By Popular Demand

Isabella at five months

With Grandpa Ken Church

With Grandma Linda Church

No sub-titles necessary!!

October and the Church Family

Hello to the world!! Why haven't I posted in a month? Again, another sob story about cheap, yet expensive, electronics and unreliable Internet connections. Sob, Sob, Sob.

So what else is going on in the Church Family?? Isabella is cooing and cute as a little button. Brennan is still a bundle of energy. Every thought that he has appears on his face. Jaden just received a catcher's mitt and ball from his dad last night. He is very conscientious about everything he does. Siena is focusing on reading, and still uses every birthday and wishing well wish towards her own puppy. India recently placed in a mini karate tournament at her dojo. She and her room are always swimming in the art, craft, reading, etc. project of the moment.

I am busy busy working on school with the kids this year. Our "Quest for Quetzalcoatl" has already taken us to Tijuana, Mexico, and to the rainforest in my grandpa's backyard. No kidding. We are having a blast. The hard part is keeping up with all the fun things I want to do. Unfortunately, I don't yet have a private maid to keep my house clean. So the kids and I spend a lot of time trying to pick up when we would prefer to be doing other things. Please let me know how if anyone has overcome this dilemma.

Jeremy is busy studying to keep his #1 ranking in his evening Emergency Medical Technician class. Unfortunately, he is not as busy working as he would like to be. We are currently making alternate living arrangements until he is.

In the mean time, life is beautiful. Fall is such a great time of year. The air begins to crisp, and--every where but where I live--the leaves turn colors. Excitement--and creeping anxiety about the up-coming Holidays--grows every day. We have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to.

This has ended up being longer then I planned. Maybe I can label it my "Christmas letter" and relieve a little bit of that previously mentioned anxiety by crossing "Christmas letter" off my list two months early .

With all of my Love and Merry Christmas,
Bridey

Our little "Isabelwa" is getting bigger everyday. She smiles, coos, and is gaining more control over her limbs. Her favorite toy is the ceiling fan in my bedroom and her pacifyers. She has stolen her daddy's heart.

Isabella Fiore

2 months old

Mama's Big Helper

With five children, one of them a newborn and one of them potty training, everyone has to help to have a clean home. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the living room nursing Isabella, when I heard the sounds of someone washing dishes in the kitchen. With a sigh of satisfaction and a smile on my face, I revelled in the thought that someone was doing their job without me even asking. A long while later, maybe 20 minutes, I went in the thank the angel who was still slaving away at the dishes. And who was it? Not Siena or India, or even Jaden. It was Brennan!! He had dragged over a chair, turned on the sink, and was washing each dish by hand. The dishes to his right is the stack that he had already finished. I tried to get him down and tell him he was "all done", but we had several more dish washing incidences over the next couple of days. I can only pray that he is this enthusiastic in a few years!

A Sea of Pink

Everything at our house is now pink. There are pink blankets, pink onesies, pink sleepers, pink gowns, pink pacifyers, pink car seats, and even a pink diaper bag!!

Isabella at one week

Squishy Lips, Squishy Cheeks
About 2 1/2 weeks.

Our Beautiful Girl
About two weeks

Where in the World is Baby Isabella??

Why haven't I updated more pictures? Aren't I taking them? Has the novelty of baby 5 already worn off? Don't I have any feelings at all for the dear aunts, uncles, and friends scattered throughout the world????

I currently do not have the ability to get the pictures off the camara that Mom is so graciously letting me use. All of the pictures that I have taken are waiting to be put on disk and mailed since her computer was having technical difficulties on Sunday, when we were there.

Stay calm.. . . they are coming!

Parting is such sweet sorrow. . .

I am having mixed feelings about the upcoming Harry Potter Book release--the final book in the series. This series has been such a fun part of our family. Most particulary, I associate it with listening to all the books on tape driving back and forth between Cedar City and California. I guess it is appropriate that the series end now that we have moved back to California.

If you haven't read or listened to them on tape--get to it. They are very charming, albeit highly addictive. You may want to read first before sharing with children; everyone has their own opinion on it's appropriateness for kids. From an adult perspective, It's fabulous.

Video Clips of Baby Isabella

Just a couple of minutes after her birth. She had meconium in her amniotic fluid and they suctioned her immediatly after birth. I think newborn baby cries are one of the most precious sounds on the whole earth. Don't worry, I had her back in my arms and she was nursing like pro within a few minutes. This baby LOVES to eat!

Baby's first cries

Isabella and Daddy

This shows a little bit what Isabella looks like when she is awake and not all wrapped up. She is so tiny and perfect. The background conversation with the nurse is obviously not important. She is a perfect mix between Brennan and Siena as babies. I am sure she will have her own look as well. I am glad that Brennan will have someone who looks like him! She seems to have slightly lighter hair than the rest of the children--a little bit on the golden side.

Welcome, New Baby!

Isabella Fiore Church

Born Thursday, June 21, 2007, 1:50 Am

6 lbs, 5 oz, 19"

Isabella means "Consecrated to God".

Fiore (Fee-OR-ay) means "Flower" in Italian.

She shares a middle name with her mother, Bridey Fiore.

(left to right) Karen, Jeremy, Bridey, Isabella, and Linda

Our little Isabella came into the world after a relatively easy labor. Despite a few minor complications, it was a beautiful birth. Mommy and Baby are both healthy, happy and well on the way to recovery.

The birth was attended by Daddy Jeremy (of course) and Grandma Karen Kindrick. Grandma Linda Church, Certified Nurse Midwife delivered Isabella. Everyone was relieved that both grandmas were available that night and able to arrive in time. Our last baby's birth was so quick, Daddy and Grandma Kindrick almost missed it parking the car!

I am very lucky I had Linda to assist me during labor at home and at the hospital. We were in good hands. Thank you to both of the wonderful grandmothers

The Church Kids

(left to right) Brennan, Jaden, India, Isabella, and Siena

The anxious Church Kids met Isabella for the first time later on Thursday Morning. Brennan was very solemn and a bit sulky at first. He held her, but wouldn't kiss or touch her at first. He is already warming up to her and says "I lub baby Isabelwa" while he pats her head and is already helping me pick out clothes and diapers for her. The kids have only been back home with us one night. They are all very excited to "get to know" the baby. Siena keeps saying "I can't believe this is real!"

I am so thankful for all the blessings I have been given in my life. I have a wonderful husband, beautful, sweet children, and a loving Father in Heaven. Everything fell into place in order for our family to move, sell our house, find a great place to live, and have a safe and healthy baby. Thank you to all of our friends and family who have helped us so much. We miss and love all of our Cedar City friends. We think of you all the time. Thank you everyone for being part of our lives.

Coming attractions

This is just a reminder that we will be having a new addition in the family any week now. Stay tuned for big announcements!!!

It's a Girl!!!

We found out for the first time in five children what the gender of the baby will be. Siena and India called it--Baby Girl. Her name may be Isabella Fiore Church. I do still reserve the right to change my mind, though! Baby is expected at the end of June.

Wedding in Manti

Amanda Morrow becomes Amanda Kjar (Pronounced Care)!!

February 4th, 2007

Jeremy took this great manti temple shot while we were in town. Bridey altered the bride's dress and made the veil.

Where am I????

Dear Family,
My Camera batteries are dead. Eventually I will get my act together and put some new pictures up. stay tuned.

Welcome to the NEW and IMPROVED Church Family blog. Now you might ask what is new? Why move it? Why is it improved. Well. . . . I thought of a new website name. Introducing:

"thetruechurches.blogspot.com"

I am sorry. I just couldn't resist. Sorry if you are finally finding me.