Rachel's 15th Birthday!

Happy 15th Birthday Rachel!!  :)

      On this day 15 years ago Doug and I received one of our 9 greatest blessings! Rachel Ann Whitaker was born at noon. She weighed 7 lb 12 0z and was 20.5 inches long.  She was our 3rd daughter in a row, and we could not have been happier.  She had/ has dark hair and the most beautiful dark eyes.  And was one of the most calm babies we ever had.  She is now one of the calmest easy going children we have.  Which means wherever she is it is usually quiet and peaceful.  :)

     She is also the animal lover in out house.  Which keeps life interesting. In that she is always exploring outside.  Finding all kinds of critters.  When she was little toads were her favorite.  And so one particular time when she was about 3 she was playing with one outside.  I called her in to get her ready for a bath and bed, and told her to let her little frog go.  After she was all cleaned up she went to the back step and opened the freezer.  When I asked her why she said, "to get my toad Mom.". WHAT???   :)  Apparently she did NOT want her toad to get away so she put him in the upright freezer!!!  We found him a couple months later stuck to the side of a roast!  We also had quite a talk about why this probably wouldn't be a good idea to do again! :)

This is the cake Sarah made for Rach.  She did a great job! :)

We had quite a group of great girls to help celebrate!

Green frosting!  :)

My Dad!!!  :)

Sweet Lauren and Em. :)

Em with  two of the wonderful men in her life.  :)

      This is the present my sweet little girl got for her birthday.  A 9 week old rat terrier!  :)  I think it's name is Skeeter. Rach and I went wo Peoria today to pick him up, and then go out to lunch. :)

She is a playful little dog. :)

Rach said she only weighs between 3 & 4 pounds!

A very happy girl!

      We all had a great day celebrating the day Rachel came into our life.  She has been a blessing to us everyday ever since.  She is creative, thoughtful, kind, compassionate, caring, and makes the best breakfasts ever put out on the table!!  :)  Her younger brothers and sisters love her very much.  She is so patient with them and takes the time to play with them and make them feel special! :)  Having her home to be homeschooled is a joy!  We are so thankful that God chose us to be her parents!  :)

                                      `Thanks for visiting! Good night!