Easter 2010

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She's on the Move

Rachel's walking with confidence now & has taken to climbing the stairs. She loves her "baby" doll and mimics so many things we do. She loves going outdoors and wants to be involved with her sisters and their friends--sitting right in the middle of the driveway while they rip-stick and ride skate boards. She's into emptying cabinets, music, and trying grown-up food off our plates. She got her first pair of shoe last week.

Madi & Julia had a fun spring break with friends in the neighborhood, clubhouse activities, visits to "Base Camp 1, 2, 3", and basketball camp at ASU. Photo here shows spring break breakfast after sleepover at U.S. Egg.

Rachel Walks at 10 Months Old

Rachel just keeps amazing us. She is now walking...taking several steps, arms outstretched. She loves to climb the stairs and climb onto things she shouldn't. She really likes being outside, swinging in the park or visiting the ducks at the lake. Everywhere we go, people comment on her eyes. She's very lovable, too---hugs her stuffed toys and pat them on the back. She relishes all the attention she gets from her big sisters. She even got to hang out with Madi's friends at her 11th birthday party and join the texting. Madi finally got the cell phone she has been begging for!

February, already?

Ok, has it really been nearly 2 months since my last post? That's lame, but then again, I have 3 official followers; so I'm not letting too many down.

I turned 42 this week, but the real highlight was that Rachel started taking independent steps and walking at 9 1/2 months. She carefully takes few steps, arms outstretched like Frankenstein, before plopping back down on her bottom. Another new trick is shaking her head "no".

She seems to enjoy her new daycare with her other 8 baby friends, but her face still lights up when Cara comes to visit. Her grandparents enjoy watching her every Monday; I get to feed her everyday on my lunch hour.

Rachel loves being outside in the yard and on the swings at the Lakes Kids park. She also loves bathtime. She now has her 2 top front teeth and 3 on the bottom, with a 4th breaking through now. She loves books, eating crushed ice, and emptying cabinets.

Julia keeps Rachel entertained with her silly antics, and Madi provides lots of gym time for her. We spent a good 6 hours in the basketball gym this week as Madi's team won the a tournament on the Salt River Pima Indian Reservation.

Both Madison and Julia are doing great in school. Besides completing their PACE projects on Germany and Spain, Madi is now working on her Gerald Ford report, and Julia on her Olympic Snowboarding project. On MLK Day, the girls went to neighbors collecting shoes for Soles for Souls for victims of the Haitian earthquake. We also put a box at the clubhouse for a week. They delivered 67 pairs of shoes. They also had their annual orange juice stand on Super Bowl Sunday, grossing $35. They seem to keep busy with friends, sports, schoolwork & riding RipSticks every day, but still find time to fight.