Happy 14th Birthday, Bailey!

Bailey asked me yesterday why I hadn't recorded anything about her birthday yet. The answer is that I am running basically 3 months behind on blogging. I am still trying to catch up on events in March (with a few recent exceptions), but I now interrupt this look back in time to record some of the celebration of Bailey's 14th birthday.

The fun started two days before her birthday, when she invited 59 or so of her bestest friends over for a party (okay, there were 14 girls, but who's counting?)  The morning of her party Kara and Dave and family left after visiting us for a fun one day whirlwind trip. (A post on this is forthcoming - maybe I'll get to it in August?)  After they drove off we left to Joseph's Tball game. Afterward, Dan and I drove straight to Costco to load up on goodies and dinner for the party. We basically bought a carload of food, including 5 or 6 pizzas (which, it turns out, was 4 pizzas too many).  By the time we got home there was less than hour until the 4 p.m. start of the party.  We went into big time cleaning/party prep mode, making special treats, setting out food, cleaning up the house and getting activities ready. Bailey's good friend Nina came over to help us prepare/decorate. I was in focused party prep mode, ordering the two girls around and working as fast as I could. 

4:00 p.m. came and went and no one else arrived at the party. The pizza was getting cold, the strawberry dip was getting warm. I was having flashbacks to a party Brandon had hosted his freshman year when only one friend showed up. Finally I asked Bailey if anyone had texted her that they would be late.  She looked at me confused and said, "Mom, the party starts at 5:00."  Oh. Well, that would explain it - somehow I got my wires crossed.  

At 5:00 thirteen more girls showed up and the party began. We reheated the pizza and kept everyone supplied with food and drinks. Other than that, Dan and I did our best to be around but not in the middle of things. Bailey was adamant that she didn't want us to run any party games, etc. When things seemed to be slowing down too much Dan did offer to play "name that song" with the kids for awhile. 

 There's an inside joke which explains the shirt gift above. If only I really understood the inside joke so I could explain it to you!

Below, all the guests do what we affectionately call the "Bailey face."

Bailey's main gift from us was money for her to use for clothes shopping. The weekend before her birthday she and I shopped at Clackamas Mall and she bought a few shirts and new sparkly Toms shoes.

The next weekend when Ashlyn was in town, Bailey and Ash spent the day at the mall and found more fun summer things, including jeans which were actually long enough and thin enough.

The morning of her birthday she woke up to breakfast in bed (homemade biscuits and gravy) and opened a few presents before school.

Despite her protestations, I snapped a few pictures of Bailey as she left the car to walk to the bus on her birthday morning (wearing her new birthday outfit).

After school we all watched Joseph play a T-ball game and Bailey was able to hold our friend's baby (what a great bday present!)

After the game Joseph hung out with his good buddies and the rest of the family ate a wonderful birthday dinner at Olive Garden.

 Bailey and Aubrey ate their favorite - fettucine alfredo.  We all ate . . .

 way too much good food!

Once we were home Bailey opened a few more presents, including the sparkly black Toms which she had already worn that day (we put them back in the box and wrapped them up. She acted appropriately surprised).

 Below, doing the "Bailey face" and normal smiles. 

  

 It's tradition - every time someone opens up presents Joseph finds a way to be silly and goofy. Trying to garner attention perhaps?

 In honor of your birthday, here are 14 things I love about you, Bailey:

1.  I love your wit - you make me laugh every day and your sense of humor helps other people feel comfortable around you.

2.  You have a gift for empathy and understanding others. You very rarely are negative about others, but usually try to figure out why they might be acting in a certain way.

3.  You are great with children - that is a real gift.

4.  You have really good taste in music. I love to listen to the playlists on your ipod.

5. I love that we read a lot of the same books and you are careful to choose appropriate books. 

6. It's fun that you pore over food blogs and cookbooks to find new recipes for us to try. And you are really, really pushing yourself to try new foods. (I'm still going to get you to try Thai food - maybe this year?  You will thank me.)

7. I'm proud that you chose the high school you thought would be best for you, even though almost all of your friends were going to different schools.

8.  You do a great job staying on top of your schoolwork. You schedule your time wisely so that you are rarely working on papers or projects at the last minute. These habits will really help in high school!

9.  I love your lists. What would we do without Bailey lists to keep us organized?

10.  You make great faces for the camera. They are so . . . you!

11. I love that you work really hard to find modest clothes (and it not easy to find longer skirts when you are tall).  I can't think of any time when you asked if you could buy or wear something immodest.

12.  I'm glad that you enjoy everything about Young Womens - mutual activities, Girls Camp, hiking for Girls Camp, everything. You are always enthusiastic about YW activities and never want to miss.  I'm thinking about renaming house cleaning as "YW Home Beautificiation." I'm thinking it might help you enjoy it more?

13.  I love the way that you try hard to have a good relationship with your siblings.

14.  I appreciate the way that you tell me often (verbally and written) that you love and appreciate me.  That means everything to me!

Happy birthday, Bailey.  You will have a great year!