Merry Christmas from the Churches

Christmas Pajamas--Isabella is jumping. Nope, it's not possible to get everyone looking at the same camara at the same time.

I guess I've still got it.

Fieldtrip Heaven

When it rains, it pours. . . .

Field Trip One
School group trip to Long Beach Aquarium. We did a class about predators. I though it was a little weak. Jaden liked it though. The aquarium was really nice, though. (Especially nice at group rate admission--only $6!! That is about 1/4 of the regular adult price. All you need is advanced reservations and 10 people. Sadie and I have that just by ourselves)
Highlights included the sea otters, seals, and petting the rays. I enjoyed the jellies. We met Dad and Leslie at Cocoa's afterwords for dinner.

Field Trip Two
The next day Sadie and I went to the Huntingon Gardens. We have had the tickets reserved for free day for over a month. So we went, even though we were a bit tired from the aquarium. We were going to observe the orginal Gutenberg bible and other first additions as related to our "history of print" topic in September. It just took us this long to get tickets.

Something very special about this fieldtrip--Jeremy just happened to be covering a Neonatal transport shift-- which entails him sitting alone in the ambulance in a parking lot somewhere random until he is called to go transport a baby, doctor, and nurses from Huntington Memorial to another hospital and back. Being that the Huntington gardens is within a few minutes of the hospital, he was able to meet up with us and spend some time before he had to take a call. He is wearing his uniform in these photos. This is a pretty big deal for us to have dad along for the trip. These things just can't be planned. It all fell together perfectly!!

Fieldtrip Three
Thank you to Crystal and Karyn for taking my kids on the Survival Hike. It was a guided hike with a survival expert. I stayed home to do some packing. The kids played with fire, learned about edible plants, etc, and generally had a good time. India is convinced that she will never eat plants in nature. She said she couldn't tell the difference between the edibles and dangerously poisonious varieties.
This trip perfectly supports the Swiss Family Robinson component I am suppose to be doing right now. Unfortunatly, I have been doing the minimum three "R"s the last couple of weeks while getting ready for the move. I'm hoping to catch up on reading the next few weeks.

Halloween, Part 2

About six months ago, I turned around to see Jaden posed exactly like this. Unlike the other kids who changed their minds up until the last minute, he held his ground for months. We made the tie and name tag. His tag says "Men in Black", but the official title he has given this costume is "an Agent".

Siena is a perfect Snow White in MY costume from 1986. It fit her perfectly. Thanks for making me keep it, Mom!

Yep, Brennan is a total character. He INSISTED that the socks had to be tucked into the pants, he HAD to wear the jacket and not the awesome vest. I would like to tell you that this is an unusual pose. It's not. Jaden and he are playing some kind of sword fighting pretty much all day long--complete with sound effects, dramatic poses, and clever quips.

Happy Halloween!

Church Family Halloween 2009

This bit of fluff on Isabella is a recycle from Siena, Circa 2002. I altered for size, added some new trim, and redid the tulle skirt. I was really pleased and she loved it. I am enjoying the pink and lavender. It will only be a few years before she will want to be an 80's Zombie (see India below). I have to admit, she pulled it off. I kept doing double takes and thinking it was Jenni Church as a teenager (less the sparkle blood, of course). However, India wouldn't trust me to make her bangs any higher. Ironically, the acid wash, skinny-ankled jeans came directly from India's normal wardrobe. Now that is scary!

The Privateer Lynx

For the closing day of the Treasure Island component, we set sail on our adventure on the Lynx, a replica of the orginal Baltimore Clipper Schooner built during the War of 1812.

It was a living history educational sail out of Long Beach. The kids helped raise and lower the mast, learned about the war of 1812, stood at the helm, learned about life aboard ship, and listened to sea shanties. They set off the "guns", firing blanks out of the cannons. It was a fantastic afternoon. I give kudos to the crew--they handled all the wiggly kids just perfectly. I was expecting it to be a little high stress, but it was totally laid back.

This was an incredible fieldtrip!

We have officially set sail on our school year. Next port. . . Swiss Family Robinson!!

The International Print Museum

Our first Fieldtrip was at the International Print Museum, in Carson. It was fabulous. They demonstrated a printing on a Gutenberg press replica, and several other original presses, including one dating 1800. They each tried letter press, printing, sewing a book, in addition to the demonstrations on the machinery. The kids were impressed with the "Lin-o-type" machine. It automatically creates a line of type, eliminating the need to set each tiny letter individually.

Griffith Observatory--September 29th

This collage shows highlites of our recent trip to Griffith Observatory.

We were in the middle of our first component "Treasure Island". Now you may ask, what does this have to do with books and treasure. Well, we are "Sailing for Adventure" on our voyage. Therefore, we need to learn all about ships, sailing, and navigation. We read "Carry on, Mr. Bowditch", a biography about the self-taught astronomer/mathmatician that wrote he book on nautical navigation, or astro navigation.

The kids watched the Planetarium show and enjoyed the exhibits. Then after dark, we climbed to the roof and observed the full moon through their huge telescope. It was very cool and the kids learned alot.

Opening Day

Siena holds the "message" invitation. Jaden holds the bottle it came in. India pretends to be disinterested in the background.

In our school room, coloring the year maps while I read Treasure Island outloud. (This is the first morning after opening day.)

All the kids in their hats and shirts with Emily and Billy. Good luck finding mine. I'm pretty sure they are in there somewhere. Cousin Olivia with pink skirt and sandals front row.fUncle Braden as "Billy Bones" with the Black Spot.

The Saturday before school started, the children received the traditional invitation for opening day. It normally is a clue, but not a total give away, to the topic for the year. This year, the doorbell rang and there was a message in a bottle from Emily Dickenson. I guess they know what to expect now, because as soon as the doorbell rang and I urged the kids to run to get it, India sighed "Oh Brother, Mom". Fortunately, that has been the only attitude so far. All the kids are having a great time.

After a picnic dinner, the kids were introduced to "Emily Dickenson" who came to tell a little bit about her life and explain the meaning of her poem that inspired this years theme:

"There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away.
Nor any courser like a page of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take without oppress of toll.
How frugal is the chariot that bears the human soul."

Part way through her lecture we this kids were suprised as "Billy Bones" (from Treasure Island) stumbled in with the black spot. He gave the kids their adventure "Maps" and invited them to sign the ships roster. They were given a teeshirt, Captain's Journal, and a clue to start them on a treasure hunt for the next day at home. My kids followed the clues around the house, collecting their school supplies at each stop. At the final destination was a treasure box with Treasure Island inside.

Buried Treasure and the Voyage of the Frugal Frigate

This year's School Adventure is a voyage through Classic Children's Literature including Treasure Island, The Swiss Family Robinson, The Secret Garden, The Jungle Book, and selected Fairy Tales. Along the way we will be learning about animals, survival, pirates, ships, and the history of print and much more!

So far, we have read both Treasure Island and Carry on, Mr. Bowditch outloud, in addition to all the fun projects, fieldtrips, and yes, math as well.

This is the first year that I have written curriculum with my sisters, along with old friends, and a few new ones, too. This year was planned for a younger "love of learning/early scholar" age range and we are having a great time.

The concept was a Mom and Cynthia original, but we have reorganized and written all of the material from scratch.

No Bedtime For Brennan! from Will Kindrick on Vimeo.

Well, I have been putting off posting this one because it is just SOOOO unflattering of me. Just horrendously, devistatingingly unflattering. However, Brennan is such a stinking cutie! I would like it to be noted that Will showed up late on a Sunday night and announced he wanted to film a movie and he wanted the room to be authentically messy. Well, he got it. There had been cousins and little boys thrashing the room all afternoon.

I think that the first 30 seconds of this film is my favorite of anything that Will has done. (My second favorite film is "Everyday Day") I realize I may be a bit biased.

It's a Boy!

Introducing Milo Kazuhiro Amakasu.











Congratulations to Amanda, Mark, and the boys.

Introducing our new nationally registered Paramedic,

Jeremy Church, NREMT-P.

Congratulations for passing the test.

You are incredible.

Happy Second BIrthday, Isabella!!

We can't resist this little girl!!
(Baby on left from Siena, mermaid from Grandma Church.)

Opening presents. This gift was a box of Princess Wipes. Who says gifts can't be fun AND practical? She currently is very interested in all things "Cinder-pincess".

Olivia received a couple of gifts in anticipation of her birthday in a couple of weeks. Olivia and Bella in their matching shirts from Sadie and Tutus from Amanda.

Outfit from Grandma and Grandpa Cox and Barbie Princess Tricycle. Jeremy and I got the tricycle so that she would have her own set of wheels when the family rides bikes in the cul-de-sac. Unfortunatly, despite the recommended 2-5 year range, Isabella will be in a two wheeler long before her feet ever reach the pedals. She still loves it and scoots it all over the house anyways. We have a different one in mind that we are going to get for her after the move.

Baby's "First Haircut"

Aunt Becky invited Heather and I to bring over the kids for haircuts all around. Between Grandma, Grandpa, me, my girls, two of Heather's kid, and David Saint Becky did a total of NINE haircuts. If we had gone to her salon, I think the bill would have been $600 plus.
We love you Becki! Thanks for being an awesome aunt.

Besides a quick bang trim, this is Isabella's first official haircut. She is growing the sweetest, softest ringlet curls. Becki just trimmed up the back a bit so it will grow in a little more evenly. That little lower lip gets sucked into Bella's mouth when she is tired or in need of comfort. I guess she is not too happy about her moment in chair.

Cousins at Grandma's pool

India
Jaden and Jesse

Isabella and Emmy

Kiry and Siena

Siena

Brennan

Everyday by Will Kindrick

Everyday from Will Kindrick on Vimeo.

Hero Generation: Our School Year

Well, due to extreme technical difficulties--they never go away for me--I am now finally able to publish a few snippets of our school year. This years EPIC adventure was "Hero Generation: A Rendezvous with Destiny". Our goal was to learn about World War II, the heroes that lived during that time, and instill in each child that they each have a special mission in life and they will have an opportunity to be a "Hero" based on their character and the choices they make.

The best part of this year has been meeting the real life World War II heroes who lived through sometimes horrific circumstances. I never imagined I would sit in a room and hear actual holocaust survivors from Auschwitz and other prison camps, discuss forgiveness, hope, and faith. We met with survivors of the inhumane Bataan Death March and their experiences as Japanese POW's that followed. We also met with an orthodox Jewish Rabbi who taught the children about the significance of Chanukah. These are just a few of the great people we were exposed to this year. These photos are just a couple of our field trip/ being there experiences. It has been a great year and I can't wait to start our yet-to-be-unveiled Epic Adventure for next year!

Marching Through History--at Prado? Regional park in Chino
I highly recommend this living history experience to anyone interested in the past. They have camps from most major wars since Roman times--all in authentic period costume. This is a reenactment of a battle in a vintage WWII jeep. They also had a Sherman Tank in the action. I especially enjoyed watching the Revolutionary war soldier make his own lead ball ammunition.

The Rabbi demonstrates the proper way to light a menorah and explains the real miracle of Chanukah.

Camp Pendleton, San Diego

Our trip to Camp Pendleton Marine Corp base featured a tour of the motorized equipment museum, lunch at the mess hall, and a demonstration by the K-9 unit. Based on first hand observation, if a marine with a German Shepard ever tells you to stand still, I recommend you listen. The highlight of the day for the kids was riding the chartered bus all over the base. The low point was the expired registration ticket they favored me with when I drove my minivan on base.

My favorite World War II Hero--my Grandpa Joe Culotta.

He was our honored veteran at our closing day last week. I love this man!

The Japanese-America Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

Our school group standing in front of the actual remains of barracks from a Japanese internment camp which had once been located in Arizona. Our tour guide was a prisoner in that camp as a young child and lived next door to this very building. Talk about heroes! Many young Japanese men volunteered to serve their country, despite their families being wrongfully imprisoned by that country.

Mr Malehue and Mr. Berest--Bataan death march survivors.

In addition to other inhumane cruelty that these men endured, due to malnutrition and illness both of these men weighed under 75 pounds at points of their imprisonment. Mr. Malehue was able to escape on the march and became a guerrilla warfare leader for the Alliance in the Philippines for the rest of the war. He was later given the rank of Captain in the Navy for his service.

"Rosie the Riveter"

"Rosie" visited our group and told about her experiences as a woman in the home front during the war. Afterwords we ate food from authentic World War II recipes and learned how to dance 1940's style.