Exploring American Fork Canyon Today

done

Summer Updates

Our Cousin Playdate with the Greene’s

Playin’ at Daddy’s Gig

Culdesac of Fire in July

Cousin Raya’s Birthday Party

At the park with cousin Livy in St. George

Clint and Lucy Lee Wedding at Logan Temple

This family is very dear to us!  Brigham was able to help reactivate them to the church while he served his mission in France.  We were invited to attend the Temple wedding of their daughter Lucy on June 27th at the Logan Temple.  It was a beautiful day of celebration and joyful reunion.

Speaking at Sugar House Rotary

Here I am with Steve Knudsen and his wife at the Rotary Meeting.  He called me the day after the Deseret News article published a piece highlighting my platform with this quote: 

“Up until this point, I was just a really passionate mom,” she said. “But does the Rotary want a really passionate mom to come speak? No, they want Mrs. Utah or someone with a title. People will listen if I have a title instead of just ‘mom,’ and already that’s the case.”

I was impressed with their group and grateful to be a part of their meeting.  They were so gracious, so entertaining and so service oriented.  I like their motto:  SERVICE ABOVE SELF!

I am so in love with you….

Professional photography by Marc Olivier, Take Out Photo

“My heart is ever at your service.”
–William Shakespeare

Miss Provo Pageant

The Miss Provo Pageant was last night and I attended with some friends.   I thought the talents were inspiring.  So much discipline, training and practice to prepare such refined talents.  It was really great!  Here I am with the new Miss Provo and below with Miss Utah, Kayla Barclay, who was the night’s MC.  Emily Nelson, Mrs. Utah United States 2008, was one of the judges. (An interesting note:  this was the first pageant I’ve ever attended in the audience, since my first pageant experience EVER, I was on the stage side of things.)

Program Book Ad For Nationals

Photos and Design by Chad Braithwaite, Faces Photography

Our friend, John Pestana, in the news…

I just found this article in the Daily Herald, highlighting the new business of our friend John Pestana.  Check out his website at exactrail.com to learn more about his model trains.  John hosts the monthly movie club that Brigham started.

Here’s the article

Photo by MARIO RUIZ,Daily Herald

Look out, Lionel. A new Orem-based model railroad business, ExactRail, has embarked on a journey that the company’s founders hope will eventually take the “new kid on the tracks” to the peak of the industry.

ExactRail, co-founded by Chris Clune and John Pestana, designs and manufactures model trains in HO and N scales.

“We want to become the largest train company in the world,” said Pestana, who lives in Provo. “We estimate Lionel has sales of around $100 million per year. There’s our benchmark.”

It’s a….

I had a prenatal visit today and the ultrasound changed my due date to 11/28/09.  One month sooner.  So I’m 15 weeks right now and they were able to see the sex….  the video tells all!

done

We are moving!

This Friday is our move day.  Life is full!  Very, very full!

My big suprise from my amazing husband!!!!!!!!!

As we were exiting the Covey Center For the Performing Arts and I thought we were getting into the car to drive home, Brigham said, “You’re not going home Mrs. Utah”.   He pulled out the key to the penthouse suite of the Hines Mansion, which is directly across the street from the Covey.  I was so stressed at first (what about the kids, and I don’t have any stuff and I left the house a wreck and, and, and…..)  Then he told me he had cleaned the entire house, scheduled an all night babysitter (even setting out breakfast for everyone to make it easier), he had arranged rides home for our kids, packed our overnight bags and already had them delivered and waiting at the penthouse suite along with a table set with celebration food and sparkling cider!  Do I have the world’s most awesome husband OR WHAT??????????????  Pretty fab Mr. Utah!  I LOVE HIM!  I LOVE HIM!  I LOVE HIM!  It was the perfect fantasy ending to our amazing journey together.  He’s been nothing but supportive and excited the entire time.  I thought he was supportive throughout the pageant process… he has totally blown me away with support now that I am tackling the promotion of my platform.  Everyday he asks how he can help.  He takes the kids for hours, days at a time!  He is spearheading the obtaining of sponsors to support TEAM Decency.  He is working on my presentation powerpoint slides.  He is tracking down website designers and being my videoographer and youtube techie for my weekly video updates.  HE IS THE IDEAL MAN!  I’m so grateful for our wonderful partnership.  It is going to be an exciting year together.

Our celebration feast!  He spoils me!

Two lines=#5 on 12/28/08 :)

My first weekly video update for TEAM Decency!

Support TEAM Decency and receive weekly updates by e-mailing me at karmel.larson@gmail.com, subject line: TEAM Decency Weekly Update.  Each week will contain ideas on how you and your family can “Declare Decency”.

Easter 2009

Swinging

New updates to our family page

Thank you to Chad at Faces Photography for the beautiful photos!

The Larsons… Never a dull moment!

Dado-Brigham

He’s the best dad on the planet… the kids call him, “Super-Hero-Dado”. When he’s not giving tractor rides or reviving an old piano…you might find him at a Jazz gig or watching an old film with friends at movie club. He’s a big thinker… always a new idea or invention at the forefront of his mind!

Mama-Karmel

Motherhood is her passion!  Educating her children is her peak joy.   She thrives on the social interaction and goodness found with American Mothers, yet also loves the solitude of quiet country life at home canning, baking, gardening, collecting eggs and reading books in our mini orchard.

Benjamin Greg-Ben Ben

Ben is our social scholar!  His latest concern was that he “has too many friends and not enough time to play with them all”.  He’s the kid at the park who is introducing himself to everyone and organizing a game.  FYI-Ben’s current favorite color is “hot lava color”.

Abigail Diana-Abby Diny

Sweet little Abigail!  She’s got her daddy’s musical ears-always heading to the piano to plunk out a song she’s singing.  Abby is mama’s little helper too-frequently requesting new chores to be added to her list.  Her latest request to be “in charge” of “putting Thanye down for his nap”.

Thayne Richard-Danger, Thayne-a-punim

Quick… hide the breakables.  Actually, don’t bother-he’ll climb, jump or fly to find them.  He’s our active delight!  Curly headed, giggling kid!

Brigham Walter Jr.-Briggy, Brig Jr, Baby, Buddy, Little Guy

He’s cute, cuddly, fills our home with joy.

We are so blessed!

We are so in love

More new family photos coming soon…

File a Complaint Against Fox’s Family Guy

As Director of the Utah County Chapter of Parents Television Council, I invite you to read and take action below.

It is alarming that content such as what is listed below can be shown on a Sunday evening during family viewing hours.  What is really scary is that many people consider the show to be a cartoon as opposed to an animated drama and therefore don’t consider its content prior to allowing their children to watch it.  What a deceiving title-”family guy”.  Oh the adversary is sooooo wise!  This kind of stuff motivates me to speak out!

From the PTC website:

Should a Sunday night cartoon show YOUR children bestiality, gay orgies and babies eating sperm?

Fox thinks so.

Create-I love this video!

Thanks to Cherie Burton for sharing this with me.  Love it!  We are gearing up to “create our garden”.  Also planting new blueberries, raspberries, grapes and and herb garden this year.

Home school has been my current greatest joy of creation as well.

Love to you all!  Enjoy-

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.

Great Website

Check out www.nutritiondata.com for great resources on knowing what it is you are eating. I’m focusing on calories, but it has TONS of other info as well!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-27 Christmas 2008

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.

On-line Christmas Letter

Going green this year!  If you didn’t get our e-mail Christmas Letter… here it is (and please send us your e-mail so we can include you in the future).

Larson Family Christmas Letter 2008

Thrillionaires

We had a fantastic conference weekend! Brigham’s parents came for the weekend and we made some great memories!  Here is the final scene of the Thrillionaires show we attended Saturday night after priesthood session.

Here is Brigham with the cast after the show.

And with me, his biggest fan between shows.

We enjoyed the four sessions of conference with a burning fire, way too much food, great family bonding and lots of APPLES!  It’s harvest time at our house and we’ve got apples EVERYWHERE!  So blessed with abundance!

Rewarding Women With Reflexology

Many years ago, my mom developed chronic pain. She suffers from a condition called trigeminal neuralgia. Those who suffer from this chronic condition have nicknamed it the suicide disease because the pain is so intense. She is an amazing woman who keeps going despite this powerful challenge that has been thrown into her life. Sometimes the pain is so great and intense that it causes her to unintentionally scream out in pain when an “electrifying shock” hits her unexpectely.

Riding Horses with the Cousins

Conference Weekend Family Photos

Permission To Shine

Thanks for commenting Amy on my previous post regarding Botox and welcome to my blog.  I’m not sure who you are but I welcome your thoughts and opinions.  I agree whole-heartedly that women should put an emphasis on their physical beauty.  In fact, having decided to participate in Mrs. Utah in April to promote Decency, I would definitely consider myself a student of physical beauty and how to improve my own appearance.  I believe that how I am received physically not only has bearing on my own self-worth and level of confidence but also impacts my ability as a leader and to attract others to join in my non-profit work and to be interested in supporting and following the various causes I feel compelled to promote.

Big Boy Briggy turns 1!

I love this boy!  He brings pure joy to our lives!

Mrs. Utah United States Candidate-2009

After being inspired by many women (Kelly Anderson of Startup Princess and Cherie Burton of Bluerose Communications) who have participated in this event and report it to be a very powerful experience in self-improvement, I’ve decided to become a candidate myself.  Yes, I’ll be putting myself on the line and wearing a swimsuit on stage, parading around in 4 inch heals.  Not really something I ever thought I would do, but I’m exited to meet the challenge head on.  After 4 babies in 5 years, I’ll need to work at this one!  I start with a personal trainer next Saturday.  You can visit her website at www.lizrosenbaumfitness.com.  I’m thrilled at the prospect of reclaiming my fitness level and feeling confident in a swimming suit once again.  I never wanted to be the kind of mom who sits out on the side of the pool.

More importantly though, I’m intrigued by this opportunity as an avenue to promote the work I’ve been doing with American Mothers and Parents Television Council.  You can visit my new website to view my platform.  I hope that you will consider donating to support my efforts to Declare Decency.

Mark your calendar for April 25th 2009 and come to the pageant held at the Covey Center For the Performing Arts in Provo, Utah.

Be Good For Something

I’ve been working on a simple new website in an effort to combine the many aspects of my life into one on-line area. I put the following quote on my home page.

“You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others…

Click Here to Read the Entire Speech: STAND UP FOR TRUTH

I was present at this address just beginning my 2nd year of college at Brigham Young University. The message was so powerful it transformed my

Realtor-Celebrity Idol

Tonight was the Utah County Association of Realtors summer party at the American Fork Ampitheater.  Brigham volunteered to be in the throw together realtor 70’s funk band!  It was great entertainment!

That’s Brigham on the far right.  Click here to see more photos.

First Day of First Grade!

My mom rocks!

A few weeks ago I had a really wretched day of motherhood. I had been hit, kicked, spit on, noses wiped on my shoulder, told that I’m mean (the worst mom in the world actually), cleaned up half a tube of toothpaste smeared all over body parts, wiped up pee and poop, swept up a full container of hot chocolate powder dumped on the floor and used as an indoor sandbox (after sweeping it into a pile and leaving the room to get the dustpan… they got into it again and re-distributed it all over the kitchen floor-unreal!), bathed mud covered children who had unhooked the sprinklers I had strategically placed to repair the lawns dead yellow spots, to create mud holes where mud holes should not be, and I took all four kids to nursery at church while I attended a preparedness class followed by chasing kids with wipes trying to catch all of the blue frosting from cookies as they ran about dropping frosting everywhere despite my repeated demands that they sit and eat or hand over the treats!

By the time we got home, I was not feeling the joy of motherhood. I was feeling battered, beaten, hen pecked, exhausted and discouraged. Do you ever feel this way? Then one of those moments occurred that washes away the pains of a hard day of parenting and returns my mother heart to peace and love and reminds me of the greater eternal perspective of what I am trying to achieve.

After nursing, brushing everyone’s teeth and saying our family prayer, I tucked everyone into bed and sat down on the stairs between the two kid bedrooms and began our children’s hour routine. This relaxes me as much as it does the children. After the last story, Abby came over to me and asked if I would rock her like a baby and she could wear her rocking shirt until she falls asleep. I dismissed this idea and told her to get back into her bed and that it was too late. She persisted and after saying good night to the boys, I turned again to Abby and she had retrieved her “rocking shirt” and brought it to me. She was given a shirt from Brigham’s parents that says, “My mom ROCKS”. I realized in that moment, as she stood there in nothing but her underwear, holding up her “rocking shirt” for me to see, that she understood this phrase to mean that her mom holds and rocks her. My heart collapsed with and intense outpouring of love for this sweet four year old and her plea to be held, rocked and loved. My terrible day flashed before me and it was immediately washed away by this one moment of intense love.

I helped her pull the “rocking shirt” over her messy-end-of-the-day-tangled ponytails and scooped her up in my arms. We sat down together in my Great Grandma May’s rocking chair and began to slowly rock. We rocked and rocked and rocked as I stroked Abby’s hair and soaked in the joy of motherhood. I reflected on Abby’s simple interpretation of “My Mom Rocks” and re-evaluated my role as mother. To be a mom that truly “ROCKS” is to take time to “rock” and to take time for all of the other activities that mean so much in a little ones life. I hope I’ll remember what Abby taught me tonight and focus more on being a mom that “rocks”.

I snuck back into her room and captured this photo. You can see her “rocking shirt”. My little sweetie, Abby.

The New Tire Swing!

Despite being WAAAAAY too busy and overextended with his many obligations and responsibilites, Brigham made time last week to spontaneously put up a tire swing.  It’s been a daily delight every day since!

Parents’ Television Council

I volunteered to be named the PTC Director for Utah County.  I’ve started a new blog to record and promote my efforts with this worthy organization.  Its mission is closely aligned with work I am already doing with American Mothers and the white ribbon campaign.  I’ve been very impressed with their funding, organization, message and political power.  It’s a simple way for me to feed my activist desire with just a few hours a month from home.  Want to join my effort?  It’s free and such a worthy cause!

Possible Thrills Theater

Brigham is helping the Thrillionaires to possibly acquire their own bit of real estate.  This may be an option

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.

Bremen piano sample-Brigham jazzing it up!

Click here to hear Brigham playing Ben’s song on the Bremen piano

Ben’s First Day at Hobble Creek Elementary

We decided to add public school kindergarten to our  curriculum!  Ben had a great first day!  His new teacher is Mrs. Brimhall.

February AMI Chapter Meeting, Celebrating Motherhood!

For our February 2008 Chapter meeting, we brought our daughters to enjoy a discussion on what we love about being mothers!

Abby was so darling about going to her first “American Mommies” meeting.  I made her a simple invitation that she carried around with her for days.  She insisted on bring her baby so that she could show everyone that she was a mommy too.