Valentines and Parks and Washes

So I pretty much have the greatest mother in the entire world, she drove all the way to Tucson to pick me up so I could come home for Valentines Day! She's a rockstar. So yeah, Friday she came to pick me and Rory to spend the weekend down in Mesa. When we got home she gave us our valentines, mine consisted of a taco bell gift card a box of my favorite fun dip and a sucker and a valentine from Avery and a rose from my Dad. Oh and a life size mermaid version drawing of Zach by McKenzie. Side note: I have always loved valentines day, whether I had a valentine or not. My mom always goes all out for all the holidays and goes out of her way to make all of her kids feel loved, I am seriously so grateful for her and the fabulous mom she is to me!
So when after I opened up my Valentines I went with my sisters to go pick up the girls my mom babysits everyday after school. While we were waiting, Avery proposed to McKenzie with her rose from our Dad.

After the bus finally arrived with the babysitee I went to Wal Mart for some last minute gift preparations and such and then waited for Zach to finish up his tour of the Gilbert Temple. So once he was finished he texted me, and I was about to go pick him up but as soon as I stepped outside there he was with a beautiful bouquet of roses... I was so confused and happy and surprised and it was awesome. Then he gave me an assortment of my favorite candies, mountain dew and chocolate covered strawberries... He is literally the best valentine. 

Then I gave him my valentine gifts too, and then we went to drop off the gifts at his house and I met his grandparents, which was pretty cooooool.

Then our date officially started. We went to this park/reserve place over by the library and hung out there for awhile then we went on a super romantic dinner to Wendy's, bought some energy drinks and then went to see the Lego movie which I was absolutely dyyyyiiinnnngggg to see. I almost saw it earlier in the week but Zach had to spoil the surprise to stop me from going since he had already planned to see it with me. It was actually a really good movie too, to everyone that thought it would be stupid and lame and childish I dare you to go see it and most of your mind will probably be changed. 

So although this may sound like a rather simplistic date to you, it was actually really awesome and definitely the best one I've been on. There's really never a dull moment with Zach and I'm so happy I got to come home to spend Valentine's day with him!

On Saturday I went to Discovery Park by the temple with Avery and Kenzie for some sick totally awesome sister bonding time... it was really hot outside... it's only February... Arizona is seriously crazy with it's weather, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets super cold again within the next few weeks. But luckily McKenzie is awesome and had free Jamba Juice coupon things and got us Jamba Juice to cool us down! I love spending time with my sisters, even though they really know how to drive me crazy I appreciate them so much and I love our crazy weird relationship. Ever since I moved to Tucson I have definitely grown a better appreciation for them since I only see them once every few weeks! 

Saturday night I went to IHOP with Zach, Sadie and Parker after they got off work... which was pretty close to midnight. There is really nothing better than going to IHOP late at night with my best friends, I wish the other half of the fam could've came and partied with us but it was fun either way.  I was super sad because that was really the only time I got to hang out with Sadie because she was super busy, but I am stoked that I at least got an hour or two with her... sometimes you just really need your best friend to put a smile on your face and she never fails to do so. I don't know what I am going to do without her when she leaves in April!

Sunday I woke up, got ready and then we all (meaning my family) drove an hour out to Arlington in the middle of the desert at a wash for the annual Richardson family reunion. Unfortunately, none of like my immediate cousins or aunts and uncles go to this, the only people I know there that I count as my immediate family are my Grandpa and my Great Grandma... Sometimes I wish I had a stereotypical mormon family with lots of cousins and people to hang out with and catch up with, but sometimes I don't because my family is very interesting and very entertaining to just sit on the side and watch. The best part of the annual reunion is the egg toss, which my Dad and Rory have a title of winning with. EJ was my partner this year... we got out second round, mainly because although he is very good at catching the egg, he is terrible at throwing it. But we did on the other hand get really good when we went and practiced on our own after we got out of the official competition. Oh and my Dad and Rory tied for first place this year, so go them.

Here is my part of the family in the big family reunion thing. We've got my Great Grandma Hazel, her two sons Elmer (my Grandpa) and Hank(my Great Uncle), then Hanks daughters and their kids and then my parents and siblings. We were the smallest line at the reunion. Go us. 

Now I am back in Tucson, blogging, trying to study for my exam tomorrow, dreading school tomorrow and complaining about the fact that I do not have it off like all my friends in Mesa do.