So I started this blog to treat it like a journal and I think it's pretty obvious that I was never great at keeping a journal. Oh well, I'm working on it.
Christmas this year (or I guess now last year) was a little different. The Gough family decided to spend it in Phoenix, AZ as they have recently purchased a home down there. In 25 years, I have NEVER been away from home for Christmas. Not just home, but I have never NOT been in Calgary for Christmas so this was a big change for me. Also, for those who don't know, Austin and I have the same Birthday (December 23) so not only was I missing Christmas with my family, I was missing my birthday too. I really didn't know how my family would take me not being around for the Holidays but luckily, I have a brother on a mission that is coming home later this year so I kept saying, "Next year everyone will be home and you will have me for the ENTIRE holidays!" That seemed to keep the peace for a little bit.
Anyway, so before Austin and I headed down to Phoenix, we celebrated our Birthday/Christmas early with my family. It was a little strange to be opening gifts a week early but it was a fun evening with a delicious dinner!
Then Austin and I headed to Phoenix to meet up with the rest of the family. I will admit, it was really nice to be walking around outside in a t-shirt late in December. The weather was beautiful! It was just such a weird experience for me not to see an ounce of snow anywhere and to not have to bundle up if you left the house. We did A LOT of shopping. You know its just not fair that the States have WAY better shopping then Canada! It is so much cheaper too! I really don't have many pictures from the trip because we literally went shopping EVERY day!
One of the reasons Christmas was in Phoenix this year was because the Miami Heat were playing the Phoenix suns on our birthday. (Austin took it as a sign) If you didn't read my previous post about Austin's Lebron James crush let me just repeat, he is OBSESSED with this man! SO him and his brothers bought tickets to the game and he was finally able to see his Lebron play. I was really excited for him because he came home so happy and he just kept saying how amazing of a player he is. Haha. And for our birthday Matt, Jess and Sadie surprised us all by coming down to Phoenix earlier then planned which was awesome to have everyone down there!
Can you see the excitement in their faces? Haha
For Christmas this year Austin and I decided not to do gifts because our gifts were going to Phoenix and going shopping and going to the Heat game but Austin had a surprise up his sleeve. On Christmas Eve we were doing some last minute shopping and Austin and Matt wanted to do their own thing and so Jess and I did ours. We said we would meet back at the Apple store in an hour. So we went to our first store and Jess was taking forever! Which I later found out she was trying to keep me in the store for awhile. When we finally left we were walking right by the Apple store where I see Austin and Matt carrying big boxes. They see me and quickly turn around and I try to pretend I didn't see them because I realize that it's probably a gift for me. So the girls continue to the next store and I run to the back just beaming with excitement because I didn't want to show my excitement to anyone and ruin the surprise. I have wanted a Mac for so long but I didn't think we would get one. SO I continue to pretend nothing happened.
Christmas morning was pretty low key and when we were all finished, Austin said there was one more gift for Sadie and could I go get it. I knew it was my MAC and I was so excited to open it! Afterwards, they asked if I had saw them, and I admitted I did. I felt bad for Austin because he really wanted me to be surprised but I was excited just the same and loved him for getting it for me!
Christmas afternoon was spent by the pool, which was so weird and then The Dallas Cowboys were playing the Arizona Cardinals, and I have never been to an NFL game so we tried to get tickets. Us Canadians really underestimated how hardcore Football is in the States. I couldn't believe how big the stadium was, how big the parking lot was, and how many people were around! The tickets were selling for way more then we wanted to pay so we didn't end up going which was too bad but I have a cute jersey with Austin's name on it!
Beautiful Arizona Sunset
We were welcomed home with a beautiful snow storm and -30 degree weather but I actually missed it! It was really nice to get away but it just didn't feel like Christmas to me. I love being home for the Holidays and going out in the cold and seeing the white snow on Christmas day. The weather is a pain in the butt and rest of the time, but for Christmas I love it! If we want to go away for the Holidays another year, I would probably go after Christmas instead.
We are so thankful to the Gough's for providing a beautiful place to stay and for hosting Christmas in AZ this year. I'm really excited for many more trips of Sunny weather to come. It was not very much fun heading back to work right away but after all that shopping I need to! Haha. Now I need to start working on my New Year's Resolutions!!
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