3 1/2

As I was doing Rachel's hair today I realized it was her half birthday. So, I congratulated her on being 3 1/2. She was so excited! Her immediate response was to ask who was coming over. I guess she figured we needed to celebrate! :) So we celebrated some when we ran errands. She got to pick out a candy at the store and she rode the black horse outside the store. Rachel couldn't have been happier! :)

Rachel is such a joy to have in our family. She's becoming so independent and in some ways it scares me. It's crazy to think that soon enough I'll be sending her to school all day. Rachel loves playing with her friends and she is also really good about playing with her little sister. She's really into any type of craft - she loves making and creating things. Currently her favorite princesses are Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Rachel is a very girly-girl. She loves to help me cook, take care of her own babies, play in her kitchen, have her nails painted, and loves putting on lip gloss.

As I consider the future I'm grateful Rachel's been placed as the oldest in our family. She still has her moments, but overall she's a good example to have at the head of the family. Who knows, that may not always hold true... But right now it works great. Rachel loves to learn and to please others. She also loves it when I "leave her" at a friend's house.

About two weeks ago we were having a gorgeous afternoon. So, the girls and I headed to the park down the street. They were bundled up and ready to play. I decided to have the girls go down the slide together on their tummies (it's a very wide, short slide). Rachel loved playing with Audrey. After several times of going down the slide they were playing at the bottom of the slide. Rachel was putting pebbles up on the slide and Audrey was quickly knocking them down. It was about nap time, so I informed Rachel it was time to go home. She protested, but it was a protest I couldn't pass up when she said, "No, I want to play with Audrey more". So, we stayed 10 more minutes. It's so much fun to watch them become playmates.

We are so grateful for Rachel and for the bundle of joy that she is!