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The Mandel5 bio picture

Welcome to the Mandel 5!

Thanks for stopping by our little world.  There is never a dull moment in this house with Rob's teaching jobs, my part-time teaching and part-time photography, three busy kids, and more pets than we need.  Check out the links above to read my friends' blogs, find old posts, or get in touch with me.

random shots from today

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This always makes me smile.blogcatsstuff-1

got a new little canvas of the cousinsblogcatsstuff-0017

my nathanblogcatsstuff-1-3

my jojoblogjo-1

art at the library

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Since the kids did their homework at the library more than four times last month, they got to pick a prize today!  blogart-0016

After homework, they took an art class at the library.blogart-0022blogart-0025blogart-0034blogart-0033nay

Nathan’s was the first piece of art that the teacher shared with the entire class.  He was so proud.  They drew desert animals and painted them with watercolor. blogart-0038

September 1, 2010 - 9:05 pm Colleen - Am I seeing things? Is Megan wearing socks?! By the way, nice artwork. They sure are talented!

September 1, 2010 - 10:14 pm mitzi - YES, whe's wearing socks these days. Not me. Sticking to my socks-make-me-feel-like-I'm-suffocating story. LOL

kitty love

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August 31, 2010 - 7:45 pm Angela Frittz - I would be taking TONS of pictures if my cats slept like that with each other! I whip out the camera and take tons of pics when they are laying close enough so that they are touching each other! First day of school tomorrow, I am avoiding going to bed!

sunday

This was a busy weekend.  Yesterday I had a photo shoot at a home in West LA, something I normally don’t do.  The kids went to the Conns to play with Daniel and Elizabeth while I did that and Rob fished.  Pretty weird to have the kids I used to babysit babysitting my own kids.  None of these guys were supposed to grow up.  :(

Today I had three sessions and then the family came over for dinner.blogsundaydinner-0114

Kids’ table blogsundaydinner-0117girls

Love this gorgeous weather we’re having after days of horrible heat!blogsundaydinner-0118

outside riding bikes and roller skatingblogsundaydinner-0123

what’s a little bike riding without scraped knees and elbows?blogsundaydinner-0133blogsundaydinner-0137

our neighbors were outside with their new doggies – cute, cute!blogsundaydinner-0127

riley and carlyblogsundaydinner-0142

6 little kids grabbing at those dogs…..Carly was sure happy when Kari picked her up

5 on friday

1.  Heather (family friend who lives in Japan) sent Megan a big box of erasers.  Lots of them we’ve never seen here before.  She was THRILLED!!  The wrappers are my favorite part.  They are all different and have the funniest translations into English.

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2.  Rob and I went to a movie and dinner on Sunday without kids and then went to Back-to-School night together last night while Kari babysat – that’s two dates in one week!

3.  We’ve added lots of chores to the kids’ lives since school and routines have started again.  They make their own lunches every night, bring in the trash cans, and put away their laundry.  And they actually like doing it!

4.  When I was at the AV Fair on Wednesday night, I found those water-absorbing beads that were at the science activity at the mall a couple weeks ago.  We put them in water after school and have been watching them grow. Once they absorb all the water, we’ll put a plant in each one.

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5.  We brought Graci home with us from school today.  All four of them put on the play “Alice in Wonderland.”  They rehearsed and found costumes around the house.  Even Rob watched the entire performance.  From left to right – Tweedle Dum, Alice, The Cheshire Cat, and the Director.  No surprises there.

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dierks bently

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Melinda’s husband won tickets to see Dierks Bently at the Antelope Valley Fair.  An entire evening with no kid interruptions – imagine that!blogdierks-1

August 26, 2010 - 6:49 pm Kristin Mahaffey - My brother-in-law went and got to go back stage. If you are part of his fan club you can request a meet and greet. Looks like you had fun and kidless is even better :)

Shane and Shanena visit from GA!

Shanena, Shane, and their girls were in California for a family reunion.  We got to see them over the weekend.  Rob took Shane kayak fishing and I got to photograph those adorable little ladies (along with Shanena’s friend’s little girl)!P8230124

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Shane with the poisonous fish he caught.  :) P8230130P8230126

Rob’s fishgirls_jd

Megan in a sea of blondness!meg_heidiIMG_1812

Meg and Heidi

August 24, 2010 - 9:28 pm Shanena - Yay! We had so much fun with you guys!! And the pictures you took were amazing!! I'm so glad we were able to see you!

bad hair day

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Cookie has the weirdest fur.  It grows long in only some places and at odd times of the year.  We did a little grooming today.  :)

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August 25, 2010 - 9:07 am Colleen - Are you sure that rabbit isn't pregnant??!! hahahaha I am so funny!

August 25, 2010 - 9:11 am mitzi - oh, hush your mouth!

August 25, 2010 - 7:53 pm Stephanie - poor cookie-it's never fun having a bad hair day. Colleen is Very funny.

weekend and dolls

We mostly worked hard around the house this weekend.  Got lots of furniture moved and spaces cleaned out and organized.  We did do some fun things but didn’t take many pictures.blogIMG_1803

We delivered some birthday presents to friends today.  Kylie got Julie (an AG doll for her birthday) from her family and Keira got a doll, too!

Welcome to our world, girls!  Ha ha.

time magazine project

Today Megan finished a school project – a Time Magazine cover from the future.blogIMG_1786

It’s supposed to be about something she will accomplish one day.  She wanted to make the cover of Time for being a pet photographer.  We talked about how it would need to be something a little more significant so she came up with “founder of the largest animal rescue center.”  :)   She was not lacking in photos of herself with animals.  She’s learning photoshop and was able to do a significant amount of this project without my help.  :) blogIMG_1787

August 21, 2010 - 9:29 pm Kris - Megan's project turned out great!!

August 22, 2010 - 9:54 am Gandma Verna - Megan is terrific!!!