Everyone has to grow up. When I was a young girl, I never thought that the time would come when I would be a “Grown Up”. Now that I am in my mid-thirties (and grown-up) I am the one watching the people that I have known as children become adults. It is a very strange sensation to be the one saying, “wow, you’ve really grown” when it used to be said to me.
This is the case with my second cousin Rachel. When in college, I remember her being born and then going to her first birthday party. When I got married she was my first and only choice to be the flower fairy girl at my wedding (see the pictures at the end for a walk down memory lane). Now at 15, this beautiful little girl has turned into a stunningly gorgeous young woman.
Rachel is everything you think of when you imagine a Huntington Beach, California girl; Blonde, tan and beautiful. Ok boys, back off………she’s only 15 and still my little cousin!
Rachel has a beautiful spirit to match the beauty of her exterior. Loving, giving and caring to all that know her, Rachel makes you want to be around her.
Rachel told me when she grows up (hee, hee, here we go with the grown up theme again) she wants to be a stay-at-home mom, like her mom got to be. She says she can’t wait to be married and have kids. She is already amazing with children. She was able to charm my two little boys in matter of minutes and had them asking me at the end of the evening when they would get to play with cousin Rachel again.
Rachel was a natural model. She needed little to no direction for our shoot. The camera just ate her up!
Ok, don’t be fooled. The next couple of photos were not taken in Hawaii. They were shot in Laugna Beach, CA. This my favorite beach ever!
I just had to get a mother-daughter photo. Even though my cousin June bucked at the idea at first, I promised her she would thank me later.
Two beautiful woman.
Mother and Daughter. Beauty inside and out.
The last two are taken in the summer of 2003 at my wedding. Rachel stole the show that day. Could she have been any cuter? Rachel, how did you get so grown up?
