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:

Ready early…

We were ready for church early today and so Brigham read to the kids (while baby slept).  They all looked so picutre perfect that I had to run for the camera.   Thayne just kept smiling so he got an extra shot.  I was feeling so blessed to be a mother… so full of joy that they are mine.

Our Nightly Routine

My wonderful husband reading Treasure Island to our kids.  (Amazing Shauna Dunn introduced me to the book, The Read Aloud Handbook, that has transformed many moments in our family to be more centered around reading.  Can’t recommend it enough!  Buy it!  It’s a yearly re-read and important reference book!)

done

Last Day as Bear Den Leaders

Brigham and I have been the Bear Den Leaders in our ward.  This week was our last meeting.  We did bike repair and safety.   I think our own kids enjoyed this each week even more than the scouts.

Swimming at the Marriott with Gma Diny!

Swinging

Conference Weekend

The talks that impacted me most this weekend were focused on the temple.

Powerful thoughts came to mind!  So grateful for these opportunites to seek improvement!

Here is a link to Elder Bednar’s talk (my favorite).

Here are some photos from our weekend.  Brigham’s parents came to our house to watch conference with us.

This is kind of a goofy photo of yours truly, but shows the posted menus that I collected from each family menu for “Karmel’s Cafe”.  Business hours are the first Sunday of each April and October from 8-10am.  It was a huge hit!  The kids are always hearing me say…. “You get what you get and don’t throw a fit.  This is not a cafe, it’s a cafeteria-just one option!”  So they were thrilled to get a huge list of things to choose from off their printed menus.  We all had fun making it and serving it restaurant style.  Below is Abby filling out her “Karmel’s Cafe” menu.

It’s a good thing the talks are posted on-line for future reading.  There is a danger in watching anything laying down!

Between sessions, we did “Grown Ups and Doughnuts”.  Each of the 4 kids picked a grown up and picked books from the huge assortment of new library books.  We read and ate donuts!   Happy kids…

Spring day at the park

We spent our day at the Pleasant Grove Discovery Park.  We met our cousins there and had such a wonderful time.  What a blessing to have family that are friends as well!  There is something just magical about children playing, sliding, swinging and laughing.  It makes life peaceful and filled with true joy.  I am blessed beyond!

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

Enjoy This Christmas Video

My friend Mishel, shared this video with me.  Her mother is Liz Lemon Swindle, the artist.  The music is by Kenneth Cope singing my favorite Christmas song.  Enjoy!

Christmas Video

Here’s our family decorating the tree this year.

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!”

Riding Horses with the Cousins

Family work day… fall leaves!

After our November American Mothers meeting, one of our presenters, Tamara, posted to our AMI blog a fantastic article on family work and it’s importance.  Here’s a link so you can have a look-it is sooooo worth your time to stop and read for a few minutes!  FAMILY WORK (read it-read it-read it)

Here’s the family raking a few leaves yesterday.  Brigham saw a professional leaf removal crew using this method of dumping the leaves into buckets and stomping them down prior to dumping into leaf bags.  We tried it and it is an amazing trick-and lots of fun too!  We love our family work time! 

Some summer updates…

It seems like I’ve been gone 1/2 the summer. We went to AZ for awhile to visit my mom and dad. While we were there, Gpa Dave passed away. I took the kids to see him at his care center and he passed away the next day. So we came back to UT and got ready to go to WA for his funeral. It was great to see all of my family and to celebrate his life.

Here’s my family of origin all grown up. Kids lined up from oldest to youngest. Yep-I’m #5!

Here’s the whole crowd at Priest Point Park right after Grandpa Dave’s funeral.

Our little collection of Larsons on Puget Sound in WA.

Following is a slideshow of pics so long that only grandparents would be interested to sit through. If you sit through the whole thing… you must be a really good friend or be really bored. Leave us a comment and say hello if you are in any of the above categories. We hope you are all making great family memories this summer! Love to you all!

Look mom, no training wheels!

Abby demanded to have her training wheels removed today. She did pretty well staying steady. (Disclaimer: She picks her own outfits.)

After I took her picture she of course wanted to take mine. It was a greasy hair day-hat day. My new stylist insists that I should wash my hair less so I’m trying to take her advice.

Baby sat peacefully watching us. He’s still got terrible skin covered in red, sore patches. Everyone I meet tells me what no-fail remedy I must try. His top two teeth are coming in with a huge gap! He eats like he’s 18!

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.

Easter 2008-Celebrating The Living Christ!

THE LIVING CHRIST
THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES
THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice. None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness. He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it. His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill. He entreated all to follow His example. He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead. He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come.

He instituted the sacrament as a reminder of His great atoning sacrifice. He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob, and sentenced to die on Calvary’s cross. He gave His life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift in behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.

We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.

He rose from the grave to “become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As Risen Lord, He visited among those He had loved in life. He also ministered among His “other sheep” (John 10:16) in ancient America. In the modern world, He and His Father appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, ushering in the long-promised “dispensation of the fulness of times” (Ephesians 1:10).

Of the Living Christ, the Prophet Joseph wrote: “His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:

“I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father” (D&C 110:3–4).

Of Him the Prophet also declared: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

“For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—

“That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:22–24).

We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth—”built upon the foundation of . . . apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20).

We testify that He will someday return to earth. “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him. Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.

THE FIRST PRESIDENCY THE QUORUM OF THE TWELVE

6 months ago at our Stake Conference, our leaders challenged the members of our stake to memorize, as families, the entire Living Christ. We took their challenge and taught our kids a few lines at a time. For Easter, we presented the whole memorized document to the best audience one could hope for… Grandparents! Then we had a great Easter egg hunt, a wonderful Lamb dinner, Grandma Beth listening to the kids piano playing and lots of good quality family time! We hope you all enjoyed your day of celebrating the Living Christ. Happy Easter!

First Day of Spring

Ben found the first flower in our yard and put it into Abby’s hair on the first day of Spring.  It was a moment begging to be photographed!

Ben was also giving Thayne Scooter lessons that same Spring day…

LaMont Easter Egg Hunt

Thanks LaMont Family for inviting us to your fun party!

New Cousin-Visiting Baby Roman Greene

My brother Dave finally got his “boy”. Welcome to the family Roman Richard Greene! We had a fun visit holding him. He makes our 5 month old Brig Jr. look like a big boy!

Book Buddies

This was taken last Saturday morning.  Ben grabbed a book and started reading while the others joined him one by one (ok, so I added the little guy in for the photo).  It was a moment when I was grateful that we don’t have a TV so that Saturday morning was filled with reading instead of cartoons.  (maybe “filled” is a little optimistic, but it was an enjoyable moment worth documenting!)  We are so blessed to have such great kids!

Happy Birthday Abigail-4 Years Old!

Abby turns 4 years old. We love you little sweetie.

We had a great family birthday party for Abby.  Nana and Tama came to celebrate with us and brought Abby a baby bed for her baby.  She is a perfect little mama who nurses her baby to sleep each night just like Mama Karmel.  She’s been wearing her birthday crown and earrings every day since her birthday.

Winter Wonderland

Our first snow of the year. The photos speak for themselves!

Student Becomes the Teacher

A few days ago we ventured to the Mapleton City Library.  I was quite pleased with myself for taking “all 4″ children to the Library by myself.  The trip was a success!  We loaded up the stroller basket with books, then met dado at the park for lunch, went to group piano lessons and headed for the homestead.  First thing upon entering the house, Ben loaded up all of the books next to himself on the couch and started reading.  Within a minute or so, Abby curled up next to him and asked him to read to her.  It was definitely a moment worthy of documentation.

A few summer memories 2007

Larson Family Photos 2007

Thanks Tama for being our photographer!

Book Buddies

This was last Saturday morning.  Ben decided he wanted to read… and one by one the kids all joined him on the couch (ok, so I added in the little guy for the photo).  It was a moment that I was grateful we didn’t have a TV, so that Saturday morning cartoons didn’t rob us of this great book buddies opportunity.  We’re so lucky to have such great kids!