We moved here to New Jersey in June of this last year (2012). My husband Justin is in the Air Force and got orders to come to New Jersey. We were in complete and utter shock for a LOT of reasons. The first being that it is so far away and I have never lived on the east coast before. So ultimately, it was the fear of the unknown. Television has really painted a crazy picture of the Garden State, which was a little scary to think that we were going to be living by all the guidos and guidettes and how am I supposed to find hairspray in this state if eveyone has used up the supply?! Needless to say, I was terrified (not about the hairspray necessarily) but the unknown! I did, however, decide to walk into the situation with an open mind and positive attitude. I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly the costomer service was at most of the businesses. Usually, they would be pretty unpersonable at first, but then I found it a challenge (and I was up for the task) to see if I could get them to soften up a bit. I had some really "fun" challenges and that made it all the more satisfying when they were so sweet in the end. I have to say that being so close to New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC made the idea of living in New Jersey exciting. We had to stay in a motel for two months while we were in the process of buying a home and traveling across the United States a couple of times during the transition. We had just moved here and were out to eat one night and I needed to get gas in my car afterwards. I jumped out to pay at the pump and a guy comes up to me and said " I got it" I and proceeded to pick the gas pump up and put it in the gas tank. The guy said "I'm sorry yous (jk, he didn't say yous:) ) you can't pump your own gas in this state. I was like "What?! Oh, ok, ummmm, ok, ummm, I'll just be here in my,ummmm car, um,k " I was devasted! Is this not the year 2012?! Can I not pump my own gas?! Anyway, I have had a tough time with that law, being the control freak that I am. It seemed like every gas station that I went to was NOT friendly and they would keep my credit card in the card reader until they were done pumping the gas and a couple of times they put regular unleaded in the tank instead of the premium that my vehicle requires and so I would leave in tears. I know, I know, it seems really lame to cry over that, but my groove was interrupted!!! What was I going to do?! Well, it took me about 4 months, but I finally found a gas station about a 1/2 mile away that I absolutely LOVE and the attendants are kind and fast and they ask what kind of gas I would like AND they give my credit card directly back to me!! It's just the small things, people! You ready for the name of the gas station?! Wawa. That's right, you heard me right, Wawa! It sounds crazy, but the longer I'm here, the more normal it sounds! What the heck, how is that normal sounding?! Anyway, it is an excellent and one of the nicest convenience stores I've ever been in, so it can be called PooPoo for all I care, they give my credit card back!
Our first ride on the Staten Island Ferry
FAO Schwarz Toy Store with the kids
Dylan's first ever NYC hot dog
Our first subway ride
Our view from the ferry
Taking a rest in Central Park, NYC
can't figure out how to delete this without deleting the whole thing so you get to look at it twice:)
Jersey Shore House, Seaside Heights, NJ with Chelsea and Jeff. Jeff looked up the cost on renting the place and it was $2500 and night but you have to bring your own drama:)
Our debut in Time Square
Top of the Rock
Constitutional Hall/Liberty Bell excursion
My first official proof that I'm a New Jersey housewife:)
The summer in New Jersey was beautiful! I was surprised how much more hot and humid it was than Texas, but SO SO beautiful! I just kept saying out loud how gorgeous it is here! We have been able to go to New York about 4 times so far and Philadelphia a couple of times. Such an amazing location to live in. My friend said that she considered this military assignment a vacation, so I am choosing to look at it that way too! Bring it on New Jersey, there's a new 