adjusting to life after thanksgiving vacation

Jantz and I got back last night from a great vacation in Colorado. I'm not going to lie, neither of us wanted to come home. Getting to play with family all day and not having to worry about work or school was just too much fun. Especially when I was supposed to be finishing up my thesis.....yep, didn't do that. Instead we shopped, played games, and ate lots of good food. Definitely worth it :)

While we continue to recover and get over our sorrow of being back in the grind, I'll share this brief tidibt.

Since it has started getting cold, we've been making stops at Starbucks every so often to get their caramel apple cider. (and now I have to preface. you know when you go to a food place and you have to give a name (think ordering pizza, putting your name down at a restaurant, or telling the Starbucks man your name so he can nicely write it on your cup)? Well, you may be surprised to know that Jantz isn't the most convenient name for these such occasions. No one ever gets it right. So recently Jantz has been trying out some new names to use....so far it's pretty entertaining, mostly because he forgets what name he said by the time they actually call it. Ok, preface done).   So one particular time, we went to Starbucks for their delicious caramel apple cider. Jantz gave the name Chad, and I gave the name Ali (because that's my name). This is what we walked away with:

Chad and Ally, happily ever after.

This story sounded better before I wrote it all out. haha.

birthday fun

Here are some pictures from my birthday :) remember when I said that Jantz took me to Cheesecake Factory on Saturday? Well somehow we didn't take any pictures. But trust me, it was really good, and really busy, and really delicious.

Monday my mom took us to Macaroni Grill 

(and of course she showed up with balloons; one of these years I won't be surprised haha):

Then Tuesday came around. I was sleeping when Jantz left for work, but he still made sure to say happy birthday. I worked on my presentation (that I gave Wednesday) all morning and then went to work for a bit, but ended up coming home early to finish up my paper. 

Jantz thought I wasn't going to be home until after him, though, so he I kind of ruined his surprise, but not really. He walked in with a bouquet of these beautiful roses:

I really don't know what it is about flowers...they don't really do anything...but when Jantz gives me flowers, it's pretty much the sweetest thing ever.

Anyway, apparently he was going to bake me a cake and have it baking when I got home (he even bought everything to make one - including a huge bottle of sprinkles (my favorite!)). I only felt a little bit bad that I was already home, because it meant I got to watch him make it!  

the end result was quite impressive. he even bought icing to decorate it. pretty good piping skills if you ask me:

Then my dad and stepmom took us out to dinner at PF Changs. It was so delish. and fun to just hang out and talk to the parents.

look how cute they are:

Here's me opening and showing off the presents Jantz got for me

(this one is the Lion King on Blu-Ray. I've wanted it since I found out we could buy it!):

I hope this doesn't make Jantz seem less manly, but he is amazing at shopping for me; he seriously buys me the cutest clothes...

blowing out the candles:

Jantz thought he could do a better job at blowing them out, so we did it again 

(and he totally kicked my trash):

I think this is the most pictures I've put up in one post ever. haha

Newsflash

We officially have ALL of our wedding pictures! And they are amazing, let me tell you. So amazing and so numerous that I couldn't even chose one to post on here. But I am so excited to look though them all over and over again, and eventually I'll choose some choice ones to put on here :) hopefully sooner rather than later. I have to give a big presentation to tomorrow, and once that is over, I will be really happy and totally consumed by reliving our great day.

Just for funsies, here's a bridal picture I quite like, if I let myself be vain enough to say so haha:

Tonight my parents are taking us out to dinner for my birthday. Yes, I turned the big 2-4 today. My mom took us out last night for a birthday dinner (at Macaroni Grill. yum), and Jantz took me to Cheesecake Factory on Saturday (one of our all-time faves).  It's actually been a really great birthday this year. Made even better by my incredibly loving parents, in-laws, and of course, my sweetheart of a husband.

Carving

Over Halloween weekend we carved us some pumpkins. It took a while, but it was a lot of fun! Here's some snapshots:

mine

Jantz's (1st prize for sure)

Instead of dressing up this year, we went to our friend's house and watched Coraline and ate lots of popcorn and candy. 

It was a great Halloween.

flying by

October literally seems like it went by in a day. I can't believe it's already the 4th of November! Time is going so fast. How is it already Friday??? (I mean, I love Fridays, so it's good exasperation)

I'm teaching my class about Baroque art today. It's my absolute fave, so of course I took way too long preparing for my lesson. Needless to say, I don't care if everyone falls asleep today, I'm going to have fun. haha. (in their defense, there is rarely any sleeping in class :)

Snow keeps threatening to fall out here, and I pray every day that it doesn't. Jantz on the other hand, is very excited for when it does.

More later on our pumpkin carving :)