No Cookies For Brennan

My brother, Will, is taking a film class and asked if we would star in a quick little project. Poor Will. I guess you get what you pay for!! Kids and animals, aren't they suppose to be the worst to work with? He was definately in for a challenge. Anyrate, here we star in our film debut (and possibly film farewell) in the 2 minute short "No Cookies for Brennan".

No Cookies for Brennan



Next time I am demanding a stylist, wardrobe, make-up, and my publicist must review all shots of me before they are released to the public so I don't look like an confused idiot (see photo above). Just kidding, Will.

Will's other films, most notably "The Untellable Tale of the Possessed Bike of Death" and "A Fish Story", are really fun!! I think both of them are on Youtube under Will Kindrick. Keep an eye out for "No Time", soon to be released.

The Untellable Tale of the Possessed Bike of Death


A Fish Story

Now Unveiling. . . .

It finally came! Our home school started with a bang this year. Our year long adventure curriculum, "Heroes: a Rendevous with Destiny" is being spear-headed by the un-stoppable Jeanne Bradley, with contributions from some of the greatest home school moms I know. (If one sifts through the entire curriculum, one may even be able to find a few keypoints written by yours truly.) We now have a total of 11 families who will all be doing the same adventure in their own homes and participating together in fieldtrips and enrichment activities. I am unbelievably lucky to be part of this!!

All of the kids are thrilled--even the ultra-discerning India.

India (in blueish flip-flops and band on arm) waiting to receive Journals and Handbooks with part of her group.

Siena and pal, Emma

Yep, that is me in an authentic vintage Navy Uniform.

All of the kids were sent letters drafting them into the military dated "Sep 5th, 1941". A week later they "reported" to the "induction sight" to be signed in. They received their Journals of Discovery, Official Uniforms (tee-shirts for fieldtrips), ration boxes, official ID Card and more. My family is part of the "Navy" this year because of Grandpa Culotta's envolvement in World War II. Of course, we are hoping to learn a lot about our modern Army from Uncle Andrew Church, who is in process of finishing his officer's training in the National Guard.

The program included a visit and lecture from a World War II Veteran, and a presentation of the Year's Theme Song (and dance!!!!) by some un-abashed moms.

All of the students with our WWII vet, Brother Maxwell.

(That is Jaden's face is tucked behind the girl with the bright pink sleeves, Brennan to the left of her. India and Siena to his side in denim shorts and pink shirt hanging from under t-shirt, respectively)

We Mom's will do just about anything to inspire our kids. Even make TOTAL fools in front large crowds. (If you bother to suffer through the painful vocals, there are two little stomp/drills routines that are fun.) This is also evidence of why I was never in drill team, dance, sports. . . well, you get the point. (That is Isabella clapping along in the light green shirt in the right lower corner)

(That is Jaden's face is tucked behind the girl with the bright pink sleeves, Brennan to the left of her. India and Siena to his side in denim shorts and pink shirt hanging from under t-shirt, respectively)

Gotta love that face. He even sing alongs with the Theme Song!

16th Anniversary of our first date

Bridey and Jeremy in January 1993

Today is the 16 year anniversary of the day that started it all. August 4, 1992. I was playing the piano--something sad and dramatic, probably "On my Own" from Les Miserable--and sulking about the fact that even though I had been sixteen and allowed to date for two whole weeks, my poor little self was STILL alone. (Sooo Pathetic) Before my birthday I had dates to prom that I had to turn down, teenage admirers gallore in want of my attention, and the day I was finally legal to go out with them, there was nobody. This is the setting for our little scene:
Amanda came into inform me that Jeremy Church was on the phone for me. I gave her a dirty look and continued to play for another 3 minutes before she came back and said "Jeremy is really on the phone. Aren't you coming?" I of course went into the kitchen where the incredibly adorable and popular 18 year old tease from church was there on the phone asking little old ME on a date. My scream was so loud when I hung up, that my parents made me promise I would never yell like that again unless someone was very, very hurt.

We saw a "A League of their Own" at Mountain Green center, wandered around a drug store waiting for the movie to start, and ate Jelly Bellies. Within three dates, we were inseparable.

Those first few months were a magical prelude to our life together. So far it has included writing through his mission, a temple marriage, two University degrees, a year of graduate school, Paramedic School, our own business, too many moves to count (and thats just this year), and last and most glorious, five beautiful children. We've squeezed a heck of a lot of life into 16 years.

Jeremy, thank you for putting up with me all these years. It just keeps getting better. Thank you for making my life full of magic and love. I love you Forever.

BYU Homecoming Fall 1995

The photo from our wedding announcement
September 1995


I have surprisingly few photos of us together before Jeremy's Mission.
Do any of you family members have any? I went through all of Mom's during that time period. She doesn't have anything.

Angels on Earth

I couldn't help but steal this little photo off the Kindrick Family blog. This is India and Siena at approximately 3 and 1 1/2 years old, respectively. It goes by too fast. I love these girls.
(On a side note: If you cut India's gorgeous curls off, this could almost be a photo of Brennan and Isabella.)

Wicked

Pantages Theater, Hollywood, California

Amanda said "Let's just do it"! It was just as good as I anticipated it would be. After three years of waiting I finally saw the musical "Wicked" with my mom, and sisters, Amanda and Sadie last month. Thank you to Jeremy and Braden (Sadie's Hubby) who whole-heartedly agreed that buying theater tickets was a valid moving expense!!

Embarrassing Confessions

This weekend I have a date with some vampires.

Enough said.

Hey, um, are you there?

Yes, I am still here. I moved this last month. . . . .again. I lost my camera in the move . . . . again. I am sure I will get back in the groove now that we are getting settled.
Jeremy started paramedic school last month. So far, so good with a year to go. Our move went like clockwork. My Aunt Cynthia's long anticipated move into my grandfather's home corresponded perfectly with my sister Sadie's new house closing escrow. Congrats to Sadie and Braden!! While we still can't see the front room floor due to the comings and goings of two families' boxes and junk, we were able to move in with my Mom, as planned, without any camping in the backyard! Thanks, Mom.

I can't reflect on the move without saying what a special time it was living with my Mother's father. He kept me company for all the long days and evenings when Jeremy was gone at work and school for weeks at a time. He was sooo good to me--despite the mess and noise of five kids. Thank you, Grandpa for being such a great example to me and my children. I want to be more like you.

Simply Scrumptious!!

My sweet little baby girl tries a strawberry for the first time. Jeremy had taken the older kids to see Kung Fu Panda last Friday. I stayed home to sew baby Porter's blessing romper. Isabella climbed up into the "big kids" stool. ( All of you Culotta descendents know what I'm talking about) So I set her up across the table from me with some strawberries while I worked on the sewing machine. She is VERY independent. As long as you stay out of her way, she is a very happy, good-natured baby. These pictures make my mouth water for juicy strawberries and baby kisses!

Jeremy, Super Hero

Just a few words to toot my cute little hubbie's horn (since he won't). He has been working so hard over the last few months that I hardly see him!! After coming in at the top of his Emergency Medical Technician class in January, he has been working on an ambulance 50+ hours a week, taking several fire tech classes at Mt Sac, and taking an ultra-accelerated Anatomy Class all day every Tuesday. In addition, he is working out several times a week and is getting down-right buff.

Lucky for us all the hard work is paying off. We found out on Tuesday that he passed his Paramedic entrance exam, and that he should be able to start on June 10th! Just as wonderful, we also found out on Tuesday that he aced the Salt Lake Fire Department written exam, and was invited to move on to the next level of testing! (Of course he is still competing against a couple hundred other people, but that's not the point).

Good Job, Sweetie. I am behind you all the way!

Last, but certainly not least.

Announcing the birth of a new little nephew,

Porter Mahonri Cahoon

Born May 12, 1:30 pm

5 lbs 14 oz, 19 1/2 inches

100% adorable!!

Congratulations to Ashley and Phil Cahoon.

We love you and the baby so much!!

Announcing the birth of

Lincoln Kindrick Henage

born May 7th, 2008

approx. 7:30 AM

8lbs 4oz, 19 1/2 inches

to

Daniel and Brittany,

and Alexander Henage

Congratulations!! We can't wait to meet you!!

(Look forward to more announcements on Monday)

The new baby will be named

Joe Devlin Cole-Church.

We love you, Baby Joey!!

Happy Birthday to a New Nephew!!

Welcome to the World, Little Guy!!!

Baby Cole-Church

9lbs 11oz

20 1/2 "

born April 19th,

 approx 6:30 pm

to 

David and Heather 

and

Kiry, Jesse, and Emmy

Congratulations!!

(Anticipate 2 more announcements in the next month and a half)

Jeremy hated our last layout. . . . so maybe we'll try something new.

Happy 6th Birthday

April 2, 2008

Jaden is our sweet, sensitive, serious, crazy little guy. He is such an important part of our family. I am so glad that he is part of our family.

Now what.

Yep, I know what you are all thinking. What's gone now--the camera, lap-top or internet connection? The camera has a cracked view finder. Fortunatly, this mother of five crazy kids invested in a product replacement plan. Sorry, no recent posts. I will try to catch up on old pictures.

Welcoming the Swallows

Mission San Juan Capistrano

Aztec dancer in traditional costume. Each feather on the headdress must to be removed for transporting.

India and Giselle with the Aztec Dancers. Gorgeous Costumes!

Grandma Church came with us. She took all the good pictures and got the kids shave-ice. It was so fun to have her with us. Thank you, Grandma. We love you!

Isabella and Me. What a sweet little face!!

(I have no idea why my hand looks so weird here)

We are continuing our school year adventure "Etiwanda Jones and the quest for Quetzalcoatl" with a study of the Aztec civilization. We were lucky enough to have this dance presentation coincide within a couple of days of our Aztec opening day.

The "Return of the Swallows" festival was moved three days earlier than usual to avoid Holy Week at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Apparantly the Swallows didn't get the memo, because we didn't see any!! According to Great Grandpa Church, who used to live in the area, one needs to go to Walmart to see where the swallows nest. Go figure.

Where is Isabella?

Note the wrapper and toast crusts under the table. It's an occupational hazard of having five children. I do sweep often, I promise.

Gotta love the ears!!

Isabella is probably one of the happiest babies I have ever been around!! She almost never cries, but is very independent. She occupies herself for hours crawling around, playing with anything she can get her hands on. I realized this afternoon, in panic, that she had dissapeared for a couple of minutes. This is where I found her. Under the table!!

Today we began the Incan Component of our Etiwanda Jones and the Quest for Quetzalcoatl school year. Our friend Jeanne planned the event and presented a lecture on the lifestyle of the modern Inca. She dressed the part complete with bowler hat. We saw angora rabbits, an alpaca, and visited a llama ranch. We learned how to spin fibers into yarn with a drop spindle.

What Will was doing last Semester

Will, you are such a cutie!!

What will has been doing this semester, so far.

This post is for anyone who has been wondering what my brother, Will, has been up to lately.

We Thank Thee, Oh God, for a Prophet.

(1910--2008)

At this moment in time I am too full of emotion to say something eloquent. I am grateful for his example and guidance in my life. I celebrate his life, and imagine his glorious, and well deserved homecoming.

Testimony of President Hinkley:

"I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.
"It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.
"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon title page).
"The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.
"Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.
"I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
President Gordon B. HinckleyApril 1, 2006, Sunday morning session of the 176th Annual World General Conference "I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.
"It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fullness of times.
"The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations" (Book of Mormon title page).
"The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.
"Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.
"I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
President Gordon B. HinckleyApril 1, 2006, Sunday morning session of the 176th Annual World General Conference

I discover Digital Scrapbooking

Soooooo Fun! I made this page of Isabella tonight. The picture was taken around September. Mom introduced me to the concept of scrapbooking with the computer using pre-made digital paper. India made her first page tonight--using Photoshop. Like father, like daughter.

Thanksgiving-Southern California Style

Cousin Kiry, Siena, India

Brennan

Jaden

What a change from our usual Cedar City Thanksgiving traditions. We had a fun day at the Great Grandpa, Grandpa, and Grandma Church Home. We played in the pool, had turkey dinner, and the first annual Church family Drink contest--Iron Chef style with points for presentation, etc. One notable entriy included soda pop, gummy worms and pop rocks with floating plastic gold fish served by a wizard!!

Christmas Letter 2007

Greetings!! I hope this letter finds everyone happy, healthy, and looking forward to a great New Year full of opportunities.
They say the only thing constant is change. “They” must have been tracking our family over the last couple of years! The most difficult event of the year was leaving our home and dear friends in Cedar City, Utah to return to our roots in Southern California in May. The highlight of our year occurred one month later with the birth of our daughter, Isabella Fiore, on June 21st.
The children are doing well, despite two major moves in five months.

India, 10 on Christmas, is always busy with one of her creative endeavors. Her most recent amtion is to be an author. She won 2nd place for her form at her Karate school in September.

We were thrilled that Siena, 8, chose to be baptized this last August. She has a zest for life and loves animals. She dreams of owning a puppy.

Jaden, 5, loves building with blocks, math, and drawing. He is very serious and contemplative most of the time. But beware; he can be wild and crazy!

Brennan, 3, is our rough and tumble little guy. His alter-egos, Batman or Spiderman visit us in a diaper, mask, cape, almost everyday. He loves his baby sister and hugging his mom.

Isabella, five months, is a perfect little doll. The months preceding her birth were rather stressful, but everything worked out perfectly in the end. She is very good-natured and brings so much joy to our family.

Jeremy and I are loving the challenges and joys of raising a family. We have so much gratitude for our dear friends and family. We are thankful to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love,
The Church Family