  His solos were amazing!  I wish I knew how to do digital recordings onto the blog so you could enjoy them.  He was just on-fire that night and lit up the stage!  So lucky to be his wife!

Here are the kids in their seats before the show started… eagerly awaiting their dad’s performance.  When Brigham got up on the stage, Ben turned around and loudly told everyone behind him, “That’s my dad!”

Jazz Instructor

Brigham has always been asked over the years if he would teach piano.  Well, he’s now taking students and he loves it.  Here he is with one of his students. 

Sailing on Utah Lake

Brigham and I had a fantastic night out with our good friends Norm and Ingrid Sorensen.  They generously took us sailing on their boat out on Utah Lake.  It was a beautiful night watching the sun set and sharing ideas and great conversation together.  Such a blessing to connect with good people who inspire and improve your lives.  I’m so grateful for all of the good friends I’ve been blessed with!  Ingrid took this photo of Brigham and I.

Where Careers Collide

Many of you are aware that Brigham and I are entrepreneurs at heart! We’ve have many, many businesses over the years together. We love working together and sharing the family responsibilities as well as work duties. We are dreamers, planners and partners in just about everything we do. Our current businesses are Real Estate, Piano Tuning (830-0011) and Brigham’s Jazz Trio Gigs (in no particular order of course). I thought a few of you might enjoy this video from the Utah Valley Association of Realtors Summer Event. “Brigham the Realtor” was asked to be “Brigham the Pianist” for the throw together “Realtor Funk Band”. In a once in a lifetime appearance and co-mingling of careers, here is my hubby… sporting dreadlocks and pink velvet. Enjoy! -Karmel

This post begs for comments… come on-drop a line!

Music in the park

Our family had our FHE at Pioneer Park in Provo last night with the Paul Burnside Band filling the air with fun tunes. Abby danced her legs off and made a new best friend with the singer’s daughter, Emma. Ben played baseball with a group of boys, swung for hours and ran around. Thayne cuddled and danced with me while baby played quietly like a little angel the whole time. The weather was just perfect. We are headed back next Monday night to hear the Celtic Harps play as part of the Provo Art Council’s Summer Series.

Paul Burnside Band

If you would like to have access to copy, download, or order prints of any of these photos, you can visit our on-line photo website . There are many more prints to view of this gig as well through that link. This slide show is just a small sampling.