A 24th birthday.....the girls version

Wowser, I have the most AMAZING friends! I have really gotten to bring in my 24th birthday in style, thanks to a variety of amazing ladies whom I am lucky enough to call my friends!

Let's move the train back to Thursday night to talk about my birthday - come with me if you would like (but be warned, there is a whole lot of awesome in these stories!!!!)

On Thursday I left work and went up to Carmel to meet my dear friend Amber. Amber is a super-cool friend of mine, and we have a very interesting start to our friendship. In November of 2008, I decided I couldn't live without hightlights in my hair. Considering that we are on a budget, I decided I would try the beauty school. Little did I know that it was my lucky day! I got to the beauty school and just happened to be placed with the ever amazing Amber! Over the next number of months, we just got to know each other while she was doing my hair. When she graduated from beauty school, the little gem said she would continue doing my hair, and at each other's houses so that we could do it "on the cheap." Now, don't get me wrong, we have done other things, not just hair together. We had some adventures at Conner Prairie and when we get together for hair, we always make a day of it. Also, I sold the poor girl on Twilight, so even though I am SO OVER Twilight, it is sort of one of our "things" - so we enjoy Twilight! I went up to her place on Thursday and she even got me some hair products as a birthday gift! We enjoyed Qdoba for dinner and had a lot of laughs. We even had to watch some of Twilight on Blu-Ray - and yes, I will admit - Edward is on a whole different level on Blu Ray! Suffice it to say that I left with great hair about 7 hours later!

Friday my friend Amanda came to my house for girls night to watch Gone with the Wind. I made some dinner and she offered to bring dessert. Now, don't mistunderstand me - I was not trying to underestimate Amanda, but when she said "bring dessert" I had expectations of a $5 cake from Kroger. Not that there would have been anything wrong with that, at all. BUT NO! She shows up with a 4 layer chococolate cake from a REAL, delicious bakery in Fishers and "Cake bites" (yum, they looked like truffles, but have moist, dense cake in the middle!) I nearly died at that amazing cake. You can just ask her. Once I saw the cake I didn't really want anything to do with the dinner I had made (note to Amanda and any other friends for that matter - DO NOT show me dessert before I eat dinner :) We watched Gone with the Wind - btw - that movie is like 4 hours long, but totally good, although a bit depressing. Poor Amanda didn't get home until about midnight - she lives about 30 or 45 minutes away. Amanda made my Friday night, that much is a given.

Saturday we must discuss in two parts. The day began with my traditional breakfast out for my birthday with my dear, sweet hubby-bug. Long, long ago in a land far from here, my Bapa used to take me out for breakfast every year on my birthday. My sweet Nate has carried on the tradition past when my Bapa could do it, and so - we had breakfast out. I came back home and Nate went off to the city to get some hard-core study done for his exams this week. A little while later my dear Marty called me and sang me 2! birthday songs. Then we chatted for a while. After talking for about 25 minutes, dear Marty and I got off the phone. About 2 minutes later my doorbell rings.....It was Marty and Micah with hugs and a present! Can you even believe that. That rotten stinker didn't even tell me that she was going to come over - what a hoot! Micah was a really big helper with Hansy and fed him. They played a little bit and Marty gave me my present. There is a very long story involved in this one, but Marty gave me a waffle iron, waffle mix, and syrup - as well as a handmade card from her and Micah!!!!!!! I was amazed! Nate is going to be making me a lot of waffles with that waffle iron!!!!

Meanwhile, my dear friend Rachel had called and invited me to hang out with her and my other friend Megan (both med-school wives). With Nate studying, it seemed like a great way to spend my birthday! I went up to her place and took Hans with me (Hans is pretty much in love with their dog, Gigi!) We took the pups on a walk (about a mile - I was impressed with Hans! - He was showing off for Gigi!) Then, all three of us girls drove up to Carmel and went to a place called Ted Montanas. They have the BEST buffalo burgers on the face of the earth. Yumm!!!! The girls even treated me to dinner, what great friends! I had some of Amanda's tasty cake left over, so I took it to share with the girls!

What a birthday it has been!!!! I feel so loved! I never in my entire life have had this many close friends, and I am SO GRATEFUL for each and every one of you. I got lots of cards and love on facebook as well.

I haven't even had my birthday with sweet Nate yet - that is for tonight, but as usual I am clueless because my clues have been cryptic. Hopefully tomorrow I can update on that!!!

Love and thank you to everyone who has helped make my birthday so memorable. I can easily say I can't remember a birthday like this one! If it is any indication of what the upcoming year holds, I am pretty pumped up!

Bedlam in the land of Indy......

Oh my goodness......seriously? More than a week has passed since my last post - wow! Time sure flies when you're staying super-busy.

Nate = CRAZY BUSY. We are looking at exams next week for him. And, of course, we must not forget that this weekend is my birthday - and Nate is not one to let me down with my birthday.

I have been busy with work, but in a GREAT way! I am in the midst of doing a series on chocolate, which began on Friday and will last about 3 more weeks. Also, today my intro to a series on Recession Gardens was the lead! Not too shabby, if I may say so myself!

In between work, school, housework, cleaning up the messes that The Magnificent Hans makes, and anything else that makes its way in to life - we have been BUSY! And yet, for that I am extremely grateful!

In my spare time I have been reading Elizabeth Gilbert's newest book - Committed. I have really enjoyed it. I enjoy the local library. Know what is amazing about libraries? You get to go there and take as many books as you like!!! You have to give them back, of course, but thank you for the miracle of libraries!

A cardinal has been ruining our mornings. If you visit our house right now there is actually a kiddie pool in front of our bedroom window - it looks tacky and awful, but the cardinal has been quiet for a few days. After about 10 days of that stupid bird running itself in to the window for at least an hour - I don't really care if the kiddie pool looks tacky - it is saving my sanity!

So this weekend I will be an old lady........24! Well, 24 is not old, but I am pretty joyful for another birthday. Goodbye 23! I am sure whatever the hubby-bug has planned for my birthday will not disappoint, so I will be sure to update after the weekend!

NOT dead......

Nate's "little" (ha!) try 14! sis, Kylie.....Nate, and Jen!

Nate, Dad, Uncle Tom, and Matt

The BEAUTIFUL bride and her sweet little girl, Ashlynn

You know, I would seriously hope that no one would assume we were dead due to silence on the blog......but geez......where have the last few weeks gone?

Into being crazy-busy - that is where the last few weeks have gone. As I sit here right now, let me think a little bit about what we have been doing.

To begin with - that cute little hubby-o-mine......the one and the only, Nate! He is doing well. He has been super-duper busy with school. He is currently in second semester, well into the mud. For those of you who haven't had the med-school lecture - second semester of second year is the WORST. It is the worst because in ADDITION to awful, busy school, the students are responsible for preparing for boards. Boards will be pretty soon after school wraps to license the students for work with real humans and not just countless hours spent with books......

And now, for the FUN stuff.......Life in the land of JEN!!!!!!!

Work: work is seriously awesome, I LOVE it. It is pretty much a history-nerd's Disney Land. I get to research, look at and experience history. It is the stuff I was in love with in college, but now I get paid for it and don't have to do homework or all the not-fun parts. I am working three days a week. It is pretty fun, Nate and I get to carpool together, so that is super-nice.

House: oh boy, well the house has been tended better to, as a matter of fact, for about the last year.......So here's the deal - I have been doing most of the housework while not working as makes perfect sense. I mean, poor Nate - so busy with school, he shouldn't have to to housework. It has been a (good) adjustment back to work, even if only part time. Sometimes the housework has fallen to the wayside, but I am working on it!

The magnificent Hans has been good. He hasn't had any potty incidents while we have been gone for 9 hours. I think he sees what kind of trouble he can get in to (trash, anyone?) and then he naps.......Man, that dog has THE LIFE! On Thursday of this week he even got to go to work with me......that was a pretty fun adventure. He was a bit of a snot in in the morning, but he was super good in the afternoon. I feel safe in saying that on occasion the Magnificent Hans will be welcome to join me at the Awesome Saturday Evening Post.

I guess the other big event for us was last weekend's trip to the North (the last trip, mind you, for quite a long, LONG while) for Matt and Laura's wedding. Matt has finally decided to follow Nate's awesome example and choose a girl to settle down with! Haha! It was a big trip up for us, but one we wouldn't have missed for the world. Welcome to the family Laura, dear. You can't say I didn't warn you......because I did.....and now you are stuck! Even if you showed lack of better-judgement - we are glad to have you! On a way sadder note for me.....I guess I'm not the only Mrs. Stewart anymore, but I am glad to share the title with Laura!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone! Love!