UA > ASU

Monday May 9

Rory had a final to take in the afternoon, so I spent most of the day at the Wildcat working on the photos for the Commencement and Year In Review issues. It wasn't all that exciting, but here's a picture of the cover of Year in Review:

After Rory was done with his final we went straight to Phoenix for my mother's graduation from the school that must not be named. I am very proud of my mother and this amazing accomplishment, but I am certainly not proud of the ceremony... it was boring... and long... and very few ASU students were actually sitting and listening, since you could get up and walk around. But nonetheless, very proud of my mother.

After the ceremony everyone made their way back to my house for some cake. Avery and out cousin Xioli were tormenting us with their ASU hats... it was kind of a nightmare seeing a Richardson in ASU attire, I only make exceptions for my mother. 

Tuesday May 10

Zach and I picked McKenzie up from school and went to Arizona Mills so McKenzie could buy some Nikes for her upcoming Disneyland trip. Zach and I just came along for the ride, but we enjoyed it because we got some Dippin Dots. I haven't had those things in yeeeaaarrrsss but they're so dang delicious, we couldn't resist.

After shopping I worked at Zach's house to get the final touches for the two issues that would be running on Wednesday. Super fun, and I got it all done, happy day.

Zach and I went to Joe's Farm Grill in the evening. It was delicious... there were lots of flies... and oh yeah, I got pooped on. Good times.

In the evening the Fam met up to go mini golfing, we got to the place at like 9:05 only to find out that it was closed. We were bummed, and didn't know what to do. Then Sadie looked up on this travel app things to do, and she found a humpty dumpty statue, so we decided to go find it ourselves. After putting in some wrong addresses and getting lose, we made our way to downtown Mesa, and started searching around there, and did indeed end up finding the Humpty Dumpty statue, and all the other classic downtown Mesa statues.

After exploring downtown we went to In N Out for some late night shakes and fries. 

Wednesday May 11

I made Zach watch Rent with me. He's been singing Seasons of Love non stop, but had never actually seen Rent, so I figured it was time. We bought lots of snacks and made my favorite popcorn and it was a good time.

In the early evening I took Zach along with me to take Chloe Tiek's one year pictures. I was kind of worried about taking her pictures because I do not have very much experience taking pictures of little babes, but she made my job seriously so easy. This girl radiates sunshine and always has a smile on her face, it was a blast.

Seriously, she is a natural born model

After taking Chloe's pictures Zach and I raced back to his house to celebrate his parent's anniversary. Pam surprised Thane by taking everyone to the Escape Room. We decided on doing the 80s Rec Room. There were some clues there that really made absolutely no sense, but we did end up making it out with four minutes to spare. Jonah was the clue master, but Pam was the one that got us out in the end. 

Afterwards we went a little further into Old Town Scottsdale to take some pictures

Thursday May 12

Zach and I went shopping for McKenzie's birthday present. We had a vision in mind that involved UA paraphernalia, but the valley FREAKING SUCKS and only sells ASU and Diamondback stuff. But we did end up finding a shirt at Old Navy, so that's as far as our idea got. 

Then Zach and I went with his mom to go get some treats for the kids at the Cardboard Car racing at the high school. It was hot, and it was weird being with all the high schoolers, but it took me back to my junior year when my I made my car.

Sadie and I went shopping in the afternoon for Ashlyn's bridal shower. We obvi went to Victoria Secret and got her a gift there (it was totes cute). Afterward we went to Bahama Bucks, we didn't actually get anything we just talked for awhile and got ourselves caught up on life. 

At night we had a fam float party. I wanted to celebrate everyone being done with school for the semester, so I thought a root beer float party would be bomb, but then I branched out a little bit and got some different sodas and different ice creams (Baja Blast with Raspberry sherbet it actually the best combination ever). Along with drinking floats, we played some games including Anomia, ImaginIf and Wits and Wagers. It was a great Fam party, and a good way to kick off summer!

The fam is in this awkward stage right now where when we all hang out it ends up with Trev appearing as a fifth wheel, but he's the best fifth wheel around.

Friday May 13

MAXIE PAD'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SHE'S 18!

A LEGAL ADULT!

WOOOHOOOOO

Zach and I picked her up from school and took her to Native for some lunch and Bahama Bucks for dessert. And when I say we went to Bahama Bucks, I mean the three of us went, but I used McKenzie's free birthday shaved ice. For some reason Zach and McKenzie didn't get anything... it's not like they have worked there for awhile or anything.

Then McKenzie went out with her friends, so Zach and I were sent on a hunt for chocolate domes from Kneaders. Chocolate domes are Kenzie's favorite dessert, so instead of making her a cake we decided to get 10 domes. We first went to the Signal Butte Kneaders but they only had three. Then we had a genius idea to just call the other Kneaders instead of driving all over the place. The Kneaders on Higley had 7 (so we could have just gotten the three at Signal Butte and then gotten the seven at Higley). Then we called the one by SanTan and they had 15! So we told them to put aside ten for us, and we made our way over there. Apparently they have a deal of if you buy 5 you get 1 free, so we ended up with 2 free domes with a total of 12. My mom gave my like 90 bucks to buy them, and they came out to only be 26 bucks. It was a steal.

Then we made our way back to my house and started prepping for McKenzie's political party. You see, now that McKenzie is 18 she can now vote, so it seemed fitting to have a political party. 

Then Kenzie got back from partying with her friends and then the whole family (including Zach, Granny and Xioli) went to Joe's Farm Grill for dinner (Yes indeed that would be the second time I went there that week, #noragrets).

After dinner and telling McKenzie all that we love about her, we went back to our house to surprise her with the chocolate domes and to start the political party. 

For the party I made trivia questions about Presidents, first ladies, money and other political-ish things. It was interesting to watch my mother (who is Canadian) answer the questions. It was also funny to watch my father be so confident in his answers and then get the question wrong. 

The last part of the party was a team effort to list all the presidents of the United States in order... it was quite the task, and took quite awhile. Try it kids, it's difficult.

Saturday May 14

I went with Sadie and her mother to Ashlyn's bridal shower. It was at Sarah Wagher's house (aka Cob's house that he has never seen before) and it WAS SO BEAUTIFUL! It was brand new, so new that maps can't even find it. But seriously, so beautiful, and they decorated it so well.

Ashlyn looked gorgeous as she ALWAYS does, she's going to make for the prettiest bride ever. And with all the new swag she got from her bridal shower she is going to be the best wife in the world. McKay is one lucky dude.

It was fun to catch up with a bunch of girls I graduated with that I haven't seen pretty much since I graduated. Everyone is all so grown up now and it's so weird, but so cool to see what everyone is doing with their lives.

After the shower I went with my Dad to get our cars oil changed. Somehow the people changed my speedometer to measure km/hr without me realizing until I was on Alma School driving 70, and then 120 on the 60. I like to tell people that I drove 120, but no one believes me until I tell them it was in km hahaha.

Then I went over to Zach's house to go swimming. My first swim of the season. A good time.

In the evening, I dragged Zach to Tralyssa's wedding with me. Alyssa's dress was SO GORGEOUS, I couldn't stop looking at it. Unfortunately a lot of Tucson peeps weren't able to make the wedding, but all is well, Tralyssa looked so gorgeous.

Then Zach and I met up with the rest of the Fam to try mini golfing again, and we actually made it in. As usual, I lost. I think Sadie won, she's a rockstar. After mini golfing we went to the Soda Shop and played some Uno. I won, so that made up for me losing so bad at mini golf.

Sunday May 15

I went to single's ward with Trev, Sadie and Logan. I actually made it through all three hours, and even stayed for Linger Longer. That's unheard of. But hey, it was free food, how could I resist.

Kenzie's seminary graduation was at night, another seminary grad in the Richardson family. What an accomplishment, that so few people are able to do (for the non-mormons reading this, that was a joke and a half).

Now I am currently back in Tucson. This week is going to be a crazy week of graduations. I am in Tucson until Wednesday morning shooting some Tucson-area graduations for my internship. Then I am in the valley on Wednesday for Avery's pre-school graduation, my cousins high school graduation and McKenzie's high school graduation. And then I am back in Tucson again Friday for my final Tucson graduations. 

My new roommates are all moved in, so stay tuned for another meet the roomies post!

ALSO, I finished with a 4.0 semester, WHICH MEANS I have completed my first 4.0 year. HOLLA ATCHA GIRL!