Rachel's 2nd Birthday

What can really bring people together?  People's birthdays!  And we love to celebrate them.  So happy to have my parents drive here, Jeff's parents here, his aunt and uncle, and his brother!  We had a wonderful time and Rachel even warmed up to Uncle T!  That is a milestone in and of itself!  We definitely need him to stop in more frequently so both kids can play with their Uncle T!

The fun started on Friday with Uncle Dick and Aunt Susan bringing bbq all the way from Austin!  It was delicious and such a relief to have supper taken care of.  I always think I have things under control, but there is always a rush at the end to get things to come together and look clean.  :)  So, really, thank you Uncle Dick and Aunt Susan.  They also came early which was a benefit to Rachel and Zane because when you are little and only see people every so often, you tend to forget who they are.  But they warmed up fairly quickly and were so busy playing.  John and Janie also arrive and oh wow, we just had a great time visiting and enjoying their company.

Uncle T showed up at 9 am!  He must have started driving before daylight to get here that early and then Mom and Dad came a little before noon.  They even had to move a tree from across the road to get here.  Really glad they were able to make it.  Thank you for coming!!!  Of course, we wish our German family was closer...

Now for the pictures!!!

Day before her birthday!  Last day being one!  She's going to be 2!

Birthday donut!

Gotta lick the icing off that thumb!

With our new free avocado tree!

Off she goes-big 2 year old!

Too bright.

Rachey has discovered that the neighbor lady has little bottles of water.  She gets one every time we go over there.  :)

I thought it might be fun for Rachel to pick her own birthday baby this year.  Oh my.  It was very fun and took a looong time.  But we finally come home with a nice little baby that doesn't make any noise (thank goodness.)

Uh, we may also have come home with this shopping cart.  I couldn't say no. 

Girl shopping trip!  It was sooooo fun!!!!!!!

Somebody else got to celebrate their birthday!  Only 2 months late!  haha

Brother has taken a liking to her toys.  :)  No big surprise there!

She was holding up the crayons that Aunt Susan gave her.  Thanks Susan!

And what?  Whose this?  Why another birthday boy!!!!  Yay!!!  Presents for all!!!  Thanks Susan and Dick!

Awww, clean girl getting read too.  :)

Braided her hair.

She was so happy it was her birthday! 

Kissees from Daddy!

Oh boy!!!!

Rachel liked looking at herself wiping off her face!!!!  So I just kept taking her picture!  :) :) :)

She got some money and Buddy Bucks and wanted to put them in her cash register!

Toddlers are so cute in that they talk back to puppets!  Makes it so fun!

Getting a lesson on drone flying!