Bailey's 17th birthday

Bailey's schedule was so tight that we had to be creative to fit in her birthday fun. We spent a day shopping for birthday gifts a few weeks before the big day because that was the only available Saturday. Then, she chose to have her breakfast in bed the day before her birthday, since there was no seminary on that day.

 

Bailey had actually been up for an hour curling her hair and getting ready before I finished making her homemade buttermilk pancakes, but she obligingly climbed back into pjs to receive her breakfast.  Then she got dressed in birthday finery and took off to school.











After school this sweet friend brought her a gift.  Lauren is a great friend. Lauren sometimes needs to be steadied when she is walking down the halls at school so she takes Bailey's arm, and Bailey says she then feels extra tall!

After Dad got home from work we headed out for a family birthday adventure. Bailey chose Panera for her birthday dinner.

Then she wanted to go into NE Portland to a famous donut store, Blue Star Donuts since her birthday fell on National Donut Day.

Apparently their fried chicken donuts are very delicious, but they were out when we arrived.

We had a tough time deciding, but eventually tried the Lemon Poppy, Real Maple and Bacon, and Passion Fruit Cocoa Nib.  They were delicious - unlike any donuts I've ever tasted!

Then we headed home so Bailey could open up her gifts. We sneaked in a few surprises, but mostly she had to fake shock and amazement

as she opened gifts that mostly she had picked out herself.

Aubrey and Joseph gave her their gifts.

And then it was off to bed to prepare for early morning seminary and school the next day.

Happy birthday, Bailey!  You are even more remarkable every year. You are very rapidly becoming a truly grown up young woman, with amazing maturity, intelligence, kindness, and inner and outer beauty. We love you!