Our day started by honoring our youngest with a hearty breakfast of six of her favorite multi-grain pancakes with berry maple syrup (see here). After church, she opened four books from us (the green packages): two on chemistry and two on beading. (What does she want as her “big” present from us? The piano being tuned, which will happen soon.) There were cards and gifts from Aunts as well: beads, a handmade felted bag, a turquoise folio set. (See photos below.)

Most of the time we gave her undivided attention playing games: Settler’s of Catan and Bananagrams. Above, check out my daughter’s stunning last turn of the day. (We were playing with a double set of tiles among three people.) It’s been her dream to use “deoxyribonucleic,” which came from her Biology class, and she finally did it, including “pulchritude,” which she knows from the wonderful movie Akeelah and the Bee…

In the bottom photo, see the huge birthday cookie she decorated… our tradition instead of cake…