Rachel Turns Three!

It's hard to believe, but our little girl turned three this past Wednesday. It seemed only natural to have a big celebration, because she, like my wife, gives gifts every day just by existing.

The Gala de Rachel began with a party with the other two-year-olds and the one three-year-old in her Butterfly class at the Temple Early Learning Center. All the other kids received a little toy car and a necklace (toddler bling!) We also served them cupcakes, chocolate or vanilla with blue or pink frosting. Frosting preferences pretty much went along gender lines.

By the time everyone had licked off the frosting, followed by bites of cake, the entire class looked like impressionist painters. Frosting patches were evident all around their lips, with chocolate or vanilla dough stuck to them.

And I'm sure all the other parents appreciated us sending their child home in the midst of a major sugar rush.

From there, we went to the Olive Garden. It was Rachel's choice. She loves the grouper there. Anyway, she tried to wander off, but when we told her she mich miss something, she quickly asked, "You mean my birthday cake?" Smart child!

She fell asleep on the way home and we didn't open her presents until evening. Her favorite, of course, is the one that makes the most noise. It's a Wiggles guitar that plays songs signifiying different characters when you press certain buttons...again and again and again and again.

Speaking of music, Rachel sings a lot now...and in three different languages. She's learning songs in Hebrew at school, knows a couple of German songs I sing to her and of course, there's English.

You have to love some of her lyrics though...

Itsy Bitsy Spider went out to rabbit's house,
Down came the rain and dried up all the rain,
And Itsy Bitsy Spider went to rabbit's house again.

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
If you see an alligator,
Let him hear you scream.
(screams)

Actually, one of her teachers taught her that.

We've also been running back and forth to the nursing home where my Uncle Jimmy was. He got transferred to an assisted living facility the day before Rachel's birthday. Neither place is very exciting if you're a toddler.

My uncle may not be doing cartwheels either. The other day, he gave me the most backhanded compliment I'll probably ever hear. "Thanks for everything you've done...up to a certain point."

I bring this up for two reasons. We bought him some non-skid socks for the slick surface in his kitchen. I told my sister that now Uncle Jimmy can re-enact the scene in Risky Business when Tom Cruise slides in wearing his boxers. The image of an 84-year-old doing that...well, you had to be there.

The other funny story is when we were leaving the nursing home the other day. I need to preface this by reminding you how much my daughter looks like my wife.

A woman came in the front door with her dog. Rachel wanted to pet it, but approached it tentatively. The woman said it was okay and asked Rachel her name.

"My name is Rachel," she replied.

Referring to her dog, the woman said, "She goes by Lady..."

And Rachel replied, "I go by Mini-Me."