I left this blog off on Tuesday the 21st. The next day was my last day of work before the Thanksgiving break. Work from Wednesday to pretty much the following Wednesday is my nightmare week, since it is our biggest sale of the year and it lasts for ten days. While I had the option of coming in for black Friday to ease my workload on Monday... I really just needed those two days off. So on that Wednesday I was super hyped to get work done and start my "vacation." Unfortunately Zach worked late in Tucson on Wednesday so even though 99% of UA students had made their way home, he was stuck for a little while longer. But he did make it back to me late on Wednesday to start the Thanksgiving festivities.
Our parents live like 2 miles from each other and so we try to split our time between our families for holidays and when we are in town. We ate breakfast with my family on Thanksgiving morning and then went over to Zach's parents house for the Thanksgiving feast and to spend time with them. I felt grateful for many things this year, since this has been such a big transition year for me... but I am the most grateful that neither of our parents expect us to provide any meals... yet. Someday Zach and I will surprise with world with our cooking skills, but that day was not Thanksgiving... and nor is it today... but someday. Not only was this mine and Zach's first married thanksgiving.. it was actually our first thanksgiving together ever, well at least for the meal part... we always found our way to each other for the shopping.
After spending time with Zach's family, we went over to my house to play games. When we got there they were in the middle of playing Sardines, and apparently my mother had never played this game before and she thought it was the most hilarious thing in the world, she seriously could not stop laughing at the fact that everyone was squishing together into the smallest of places. After a round of jenga and the world's longest game of Uno, Zach, Kenzie, Avery, my mom and I set out on our Black Friday adventures. Our first stop was to Old Navy, which was open at like 4 pm. They had 50% off everything and what I wanted for Christmas was there so we conquered that one hard. I came out with a few new shirts and a secret santa present for work. Our next stop was Target. We waited in line there for probably 45 minutes or so. I have to say that I am very impressed with Target this year. They had everything way more under control than I had ever seen before. Targets on Black Friday are what nightmares are made of, and it was honestly so easy! It helped that we didn't have a lot of things on our list from Target, but still it was wonderful. Zach and I walked out of their with a new SD card and a new game!
Then it was time for Avery to go home, so my mom and Kenzie took her home, while Zach and i grabbed a quick dinner at Jack in the Box before we all met back up together at Chandler Mall. Zach and I got there first so we started our journey at Hollister where Kenzie and my mom later met up with us AND we ran into the Despain + Kylie clan. Derrick ditched his family to continue our shopping adventures throughout the mall. The BEST place of the night was Lucky. My mom is all about the Lucky brand, but it is all to expensive for me to even want to start to like it. But I went int here with my mom and was amazed to find out that EVERYTHING was 50% off in the store NO EXCEPTIONS not even the sale items. So I went a little ham there. I walked out with a new shirt, a new jacket and some new pants, and I got a very sharp sweater for Zach. I had never been so happy about sales in my life. Next on our list was Forever 21, so I could buy Mckenzie a pink sheep sweater as a payment in advance for her helping with all my photo shoots that weekend. While in line we witnessed the horror of a 16 year old girl using one of the hairbrushes for sale on her own hair and then putting it back.... and then going to use a hair coloring stick and putting it back. Zach may or may not have confronted them... but that was the only "fight" of the night... and it was so funny. Our last shop of the night was Sephora for my mom, and then we took Derrick home and called it a night.
Friday morning was the start of my family photo marathon. Some people run turkey trots... others just take lots of family photos. I was paying Kenzie to be my assistant this weekend so she came with me on Friday morning. We had two shoots, the Rays and the Quarantas at Nichols Park and Riparian Preserve. The highlight of the two shoots was at the end of the Quaranta shoot we saw a real life WOLF at the Riparian. We all thought oh wow that is a big husky... but no it was an Alaskan wolf. It was incredible.
When you say "okay now be a cactus"
They're the sweetest
Erin and the wolf
After the shoots Zach and I attempted to do some more shopping at H&M but were extremely disappointed with their sales, so we ended up just eating pizza instead. Afterwards we met up with my family to go see Daddy's Home 2. It was so funny people. The thermometer scene just about killed me. Everyone can relate. Oh and the best Christmas song of all Christmas songs is featured hardcore in the movie and I honestly cried.
On Saturday morning I had another two shoots, but this time we started off at Riparian and ended up at Nichols haha. Zach joined Kenzie and I on these shoots as well. First off was the Emenecker family featuring Clara, who loves sticks and Paw Patrol more than life:
Then our second shoot was one of my favorite families (DESPITE their love for that other school) the Craigs! They Craigs have been in the same ward as my family pretty much since we moved here so I have seen all their kids grow up... but in my mind none of them can be older than 12... so it was a little weird taking photos of them and seeing how big everyone is!
Later that day I made my way to that other city to go to the other school for my first game at that other stadium. I have never even wanted to go to a UA/ASU football game in Tempe because I feel like I might die... or that too many people would say such funny jokes... but they don't realize I've heard it ten other times in the last two minutes. But alas, thanks to the Frosts Zach and I scored some tickets to the game, and Zach really wanted to go so i decided to toughen up and go. We got to Tempe early so we could park at the institute then we got some lunch, then met up with Scott and Derrick before we went to the game. We also ran into Sammi, her sister, Jaren & Kayla at the institute, which was pretty crazy! There was a little mix up with Scitt and his tickets, so although him and Derrick were supposed to be in the student section, Joann (Trev's step mom) had extra tickets so they got to sit with them. Their season tickets were actually not too far from where Zach and I were sitting so we did end up going to sit with them during the second half when seats started clearing. We planned it out pretty well... we were surrounded by some Sun Devil strangers who were not big fans of my excitement during the first half.... and then when Tate got injured and everything went south in the second half we sat with all our friends who made the experience almost bearable. It would have been oh so sweet to win in Sun Devil stadium... and y'all know we would have if Tate didn't get injured or maybe if the refs knew the difference between a shoulder and the back (that one less as much but still....) but it was still a good-ish experience being there, at least with the Gonzalez family. And at least with Trev & Derrick there I wouldn't be the only one screaming. I appreciate Scitt the most at this game though because although he is a Sun Devil, he wanted UA to win because he knew I cared more haha. After the game we were pretty sad to say the least, but we all hung out and met up with Kenzie and Avery to eat some Taco Bell and hang at the Walton household and share our sadness together.
On Sunday I had one more shoot for the weekend, and this was with the gorgeous Mellows! The shoot started to quite an unfortunate start when a bee landing on Zach's head somehow turned into McKenzie karate chopping my phone out of Zach's hand only to smash the screen on the ground. But luckily the shoot itself was no reflection of how it started, and it turned out awesome!
Somehow a joke about sorority squats turned into my favorite photo, please note the Dad's Texas longhorn
Seriously people the coolest of families right here!
The rest of the Sunday was pretty relaxing, I spent most of the day just editing photos and spending time with Zach's family.
Then it was Monday which was a nightmare at work, I didn't even take a lunch break... which was heart breaking because Zach was apparently waiting for me outside with a pizza and a mountain dew! Is he the greatest person in the universe? Honestly, that's an understatement. I felt so bad that I kept him waiting, but he was very understanding and still left the pizza and dew on my car as a surprise treat when I got off work. He's the best.
After work I rushed to take the Gardiner's family photos. I love family's who know exactly what they want, and can just tell me that! This was a fun group to be with, and they came up with the best ideas for their own photos too!
Monday was the last day of the main sale, so Tuesday was better than Monday but still a little crazy at work. But no matter how hard a day can be at work it can always be made better by some good food and good friends. I met up with my favorites Steph and Lauren at Some Burros after work and we got each other alllll caught up on each other's lives. So much is going on these days, and you just don't get even a sliver of it from our blogs or social media, so these dinners are essential. I am so grateful I had these girls as my roommates freshman year, and that we still make sure to meet up every now and then even with our crazy schedules!
On Wednesday after work I FINALLY got to go home! I was so excited to finally be back in Tucson. The only down side is that as soon as I got there, Zach had to go to work. So I went and hung out at 1320 and watched Riverdale with Kenzie, Derrick, Britt and Kara.
On Thursday I was working at home for the first time in two weeks. As much as I don't like working at home, sometimes it is nice, especially when it is slow to be able to multi task around the house at the same time. And I still get to eat lunch with Zach, which is the best. After work I tried to go to Marana to find a good cotton field for an upcoming shoot, but I was so unmotivated that I only made it to Park and Speedway before I decided to drag Zach with me to go visit Chastity at the Daily Wildcat. Sometimes I can get caught up with work and I forget that I haven't seen people in a very long time.... I seriously have not seen Chastity since the wedding, so going and visiting her was the best alternate decision I made... even though I discovered such sad sad news from her (also happy I guess) it was awesome catching up with her, and catching up with Brett too!
On Friday after work I was motivated to go to Marana to go find that cotton field. Zach and I drove around with no direction, and we came across what I think will work out pretty well.
And since we were already on the north side, we decided to go to the $5 Harkins in Marana. We finally saw Wonder... and boy oh boy was this movie WONDERful (lol). I cried so much at so many different parts. Everyone needs to go see it. Afterwards we went to Kenzie's to hang out with her and Derrick a little bit before we called it an early night.
Although we have lived in Tucson for quite some time now, Zach and I have failed at making the time to go do a session at the temple! But we finally did it this morning! Going to new temples is actually kind of stressful for me, because not knowing exactly where I am going creates quite the anxious experience for me. But even though I was nervous it was an incredibly peaceful experience and I am so happy we finally made the time to go!
For the rest of the day we are going to get my phone fixed and then we have another family shoot tonight out in our precious cotton field! I am so so happy to be home... even if it is only for four days before I leave again!
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