Sweet 16: Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice!

I just had to share some pictures from Rachel's 16th birthday. It was a special, sentimental kind of day. Her daddy and I woke up early and patiently waited for the birthday princess to wake up. It reminded me of 16 years ago waiting for our princess to arrive.

We had a leisurely birthday breakfast and then Granny & Grandpa came over for a visit:

And they brought 16 beautiful ballons:

Nonnie, Poppie, Aunt Sissie, Uncle G, and the Cousins A's came to visit a few days earlier.

I'm sorry that I missed getting to snap some photos.

We made it a special birthday week celebration.

Daddy, the girls, and I had fun looking at old photo albums and baby books.

We laughed together and cried together too. It was a special day.

Here is daddy with his oldest daughter on her special 16th birthday:

And I had to jump in there too. A girl only turns 16 once!

Spider Sisters through and through...be still my heart!

(If you have daughters, you must get this book by John Trent)

After a delicious meal at the Olive Garden,

we enjoyed a special birthday cookie (Rachel's request):

Happy birthday, sweetheart!

I love it that you just wanted to have a family celebration this year instead of a big party.

We have been through a lot together in these few short months of 2009.

We treasure the gift that you are and the memories that we have been blessed to share. You are far more than sugar and spice and everything nice.

May God bless you with many, many more birthdays to come!