Life is the Sum of your choices...and we think we made a GREAT one!

This post is going to be really short as the weeks have been jam-packed with events, work, and our own family time. We are still enjoying the beautiful weather here on Whidbey Island and have to laugh when we see the weather forecast for the east coast as...rain. Only because we heard multiple jokes about the amount of rain we would receive when actually, if you researched the weather on Whidbey Island, we receive the same if not less than Virginia :)

Robert has been very busy with work, but loved his CFL training. We are both trying to stay in shape so setting the alarm clock for 4:30 a.m. is not always the fun thing to do at night, but it pays off at the end of the workday. Bentley is growing bigger each day, but still has an adorable, loving personality. I am becoming more happy with my teaching experience and instead of seeing it as a difficult year am looking at it as an opportunity to grow. I still think teachers should get paid the big bucks for what we do, BUT I am not the president nor do I want to be ;)

Our upcoming weekends are filled with our dear friend MOLLY POTH visiting, a trip down to Langley for Oktoberfest, more Poker nights for Robert which means more girls wine nights for Shannon, school events and fundraisers, and of course Halloween. Bentley will NOT be wearing an outfit...unless it is JMU colors!

Hope y'all are having a great start to the fall!!!

Bath night for Bentley

He enjoys the bath at first....

...and then he hates the water and the towels. 

The Dohms got a look at the large and in charge sea lions on our way to Friday Harbor.

A delicious lunch at "The Blue Water" bar and grill.

So tempted to get this for Bentley.
We could use this for upcoming visitors.

Something I would LOVE to do to our house in the future.

Gorgeous sunset after our workout on base.

Who knew the grocery store was only a hayride away??!!

Each year on Whidbey Island there is a farm tour and we decided we just couldn't pass it up! On our list of must-visit places was an Alpaca Farm, Blueberry Farm, and the 3 Sisters Family Farm (Grass Fed Beef).  After taking Bentley Bear on a nice morning walk we jumped in the car and began our farm tour! One thing we love to do is just drive around Whidbey Island and look at the beautiful landscape and homes. While the history is certainly not as old as Virginia, there is still a lot to learn and see. Some of the highlights from our farm tour:

1. Tasting and buying some delicious honey and BBQ Blueberry sauce at the Blueberry Farm. 

2. Feeding one of the alpacas at the Alpaca farm and realizing that they tickle your hand when they eat. 

3. Taking home some farm fresh hot dogs and cage free eggs from 3 Sisters Family Farm.

Lastly, my wonderful fourth grade students from Arlington Traditional School, gave me a gift certificate to dinner at the Oystercatcher. We decided it would be a great date night after a long first week of school and before Robert left for a training. The quaint and cozy restaurant is located in Coupeville and has been raved about by newspapers near and far. The menu changes every couple of weeks and you find yourself wanting to order everything. The chefs are fantastic and so welcoming as they work their magic in the kitchen. We already made reservations for Mom and Dad Thacher as the restaurant is closing in January!!! They are moving to NC of all places, so we might have to pay them a visit in future years :) What a beautiful and wonderful gift my students and classroom parents gave us!!!

Oystercatcher: 

http://www.oystercatcherwhidbey.com/

I added some photos of my new second grade classroom! You will notice the ceilings are much shorter and the room is much smaller, but the love for teaching is still present. I have to admit the first couple of days were difficult with the constant talk of nap time and potty time, but I have become used to a slower pace and enjoy their funny quirks. 

The beautiful blueberry farm

Amazing Alpacas

Thank you for your eggs!

A very friendly and hungry little man

I wish I could relax like this all the time :)

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Perfect date night at the Oystercatcher!

Using the BBQ sauce at our cook out this coming weekend!

Step into my classroom!

I had to bring my kiddos from Arlington.

They truly are my little "Incredibles." 

No One Should Be Crabby When Their Pots Are Full!

The past two weeks have been filled with BBQ's, wonderful time with new faces and friends, and WORK! Robert has been more busy now that the summer vacations are coming to a close and I have been busy preparing my classroom for a new set of second grade students. In addition to prepping my classroom, after completing the Ombudsman course, I graduated as a Naval Ombudsman with the intent of serving in this position in the future. Bentley has been busy chewing up some furniture and spending time with his new love, Ms. Piggy. Needless to say, we have found time to relax and enjoy life on Whidbey Island. I apologize that the next couple of weeks will be scarce with pictures and updates, but we will try our best to keep y'all posted! We realized the other day that Robert has been here for over three months and I for over two months. Time flies by when you are having fun! While we both are missing the start of JMU Football season, we balance it with a nice sunset ride on the boat while cheering for our JMU DUKES! I even bought Robert a purple and gold Dr. Suess hat to wear in honor of GAMEDAY!

I asked him if he had any last words...
he didn't, but tasted good!

Hopeful of catching some crabs with the Dohm's

Ms. Piggy who is already missing his ears,
tail, and stuffing!

Not so lucky...

NHOH Ombudsman Graduation

Bentley loves to do what his dad does!

We think he may have been a model in his past life!

Lesson planning was much better with this view :)

The many crab legs (picking them is a lot of work!)

The other "Crawford's" on the island joined us for a beautiful day.

These chatty kathy's were quite loud and huge!

Date night at the drive-in movie theatre!

Waiting for the sun to go down to see "Brave."