HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY RACHIE BUG!!!

I can not believe that my Rachel is 12 years old! Where has the time gone? Just yesterday she was in my arms for the first time with her wide eyes and her strawberry blonde hair. Where did this long, lean, girl of fashion come from & where is that little red head of hair that I loved?!?

My Rachie has been a joy to our family from day one. She has been sweet & quiet & funny since before she could talk. She has always been more quiet than Sarah & I and just kind of watched everyone & everything that's gone on. She has never had to be in the middle of things & is just happy to be around. As soon as Rachel could crawl she would crawl away from wherever Sarah & I had been playing with her into her bedroom & close the door. Then she would knock on the door when she was done playing by herself. I think Sarah & I & our extroverted ways have always stressed her out a little bit.

If there is a baby around you better believe that Rachie has her eye on it waiting & watching for the mommy to need a hand. She is patient, gentle & very capable. She has always helped with her brothers & sisters & is often my right hand. Rachel loves music, chocolate, clothes, dancing, reading, movies, jewelry, snacks, playing outside, sending emails to her grandparents in Russia & downloading music for her ipod. She is THE QUEEN of texting & loves her pink cell phone.

Rachel enjoys shopping & has recently discovered the joy of saving $ earned for something special- she bought a bike that she has had her eye on for quite some time today. She has spent months babysitting & doing chores to save enough for the bike & today her smile was huge as she took it out for the first time.

Rachel loves road trips & going to Utah to visit her Daddy, friends & family. Her favorite thing to do in Utah- besides going out to eat at all of her favorite restaurants is to ride on the back of her Daddy's Ducati bullet bike up in the mountains. He pretty much has to peel her off of the bike to get her inside after a ride. My sweet girl- you are so easy to be around and such a delight to me. I am proud of you and the awesome person that you choose to be (when you aren't biting your sister because you are super mad) everyday.

I LOVE YOU TO PIECES & hope that you have a VERY HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY!!!!