Spring Has Sprung and the Crawford Family SKIED To New Heights!

April showers bring May flowers, or at least we are hoping that is the case. The past two weeks have flown by with multiple "spring yard jobs" and taking a much-needed trip up to Whistler, British Columbia for Spring Break. Robert and I have made more trips to Home Depot than the grocery store these past couple of weeks. I have to brag a little and say that the yard is looking pretty good right now and I still have some beautiful flowers currently growing indoors that will add more color to the outside landscape!

We had a delicious Easter Eve dinner with a close group of friends and spent Easter Sunday at church and with the pups. The weather has been gorgeous so taking the pups to the beach to run around and do yard work outside is ideal.

With spring officially arriving we were both ready for a nice vacation and a chance of climate. We spent a couple of days up in Whistler, British Columbia and had a wonderful time. Due to the timing of year it was nice and quiet. We stayed in a ski-in, ski-out resort which made waking up early each morning to hit the slopes a lot easier! I grew up skiing at the age of 3 in Buffalo, NY, but these mountains put those little ones to shame. We had no idea the greatness and size of Whistler and Blackcomb until we arrived at the very top--- 7,000 feet above sea level.  The view was certainly stunning, but scary and intimidating at the same time. Once you get to the top you know you have to get down and the only way is to ski down. One afternoon, the fog was so thick, you could't see what was three feet in front of you. We were on a chair lift trying to get back to the main gondula and we couldn't even see where the snow began and ended and no one was in sight. Very creepy! Once we arrived at the top we took our time heading down the mountain as you literally had no idea where the mountain dropped off. We both got very close to the sides a couple of times and went off of plain faith and hope to get to the bottom. Not sure I have been that nervous for a long time, but it was worth it! Needless to say, we are excited and eager to go back with some friends next December. Now that we know the mountains, hopefully we will have more confidence in white-out conditions ;)

We have enjoyed the first taste of spring on the island and are excited to see what else is in store! Robert is still very busy at work and continuing to do an amazing job as the Department Head of Physical Therapy at NHOH. He is quickly learning how to manage a clinic when money keeps disappearing...thanks to sequestration.  I continue to love my job, coworkers, and kiddos and could not be happier. I have to admit I started to miss going into my classroom and seeing my fantastic students this past week. My kiddos first and only field trip of the year is coming up and we are going off the island to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. For many, this will be their first trip off the island and it makes my heart so happy that they have this opportunity.  They are such an incredibly, appreciative groups of young kids.  I am continuing to take ballet/lyrical with some girlfriends and still learning to knit with some awesome women. I can't say I am a pro at all, but love learning something new and have enjoyed having friends as teachers.

Some upcoming attractions for the Crawford Family:

1. Taking out the boat after the winter months and resuming fishing and boating around the area.

2. Tulip Festival---http://www.tulipfestival.org/

3. Anacortes Spring Wine Festival (and book club to follow ;))---http://www.anacortes.org/spring-wine-fest/

4. Fly-fishing lessons on one of the local rivers

5. Kenny Chesney Concert to kick off summer

6. Goal: Hoping to get to a Sounders Game!!!

7. Visiting Hurricane Ridge at the Olympic National Park

We are counting down the days until our first trip home. Right around this time last year Robert left our condo in Arlington, VA to head to Officer Development School in Rhode Island. He returned home to Virginia the end of May for a quick goodbye to family and friends and then we started our move to the West Coast. I completed the school year in Arlington. said goodbye to my family and friends, and then flew out to join him in Washington State the beginning of July to make Whidbey Island our home. Coming home to the East Coast in August will be very meaningful and we are eager for it to be here!!!

Happy Spring!!!

Heading into British Columbia

Driving into the mountains!

Taking the Peak to Peak Gondola from Whistler Mountain to Blackcomb

Our room at the Evolution

Looking down through the glass bottom Gondola 

Calm and relaxed as we head back down the mountain

Just a tad bit scared of heights

The beginning of the white-out conditions on Whistler

Stopping in the middle of a run to take a photo!

The start of my garden

The Evolution

The pups were ready to go to church on Easter Sunday

Easter Eve dinner with Mr. Ben

Brecken was wearing the socks we gave him to Easter Eve dinner!

Easter Sunday

Whistler Village

Meeting up with Susan, my amazing second grade team member, on the slopes.

Our pups, running around at their favorite spot, the beach!

We want to leave nothing less than Something that says WE were here!

I have been bad about keeping the weekly Blog updated and apologize!!! I guess life has really picked up for the Crawford Clan these past few weeks. A few highlights from the past couple weeks include:

1. Celebrating Robert's birthday by skiing at Stevens Pass, which is the Cascade Mountains. We also went on a brewery tour in Bellingham and tasted a distillery to taste some Moonshine. Then, we completed the celebrations with a visit to the local casino and NO we didn't win anything, but gained some good tips for the future.
2. I started taking a ballet class with some friends and we love our instructor who also happens to be a good friend! Let me tell you, these long legs are learning to bend and stretch in ways I didn't know were possible.
3. Having a last visit from our dear friend Molly Poth before she heads back to the East Coast! Bentley was disheartened to see her leave as you will clearly see in the photos.
4. While Molly was here we all went to the Musselfest Festival in Coupeville, WA and enjoyed learning all about Penn Cove mussels and getting a tour of the Mussel farm by boat. We also spent the day in Seattle and got the best views of the city from Kerry Park.
5. Robert hosted a guys poker night while we had our first bookclub debrief from reading, "Me Before You." I would recommend the book to anyone who has an open-mind and loving heart. I enjoyed the change in perspective on an issue that many of us can never understand nor have been through.
6. We had our first annual Winter Blues Party and had a night full of friends and games.
7. I was able to give my students the gift of technology through the support and funding of family and friends who gave through DonorsChoose.org. My kids now have two Ipads to use each and every day in the classroom!!! They are over-the-moon excited!!!

Upcoming Attractions for the Crawford Clan:
1. Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley (we can't wait for spring to arrive)!
2. Visit the Olympic National Park, specifically Hurricane Ridge (I believe part of the Twilight Series Finale was filmed here).
3. Week of skiing in Whistler, BC.
4. Gearing up the boat and taking it out to welcome SPRING!

Happy March to everyone!!!

Skiing at Stevens Pass!!!

Gorgeous view of Seattle from Kerry Park.

Bentley did not want Ms. Molly to go ;(

Chilly day at Musselfest in Coupeville, WA

Coupeville, WA before the crowds arrived to Musselfest

Just a small selection of some dishes prepared for our first Winter Blues Party

Feeling at home on the slopes

Bentley loves game nights!

I am only a beginner so no making fun...

Robert is a natural and loves his new bright ski pants. Now, I can easily spot him!

Treasure the OLD and experience the NEW!

***I have to start this post by recognizing that it was right around this time last year that we were informed our first placement as a Navy Family would be in Oak Harbor, WA. I remember we both rushed home to look at Google Maps and saw that it was probably the furthest placement, in the US, we could have been assigned. Many emotions ranging from excited, scared, overwhelmed, eager, sad, and confused raced through our minds. However, the biggest emotion was simply love the greatest thing we practiced was trust. Yes, there are many days when we miss the comforts of home, especially family and those dear and close friends. However, life was not made to be a perfect puzzle where we get to design and pick each piece and choose when to complete it. Life is made for the messy puzzle, the one you see at the Dollar Store and figure some pieces are missing and probably chipped. We have taken the not-so-perfect puzzle and made it perfect for us. Who knows where we will be in future assignment, but for now we are truly happy and loving each second of the opportunity we were given. Thank you for showing your love across the way through you Skype and phone dates, cards, texts, visits, and simply understanding that although we are miles away, we are still there in spirit!***

The past two weeks were a fantastic combination of celebrations, adventures, and even some relaxation. Kelly Doyle, a close friend since middle school, came to visit and the things we did in just three days still amazes me! We took the ferry over to Port Townsend for the day, visited downtown Coupeville and ate at the delicious "Knead and Feed," walked around and over Deception Pass, had pedicures at the "Seaside Spa," visited Freeland (south of the island), went to the shooting range, and watched the Superbowl at our place with friends! Robert had a dry-needling course off the island for the weekend, but he returned in time for the Superbowl. We were very happy with the ending, sorry to those of you who are 49ers fans :( .

To ring in good old 27 years of age, Robert took my into Seattle to Tula's Jazz Club. The food was delicious, the music was great, and we had front row seats by the baby grand piano. I couldn't have asked for more. The next day he made us blueberry waffles and then we took off for our Whidbey Island Wine and Chocolate Tour. The wines were all fabulous and the chocolate made it that much better ;) We made sure to stop off at a local distillery and look forward to their upcoming Whiskey release.

Bentley Bear and I took some time to head to the beach today and he loved running around in the sand and enjoyed not having a leash around his neck for a change. Fannie hung out with dad at home! The weather has been a mixture of rain and then pure sun. I have tried to take a morning photo each Friday, not only because I LOVE the sunrise, but because the colors and weather vary so much that the same view can appear drastically different.

Coming attractions for Crawford Clan:
1. Our "Winter Blues Party" is just around the corner along with Robert's early birthday surprise.
2. Visit to Stevens Pass to test our skies out on some new mountains. We loved Mt. Baker so I have a feeling we will enjoy the pass as well!
3. Reuniting with our third family member, Molly Poth, who will be traveling up from San Fran for a final visit before possibly, and sadly, moving back to the east coast.
4. Book Club/Poker Night
5. Staff Progressive dinner = Great Food!
6. Visiting the Olympic Peninsula, specifically to go to Hurrican Ridge
7. Last, but not least, ending the month of March with a trip to Whistler, BC

Happy February to y'all and thank you for keeping us posted with life on the east coast!!!

Knead and Feed, which was used as a set in "Practical Magic."

Getting our toes done at Seaside Spa, thanks to Robert

A HUGE highlight from my birthday (thank you Krissy Bean)!

Ferry over to Port Townsend

Deception Pass

Great friends last through the many miles :)

I love my husband and our adventures.

2.8.13 Sunrise

Bentley and mom traveled to Ala Spit for a Sunday morning stroll

I love my second graders creativity!!

Flashback to our honeymoon...

Superbowl party

He would be the King!

Where "Officer and Gentleman" was filmed.

2013 = A year of tackling our West Coast Bucket List!

The month of January has seemed to escape us. I feel as if it were yesterday that I was writing the blog about our first Christmas in Washington and now we are headed into February with our first blog of the 2013 year.

We rang in the New Year with friends and found it funny that at 9 our time, while we were playing Cranium, that most friends on the East Coast were singing Happy New Year. I have to admit it is a different experience celebrating three hours later, but something we will get used to with time.

Our first goal for the year 2013 was to go skiing more often and practice for our upcoming trip to Whistler, BC. We, along with some friends, decided to go on our first ski adventure to Mount Baker. The first thing to note is how GIGANTIC the mountains here actually are and how fresh and fluffy the snow is that covers the mountains. We certainly found it different from skiing on ICE in Virginia, but closer to snow in Buffalo (actual snow). The best thing is once you finally reach the top of the various slopes it takes a solid 15 minutes to get back down to the bottom. We feel better prepared to tackle the mountains in Whistler/Blackcomb and will be headed to Stevens Pass for more skiing in February.

One of my new favorite Broadway shows, I think Robert's as well, is "Book of Mormon" which we were able to see at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. The theater itself was gorgeous but the musical was hilarious, witty  and we loved the music. I would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone as long as they have a sense of humor ;) My girlfriends "wine and relaxed Book Club" officially started and we are off to read our first book, which I have yet to order "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes. Robert will be hosting the upcoming guys Poker Night while we have our second Book Club so the timing is working perfectly. We have come to enjoy Game Nights even more with the dark days of winter setting in and the pups love having new visitors.

Robert's parents came into town this past weekend and have been enjoying the area and spending quality time with us and the grandpups as well. They have had a chance to visit Fort Casey, Greenbank Farms, take a couple ferry rides, Seattle and all of its' favorite stops, Ala Spit beach by our house, Robert's Command, my second grade classroom, and Portland, OR. We are already planning things to do outdoors when they are here again in the warmer months. Overall, we have enjoyed spending time together and giving them a taste of our life on Whidbey. I think they are loving the area and scenery as well as the dogs ;)

This coming weekend I have a close girlfriend from Middle School, Kelly Doyle, visiting and I have already begun planning our various activities. Robert, with thanks to the Navy, is taking a Dry Needling course, so he can take it back to the hospital for patients and be certified. With our birthdays both coming up, in the month of February, I have asked to go to a Jazz Club in Seattle and Robert has asked to go skiing for the day. We are having a "Winter Blues Party" over Valentine's Weekend as is tradition started by his aunt and uncle in Virginia. We figured with all the Holidays passing and it being so cold and wet outside we mine as well find a reason to celebrate.

Looking forward to the month of February and hope y'all have had a wonderful start to 2013 as well!!!

New Years 2013

Mt. Baker

View from the bridge at Deception Pass

Looking out at Port Townsend while standing at Fort Casey

Adorable cheese block chairs at Greenbank Farms

Paramount Theater in Seattle, WA

Slight fog surrounding Mt. Baker, but the water is a crystal blue