"Where's My Chair?"

I thought this picture was funny! This will be Norm after I die! I had just posted about my habit of collecting things so that I can organize and about how messy my office is - then I came across this picture! Maybe I need to rethink my habits!

Busy, Busy, Busy....

We have had soooo many fun, exciting, great, awesome things happening in our family -








Norm, along with his dad and two brothers - Jeremy and Scott, helped his brother Jeff move across country to Pennsylvania. While en route they stopped and visited lots of Church History sites, including: Carthage Jail, Nauvoo, Kirtland Temple, and the Sacred Grove. I am totally jealous as I have ALWAYS wanted to do that (not the moving part, or the driving for 16 hours a day - but the visiting Church History stuff part). Norm and I have been planning and saving to be able to do this with our children (we are waiting for Bradin to get a little bit older, but before Tayler goes on his mission). Just seeing some of the pictures makes me so excited to be able to go. Jeff and Carolee will be in Pennsylvania for four years! The count down is on! Click here to see Jeff and Carolee's blog.


While the boys were busy moving, the girls were managing ALL of the babies, chores, household responsibilities, etc. for the week they were away. This gave me a new respect for single moms or those whose spouses are in the military! Bradin was a HANDFUL! He is such a daddy's boy. He kept looking out the window calling..."Daddy, daddy....". Whenever he would get in trouble (which seemed to happen more frequently that week), he would bury his head in the couch and cry "Daddy, daddy, daddy". When the door to the garage would close, he would come running, totally excited thinking that it was Norm coming home. Nope, just mom! The look of disappointment very apparent. He missed his dad! We all did!

We were fortunate enough that Scott and Michelle's family (who came from Utah to help with the move) were able to spend some time with us and hang out! It was fun to see Kaleigh, Shayla and Peyton! That was a much needed visit! Click here to see Michelle and Scott's blog.

Jocelyn had her hands full with double trouble - her twins Natalie and Tessa just turned one. I couldn't imagine a week by myself, with two babies. (One Bradin is ALL I can handle. AGGGHH!) Click here to see Jocelyn and Jeremy's blog.

My sister Cassie is getting ready to be sealed to her husband and three kids. We are all very excited! She will be sealed on Saturday, July 5th in the Fresno, California temple. Click here to see Cassie and Robert's blog.


My sister Keiri left for six weeks to study abroad in Spain. She had gone to Spain during a previous school session, but stayed for much longer. She is excited to go back and reunite with some of the friends she made on her first stay. Who would have thought?!! We are excited that she was introduced to the art of blogging so that we could keep up with her and her many adventures. Click here to see her blog.

All of that, along with my candle party, the classes I am teaching ending for summer break, the kids end of the school year activities, Tayler graduating from Elementary School, and our Disney passes expiring (and us trying to squeeze EVERY LAST MINUTE out of the passes) has made for a VERY exciting and BUSY time in our lives! - (which helps explain why I haven't blogged in such a long time)!

'Destructo Supremo' Strikes Again!

We recently had a family over to visit. They have a quiet, dainty, pretty little girl and a new baby boy. When they walked in and found Bradin standing on top of the table, the husband quietly asked the wife - "Is that normal"?
I started thinking that our version of "normal" is probably not most people's version of "normal". So I decided to elaborate about what life is like in our house because we have a crazy two year old. Here goes: Bradin learned that the kitchen chairs can be slid around the room so that he can climb up onto the cabinets - consequently the kitchen chairs are bungied together around the table. Then he figured that bar stools can be slid around - consequently the bar stools are stacked on top of the bar (we look like a restaurant closed up for the night). Then he figured out that he doesn't need a chair or a bar stool, he can use the drawers of the cabinets as toe and finger holds to climb up - I don't have a solution for that - yes the drawers have latches on them. The dishwasher has a latch on it because he would open the dishwasher and jump up and down on the door. The fridge has a latch on it (which he broke and Norm had to epoxy it together, epoxy is construction's version of super glue). Any writing utensil is quarantined and on lock-down. Bradin is going through the phase of writing on anything with anything - walls, clothes, carpet, books, etc. Leaving a pen, pencil, crayon, or marker laying around is a punishable offense in our home. Most of the doors in our house have a baby handle on them and are kept closed: each kid's room, our room, the laundry room, the door to the garage, the front closet, and the pantry. In addition to having a baby handle, the front door also has a high latch that is kept latched all the time (yes, we have found him outside - somehow he escaped).
Although we have a trampoline and Bradin is really good at jumping on it, everything else that resembles a trampoline in the house is used as such: beds, couches, etc. He loves to stack the pillows on the floor and jump off of the couch onto the pillows.
Our schedule is extremely flexible. If Bradin starts having a meltdown at any given moment, the day's plans can change instantly. It has been a very long time since we have gone to the movies together as a family, because Bradin can't keep it together for that long. If we get a chance to go out to dinner, we try to go on a weeknight, and very early 4:30 or 5:00 pm. That way we get faster service and we can get in and out before the "window" closes. Bradin has a good arm and everything is thrown. Balls, cups, clothes, toys, EVERYTHING! And somehow anything can be used as a weapon. One day Norm came home and I was frazzled - the exact words out of my mouth - "I am just tired of being shot at, and having everything thrown at me". Two year olds - they are soooo much fun - especially this one. He has earned himself the nickname of "Destructo Supremo" - he is like a whirlwind, obliterating everything in his path. The only way I survive is knowing that this phase too will eventually pass, and someday I will look back and laugh. I like to be able to point out to the other kids that they had this exact kind of behavior and I lived through them. Bradin - YOU are CRAZY! And we love you!! You keep us on our toes! :)

My House Messy? No Way!! (Yah Right!)

Okay Denise, here it is - in all its glory - just like I promised! Some people have the misguided misconception that my house never gets dirty. That is a far cry from the truth as seen in the pictures posted here! (Yes, those ARE Cheerieos laying on the floor and being ground into the carpet.) The secret is - I try to keep the mess localized all in one spot - the office. Which is convenient, because that door can be closed when people come over (and often is). This allows for the misconception and further perputates the myth that my house never gets dirty. Now, admittedly I like to organize stuff - if you know me, you already know that. You might find it surprising - but I get excited about organizational items - paper stackers, plastic bins, organizational doohickies, label makers, etc. I love that kind of stuff! Sometimes I think I hang onto stuff just so I can organize it! (bills, receipts, old magazines, kids clothes, kids toys) This coupled with the OCD tendencies that I have could definately give people the wrong perception. Because of the OCD tendencies, things have to be done a certain way, in a certain order. I know I sound like a freak, but that is just the way that it is! I function better in a clean, organized house. Now its out - you know my secret! Next time you come over, ask me to show you the office - Your delusions will forever be silenced! :)

Tayler's Band Concert

Tayler participated in the 'Spring Concert' held at Norco High School on May 30th. All of the elementary schools from the area got together to perform for the parents. Tayler enjoys playing the clarinet and did a great job!

Norm - My BIGGEST Kid!

This is Norm at the last Cub Scout Pack Meeting. He was in charge of this game and ended up having the most fun! He likes being 'On Top of the World'! We love you Norm for your fun, silly, adventuresome side!

Paper and Tape - Who Knew?

We love paper and tape at my house!! Sometimes kids have ASKED for paper and tape as part of their birthday present. They each are sooooo creative, sometimes you wouldn't believe it. This is the latest creation. Ryan created a pair of "paper slippers". When asked why, the answer should have been odvious "Because, mom, they don't make your feet hot!"



Here is another "Ryan Creation". He made this for me for Mother's Day. "It is like Santa's sled, so you can pull around your Mother's Day presents." Very Creative and Thoughtful!



Notice that it looks like a Reindeer - from Santa's sleigh. The face is his footprint, and the antlers are his handprints.



One more "Ryan Creation". He likes making "toys". These are comic book characters that stem from the comic's that Tayler has created. Note: Galactic Grandpa - aka Grandpa Larsen (2nd from right) was written into an episode and of course, he saved the day!



Tayler also has a flair for imagination. He has created his own line of comic books featuring 'Lightening Light' as the hero. He has made several volumes and has designed his own logo - Comic House Incorporated. He regularly recruits people to become part of his "business". They have to pass a test to prove their knowledge and skill level before he lets them work on his comics. (Can you tell his mom is a teacher and owns her own business?) Tayler is quite the Entrepreneur!



Shelly is right in on the action too! This is a picture of Jer's (my brother) family, the picture frame can stand on its own.



We LOVE paper and tape (and kids with imaginations)!