Happy Birthday, Rachel! (A few days late)

She's a little girl who is loving and sweet.

She's kind to all, even to little critters.

And she's growing up way too fast.

Happy Birthday sweetie!

Birthday Celebrations

It was my 20th birthday on Monday!

My oldest brother Chris had his birthday last Wednesday, so we celebrated his on the weekend. Yay for birthdays!

Chris wearing the special birthday hat that Rachel made for him. =)

Chris's birthday pie. It is sooo good, but very filling and rich!
The pretty birthday flowers my mom got for me. It was such a nice surprise. =)

Rachel, the reader in our family, is patiently waiting for my birthday dinner- New England clam chowder soup.

Rachel thinks it was worth the wait and that Mommy did an excellent job. =)

This belonged to my mom when she was a young girl.

My sister Melissa has a birthday coming up next week- she'll be 14! As you can see, January is a VERY busy birthday month for us.

My birthday cake!

My mom made a delicous strawberry cheesecake.

One of my favorite birthday presents-I LOVE taking tons of pictures, and I've been looking for a big photo frame to hang in my room. My mom surprised me and found a beautiful (and very large!) photo frame.

And I know it's a bit bold, but I love the color red, so I was very excited to get this purse.

It was such a special day and weekend to spend time with my family. I am so thankful for the twenty years God has given me with them.

It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.~Lamentations 3:22-23

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.~Psalm 139:14

Friends and Birthdays

Yesterday I took my little friend, Nicki, out for her birthday. She's 10 now!

Nicki loved the carousel ride in the mall.

After we went out to eat, I surprised her by taking her to Build-A-Bear workshop!

Before her panda was stuffed.

Awww, she loves her panda.

Making a wish for her new furry friend.
Somebody's happy. =)

He's all stuffed now! Nicki called him Joseph.

Next stop: the Hallmark store. Nicki loves those Webkinz animals, so we picked up a leopord one.

Looking at the pretty fountain by the coffee shop in the mall (and throwing 2 little pennies in- I wonder what she wished for?). The lights at the bottom make the water change colors.

We tried a bunch of photoshoots together...these two are my favorites.

Happy Birthday Nicki!

Happy Birthday Matt!

Happy Birthday to the best little brother in the world.

I love you Matt!