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!

Graduation, First Anniversary, and New Jersey!

It will be three weeks tomorrow that I have had my husband back, and I can't even begin to explain how good it's been. I got to go, with my fabulous mother-in-law to Cape May for his graduation, and it was by far one of the neatest things I have ever seen. I have never been so proud in my life. Watching Riley march in with his company, I couldn't help but get a bit emotional. Riley has accomplished something most people just dream of doing, and he did it well. After the ceremony, we walked around and he showed us a bit of the base, then introduced me to a few of his buddies. All these men had nothing but great things to say about my sweet husband (no surprise there) and I was, and still am, so proud to walk around and hold his hand and say he is mine!
The next day we flew home for three or four days to hang out with the fam before we packed up and headed east. It has been so fun! We live on want is called the Sandy Hook. It is a national park that has private beaches on both sides, and the Coast Guard Station is right at the very tip. Dreamy right? Needless to say I love this place. We live on the base in the cutest little light blue, two bedroom townhome... Plenty of room for visitors! Who's coming?? Everyone on base has been so helpful and our ward is awesome. I love waitin by my kitchen window to see Riley walkin home from work in his uniform to tell me about his latest adventure, or new toy he got to play with.
Last week we celebrated our first anniversary by taking the ferry over to New York City. We had dinner at the bottom of the Empire Stste Building and then walked over to Time Square to play sound for a couple of hours.
I can't believe it's been a year already! I have truly loved every second of it. To be honest, it feels like Riley and I have been "Riley and I" forever. It's almost like he has always been a piece of me and the minute we started dating it was like "Oh right! It's you! What took you so long?"
Anyway, I figured for one one year unwound just share five of my favorite things about this man of mine...
1. Riley is hands down the funniest person I have ever meg. He makes menlaugh every single day. I love that in almost every single on of our candid wedding photos I am cracking up. seriously. He really is that funny.
2. Riley is hard working. I tend to be one of those people that have really great ideas about what I want to do, but I sit back, cross my fingers, and hope it brooked. Not Riley. I remember when Riley first mentioned the Coast Guard. "I have been thinking about it, and I think it's the right thing to do." I rolled my eyes. "okay babe." I said. Ha! Look at us now. Riley works hard to reach his goals. And to help me reach mine. He worked three (count them, three) jobs so that I could finish school without the stress of having to work. I love that I will never have to worry about if my sweet husband will take care of me, and someday our family. What a stud!
3. Riley is a missionary wherever he is. I let people know I am a member of the church, and that I know it's true. But Riley is a true representative of the Savior. For example, at his graduation, one of his shipmates told me that Riley knelt down next to his rack every single night for prayer, and that this bunkmate started to kneel with him. Riley even said the company prayers regulary. How cool is that?
4. Riley knows me better than I know myself. He knows how to make me halt when I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. He knows to bring me a Diet Coke when work isn't going sonwell. he knows how I like my sandwiches. And the best part is he loves me so much that all these stupid little things matter to him!
5. Riley has a way of making everyone around him comfortable. He is a friend to everyone. He is the most non-judgmental, kind person I know, and he would to anything for anyone. I love that about him.
What a year it has been! Our life is about 100% different than we thought it would be a year ago, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm going to be completely honest...

The main reason I haven't updated this here blog, is simply because I haven't quite figured out how. I am in no way techno-savvy, so here's hoping this works!
Riley has been gone for almost four weeks, and while it has been by far the hardest four weeks of my life, I have to admit that it has gone fairly fast.
I got my first bit of mail in the form of a post card. It pretty much said "I made it safe, and I'm having fun. Remember, no packages allowed. I'll write soon." A whopping five lines, and it was an absolute Godsend! Then, last week I got my first letter! I can't even tell you how exciting that was. I saw his handwriting, and could perfectly hear his voice in my head while reading what he had written. And of course, in true Riley form, he knew exactly what I would be needing to hear at the moment his letter arrived. I was a weeping mess, but my sweet husband is okay, he is brave, he is determined, and he is almost home! 28 more days folks!
Now, I figured to make this post worth reading I had to include a little story:
I pride myself in being a fairly strong person, and I think my family would agree that through all of this, I have kept my chin up for the most part. I know that Riley is doing just what he wants to be doing, and I have never been more thankful that he served a mission. Riley knows what its like to be away from home, and to rely solely on letters and our Heavenly Father.
However... I am not ashamed to admit that I did have my little "meltdown". You see, I now live in Bountiful with my wonderful parents who were kind enough to take me in and keep me company for these two months, along with my six siblings. Here in Bountiful, a spring snow storm consists of a solid two to three feet of snow.
Now on this given morning, my dad and brother had both already left for work and school, and my little Mazda Protege sat in the driveway (the very very steep driveway), covered in no less than two feet of snow. Being the determined person I am (and figuring that as a new Military Wife), I was certain I could be independent and get out of this little pickle on my own.
It started out wonderfully! I put the car in reverse and proceeded to execute a very controlled slide all the way down the driveway. Now, this is where my little story goes a bit sour. When I get to the bottom of the driveway, the car stops. I push my foot down on the gas a bit. Nothing. Spinning wheels. And nothing. Next, I decide that surely my car will go forward if not backward! Wrongo! More spinning wheels. I then think to myself "I know! I will push my own car out!" Genius. I open my door, plant my boot firmly (up to my knee) in snow, and begin to channel my inner Fred Flinstone, by pushing with my foot. Nothing. Shocker.
At this point, a bit of panic has set in, but the frustration is PLENTY of fuel to get me out of there! I remember that my Dad has a huge bag or some sort of foreign material in the garage. This bag is labeled "Ice Melt". Hmmmm. Don't mind if I do!
I throw the car into park, and hike back up the driveway for a shovel (seemed like it would come in handy) and the massive bag of Ice Melt. I then throw large handfuls of said material under the four (very very bald) tires and wait. Surely this crap will melt the ice in the next few minutes... nope.
At this point it is FREEZING, I am wet, and tired, and frustrated. So in my final act of desperation, I grab the shovel and go to work. The snow is really not going anywhere except on me, or where is was before. I am slipping everywhere, trying to keep my frost bitten hands (okay, not really, but they sure felt frost bitten) mobile.
The realization begins to sink in that no matter what I do, the car isn't going to move. So I slam the car door, walk back up the driveway, and into my mom's room, where I lost it. I just cried. I cried because my car way stuck. I cried because no matter what I did, I couldn't get it out. I cried because my husband was gone. And even if he wasn't, the car would still be stuck I'm certain, but atleast he would be here to make me feel better.
Thank heavens for my amazing mother, who was quick to lay me down, hand me a frosty beverage, and not tell me it was okay, but just tell me that it would be. She always knows just what to say.
Anyway, instead of making this my second, painfully long post, the story ends by my mom driving me to work red eyed and sniffling. And things have been much better since!
I appreciate all the prayers on mine and Riley's behalf. He is doing wonderfully, and I get to talk to him on the phone next week to get our orders! I can't wait.
But until then, here is an oldie but a goodie from the Honeymoon. Cheers to warm weather, and no more Ice Melt or shovels!
XOXO