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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.

Category Archives: family

more from riley’s farm

The older kids tried some archery.

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crafty kids

Grandma and Auntie Verna came over today for lunch and crafts.  We made pot holders.  Except I think we can’t use them as pot holders.  That’s okay, Megan has come up with 101 uses for them.
After lunch we made cupcakes from a pan that shapes them to look like ice cream cones.  Nothing I bake...

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someone call the fire department….

Casey’s cake has a lot of candles on it! 
He’s going to need a lot of help blowing all of those out!
Mmmm…Snickers
Chi Chi and Corey
Sister-in-laws
Meg
boys
We love Grantie!
What is so interesting?
A blue tailed Skink (looked it up)

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riley’s farm + friends

We did our 5th annual apple picking excursion with Julie and her family today.  Aside from the extreme heat, it was a perfect day.  I am definitely hauling the family out there in a couple months for photos when it cools off.  I love taking pictures there.  And I actually practiced outside with my new...

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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. ...

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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)!
Shane
Shane with the poisonous fish he caught. 
Rob’s fish
Megan in a sea of blondness!
Meg and...

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ventura county fair and vhs bbq

Today Grandma Verna and I took the kids to the Ventura County fair.  We met the Bartels there.  Definitely got the fair experience but it was a little overwhelming.
funnel cake!
games!
rides! (Logan has his hands up)
Monette brought cupcakes for my birthday and the kids loved getting it all over their faces!
slide!
Thanks, Grandma!
After that, we went to...

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annie

We went to see Annie at the local college.  I consider myself an “Annie expert” and can say that the show was spectacular!

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basketball and parties

Today the boys had their last summer basketball game and a basketball party.
*fans*
I photographed a fun birthday party in Pasadena while Rob took the kids to the basketball party.  Then we met at Grantie’s to celebrate Corey’s 12th bday.
ladies + Bruce chatting in the kitchen
Casey took all of these:
Me and Corey
boys
Oh yeah, I have a...

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scrapbooking and stuff

This week the kids had their annual check-ups at the doctor.  All are doing great.  Today was Megan’s appointment.  After that, we scrapbooked all day.  Nathan begged to be dropped off there, too.  I warned him that it was boring.  Even with crafts to do, he lasted 2 hours before calling Rob to come get...

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