the mandel 5

Megan is selling Girl Scout Cookies again! I know you've all been waiting for them! Click on the images below to enlarge and read about all your favorites. $4.00 per box and they are all FAT FREE this year! Just kidding... But who can resist a Girl Scout with a giggle like this? another new post below

Today was the Girl Scout Power Puff Derby, or as Logan calls it, the "Power Puff Dirty." Rob and Megan worked this week on her bumble bee car. It wasn't the fastest one but it sure was the cutest! Megan was so proud of it.

We had a babysitter all lined up tonight but she had to work late so we took the kids out to the dinner and to the mall. We always have to stop and see the doggies. Oh, they are so cute!

I am so close to getting the new blog layout for this blog, too (see post below this one). I can't wait to make my new posts bigger. But for now, here are some shots from Metryville today. I met client/friend Gina there to help her with some settings on her camera. Our girls came to model and act silly for us.

I finally have a studio blog that I can post big images on! It's not perfect but done enough to show you. Next up is this blog! :) click here!

Julie and I attended the CHA convention in Anaheim for the third year. Julie's mom came, too, and it's always so great to see her. Like every year, it's frustrating to not be able to buy anything, but it is so fun to get freebies and make projects that you can take home. It's also fun to see what new scrapbooking and crafting items will be hitting stores in the future. I have no idea why these two images (me and Julie posing by embellished bras) are the only two pictures on my camera from the show. Thanks Julie and Betty - I had so much fun today! Another new post under this one.

Last night, Megan, Nathan, and I met Melinda, Hayley, and Sadie at Magic Mountain. There was no one there. Probably because it had rained all day so people hadn't bothered going. Mental note: on rainy days when it stops raining in the evening, head over to Magic Mountain. They were running rides with no one on them! Nathan tried Revolution for the first time and since there was no line, we rode it twice.

Megan spent the night at Grace's grandma's beach house last night. We went to pick her up this morning and spent the day playing there. THIS is her "backyard" - the ocean. It's awesome! The weather was weird - cloudy and ominous one minute and sunny the next. friends We made s'mores in the outdoor fire pit. The kids loved it! There's also a park right next to the house. Maybe you noticed that I changed a couple of my '09 goals. I will never be able to pack lunches the night before. I already gave up. So, I added "be in more photos" and "take more photos of all 5 of us." Jamir is my inspiration for that last one. She is so good about always doing a family photo. I just don't. But I should! After the beach, we visited Papa Bob, I did a mini-session with a little boy and his puppy, and then Megan, Nathan, and I went to Magic Mountain with friends. I will have to look at the rest of today's photos another time. I am ...

Today I had a few sessions. I love it when these girls come because it always gets crazy! These are my favorite but there are plenty of "normal" ones, too! After waiting four days, my new lens came tonight just as the sun was disappearing. It was supposed to be delivered on Tuesday but I was at work. Wednesday I was here, but the package wasn't on the truck. Yesterday I worked (it had to be signed for). Today, I finally got it in my hot little hands. Tomorrow, we will play. But here's one shot.... My dad has gone to Kari and Corey's grandparent days at school for years. He keeps asking if my kids have one. They don't at the elementary school. But today, Logan had a grandparents day at preschool. It was very short - all Logan could handle after a full day. There was a song, a 30-second craft, and brownies. Not the all-day event my dad is used to but Logan only lasts about 5 minutes in these situations so it was best for everyone. Here he is singi...

I thought I would share some of the inspirational blogs I read. For those of you who need some inspiration. :) Matt, Liz, and Madeline I've posted Matt's blog before - his daughter was born last March and his wife died 27 hours later. He's an amazing dad. C. Jane Enjoy It This is the sister of a woman who, along with her husband, were in a plane crash and suffered major burns. At one point, their lives were in jeopardy. They have four young children (three of whom are being cared for by C. Jane). It's now a story of hope, faith, and recovery. My Charming Kids Doctors told this mom her baby would die in the womb or shortly after birth due to heart problems. Stellan is now 12 weeks old and doctors can't find anything wrong with his heart. Steece's Pieces I started reading this blog when Suz was pregnant with her quadruplets. She had them while we were in Michigan for Brady and Jennifer's wedding. It's just the cutest family. Faithful Froggers I...

Megan got a new (used) kayak. So today we headed to Ventura to try it out. Nathan and Megan paddled proudly all around the harbor until the wind picked up. We had to tow them back. I'll have you all know that I paddled against the wind, with Logan on board, towing Megan, all the way back. Rob thought I couldn't make it but I did. And tomorrow I will be sore for sure! After kayaking, we had a nice lunch with Papa Bob and then he treated us to ice cream. Thanks, Papa!