The Family Tree Lady: An introudtion

Well, it happened. I finally started a genealogy blog.

In all honesty I’ve wanted to start one for a while but as the mom of three young kids trying to sit down and actually write is no small task, there’s always something else that needs to be done. But there’s no day like today to start right?

My goal here is to not only share with you little bits and pieces of my ancestors, those that I met and those I never knew, but to share stories about my life as well for me to pass on. So let me start by telling you about me. Hi, my name is Nicole, and I am a genealogy addict.

I was born on September 26, 1987 in New Jersey where I have lived pretty much my whole life (except for the time my parents thought it would be a great idea to live in a log cabin in the middle of the woods in Dingman’s Ferry Pennsylvania. Needless to say that didn’t very long.)

My parents Nancy and Scott were still quite young when they got married and had me, being just 20 and 24 when I was born. As I said, we briefly lived in Pennsylvania when I was still a baby but then went back to living with my mom’s mom (my nana) until she passed away in August 2004.

In 1992 my younger sister Sarah was born. And though she is 4 and a half years younger than I am, she has towered over me since she was like 12. (Seriously though, once when she was starting a new school in 8th grade I took her on a tour of her new school, and the principal asked which one of us was starting 8th grade. I was almost 18.)

I don’t want to go into too much detail right now about my childhood because I will share more in future posts about my life. But a few “fun facts” for you

I grew up in the house my mom grew up in, which was at the end of our street. At the other end of the street was the house my dad grew up in.

My first grade teacher Mrs. White (who was my absolute favorite teacher and called everyone her “darlings”) had both my parents when they went to school, knew both of my grandmothers, and her very last class before retiring was my sister’s class.

I was lucky enough to grow up with all 4 of my grandparents still alive, plus a bonus step-grandma and a great grandmother.

I have always been very close to my dad's family since they lived close by. We still celebrate every holiday and birthday with my dad's parents and younger brother Todd.

In middle school I began my lifetime battle with anxiety and depression.

Despite the fact that I played several sports growing up, including softball, basketball, track, and bowling, I am not a sporty person at all.

I was in chorus from 7th grade til I graduated high school, though I am a terrible singer. I also at some point or another played the piano, drums, and xylophone though none of those for long (or well might I add.)

I have had a love of writing since I can remember. In high school poetry is how I was able to express most of my feelings. After I met my husband I pretty much stopped writing, I wasn't in a dark place anymore and didn't feel the urge to write anymore. Blogging however has changed all that and I have found my passion for writing again.

I didn’t my driver’s license til I was a senior in high school. My first car was a 1984 Oldsmobile.

Just days before my senior year of high school my nana passed away. In January my mom found out she had Cushing's Disease and a massive brain tumor. In February of my senior year my great grandma passed away. Mom had brain surgery in March. It was a rough year.

In June 2005 I graduated from Morris Knolls High School.

I went to one semester at county college before deciding I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and dropped out. I worked full time as a hostess and then a waitress til my mom got me a job for an insurance company she worked at. I have worked there since 2008.

In December of 2009 I met the love of my life JR.

We had a whirlwind romance, dating for 2 months before getting engaged and then married in March of 2011. We are about to celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary at the end of this month.