Happy birthday to RT!

There are very few people in this world that I can't remember life without. There are my parents, my grandparents, a few childhood friends. And RT.

I'm not being sentimental here; I actually have a relatively good memory. I can remember life without Daniel and Janice, or - as Rachel and I used to refer to it when we wanted to get under their skin - the "good old days." But for better or worse, I sure can't remember life without her.

Rachel knows me better than just about anyone else on the planet, even though we went through a few years in high school where we didn't really like each other at all. We shared a room for more than a decade, until I hoodwinked my parents into believing that I really needed my own room because I was going into junior high, and we've shared many of the same jobs, teachers and friends. Having a sibling that's just 18 months younger means having someone around who can relate to you that you can really give a piece of your mind if she's ticking you off. I call it a win/win situation.

So in honor of RT's 30th birthday, here's a little look back:

Way back when RT didn't have hair (ie: the first two years of her life).
Now she has more hair than anyone else I know.

Blonde hair, big eyes, and bright red lips.
And I'm clearly scheming over how to get that cookie.

On one of our "Monday Fundays" with Grandma.
I wonder if we took home more sand than we left in the box?

If there was any doubt what Rachel would be like as an adult,
this photo from her sixth birthday party pretty much sums it up.