Bert-Day

(Once again, this post was written on Blog Catchup Day)

My 2014 birthday was everything I could have hoped and dreamed of!

We started off the season with a Words of Radiance party, hosted by the fantastic James and Charity West the night of the book release. They had an awesome themed party, with fun treats and a self-designed Shattered Plains board game (we competed for a gemheart, aka Ring Pop).

Floured Bread and Jam - An important factor in The Way of Kings (Book#1). Also, mine and Jordan's contribution to the goodies.

A Care Bear Cake with Bridge Four's insignia on it. 

Chicken - mentioned as a delicacy in the books

The majority of the animal life in the book are crustaceans. Someone brought a plate of "cremlings" to share!

The alcohol content of a drink could be determined by its color. Or, in the case of this party, the "alcohol" content. 

A pretty impressive map of the Shattered Plains, complete with horses, gemhearts, and a Parshendi

On a Costco trip a few days before my birthday, I asked Jordan if we could get all the books in the Divergent series. I had started the first book and liked it, and figured I would one day want them all in my collection.

As it turns out, I was wrong. The books were fine, but I don't know that I'll ever read them again, and the whole series took me about 4 days to read. Definitely should have put that money toward something more lasting....

My actual big day was filled with a series of perfect-timings. Jordan took me to the Hogle Zoo! We hadn't gone together, and it was fun to see the changes they made, and appreciate their art exhibits. We made it to *every single* animal feeding. I think we were unintentionally following the zookeepers on their rounds throughout the zoo. We were pretty sure we'd catch the end of the sea lion show, but ended up getting there a couple minutes before it started.

A picture from the zoo. Feel inspired.

After the zoo, we got ourselves back to Provo. Jordan asked me to text Nadia to see if we could drop something off at her house, and she said to come on over. So we did!

Guess what.

It was a SURPRISE PARTY JUST FOR ME! And we got there *just in time* as the cake was getting finished.

Nadia made a fantastic Peruvian ice cream cake, loaded us up with sugar, did my hair and nails, and then sent us on our way for our hot date. Also, I think we watched the Goofy Movie.

I kept these nails pretty much up until we moved. 

Jordan took me to one of my favorite restaurants - the Roll Up Cafe. We were worried that we were arriving a little late, but if we'd arrived any earlier, we wouldn't have learned about an awesome bluegrass band - Wandering Woods

Someone was really looking out for me to make sure my day was special, and not just the man of my dreams. Hooray for Tender Mercies!