more moving pictures

our first apartment together :) we're going to miss it.

 

Doesn't my husband look so intellectual?

 

We took turns looking awkward in front of the truck...

my fave. haha

Moving

I can barely believe that it has been over a month since I last posted any updates (aside from Father's Day :). That means zero updating of all that has been going on over here - which is a lot! I'm gonna try my best to recap.

After 11 days apart (never again), the day finally came to fly home to my much-missed husband. I got to the airport and made the great choice/mistake not to check my flight until after I took the train to my gate. Yep, flight cancelled. Heart dropped. I had to go to the far end of the airport to get to my gate only to turn around and go to the other end only to wait in a huge line with angry people (me being one of them). That flight was the only one for 24 hours that went to Provo, and the flight helper people kept saying that all flights with all airlines to Salt Lake that day were full. I know I wasn't in a real emergency, but at the time it was complete devastation - I had to get home! I missed Jantz! And we were moving that weekend. Long story short, the sweetheart of an old man who helped me somehow by some miracle found a flight for me that left within half an hour. Needless to say, my day - heck my whole week - was so made, and I was SO grateful. I ran to another end of the airport for my new flight. Even though it took an extra hour to get home, it was worth every minute. We were so very excited to see each other.

The next day, Saturday, we went to get the moving truck and a bunch of our friends and my parents came over to help us load up all of our belongings. It only took a couple hours, and everyone was SUCH a help. It started raining just as we put the last thing in the truck. But the fun was only just beginning. We were planning on towing my car behind the moving truck (Jantz drove the truck and I drove his car), but we didn't realize that there was a difference in towing trailers for AWD and 2WD - mine was AWD, and the tow thing we got was for 2WD. And we did not want to pay a couple hundred dollars to get the right one, and my car is pretty old anyway and we wanted to get a new one soon. So.....we made the tough decision to leave my car in Utah (with my gracious parents) and try to sell it. It was pretty sad having to let it go; it got me through my entire college career. Once we got everything decided, my mom took us out to lunch at CPK (we love their BBQ chicken pizza. yum). Then we headed out to Lehi to meet my dad, stepmom and siblings for dinner at Texas Roadhouse  After saying goodbye to all of my amazing parents, we went home to sleep in our apartment one last time.

Morning came and we finished packing up the moving truck. After a surprise goodbye visit from my dad and stepmom (he couldn't let us go without making sure everything was packed correctly haha), we were on our way to Colorado!

Happy Dad's day

Wow has it really been a month since my last post??? Funnily enough, my excuse is that we have been super busy (even though neither of us have jobs right now haha). But I do have some fun updates that I'll get to soon.

While today is Father's Day, it also so happens to be my dad's birthday. Sadly I've missed several of his birthdays over the years, but missing this one has definitely been the hardest. It's slowly sinking in that I don't live by my family anymore.

He has been such a huge help and support with the move and with job interviews and just with life in general. Even though life wasn't peaches with divorced parents, he always made the best of things and I have some pretty great memories with my dad (like eating twinkies and baby ruths, and playing games with him on his bed all growing up). I feel blessed to have had such a loving dad :)

picture dump

Quick update of our lives (for those who are curious): We went to Larke's wedding over the weekend! It was so fun and the wedding went great! She looked gorgeous and I am seriously SO happy for her and her new husband! That's the good stuff :) The sad-ish stuff is that I am currently in Colorado until the 25th looking for jobs (yes, it's just as fun as it sounds...except for being with my amazing in-laws - that part really is fun) and Jantz is in Utah finishing up his job. We are both super bummed to be apart! When I get back next weekend we'll be packing up all our belongings and officially moving to Colorado :) so wish us lots of luck :) 

........and now onto some pictures............

I was looking through our pictures last week and found these few gems. Somehow they got overlooked, which is a shame, because some of them (i.e. Jantz and his dad as leprechauns) are just too great not to look at.

When we were in CO in February, Jantz's dad took us to a authentic Danish bakery. And if any of you know my love of European pastries (and cheese, yum), then you know that I loooved this place. It was so cute and everything we got was so good! Can't wait to make weekly trips once we live here.

It's called "Taste of Denmark". If you're in the area, you have to go. have to.

Jantz and his dad all ready for St. Patrick's Day. In the middle of Hobby Lobby. With boas and everything. Sorry but I seriously love this picture. Two peas in a pod.

isn't he just too cute? haha

Jantz's (and mine now I guess haha) nephew. He is literally the cutest little boy I have ever seen. His smile is just too adorable.

And here's us at the new City Creek Center in Salt Lake next to the waterfall :)

my last day at work & possibly my last week in Utah

My last day at work is today. which means that it is also my last day at "school", and on campus. For the past four years I've come to campus to go to work. It has been the best job to have while I was in school. I couldn't have asked for better bosses or coworkers. We've had some pretty great times.

It's going to be so weird turning my computer off for the last time. And having to take all of my things home. so weird. I'm not going to be back here for work ever again. Or for school ever again. I've spent the most of almost every day on this campus since I started college in 2005. It's going to be surreal not to be walking around these buildings anymore.

But at the same time...I'm excited to start a new "chapter". Gosh that sounds cliche haha. But really, as scary as it is having to leave a place I've become so accustom to, I'm looking forward to new things.

We're leaving for Colorado on Wednesday (for one of my best friend/sister-in-law's wedding - soo very excited for her!), and I probably won't be back until the end of the month, and even then it will only be for a few days to pack up and drive back to our new "home" in Colorado. Not what the plan was a few days ago, but that's just how things go sometimes right? I'm going to stay in Colorado to interview for jobs and hopefully get one(!), while Jantz stays in Utah to work until the end of the month - not sure how being apart is going to work out (major sad face).

I thought I would have longer to say goodbye - to my friends, family, and the city I grew up in. But maybe it's good. I don't have to "prepare" for sad goodbyes, I just have to have them. I'm terrible at prolonged goodbyes, I get way too emotional and nostalgic. I think maybe it will be for the best to just rip the bandaid off. I just hope I get to see most (if not all) of you guys before I leave :)

all done.

Getting everything with my thesis "officially" complete turned into quite a nightmare. The process, which I thought would take a couple of months to complete, was crammed into 7 days (really 5, but who's keeping track). Needless to say, I'm all done :)

You're probably dying to hear the whole story - and I certainly don't want to forget the pain I went through - so I'll tell you (but trust me, I won't blame you if you stop reading now).

Now, I was told this whole semester, and even after my defense (which was on the 9th), that as long as I defended my thesis before the end of the semester that I would not have to pay tuition during the summer.

But THEN, I got an email Thursday (the 12th) afternoon saying that, actually, in order to not have to pay tuition I had to get everything completed - which meant making all my changes suggested by my committee, getting it approved by my advisor, getting it approved by the department and dean, getting an electronic copy approved by the department and dean, and finally turning in papers to Graduate Studies. (See how I thought this would take a while???). So you can imagine how excited I was to hear that I actually had one week to get all of this done, otherwise I would have to pay over $600, for nothing.

Considering I had yet to look at/change my thesis at all since my defense, I hurried home and spent all night and some of the morning making changes (thankfully, and by some miracle, I had very manageable changes to make). I sent it to my advisor on Friday, and by Monday morning we had a perfect version (because my advisor is amazing like that. really though, talk about miracles. she is one).

I seriously was running around campus all day on Monday. I thought that my advisor had my forms, so I waited to hear from her so I could get them. But of course, she had already given the forms to the department office (meaning I didn't need to find her in the first place haha). So I ran over to that office with my paper. But guess what, there was a signature missing, and nothing could be done until it was there. So i had to wait a while to get in touch with that teacher. And once I did, she was only going to be on campus for 20 minutes. So I ran (literally) to her office, got her signature, and ran again over to the department office. Then I went to work and waited (not so patiently).

I heard Tuesday morning while I was at work that the hard copy of my thesis had been approved and was ready to be submitted as an electronic version - and this version had to be all fixed up so that everything had bookmarks and links; it was complicated. Thankfully I had already prepared my electronic version over the weekend (with a prayer that I wouldn't have to change anything - and I didn't, woot). So I submitted it right away.

On 4:30 on Tuesday they emailed me that my electronic version was approved. Now I just had to get my forms from the department office and take them to the Graduate Studies office. This would be super easy if everywhere on campus didn't close at 5 (and sometimes earlier). I rushed to the department office and had to wait (as always) for several minutes - just for a form! By the time I got my forms, it was 4:50 - and the Grad Studies office is literally on the other side of campus. There was no way I would make it. So I went home. ha. No big deal because I thought all I had to do was give someone my forms and be done.

Little did I know. Wednesday morning I took over my forms and my title page. Yeah, it was not drop it off and leave. Of course my title page had problems! Which NO ONE caught - and how many people looked at it?? Yeah I was furious. They were the stupidest formatting things (don't bold this, this needs to be lowercase, you need another space here). Oh and the best part? The girl there said it could take a couple of days to "process" after I got it back to them. Yeah, I didn't have a "couple of days". Furious again. Within the hour I had everything fixed - I emailed it over and waited (ok, freaked out to Jantz is more like it. What was I going to do if it did take days?). Luckily (cue another miracle here), later that day I got news that everything was ready again. I took it back over and got all cleared.

I. WAS. DONE.


It's been almost a week and I still can't believe it. Come June, I will officially have my Master's degree. Good job me :) haha.

Our Wedding: the luncheon

After all the picture taking, Jantz and I had to rush over to Johnny Carinos for our luncheon (we stayed behind everyone else to finish taking pictures). It was so surreal getting into our car for the first time, being married. And driving around town in a wedding dress sure is exciting, especially walking into a restaurant haha.

Anyway, once everyone was settled in, our parents each said a few words (filled with lots of tears ;) 

Then Jantz and I said some things. It was sweet.

Then we dug in and ate lunch. It was delish.

After the food came costco cake. 

Not only cheap but soo good . . . in fact I want some now haha.

Here's some more shots from lunch :)

After we were done, Jantz, Jacob (one of his groomsmen), and I had to pick up our cake. Talk about awkward sitting in the car as the boys went in to get it. Haha. Then we rushed home to get ready for the reception.

probably the best news ever! (well except for getting married - that was pretty great)

I defended my thesis! And it was a success!

That's right people, I am 90% finished with my master's degree. The hardest part is over and the end is in sight!

I was super nervous and I was asked some scary questions - they were expected, but that didn't make them easier to answer. But overall, I was proud of myself for my responses and for (hopefully) sounding like I knew what I was talking about.

My wonderful parents came, along with Jantz and a friend from my program, to watch. I seriously was so grateful to have so much support - it made me a lot calmer (although once the questions started, I didn't notice anyone in the room except for my committee). 

I thought after it was over that I would be less busy, but that has just not been the case. I still have corrections to make and lots of papers to grade. But not having to worry about defending has certainly relieved a lot of stress. It's just a relief to know that all the hard work really has paid off.

Just wanted to share :)

cotton candy

I was looking through some of our Disneyland pictures, and I'm so glad I did because I almost forgot about Jantz's first experience eating cotton candy. We were in California Adventure by a big hot dog place. I begged Jantz to buy me some cotton candy, and he obliged (because he loves me like that). We were all sitting at a table next to this big hot dog place, some of the fam eating hot dogs, others turkey legs, and others corn on the cob. We just had our cotton candy haha. It was so funny watching Jantz take his first bite. I took a whole series of pictures to capture the moment, but this one is by far one of the best:

He looks so worried. haha. I don't think he hated it because he ate more...but he wasn't too fond of the stickiness and the "dissolving in your mouth" feeling. So precious, and so funny to watch haha.

Other than looking through pictures, there isn't much else to report. I've been grading papers, looking for jobs, and preparing for my thesis defense. Jantz has been working, getting in the occasional game of fifa, looking for potential apartments, and of course making me laugh all the time.

April 9

That is the date of my thesis defense. 2 1/2 weeks. Whoa. These past couple weeks have been full of re-writing and re-reading. And I think/hope I finally have a great paper :)

I'm super excited, but also scared to death to defend (and to do everything comes after that, ie. move to another state, find a job, find a place to live). It's kind of funny. I've been waiting years to be done with school, to get a real job, to have no homework at night. But now that it's slowly about to come true...it's kind of really scary. I'm not qualified to be in the real world! haha, ok I guess I am. But looking for jobs is quickly becoming one of my least favorite things to do. Not because I can't find jobs, but because I hate applying for them. Readjusting my resume and rewriting cover letters is just no fun. But I know I have to do it, and I really am excited to start something new.

Sorry for the lack of posts...although hopefully our wedding pictures make up for some of it. haha.

That's most of what has been going on at our house. Oh, and Jantz and I are going to the museum today to see what is supposed to be an amazing Islamic exhibition :)

Our Wedding: the ceremony

I should preface this with a clarification...once I posted pictures of our invites, I realized I left out the best part of marrying Jantz (ok it's definitely not the best part). I didn't have to change my last name. Apparently I'm pretty lucky - I don't know what that means since I didn't have to go through the process haha. Don't worry, I didn't marry my cousin (that would be gross). We're not related (i mean, just look at us. opposites), just a weird coincidence :) And if your thinking I'm now going by "Gardner-Gardner", well, your pretty funny, and original ;)


Everyone made there way out the door and then it was my turn (yay!). And it was looking to go perfectly.....until my dad and I left the front door. Just as we rounded the corner where everyone could see us, I realized I had. forgotten. my. bouquet. How you ask? I honestly have no idea. I guess I was occupied with something else...like getting married. haha. I stopped mid-walk and whispered to my dad that I forgot my flowers, to which he ran back in the house to get them, and I got to stand there awkwardly as everyone watched (and filmed). Somehow we didn't get any pictures of it, but the video's pretty great. Once I had my beautiful bouquet in hand, we kept moving :)

The walk to the altar began at the front door (around on the left) and wound down around the house

to stone steps (next to a waterfall, gorgeous) that led to the lawn, 

which then led through the chairs and up to the middle of four trees where Jantz was waiting. It was long, but it was a beautiful walkway. As my dad and I walked down the steps I could begin to see Jantz. He's not one who cries much, but I was hoping for at least a smidgen of tears on our wedding day. I watched him as we left the steps and I promise I saw him get a little choked up (I don't think he's denies it, but in case he does, I say that it happened), and of course I was getting all sorts of teary-eyed. It was precious.

Once we made it down the aisle, I hugged my dad and took my place next to my future husband. 

I don't really remember what the bishop said (except that Jantz should always be "dating" me, which is a-okay with me). Jantz repeated his spiel and said "i do" - or maybe we said "yes" . . . I seriously dont remember. and then it was my turn and I totally said "yes" before I was supposed to . . . I hope no one heard me haha. Then we kissed and everyone was happy.

The one awkward thing about the ceremony was that Jantz and I hugged several times. I mean, they were good hugs, but it was awkward because kissing just seems like more a "wedding ceremony" type of action. Plus, hugging in front of a big group of people who are all staring at you is just weird.

Anyway, after we were "man and wife", we weren't really sure what to do (i promise we walked through it, but it was really brief and we didn't so much pay attention to the end part haha). So once we walked back down the aisle we sort of just stopped and everyone came over for hugs and such.

Then we started with the pictures.

Catch up

Here's my real quick post to have something better than my last post at the top. haha

Being busy doesn't even begin to explain this week. My thesis (a real final thesis) is due on Friday. When I get it back from my advisor it will go straight to my second reader. And from there it will go to all my committee. And then, my friends, I will defend my thesis (and hope/pray that it's successful).

So.......yeah. That's why I've been MIA.

But just to catch up, here's some fun things we've been able to squeeze in these past few weeks:

-made dinner (chicken taquitos) and desert (lava cakes) with the bestie and our husbands (and their adorable little girl). It was mucho delicious (because taquitos are spanish?) and a lot of fun!

[speaking of taquitos...Jantz says tAHquitos, whereas I say tUquitos. I feel like tAHquitos sounds more...proper? snooty? I don't know, but I like when people say it that way and I did not expect to hear him say it like that. haha]

-Jantz's dad came to visit. We went to dinner at some steak place...I cannot remember the name...but it was delicious. The second time in my life that I've ordered steak - prime rib for that matter - at a restaurant...and both of those times have happened this year. I blame Jantz.

-I finally have sucked Jantz into the Food Network. Granted, he'll only willingly watch Restaurant: Impossible. but that's progress people.

-oh, and! two of Jantz's sisters got engaged in February! And we are SOO excited for them!

-we finally got Jantz a new wedding ring! He hasn't been able to wear his...ever really because it gives him a rash on his finger (tmi? haha). So we finally went into our jeweler and got him one that he loves and that he nows wears at all times. It's so weird now seeing him with a ring on haha.

-and most notably, Jantz has been incredibly patient and supportive this whole semester as I stress over and work constantly on my thesis. There have been many days (and there will be many more over this next month) when I have to "ignore" him while I research/type/edit/research/type, when all I really want to do is spend time with him. He has been such a loving husband through all this. And I feel so lucky that he's mine.

-and so I don't leave you with too much lovey stuff. I also made oreo truffles while Jantz's dad was here. (thanks again deb ;) They were way easier to make this time because I only did half a batch and I heated up the chocolate in the microwave instead of in a makeshift double broiler on the stove that always goes skiwampus (cheating? yes. way easier for me to manage? heck yes). I'm glad that after all the dozens of times I made them I've finally found an easier way.....But you know, we could just buy a double broiler. haha.

Sometimes life is so unfair. . .

but then your husband cheers you up. This weekend started out with a few rough patches, but we got out of the house today and things started looking up. Some things you just can't control.

Life in the next few months is so uncertain right now I think it's draining my ability to worry about other more pressing matters (like if my thesis will ever be good enough). But I guess that's not a bad thing because I get to focus on the future, like moving to Colorado :)

Speaking of, we were there over presidents day weekend and it was so nice. Great place, great family.

I keep meaning to post more wedding pictures/stories, but I get so exhausted by the end of the day that I can't seem to make myself sit at the computer and do it. Sitting on the couch next to Jantz sounds like such a better choice. Haha, so the desire is there, and several posts are half written, but the action is lacking. I have faith I'll get to it soon though . . . I hope, haha.

love

If you want to know what the best part of marrying Jantz is...well it might just be everything haha. But one of the main reasons I fell in love with him was that he brought out who I really was. You know how sometimes you "shift" a bit when you're dating someone? Not on purpose of course, but sometimes you keep things in or don't do things you normally do. Well, once Jantz came along and we became friends, I totally let my guard down and for the first time I didn't hold myself back (probably because I didn't seriously think we would ever end up together, so who cares if I say/do what I want right?). And after he made it clear that he was serious about being with me, well, I knew it was the real me that he liked. And I think that is why we were able to be together (and eventually become best friends and get married :). Because you know, you shouldn't be with someone just because you love them (although you should love them) - because love comes in all shapes and sizes - you should be with them because they bring out the best in you, and that kind of love is so very special.


So here's my quick little Valentines Day post. I hope you all had a great day today and felt lots of love :)

Our Wedding: the invites

This post so should have been the first...but better late than never right?

Jantz's dad designed and printed our invites (and took our engagements...he's basically a creative renaissance man). They turned out better than I could have imagined:

it's hard to imagine how this looked after it
was folded...but the top is the inside,
and the bottom is the outside :) 

his birthday

Jantz's birthday was two weeks ago (has it really been that long???). Here's some pictures from his big day:

His mom flew in and took us out to dinner at Red Lobster, naturally. It was so nice having her here. She even made us breakfast the morning she left (best mother-in-law? yes sir). We were really sad to see her go.

I made Jantz a (pretty dang amazing) cake for him to come home to. Two layers of scratch-made Hersheys chocolate cake. I was surprised at just how much he loved it. Needless to say, we did not throw any of it away.

(I may have forgotten to buy candles...so we improvised with these)

Watching him open his presents was pretty entertaining. His mom got him some new shirts - and they were exactly what I have been wanting him to wear! He just looks so good (as seen in our dinner pictures :).

 I got him the Transformers 3-pack, those shoes, and the watch, and of course his beats by dre headphones (which he just loves).

And then, Friday night we got all dressed up and went to Carvers (steaks and seafood). It was super expensive, but so delicious. I'm not the kind of girl who usually orders steak...I don't really know why, I like steak, I just, don't order it. haha. but Jantz insisted and so I got some prime rib. And it was amazing

We originally had plans to celebrate with both of my parents that week, but I was uber selfish and begged Jantz to let us continue his celebration the next week so I could finish a draft of my thesis. He graciously obliged. So my dad and stepmom took us to (where else) PF Changs last week. It was so much fun. They really are so adorable (can I say that about my parents? haha) and are always full of funny stories.


To my wonderful husband: I hope you had a great birthday and got everything you wanted. I hope you felt so much love, because we all love you so much! You have been such an amazing husband these past several months and I really do feel lucky every day that I get to be around you. You work so hard to take care of us and you never lose sight of our future. You make me proud to be your wife. I love you :)