One Year Anniversary

Can you believe it?  We have lived in Texas for one year as of today!

Moving Day - March 27, 2013

A few weeks ago, Parker and I went to a most authentic Texas joint for our date.  It's name appropriately captures some of my feelings towards Texas during the last year:  Love and War in Texas.

We thought it was appropriate to make a short list of what we've learned about Texas during our little voyage here...

• Whoever told us it would be hot in Texas was lying.  Okay, okay- it is definitely more hot than Utah and person after person swears to me that this year is different than any other they've ever experienced in their lifetime in Texas, but our summer (last year) wasn't that horrible truthfully (and thankfully!)  And our winter has had some seriously cold days!  Like brutally cold where I am kicking myself for getting rid of most of our winter stuff when we moved.  We've had more snow than most Texans can handle and more days in the teens than we could count.

• Traffic laws are optional in Texas.  More specifically, traffic lights.  Red light?  Do you see an officer?  No?  Okay, go.  Not even kidding.  I don't understand it one bit.  Especially because a lot of the lights have cameras so you could be mailed a ticket.  So bizarre.  Also, we live in policeman overload central.   Seriously, we have sooo many cops everywhere.  We aren't sure if it is because we live where four cities come together so we see police officers from all four cities or if it is just a Texas thing.  But they are everywhere.  And super active.  We have been pulled over more times this year than we had in our entire marriage before combined.  And for stupid things.  Parker got pulled over for failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign the other day.  He's been pulled over for a headlight.  I obviously had the registration thing...  Anyway, it's crazy.  But important to know.

• Bluebell Ice Cream is the best thing to eat in Texas.  Not the BBQ.  Not the Mexican.  Ice Cream.  And not a single person mentioned that before we moved here!  Go figure.  Parker thought it was important to note how delicious Bahama Bucks is as well, but I said it was the same thing because it has ice cream in it.  He argued that the shaved ice is it's own category of delicious so we'll throw that one out there as well.  The produce, on the other hand, we have been super disappointed in.  I am counting down the days for the farmers market to open again so maybe we can have veggies and fruits that are a bit more fresh.

• We have found it is easier to make friends with people in our ward in Texas than it was in Utah.  Don't get me wrong, we had a great Utah ward, but it's just different.  A lot of people are sort of in a similar situation- away from family and high school friends and college friends and, well, everyone we knew before.  So we hang out together and that is really nice.  I don't know what we would do without those people to watch our daughter occassionally so Parker and I can have a night out together.  

• Flying out of Dallas is pretty awesome because we can get a nonstop flight just about anywhere.  And since we've flown so much with Ruby, that definitely is a plus.  

• Texans are super nice.  We thought Utah was a nice place too- and people would have been kind if you met them, but they don't really talk to strangers there.  In Texas, you do.  It's not uncommon for me to have a decent length conversation with a complete stranger.  This was even more true when Ruby was a lot smaller.  Pregnancy and babies are much more a novelty here, but people are still family oriented and like kids so we get a lot of attention with Ruby around.  Plus, she's obviously the cutest baby ever... so...

• Registering your car in Texas is almost enough to make someone never want to come here.  Good grief, it is a process!  And you have to do it in the exact right order which nobody would tell us so you end up repeating steps a little bit.  Plus, you have to pay a new to Texas tax.  What the heck is that even?  Other than super lame.  Anyway, we're glad that's over with.  Future Texans, be warned.

• Everyone- and I swear everyone- kept telling us that our cost of living would go down.  Totally 100% false.  Our utilities are more than we paid in Utah because everything is unregulated (which means there's not a go-to utility company like Rocky Mountain Power, etc).  The idea behind that is that the prices would be more competitive, but instead they just creep up and up.  And we pay for it.  Also, our groceries-- basic stuff like milk and eggs-- are almost double what we'd pay in Utah.  That certainly took me by surprise. 

Anyway, I'm sure I could keep going, but this post is long enough as is... This year has been a great one and we feel really blessed to be here.  It's crazy to think about all that has happened in a year.  Ruby's life makes it seem even more crazy- when we got here she wasn't even rolling!  Parker and I have changed a lot too.  But there are no other people that I would rather share this adventure with.  We don't know what the future holds for us for sure, but we did recently sign our apartment contract for another year so we plan to be here for at least that long.  And so, here's to another great year full of more change and fun and adventure.

Texas forever.