The closing of an EXCITING and EVENTFUL year in our life and the beginning of a new, just as EVENTFUL and FUN-FILLED year!

I find it hard to believe that this will be our last post before the New Year! So many wonderful events and people have come into our lives this past year. We were reflecting on where we were at this time last year and amazed at the things that have changed for us. Some of the changes were hard such as moving FAR away from those we love the most, leaving a school where I adored my co-teachers and kiddos, and of course being farther away from JMU.  Some of the changes were easy such as moving to a beautiful location where each day you have to pinch yourself to check that you aren't in a dream, meeting wonderful people through the military and school, finding my true place as a teacher at a Title 1 school and loving the staff and kids more than I could have imagined, Robert loving each second of his job even though there are more demands and sacrifices, and completing our family by gaining Bentley and Fannie Crawford. Overall, we have become a stronger family because of all these changes and look forward to years ahead of moving, but growing together. Having faith in ourselves and God is what gave us the courage to change and showed us the ways in which change needed to be made. Thanks to all of you, our family and friends, for making our lives better and supporting us even when it was difficult.

We spent the Christmas Holiday in Whidbey Island, which was our first time being away from both families. The nice thing is we were able to Skype with both Christmas morning, while at the same time start our own family traditions that we plan to take into future Christmas celebrations. Yes, the pups were included in many of our new traditions. We had a delicious Christmas dinner with some friends and I had my first taste of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," which was awesome! Christmas dinner consisted of steaks, twice baked potatoes, garlic and cheese biscuits, and of course a vegetable medley. We relaxed quite a lot this break which was a good thing because this past Wednesday I found out I have mono. Throughout the winter I have continued to get sick, extremely tired, and been sore quite often so I finally went to the doctor after being sick for the fourth time and asked for a blood test. Sure enough the results came back that it is mono, which in a way is a relief because I started to feel like a lazy bones. However, it hasn't stopped me from running around, but I will be resting up and trying my best to relax these next couple of weeks. 

Some highlights from the two previous weeks:

1. OHE Staff Holiday Party at our house was a success and a great way to ring in the Holidays.

2. Robert's Wardroom Holiday dinner was wonderful and delicious (so I was told...had a teacher training).

3. My kiddos Winter Concert was adorable, hilarious, entertaining, and great!

4. Finding and becoming members of a church, Whidbey Presbyterian Church, and finding joy in spending advent Sunday with the congregation.

5. Adopting Fannie Crawford our 7 1/2 year old Goldendoodle. She was a breeding dog in Spokane, Washington and we were lucky to find her. Bentley adores her and they already cuddle at night!

6. I started learning how to knit thanks to a great teacher friend who makes her own sweaters!!! I am very excited to continue learning.

Coming Attractions:

1. Ringing in New Years by having a game-night with some friends (Robert's last night of being on-call :)! )

2. Officially kicking off my Book Club/Wine Club!

3. Having lunch with SARA STERNER (one of my coworkers, dear friends, and mentor from ATS)  in   Centralia, WA while she is here for a quick visit.

4.Robert is going on fishing trips and we are learning/taking a class to fly-fish (probably in the spring though)

5. Skiing at Mt. Baker this coming Friday

6. *Heading into Seattle to see "BOOK OF MORMON!!!!!!!!!!"

7. *Robert's parents are coming for their first trip to Whidbey Island, WA the end of January!!!!!!!!!!! I will have many photos to share and updates from their trip. The grandpups are looking forward to seeing their other amazing grandparents!

We wish you all a beautiful, wonderful, enjoyable, memorable, and loving start to the New Year!!!

One of the many centers for the kiddos Holiday Celebration.

Time to knit!

One of the many beautiful sunsets in Whidbey

Snuggle bunnies already.

Playtime!

Delectable Christmas Eve dinner with friends!!!

One of our favorite movies to watch at Christmas!

Our beautiful tree.

Robert has good taste ;)

So do I :)

Ready to go skiing at Mt. Baker!!!

Time for fishing.

Searching for the Christmas Pickle, which is not always easy.

Christmas dinner at our house.

Home for our first Christmas in Whidbey.

Sleeping cheek to cheek.

A very merry Thacher-Crawford Thanksgiving in Whidbey!!!

This was the first official year that Robert and I were both away from our home. We were fortunate enough to have my mom and dad, a.k.a. Mom and Dad Thacher, with us to celebrate our first Thanksgiving in Washington. Throughout the week they were here we did many different and exciting things. Mom and dad were able to to meet many of the friends we have made, travel to Port Townsend, ride the ferry, explore some museums, eat at our favorite "nice" place on the island "The Oystercatcher,"  visit Greenbank Farm, tool around Seattle, have dinner at the Space Needle, visit the King Tut Exhibit, travel around the Naval Base and visit Robert at work (dad got a private session), explore some of Anacortes, and come into my classroom to meet my kiddos and coworkers. Overall, we enjoyed spending quality time with them and Bentley loved meeting his grandparents.  Even though the week flew by it was so nice waking up to their laughter and going to sleep with their familiar and comforting voices.  If you know anything about us Thachers, you know we are not ones to be quiet and always come ready for a good time! Saying goodbye was certainly not easy, but knowing we will see them again in August puts a big smile on our faces. I always have a list of "summer" activities for us to do and one of them is having Jewell Thacher go crabbing ;) 

In addition to the photos from Thanksgiving I have added some from our more recent trip we took with some friends to Leavenworth, WA. Each year they host the Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival and it truly put us into the Christmas spirit. You couldn't help but feel as if you were in a perfect Winter Wonderland! We enjoyed the caroling, lighting ceremony, tooling around the shops, eating a fabulous Italian restaurant, and staying at the 59er's Cabins. The cabins were certainly an experience!

We will be spending the Christmas Holiday in Whidbey and this will be the first time we have our own Christmas. Robert is on-call for duty throughout Christmas and New Years so we are planted in Washington. I find comfort in knowing that I get to spend my first Christmas with Robert and am excited to make our own traditions. We already have some Christmas dinner plans with friends as many other military families will be here for Christmas. If there is one thing we have learned, in our short time as a military family, it is that your friends become your family. We are fortunate to have met amazing people and look forward to continuing new friendships and traditions!

The Crawford Clan will be very busy up and through Christmas. I volunteered to host the OHE teacher staff Holiday Party at our house so we are already prepping and decorating. We have a couple Holiday Dinners and housewarming parties along with school concerts and parties. We hope y'all have a Happy Holidays and wonderful Christmas. We miss you, love you, and will be thinking of you!!!

59er's Cabin Diner (good food and shakes)

Oh little town of Leavenworth.

Bringing out the lights!

The Wright family visited and mom was able to meet
Kathryn Wright, who Nana used to babysit and happens
to live in Whidbey and teach at OHE as well :)

Welcome to Mrs. C's room!

Enjoying our "Grinch" drinks!

Stevens Pass

We got to meet Santa!!!

Bentley made a great first impression!

Blocking the door so we
 couldn't go shopping!

Dad loved the shooting range...

...as did Robert (mom did as well, but no photo to show)!

Relaxing with Bentley Bear

Dad's new favorite hot dog place!

Awesome tasting dogs.

Dinner at the Oystercatcher 

His new best friend.

Visiting the winery at Greenbank Farms

Typical view near home.

Enjoying the frozen yogurt at Whidberry!!

Robert made an amazing turkey!

The Dohms were able to join us for Turkey Dinner!

Heading into the King Tut IMAX at the
Seattle Science Museum

Waiting for dinner at the Space Needle

Robert ordered quite the dessert!

We had to see the "throwing of the fish" at the market!!!

Crawford Family photos in Whidbey Island 11.10.12

We decided it would be a brilliant tradition to start taking family photos at our various Navy locations. Our family will certainly grow over the years, but for now we are enjoying the beauty of the area and creating our own life out in Washington. Please enjoy a little taste and snapshot of our family in Whidbey Island, WA.

Thank you to our amazing and talented friend, Dano Church, for taking the photos and bringing out the natural beauty in the area we call home. Feel free to check out other photos she has taken. If you are in the area we would highly recommend using Dano as your photographer. 

http://www.danocphotography.com/