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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.

Yearly Archives: 2007

playground fun in sd

On our way out of San Diego this morning, we stopped at the park in Mission Bay. Always a crowd pleaser.
If the camera adds 10 pounds but this photo makes Megan look 10 pounds lighter, does hanging upside down take away 20 pounds? Hmmmm….how much of my life can be lived hanging upside...

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we took a trip without a stroller

Logan is 4 today. ::sob:: We celebrated with a mini-photo shoot in La Jolla, a trip to Legoland, and a birthday dinner at the highly inappropriate Dick’s Last Resort.

We did a great job with no stroller, only lost Logan once for like 2.5 minutes. That was enough for Nathan not to let...

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may the force be with you

Ang and Tim are visiting from Wisconsin this week. Tonight they came over for our gift exchange. They had no idea the boys would challenge them to a light saber war.
Megan joined in as a Star Wars character – Queen Ala something or other. I’m out of the loop.

Logan has beaten Ang...

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merry christmas!

They were up early (like they are every day!) anxious to see if Santa came through.
These ages were really fun because they knew what they wanted and were SO excited to get it. I think I may have gone a tad overboard and really, their behavior before Christmas left lots of room for improvement....

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Christmas Eve

Even as a kid, Christmas Eve seemed like the longest day of the year. Now that I have 3 kids who are waiting for Christmas Day, it feels even longer. So we hit the zoo. I’m telling you, the SB Zoo is the place to be on Christmas Eve. There were...

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a visit from santa

We went to a Christmas party at Marylou’s tonight and look who made a surprise visit! And look whose child was first to hug him!

Santa brought each child a stuffed snowman, a candy cane full of m&m’s, an ornament, and a wrapped gift. He brought Logan some cars, Nathan a science experiment kit,...

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cookie time

Today we decorated cookies for Santa and to bring to a party tonight.

Someone please remind me next year that each kid can only stand to decorate 4, maybe 5, each.these are the ones we are taking to the party.

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the countdown is on

Man, these kids are getting anxious for Christmas to be here. I probably shouldn’t have put the presents under the tree. Logan is having a hard time looking at them each day. I am trying to keep them busy and out of the house if at all possible. Rob went fishing...

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need your votes

It’s time for another contest on my studio blog! I need unbiased votes for the cutest Santa photo of 2007. Click the link below. Thanks!!
Santa Photo Contest

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making trees

As “co-room mom” of Megan’s class this year, I planned their holiday party. We made reindeer out of pots (no photo of that), played a candy cane relay race, ate pizza, and made these icecream cone-frosting-candy trees…

After the party, I got to have a kid-free lunch with Rob at the Olive Garden. Then...

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