Our Wedding: getting ready

While the days leading up to the wedding were pure madness, the wedding morning was pretty serene. Once I got to the house, the girls came into the huge master bathroom and we all got ready. Our photographer, Jessica, from Flourish Photography, was there to capture every moment. I have to say, I loved her. She was so sweet and took so many incredible pictures. Of all the many choices to be made in the wedding process, having her do our wedding was one of the best. (don't you love when the little - or big - things go right for your wedding?)

My amazing sister-in-law Brooke did my hair, and it turned out exactly as I'd pictured it (another thing that went perfectly!).

The one of many tender moments that morning was when I took a moment to look out the window before I put my dress on. Everyone was busy getting ready so I had a quiet moment to myself. People outside were arriving and getting seated. And then I saw Jantz. He was talking to the bishop. Seeing him all dressed up, knowing he was soon going to be my husband, made me totally tear up with happiness (and without knowing it, Jessica somehow captured that moment - even though my back is turned, and probably no one else would know what was happening, it will always be a wonderful reminder of my feelings that morning.

I did my own makeup, and my mom helped me into my dress.

 such a trooper

As soon as I was ready, everyone was whisked downstairs to start walking. My dad came up to get me and we waited until Jantz had started walking. Then we hurried downstairs and got to the door just in time. . .

Our Wedding: pre-wedding

We've just crossed the 5 month mark, and I can't believe I still haven't posted any wedding pictures or given any recap. This past 5 months have gone by so fast. We got married, went on a mini honeymoon, moved into our apartment, suffered for 2+ weeks with a flooded/being fixed apartment, started school, had some great work changes, and in general have been having loads of fun.

So, to start off, here is my brief (or maybe not so much) recap of the few days before our wedding:

The Monday before our Thursday wedding, I drove out to Colorado. Jantz had to work until Wednesday, so he couldn't fly in until Wednesday night, which was a total bummer. He was still working the 2 to 10 shift, so we really didn't get to talk much that week. That was really hard. I felt so disconnected from him and so wrapped up in wedding stuff. I just remember feeling kind of lost those days leading up to the wedding. I knew I wanted to get married, but I was so scared about all the unknowns - I mean, I'd never been married before, so as far as I was concerned, it was like completely different from "normal" life. good thing i was way wrong haha. Looking back, no one could have said or done anything that would have made sense to me. I think getting married and being married is just one of those things you have to live through in order to understand it. Like getting your first kiss or your first boyfriend or having kids. No one can ever reassure you or explain it to you; you just have to go through it and find out for yourself. 

Anyway, I was in Colorado and spent the next few days shopping and getting things ready for the wedding. Jantz's mom helped me literally every step of the way. Best mother-in-law I could ever ask for. And sister-in-laws, for that matter. Ok, and in-laws in general. I married into such a great and loving family.

Wednesday night Jantz (finally) flew in. One of his groomsman picked him up from the airport. I think we saw each other for a few minutes before all the boys went off for a bachelor party. When they got home, it was pretty late and I was getting ready to head over to my parent's hotel to spend the night there. All I wanted to do was talk to him and kiss him and get excited for our big day. But of course his friends were still over so we had a rushed goodbye. I just remember thinking, it's already time? Everything was so crazy that it didn't seem all "fairytale" like (hopefully I'm not the only one who thought that...haha). I don't think it had really sunk in that I was getting married until the morning. I drove to the hotel, talked to my stepmom for a bit, and then went to bed like it was any other night. And I slept great. haha. Then I woke up, took a shower like it was no big deal, and drove to the house.

To get married. 

the husband's birthday

The husband's birthday is coming up fast. But am I worried about finding presents for him? Oh no, they are already bought and tucked away in our closet. It's being proud of the little things that really matters isn't it? While I did pretty good for Christmas, I'm super excited for his birthday. What did I get him for Christmas you ask? Well, I don't really remember now haha. I know I got him a football, because he has like every other sport ball except a football (and ironically he got another one with our sibling Christmas exchange, so, double score). And then I got him a comb - it seems silly, but he hasn't been able to find his since before we got married, so he's been using my girly pink comb for months, and I figured maybe he would like a manly black comb instead (I think he misses the pink one though because I've noticed he still uses mine sometimes...). Oh yeah and then I got him the new Drake CD. He really wanted it over Thanksgiving, but I wouldn't let him get it for some reason. So obviously I had to get it for him. I think he loved that present the most, haha - he listens to it all the time.

Since our Christmas budget was so small, I kind of went crazy with his birthday. I think I got him some really top notch presents (...I've been saying top notch recently and it weirds me out every time - who says that??? and yet here i am writing it haha). Plus he's getting himself some dream headphones (half off, mind you), so no matter what I know he'll be so happy on his big day. We've got some fun plans in the works, and I really can't wait!

just when you think...

...that your thesis has made great progress, your advisor brings you back to reality.

This past week has been really rough, I'm not going to lie. After working on my thesis all last semester, I really thought that things were going well. Sure there were a lot of changes to make, but overall I felt pretty proud of myself. Until Thursday. I met with my advisor, who kindly told me that I had to rewrite everything. Yep, everything. And in only a few weeks if I had even a smidgen of a chance to graduate in April. Somehow I didn't have a complete meltdown in her office. I felt like what needed to be done was just impossible (and I think I still do). But, I wasn't going to just give up after all this time. So I sucked up all my anger/fear/sadness and began rewriting. And it has been really hard. and slow. I sent some progress to my advisor, again feeling proud of what I'd done. Total letdown - still not good enough. If you're thinking now is the time a meltdown happened, well you'd be right. I saved it all for Jantz Saturday night. And even though I'd been keeping it all in for days, and I wasn't acting normal, and even though it was well past 1:00 a.m., he talked me through it. He let me cry and complain, and then gave me some advice. And it was really helpful advice, not just the usual "you can do it" that everyone else offers. It was like he knew what I needed to hear beyond the fluffy stuff. And even though now that I've been working really hard and still feel like I'm going nowhere fast, I don't feel as hopeless, because I know it has to be done, and Jantz isn't going to let me give up (even if I want to - and trust me, I've begged).

The next few weeks (heck the next few months) are probably going to be the hardest I've experienced yet. But I can do it....right? Wish me lots of luck as I attempt the impossible task of completing my thesis :)

Christmas, Disneyland style

Home again

Welp. We made it back safe and sound from our adventures in the land of Disney. We got home around 12:30am Tuesday morning, then slept in until 11:40! I think that's the latest we've ever slept in since we've been married. haha. but it was much needed sleep. As soon as we got up we (meaning Jantz) made us a delicious "Christmas morning" breakfast. We already did Christmas on Christmas, but we still had a few more to open at home. So we opened our presents. Jantz seemed pretty surprised/excited about what I got him (yay!). We spent the rest of the day just relaxing and unpacking, with a tasty dinner from In & Out. I say every vacation needs to be followed by a day off at home to recoup.

We took a bunch of videos and pictures, but mostly videos since the rest of the fam was taking lots of pictures. I'll have to figure out how to post some....

I'll be back soon with said videos and then I'll get right back on track with wedding pictures! maybe no one will ever see our wedding pictures but us. haha.

Christmas shopping for the husband

Welp, I did it. I bought my Christmas presents for Jantz. And I even half stuck with my original list...I must admit, I'm pretty excited. I think he's actually going to be surprised (pleasantly surprised I hope). Truth be told, we each already have half of our Christmas presents for each other. haha. We decided since we're going to Disneyland for Christmas this year, that we wanted to spend very little on each other and save the rest for the trip...ok plus we may have bought a new video camera for ourselves as a way early Christmas present (which we used during Thanksgiving and are soo excited to use over our trip!). We each sort of gave each other an idea of what we wanted/needed. I've wanted some flat boots for winter and some new black flats. And I knew Jantz wanted a certain video game (yes my husband plays video games. he thinks when I tell people this they'll think he's a child, but, um, I can't name you one guy I know who doesn't play video games occasionally. haha. or for that matter who isn't just a grown up child haha. i kid.). But then we went to Colorado and I found some darling flat boots AND black flats at a nice store, for basically nothing (thanks to my sister-in-law's discount. one more reason I love her). And then like a week later Jantz found that video game on sale, so he bought it. So, here we both had what we wanted, before Christmas, for less money than we had said we would spend...not so fun for present opening. So now we both have to use the rest of our allotted Christmas present money and surprise each other with new presents. I was worried at first, but I think I got some good ones (plus one for his birthday coming up!). As for Jantz buying for me, I don't think he's got anything yet (I win!), but he has yet to give me a "fail" present, so I have complete faith in him.

We're heading up to my parents house Wednesday night for a "slumber party" of sorts before we leave for the airport at the crack of dawn on Thursday for our adventures in the Disneyland. So in case I don't check in before then, I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, filled with lots of relaxing, eating (especially eating), present opening & giving, and of course lots of love :)

it's Friday

I don't really have much to say, but today is the last day of the semester, which means I only have one semester left. one. that's it. I'm so excited to be done and to move on to something else (hopefully a full-time job...).

Christmas is next week. I feel like it should still be December 1st, maybe the 2nd, NOT the week before Christmas! On Thursday Jantz and I will be off to California (with my side of the family). All twelve of us will be gallivanting through Disneyland for Christmas. I blame this whole trip on the one granddaughter in our family. I can't even imagine what vacations they'll take us on when there's two. or three grandchildren. haha, they'll probably just give money at that point. haha. anyway, we're real excited :)

Speaking of Christmas, I still have not bought Jantz any presents. Am I a horrible wife or what? In my defense, he hasn't bought any for me either. haha. I blame that on not wanting to go shopping without him...we like doing everything together ok? haha, ok not everything. I have been building up a list of things to get him for months (I'm a terrible present-buyer, remember?), but looking at it now, it just doesn't seem good enough. Nothing totally surprising and fun. So basically I think I'm back to square one....What do people buy their husbands these days?

Bridal shower, take 2

Funnily enough, as soon as I posted my blog on bridal showers, my mom sent me the pictures from my big one. I'll just give you a few pictures...My mom and amazing bestie Debbie threw me a huge bridal shower with a bunch of my friends, some of my aunts and cousins, and a bunch of Jantz's aunts and cousins that live in Utah (I was so surprised to see them walk in! it was seriously so sweet that they drove over an hour to come :)

We filled the gym, had delicious sandwiches and brownies, and the present opening began...

This is how many people came...just to get the idea

Jantz helped us get ready, like a good fiancé

My darling aunt and uncle and their 5 kids flew in from New Jersey to see us before the wedding. 

They really are so adorable.

Some of Jantz's fam

Some of my fam 

Somehow I agreed to let them tie all the ribbons in my hair...oh and wear those glasses...

Debbie wrote everything down :) she is such a doll for planning this thing

turning draft of thesis in...check :)

I forgot to mention that we went to a Christmas party for Jantz's work (which also happens to be my dad's work...but he was in Japan, so we missed him) on Wednesday. They had delicious food and gave away a lot of prizes. We got a really nice new blender, which we're excited for mostly just to make shakes, which is all we ever use our blender for. We drove up with one of Jantz's co-workers and his wife, with their darling new baby. They were tons of fun. So much fun, that we just got back from a lunch date with them to Chipotle. haha.

So, I turned in the first official draft of my thesis yesterday. And it felt really good, I'm not gonna lie. I ended up with more pages than I expected, and just as many images. Jantz took me out to PF Changs to celebrate :) it was probably the best PF Changs I've had a long time. so good.

Now I get to work on checking off the rest of my to-do list, which is pretty lengthy, but after next week, things will get a lot easier, and then it'll be off to Disneyland for Christmas :)

Tonight we're off to a Christmas party with some friends. It's gonna be real fancy, so we get to dress up - I'm definitely more excited for that than Jantz is. haha. I'm bringing some roasted potatoes...which are soon to be in the oven. I'm hoping to return with some great pictures.

Here's a sneak peak at a wedding picture...I've been trying to sift through them all:

thesis schmeesis

The first draft of my thesis is due on Friday. So basically I've been spending every day for the past couple weeks frantically trying to finish up what I've got. I was so far ahead in the middle of the semester that I kind of slacked off, thinking getting all my pages together wouldn't be too bad. If you can guess, I was wrong. haha. It really hasn't been too bad, just really stressful, but it wouldn't be grad school if it wasn't stressful right? I'm just excited to get this all wrapped up so I can move on to defending my thesis and graduating :)

So, here's to seeing you again after Friday

bachelorette parties :)

I totally forgot that pictures were taken at both my lingerie and bachelorette party! (I'm sure my mom has some from the big bridal shower she threw for me, but I don't have those haha). So here are some pictures...just a little late:

Lingerie Party


hosted by these two lovely ladies, 
ria and b (in that order), they're the best:

 they blindfolded me and i had a certain amount of time to put on everything in the suitcase (i think the story went something like, what if the lights went out on our honeymoon and we had to get dressed really fast)...

everyone loved that all the clothes got tucked into the bikini bottom. scandalous. 

nikki, me, debbie, daisy. friends since elementary school

Lish, Andrea, and Suzie were also there. And they all gave me amazing gifts. because, well, they all are amazing friends. they may have even made me try on some of their gifts...haha, it was a really good time, to say the least.


So here's a waaay late blog post thank you :) 
from both me and jantz (haha)

Bachelorette Party

The night I got into Colorado (Monday before the wedding), my wonderful (then future) mother and sister in-laws and some CO friends threw me a bachelorette party. It was so very sweet of them to do so. First we went to Cheesecake Factory (can you tell yet how much we love it there? haha), and I opened gifts, which were great, by the way, all very thoughtful. Every gift I opened, bridal/lingerie/bachelorette, all of them, I felt more and more blessed to have such amazing/wonderful/special friends and family. 


Okay, here's some of the pictures:


Oh yeah, and they made me wear that crown. it says bride-to-be and it lights up! I wore it all night :)


Larke gave me these hot heels.

I didn't know at the time, but jantz loves those plates and cups in the bag.

our delish cheesecake for desert. i think it was red velvet. it was so good.

Then we went bowling. it really was such a good time. exactly what i needed.

So, there you go :) I guess this could start the recap of the wedding. can't wait.

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.