Rachel turns 11

So today Rachel turned 11. I can't believe how time flies. I can't believe that she is already 11. Wow. Today Rachel went to school and in her lunch got a colorful note (she gets a note in her lunch everyday by mom or Dad, she keeps them all too and eventually be put into a book) wishing her a happy birthday and a pizza lunch-able. I spent most of the morning cleaning and figuring out what her cake will be. Thank you Heather for helping me with that. We decided on a book because of how much she loves to read. The day went by way fast too fast. We bought Rachel a writing table/desk for her birthday and so I set it up in her room so when she got home she would see it. About ten minutes before I had to pick up Jacob from school Kaelen decided to put a bead ( a fuze art) into his nose. I had to call a friend to go pick Jacob up from school so I could take Kaelen to the doctors. Read my other post "things don't go up the nose" to find out more details about that. Once Kaelen was fine and we were all home Rachel got home. It took her a while to notice her desk in her room but once she did she started screaming and freaking out. It was so fun to see her react the way she did.

I had to rush and get her cake done and try to get some things cleaned in the house. We were going out for dinner as a family and then later in the evening we were having family over for cake and presents. We were late leaving to eat because of trying to finish the cake. Rachel wanted to go to Chuck a Rama for dinner. It was fun to eat what ever we wanted.

I had to leave early from dinner because one of my primary kids was getting baptized. I want to try to make it to all of their baptisms. I was really appreciative of Rachel for not being sad that I was going to go to the baptism. I asked her a few days before if I could go and if she would be sad. She was totally fine with it. What a good girl.

Once I got home we opened presents and had cake. Rachael, Collin, Carter, Lindsay and Gregorie came over to celebrate with us. Grandma Heileson was in Alaska watching Angie and Brett's kids for a week and Grandpa Heileson was in Boise. Rachel was so excited about all of her presents. From Carter, Collin, Rachael and Joseph she got a flashlight/ laser. They have one and she told them a month ago that she would love one for her birthday. She was very excited to get that.

Jacob got her the new Hannah Montana 3 CD. Kaelen bought her a new littlest pet shop turtle. He fed it to the dog during Christmas and so we figured it would be appropriate for him to get her a new one. She was very excited about that. I bought her a new series of books. It's the Princess and the Frog series. There are 5 books in the series. From her Dad she got a new waterproof watch. She was very excited to get a new watch. Enoch picked it out himself as well. We also bought her a warm sweater, a sweater for church and a pull over shawl. She was very pleased with her gifts.

After presents we sang Happy Birthday and had cake and ice cream. I was very happy with how her book cake turned out but I realized the next day that I forgot to put her fruit by the foot book mark in it. I went to the store in the morning just to get fruit by the foot and I was so busy earlier that I forgot to put it on the cake. Oh well. Rachel loved that cake and that is what is important. So for her cake on one side I put a little story about Rachel's life and then on the next page it said Happy Birthday Rachel. Here is what I wrote on the side.

11 years ago to this day we welcomed a beautiful little girl into the world. She was so small and so cute. In the first 2 minutes of being born she rolled over and grabbed the blanket she was laying on and held on to it to help keep her warm. We all knew then that she was special. When this little girl got a little older she was so fun to be around. She talked so well and made us all laugh. She used to escape from the house and so the only way to keep her in (and deadbolts and chains did not stop her) was to put the couch in front of the door. She also loved vacuums. When you pushed it she would ride on the front of it. She was such a good help. She also would take the tools from the vacuum and they would become her swords. Her swords went all over the place with her. She also loved to watch Jurassic Park. She watched it with her Uncle and would laugh at all the scary parts. A few years later she was so excited to get a new little brother and when asking her what we should call him she yelled out “shoe”. He was not named that. This little girl loved to dance and at a young age, she could really groove with the music. We laughed all the time at that. She was and is such a great big sister. She can always make her brothers laugh. As she got older and started school she always did well in her studies. She is so bright. She also in the last few years has learned to love reading. She reads all the time. We can’t get her to get to bed early because she always wants to read one more page. This little girl has now turned into a bright young woman with a wonderful spirit. She is such an important part in our family and we can’t imagine it with out her. We love you Rachel. Happy Birthday.

I typed this out and printed it on paper and then stuck it to her cake. One day I will try the edible paper but it is so expensive to buy here. Maybe on line I can get it for cheaper.

Grandpa and Grandma Heileson gave her tons of molding clay a few days before her birthday when they came over before they both left. She has been asking for molding clay for a while now so she can finish molding her family. She was ecstatic about getting it.

Grandpa and Grandma Fisher got her some earrings to match the necklace she got at Christmas. She also got a watering can and shovel. She can water her little garden she has in the backyard with it in the spring. She will like that.

Rachel also got cards from Lopez's, Gehmlich's, Knechtel's (she loves the key chain), Daniels, and Longs. Thank you all for the gift cards and money. Rachel is saving up for a Nintendo DSI and is more than half way there for it. You guys are all so generous and awesome.

Thank you also for everybody that called to wish her a happy birthday. We are so grateful for family and the support you all are. You all make our kids feel so loved and special.