Our Wedding: CO reception

Wow...remember when I was posting about our wedding? Well I want to finish! Especially since we just celebrated our 1st year anniversary on Saturday!! After our delicious luncheon, we headed back to the house to set up the reception. It was gorgeous. The perfect day. No rain. Clear skies. Just perfect. Everything that day fell together so perfectly it was obviously destiny that we were supposed to get married that day. haha, but for real. I changed out of my dress to help set things up - and to pee (I literally had to take my entire dress off to go to the bathroom...it was awkward to say the least).

Even though I helped set things up, and even though I had planned what everything was going to look like, I honestly have no recollection of seeing it all set up that night. I don't know if it looked how I wanted it to look, or if everything went as planned. But I kind of think that that is better, because I get to look at pictures instead, and pictures look perfect, so I get to imagine how perfect it all was (with no idea if anything went wrong). And this is how I get to remember it forever:

The first hour was saying hi to people, and the second was cutting the cake, dancing, and bouquet-throwing. Cutting the cake might have been my favorite thing. You know those people who ever-so-nicely place the piece of cake in their spouse's mouth? We are not those people. I mean, when are you ever going to be able to smash cake all over someone's face without getting it on film? There was no way I was going to pass up that opportunity. And I got him good. Loved every. second. of. it.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted a first dance with my husband and a daddy-daughter dance. I wasn't sold on everyone dancing because I didn't know if anyone would actually dance, so we just planned for those two dances. I have no idea if anyone saw us dancing haha, but it was what I wanted, and I'm so glad I did it. The best part for me is that we did it just as the sun was beginning to set (not planned), and it was just lovely (can I say lovely without sounding ridiculously cheesy?).

Throwing the bouquet and garter happened after it started getting dark, so pictures weren't as good, but I almost like that it was dark - it just looks fun. And it was fun. So, win win.

Graduation!

Last weekend we drove to Utah so that I could walk at graduation. We left Wednesday after work and drove down with Jantz's parents (it was so nice of them to come!). We didn't get in until the wee hours of the morning Thursday, but we didn't want to waste any time, so we got up early (and tired), had a delicious breakfast courtesy of my parents, and went to spend the day with my mom. We looked at getting me some new glasses (ended up just getting my old glasses adjusted), went to lunch, and hung out. Then we went back home, had dinner, watched some olympics, and went to bed. Graduation was on Friday at 8:00am - and I had to be there at 7:15 - so we had leave really early. Here are some pictures from the day...

I can't believe I have finally graduated! (Ok technically I graduated back in June and I already have my diploma, but walking was the real end). It has been such a crazy two years and I did so many things I never thought I could do. As much as I have been missing school, it really has been nice to turn my focus from school to other things, like cooking, decorating, and taking care of my house and husband :) and I think Jantz likes it too haha.

So, on to finding an amazing job :)

family reunion

We went to a family reunion for Jantz's mom's family a couple weekends ago. We drove to Montrose with Jade and John and stayed in a trailer with them and Brooke and her kids. We spent the weekend hanging out with family and playing cornhole (his mom's family is very serious about their cornhole games - there were several tournaments). Saturday we went with Jantz's dad up to Black Canyon (think Grand Canyon, but smaller). It was amazing. Here are some pictures from our fun weekend :)

J

July 20

I guess I've been sort of MIA from the blogging world. 

The week after July 20 was pretty rough out here. Friday morning we woke up to hear about the horrible shooting at an Aurora movie theater only 20 minutes from our apartment. Even though we didn't know anyone who was there, it hit us a little harder than I think we thought it would. It's not easy putting feelings into words. It's just shocking. I think we're both still a little shocked by it. We drove by the theater that week. it was unsettling. being so close to where it happened and being able to imagine all that happened. It's been a little too much to swallow. Honestly I just couldn't stop thinking about the families that lost sons, daughters, husbands, wives. what if Jantz had been there? No one deserves to go through the death of someone that close to them. If my husband died, I would literally be lost. especially if it was in such a ruthless manner. how do you process that and get through it? I hope and pray that I never have to go through that. It's disgusting what happened and it's hard to think that we may never know why it happened. How does someone with so much education, so much potential, do something like that? Slowly but surely I think everyone here is getting through things, but even almost a month later, it still isn't any easier to think about.

camping

The last weekend in June we went camping with Brooke & Daryl and Larke & Luis (courtesy of Larke's planning :). I can't even tell you where we went, because I still have 0 sense of direction here, but it was way way way up in the mountains. We left Saturday morning and came home late Sunday morning. One night was the perfect length. We each brought a meal to prepare - we did sandwiches for lunch, Larke and Luis did hamburgers for dinner, and Brooke and Daryl did pancakes/bacon/eggs for breakfast (love breakfast food.) and spent the day/night playing "Rate your Mate" and talking. I was a little terrified once we got into the mountains (what if a bear ate us?!) but it turned out to be really fun and just the perfect getaway I needed.

Campfires weren't allowed (as per the devastating fires all over out here), but we still ended up sitting around the fire pit haha. To make us feel less silly we put a lantern in the middle of us after it got dark.

Can you guess which tent belongs to who? Ours is the front left, Larke and Luis' is the brand new one in the back. And the huge sophisticated tent on the right is Brooke and Daryl's haha. It was pretty awesome. Surprisingly it was really hot in our tents during the night. I was expecting to be freezing (because when was girls camp ever not freezing??) so I loved it.

Larke and Luis

Brooke and Daryl

and us :)

wedding, a cabin, rockies game, and gloriana

We made it safely to Colorado and settled into Jantz's parents house - they have been AMAZING to let us stay with them for 6 weeks until we get into our apartment (which we'll now be moving into next week! woot!). It has actually been a lot of fun!

The weekend after we got here, Jade got married. Somehow we didn't get any pictures from that (and I don't think I posted any of Larke's)...but it was beautiful. We are so happy for Jade and John! Now everyone in Jantz's family is married. Crazy what a difference a year makes haha. We've loved doing fun couples/siblings stuff together :)

While the newlyweds were on their honeymoon, we had a whole week of family fun...

We went to a cabin way out in the mountains...and we clearly looked our best while we were there :)

Jantz taught me how to hold an ax....and I learned real well haha. not.

my husband is super manly and of course knows how to hold and use an ax. He was chopping up wood everywhere.

Jantz had way too much fun on this thing. I of course was scared to death every second haha. One of the funnest parts of the cabin was staying up way too late playing Smart Ass. Jantz's mom totally killed us. We loved it so much we got it for my dad's birthday/father's day :) because, let's face it, if my dad is anything, it's a Smart Ass. haha

Before a trek into Breckenridge we stopped by a lake and skipped rocks. The boys were pretty dang good at it. I could only get a few skips...so I took our picture instead.

THEN, we went to a Rockies game. Ok, I promise that we were with his whole family (minus Jade and John) through all of this, even though it looks like it was just us two. I mean, who do you think took this picture?

I honestly don't remember who won, but we always love a Rockies game.

Then there was Parker Days. The parade in the morning was fun as per usual. Especially because they actually gave the adults (ie, us) candy! (which almost never happens). We walked around for a bit afterward. Once night hit, we all went to see Gloriana in concert. for free. outside. It was seriously so fun.

We only knew one of their songs (Kissed You Good Night - which they played on the Bachelorette). They were really good live!

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 :)