Rachel Rae - Happy 2014

Hello Rachel,
How are you doing?  I hope you are off to a great start to 2014.  Wow!  I find it hard to believe that you will be 11 years old in just a few days.  Are you looking forward to your birthday?  What are your plans for celebrating it?  What would you like to get for your birthday?  I want you to really think about how you would like to answer these questions.  If you could do anything to celebrate your birthday, what would you do?  I have always liked birthdays and other special days throughout the year.  My birthday is the day before Valentine's Day!  When I was your age, I really thought it was cool to have a birthday the day before Valentine's Day.  My neighbor was a retired teacher from New Jersey.  She always sent me to coolest cards for every occasion.  She was the first person that ever sent me a birthday card that said, Happy Valentine's Birthday!  The card was beautiful.  She could always pick out the prettiest cards.  I remember one year, Mama had a lady back me a Barbie Doll Cake.  The doll was in the middle of the cake and the cake part was actually her dress.  It was beautiful.  I think her dress was red or maybe pink.  (It was a long time ago!!!)  I got to play with the doll once we finished eating the cake and I washed her really good!  I really liked playing with Barbie dolls when I was your age.  I played with them often.  I had a Barbie house and later I got a Barbie doll camper.  I played with that camper and the dolls for a long time.  I don't remember what happened to it.  I gave many of my toys to Tammy once I felt like I was too old to play with the anymore.  Tammy was several years younger and she liked to play with Barbie dolls too.  One day, you too will feel like you are too big or too old to play with toys, dolls, etc.  It is alright to grow up and I think it is alright to like to have fun playing even when you do grow up.
I love you!  Please let me know about your birthday and the thoughts you have about it!
Love,
Mom :)