the mandel 5

Change your bookmarks! I will no longer be updating my blog here. Visit the new blog at www.themandel5.com (no blogspot). Once I get rolling, the images will be bigger and better. For now, it has all the old stuff from here. :)

After Keira's party today, Nathan got to have a special afternoon with Colleen, Mark, and Alex. They took him to Medieval Times. He LOVED it. Colleen just sent me this photo. :)

We celebrated Keira's 2nd birthday today at My Gym. So fun!

The kids called this the "Absorb a Terry." I could not get them to say it right! I have not been here in a long time. Since a Sunshine field trip when I was a camp counselor I think. I forgot how pretty it is up there and it's one of the last good free things in LA. We watched a movie in the Planetarium. That was a big hit. It shows the movie on the dome-shaped ceiling and you lean back to watch. Megan and Grace especially loved it because they just finished learning about the solar system at school. I learned more things, too. Like, did you know the Antarctic Ocean is now called the Southern Ocean? I can't keep up. view of the city Doesn't he look happy? He didn't stay happy so enjoy that shot. Here's how he really felt! Megan was striking poses at this statue and a tourist took pictures of her! I am sorry, it is so rude to take a picture of someone else's kid without asking first! I don't think he could have asked in English but STILL...

Bambi and I planned to scrapbook all day today. Kris called early this morning to say she forgot about Corey's minimum day and asked if I could pick him up from school. So, lucky Corey got to scrapbook with us after lunch! He was just so thrilled to be there (insert sarcastic tone here). Megan had Girl Scout "Thinking Day" tonight. They learned about different countries and tried new foods. It was a drop off event so I didn't get to stay. This is the lovely photo I got of her as she was leaving. :)

Jamir tagged me to post the 4th image in my 4th folder and my 5th image in the 5th folder on this computer. I have folders everywhere so I just used the ones from my external drive where my family photos are stored. Weird how they both ended up being from the zoo. This is the 4th in the 4th - Santa Barbara zoo with Tiffany. My kids in one of their many sets of coordinating outfits. LA zoo with Kylie on Logan's 2nd birthday. Weird how Dawn and I were JUST talking about these photos the other day. The kids are looking at a ladybug.

New and improved blog coming in the next few days......{squeal}!

Our teeny-tiny town recently opened a teeny-tiny public library. Nathan had to do some research for his animal report on great white sharks. Rob is usually the one who takes the kids to the library. When I didn't see a card catalog anywhere, I knew it had been a really long time since I've been to one! This is what I did at the library when I was little. Played around. Didn't read. So proud of his final draft. Bambi came along for the fun. It's been really great getting to spend time with her this week. Megan is suddenly interested in the solar system. Grandma Corky would be so proud. It's what she is studying in school right now. I can not believe all the things she knows. Like, for example, did you guys know that Pluto is NOT a planet?

Logan circa July 2005 Look at that blondness!

Can you guys see photos on my 365 blog? I can't. Unless I go to the archives and select February. What the heck?

The kids got some Valentine's Day money from the grandparents and spent it today at Target. Logan got a bunch of Bokugons (I'm not exactly sure what they are but he loves them), Nathan got a keyboard, and Megan got some Littlest Pet Shops that you can decorate. Yesterday, Colleen, Mark, and Alex gave the kids a super Valentine's surprise - three turtles!

This is a weird post, I know. I love these things. I have one for breakfast every day and throw them in my purse when I am going someplace where I won't have access to something healthy. At Costco, they are $10 a box. At the store, they are 3 times more. Our Costco stopped carrying the chocolate and oat ones!!! They are only 2 points but taste like chocolate chip cookies. Next time you are at your local Costco, please see if they have these and let me know if they do. I am willing to drive to get them!! :) Thanks.

Today I took a 7-hour lighting and posing workshop taught by my friend Ted . He is so helpful and easy to learn from. We were paired up for the hands-on portion. Here's my partner... And one he took of me... This must be what I look like when it's 30 degrees in the studio and no one who posed before me smiled so I'm trying my best to be serious.

Today was a furlough day for me and Rob - no work, no pay. I have a feeling there are more of those in our future with this new budget. It takes away from kids' education but it gave us a day off. Our actual children are in a different district and still had school today. So, we decided to make this our Valentine's Day. We went to Redondo to kayak. I did a little fishing - even baited my own hook - but no bites today. I can't cross that off my '09 list just yet. At least I got a good lesson on what to do for next time. :) As always, I love the wildlife. This sea lion followed us around the harbor, swimming between our kayaks and diving under them. We got off the water just before the rain started. I'm such a good wife, sitting in the warm, dry car while Rob put the kayaks on top of it. As if the whole day together wasn't enough...Logan's preschool had a "Parents Night Out" today from 7 to midnight. We were tired from our THREE HOUR ride ...