Rockafeller!!

This past week Riley and I decided to combine our monthly temple trip with the long anticipated "New York Christmas Extravaganza"! I have always wanted to see New York at Christmastime. I pictured myself in movies like Serendipity, Elf, and You've Got Mail gazing up at the huge tree in Rockafeller Center and watching the ice skaters and window shopping at Macy's. And it certainly didn't disappoint! Now that Riley and I somewhat know our way around the city, we were able to make great use of our time and even had time to stop for a Philly Cheesesteak on the way home!
Riley and I have both been getting pretty homesick. Being so far away from family at Christmastime is not ideal, but I'm so thankful that we have each other to celebrate with... And that the tree in Rockafeller Center is close by!

Coastie Life as told by a Coastie Wife

When Riley very first enlisted in the Coast Guard, I was terrified. The military was very unfamiliar to me. Actually, unfamiliar is a complete understatement. I knew absolutely nothing about it, and initially I was completely against it. So, when we made the decision to join, and got the confirmation that is was the right thing to do, I immediately started my research. I hit the books, searched out any information I could online, went with Riley to see the recruiter whenever possible, and eventually stumbled across the blog of a young mom whose husband was just leaving for bootcamp. I followed her blog all through basic training and their first move. Her blog brought me so much comfort and helped me to see that the military doesn't have to be scary. It can be fun, and exciting, and a huge opportunity for growth.
So many people have asked what Riley does, what our every day life is like, and how I feel about our status as a military family. So this post is really just an explanation of our life as a family in the United States Coast Guard.
Riley spent eight weeks in Cape May, New Jersey for basic training. I was allowed to write as often as I liked, and wrote every day. We were told ahead of time that I probably wouldnt hear from Riley as often. I got my first letter during week four and recieved two more over the course of the remaining weeks. At week five I got a phone call with our station and after that Riley was able to call every other week or so to help steer me through the moving process.
After attending his graduation in Cape May, we returned home to say our final goodbyes and headed out to report at Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook.
Riley works at a "small boat" station, meaning he is a crew member on 25 and 47 foot boats that mainly focus on search and rescue missions, law enforcement, boardings, and patrolling the lower New York Harbor. He is at the station for 2 days, then home for 2 and works every other weekend.
We live on base with about 60 other Coast Guard families, and it's really just like a tight knit gated community. People are so kind and helpful, and it's comforting knowing that on nights Riley is away, there at 20 or 30 other women who's husbands are keeping mine company just a block or so away at the station.
The Coast Guard has been the best decision we have made in our marriage. I look back to the time I was so apprehensive and am so thankful that Riley was so in tune and prayerful in the direction our family needed to go. We are closer than we have ever been, and as happy as the Coast Guard makes Riley, it makes me even happier seeing him go to work every day to a job that he absolutely loves. I am so proud of him, and thankful all the other men and women ( and their families) who serve our country in the military.
Sorry, I'm sure this post has been incredibly boring for most. But if by chance some new Coastie wife stumbles across it, it is my hope that she can take comfort in my experiences.
Here are a few photos of my hottie pants Seaman Stewart in action!

Twenty-two

This past week we celebrated my 22nd birthday, and were reminded that just a few weeks after we started dating, Riley and I took our first vacation together to Sunvalley with my family. While there, we had a little party for Riley's 22nd. Crazy! Am I a loser because I love saying "three birthdays ago" and knowing Riley and I were celebrating together back then too? Probably.
Anyway, here are a few photos from my birthday. Riley made us a delicious breakfast, and surprised me with the most perfect gift ever... A Kitchen Aid! And what a beautiful thing it is. Enjoy!

PS I though I would throw in a picture from Riley's Sunvalley party almost three years ago!

Thanksgifffing...

This year we decided that since we couldn't be home for Thanksgiving, we would do our own feast! We had a couple of Riley's buddies from the station come, and it was actually really fun! Riley made the turkey (it was perfect!), stuffing and banana cream pie. I made the carrots, potatoes, and party jello. We made a great team and had a great time cooking together all morning.
Maybe we will host Thanksgiving every year... Maybe...
We really have so much to be thankful for, this year especially. Our incredible families who are still as supportive as ever (even when we are 2300 miles apart), we both have jobs that we love, we live in a great place, drive a great car, we have a great dog, and are members or the true church. And when the homesickness strikes as it sometimes does, and we are tired of work, and laundry is piling up. It is these things I remind myself of and all the blues are gone in no time!

Better than pizza crust.

I know, I know, another cheeser blog about how much I love my husband. But I had to share a little tidbit about how great he really is.
As I previously mentioned, Sundays at the Stewart home have turned in to pizza days. We either have frozen pizza, or I pick up a "pie" from this really fabulous place in town on my way home from work on Saturday and we have the left overs on Sunday. It's silly, but it's something we have both grown to look forward to.
Tonight we were having our pizza, and when I commented on how yummy the crust was, Riley took the last bite of cheese and sauce, and handed me his crust.
I couldn't help but smile. First, because the crust really was that good. Im not ashamed, come to Jersey and you will understand the heaven that is reeeeal Italian pizza. But also because it reminded me how much I truly love being married to this man. Riley is my best friend. He is everything I want to be. He is thoughtful, selfless, hilarious, kind, handsome, and fully dedicated to everything he does. He is the yin to my yang. He is better than really good pizza crust.

We've got a runner!

A year or so ago Riley asked me what my dream car would be. Now, admittedly I know nothing about cars. But without hesitation I answered "a silver or chrome 4Runner with black interior." He nodded thoughtfully, and that was that.
Then, on Monday Riley and I both had the day off and after looking around a little bit online, Riley had found it. We headed to the dealership and there she was. My baby. My pride and joy. The car was PERFECT! Exactly what we wanted. After test driving it, we made the deal, traded in our Little Mazda (I won't lie, I was a little sad to see it go), and rolled out of there as the proud new owners of a silver 4Runner... With black interior! I couldn't help but get a bit emotional, my sweet husband found my dream car, and while it may not exactly be his dream, he knew how happy it would make me. Seriously, he should teach a class... Husbanding 101.
Anyway, Take a looksy at the new addition!

Manhattan Mayhem!

Since moving to the East Coast, Riley and I have started a few new traditions... Frozen pizzas for lunch on Sundays (don't worry, we usually cook a nice meal for dinner), walking Bronx on the beach by our house (and going on a bit if a treasure hunt looking for cool things that have washed up in the bay), and watching Modern Family and Ridiculousness (don't judge) on the nights we are both home. My favorite recently adopted tradition has been our day trips to Manhattan to attend the Temple.
We usually pick up a quick breakfast and eat it on the Ferry ride over to the city. We are lucky enough to live just a half an hour away and with our military discount, the ferry is far more affordable and convenient (and fun) than taking the car and trying to find parking amid the mayhem that is New York.
We then catch a cab (or spend 20 minutes trying to) to Central Park, and since the Temple is just a few blocks past, we walk through to park and people watch a bit on the way.
The Manhattan Temple is so beautiful. It sits right on the corner of W 64th Street in a super busy part of town. It is so noisy and busy but the moment you walk in the front doors it is so quiet and peaceful. I think that's what I love so much about it, the peace amid the chaos.
After the Temple, we usually get lunch at this little gem of a restaurant called Carl's Steaks. We found the place while the boys were here visiting, and it is truly amazing and has quickly become one of my very favorite places to eat. There is nothing like a good Philly Cheese Steak, and until we moved here I hadn't experienced the bliss that comes with a cheesy greasy sandwich, and a Diet Coke.
We then stroll around the city a bit and head back to catch the ferry and get back to our little blue house in time for dinner!
I have loved spending this time with Riley. We have grown so much closer together since making the big move. I truly feel like he knows be better than I know myself, and I am so thankful that I will always have these adventures to remember our first couple years if marriage.
Here are some photos of our latest temple trip and walks with the canine.
Xoxo

Update...

I figured photos would be the best way to play catch-up for the last 4 months in The Garden State.
The boys came to visit for Riley's birthday at the end of July. It was so fun to have them here! It was the perfect taste of home. We took them on the ferry to spend a day in New York, had a beach day, and went to Six Flags. The weather was perfect and it was awesome to be able to show them around our little beach town, and let them see Ri on the job.
Lately we have been trying to spend the days we have off exploring the state a little bit. We went to the Monmouth County Fair, spent a weekend at a "ski resort" about two hours away. Nothing like our Utah mountains, but it was nice to see a couple of pine trees! We made a little visit to the Manhattan temple and happened to run into someone riley had taught on his mission. We have gone on countless walks along the shore with Bronx, and had a little evacuation adventure with Hurricane Irene.
As far as an update on what we are currently doing, I am working in a salon full time. Its been fun to get into the "real world", but I still feel like I am learning so much and I'm loving it. Riley is loving his job, and I must say I'm happy with it too. I am so proud of what he is doing, and seeing how much he enjoys it is so great. He is also taking a class three nights a week to get his Firefighting 1 certification, and will be working with our local fire department (on his days off from the CG) starting early next year.
I have to say that I still feel so blessed to be where we are. I sometimes think back to where we were a year ago, or two years ago, and I'm in awe at how lucky we are.
Anyway, here come the photos. Enjoy!