An even dozen

Last week Rachel turned 12 years old.  Twelve is a big year for girls in our family--it means:

1)  getting your ears pierced

2)  graduating from primary

3)  starting Young Women.

So, first we headed to the mall to get her ears pierced.  Here she is, ready to begin...

Rachel hadn't decided for sure up whether or not she was going to do it, right up until the last moment.  But once she decided, she was confident and ready.  She did it and they look great!

 We celebrated her birthday as a family with presents and cake. 

 She got some earrings,

 clothes, a purse, and a new camera.

Rachel picked chocolate cheesecake pie for her birthday this year (actually, she picks it pretty much every year),

 made a wish,

 and blew out the candles.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

12 things we love about Rachel:

1)  Rachel is kind.  She is genuinely concerned with others and never wants to hurt anyone else's feelings.

2)  Rachel is a peacemaker.  This is a very fine quality in a family with five children.  Rachel tries to diffuse quarrelsome situations and resolve conflicts between the other kids.

3)  Rachel is smart.  Her ability to understand and retain information is amazing.

4)  Rachel is a great writer.  Sometimes she comes home from school and writes down a poem she thought of on the bus ride home.  She talks about writing in a way that is foreign to me--how it just flows out of her.  I've often thought about sharing her poetry on my blog, but since it is public, and her poems are SO good, I'm afraid they'll get stolen and she won't get proper credit for them someday.  (Plus, she probably doesn't want me to share them...)

5) Rachel is artistic.  She can draw and paint beautifully and hopes to be an author and illustrator when she grows up.  (See previous post).  She also has an wonderful way with color. 

6)  Rachel has a natural way with children.  She instinctively knows what William needs and takes care of him so well. 

7)  Rachel is an amazing reader.  She plows through books and can tell you about all the books she has read. 

8)  Rachel does not waste words.  She carefully crafts what she is going to say and doesn't say a lot of extra things.

9)  Rachel is good listener.  Because she doesn't spend so much time talking (I could use lessons from her), she listens and is a good friend and confidant.

10)  Rachel is good.  She truly tries to do what is right and feels bad if she has been disobedient or offended someone.  She is quick to apologize.

11)  Rachel is creative.  She tries new recipes in the kitchen, thinks of fun games to play with Kate, and makes up amazing stories. 

12)  Rachel is a good musician--she plays piano, violin and sings in the choir. 

We love having Rachel in our family!  Happy Birthday Rachel!