Rachel turned 8 a little over a week ago. It's a big one and she was excited about it. Since her birthday fell on a Friday she wanted to do her party on her actual birthday. Knowing we probably wouldn't get to most of the family gifts until the next day because of the party, we let her open one gift that morning when she was all ready for school nice and early. She opened a new lego set and it kept her (and her siblings) busy all afternoon so they didn't keep asking me if it was time for the party yet. Rachel built all the things in the idea booklet that came with it: an alligator, train, jeep, and flower.
For her party we decided on a movie night, since we usually do those Friday evenings anyway. We had pizza, did gifts then the cake, then headed in for the movie.
Since Rachel had been diagnosed with pneumonia the day before, we took her candle off the cake when she blew it out so she wouldn't spray germs all over the cake. (Her doctor did say that she could go right back to school that same day as far as contagiousness went, so we figured we didn't have to postpone the party.)
Saturday morning she got to open the rest of her presents.
Her favorite was her special quilt that I made for her.
She picked out the fabric toward the beginning of the year, and I put it together mostly since school started back in July. I'm pretty proud of how it turned out, as it's the first quilt I made all by myself. Except that Grandma Knight tied it for us.
As Rachel turns 8, she is an excellent student. She excels in reading, writing, math, and pretty much everything in school. She is happy to get to participate in the 2nd grade enrichment club at her school, which is by invitation only. Her school also recently hired a reading enrichment specialist, so while Rachel's class does reading, Rachel goes to this other teacher's classroom and gets to do some higher level stuff. She and I are both happy that they're finally doing enrichment for her. Though her teacher, Mrs. Curtin, really does a good job and making her work at her level.
Rachel is an excellent piano player. She has gotten over the hump of moving hands while playing (previously she was playing in only C or G positions). She was really frustrated for a week or two, but has really caught on well and is really enjoying her ability to sight read Christmas songs and play not just what she is assigned in her piano lessons, but songs that she wants to play.
She is caring and a good big sister. She really does set a good example most of the time for her siblings, and I know she sets a good example for her friends and is a good missionary. Some of her favorite things include reading (Geronimo Stilton is a new favorite), gymnastics, reading, Rescue Bots, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, reading, piano, riding her bike, and books. We're glad to have Rachel in our family and see her grow and learn.
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