She can't wait for her first Stake dance...

We decided to take Rachel out to dinner the night before her birthday. She chose Olive Garden because she was in the mood for Chicken Alfredo and it was there that we gave her her birthstone necklace.
The morning of her birthday, a couple of her best friends, scared her half to death by tapping on her window at the crack of dawn. Once she calmed down and let them in, they helped her do her hair so that she could wear the tiara that they brought her, gave her a Care Bear and some Care Bear undies. It was a great way to start out a very special day.

Several weeks in advance we had told her that she could have a party and suggested several ideas (swimming party, small slumber party, game night...)...she ended up deciding on something simple. She invited several of her best friends over for dinner:

For her birthday menu she decided on Shepard's Pie...yah you read right...Shepard's Pie....

with a Cold Stone's ice cream cake for dessert...



Then we took her and her friends to the San Tan Market Place for an hour of shopping where Rachel, feeling oh so grown up, bought some eye shadow and and lip gloss. After that, Greg treated them all to the movies. I think a good time was had by all.

Thank you Grandmas and Grandpas on both sides for the very generous birthday money. Rachel spent part of her birthday money on a new purple nano. She's in heaven!

Practicing her make up application, doing her hair with her new hair products and learning the words to all of the new songs on her nano...she should be well prepared for her first Stake Dance! I hope she has a blast...I know I lived for those nights when I was her age.

Happy Birthday Rachel. We are all so very proud of you!