Crawfords On The Move

Monday, May 27, 2013

You Can't Break An American Heart

Robert and I both realized, late last night, that we arrived (after a long but exciting road trip from the east to west coast) in Oak Harbor on the eve of Memorial Day last year. Technically speaking, we have officially been in Whidbey Island, WA for one whole year. Man, did the year fly by.

We can't imagine that a year ago we had no Bentley or Fannie, no trips throughout the West Coast, no boat, and most importantly we hadn't met any of the friends who have made this place home. We are so thankful for all the friendships we have made on the island. I feel lucky to have a job teaching as it has fostered many friendships in addition to the wonderful friends we have in the military.

I only have about 12 days of school remaining and am filled with a mix of emotions. On one hand, I am eager to have a break and some peace and quiet throughout the day, but on the other hand I love what I do and I love my kids. We have a very busy summer ahead of us and have family visiting. Also, we have our first trip back to the East Coast in August and we are extremely excited to see "home", family, and friends. I never knew how difficult it would be to not see home for over a year and I don't think you can imagine the feeling until you experience it. I will say it allows you to not take people and friendships for granted.

Instead of explaining what we have been up to I have a collection of photos from the past two weeks. Some are from our visit to Hurricane Ridge on the Olympic Peninsula, Port Townsend, Mt. Erie hike, and gatherings with friends.

Upcoming Attractions:

1. Kenny Chesney concert this coming Saturday

2. White Water Rafting trip with NHOH Command

3. Last day of school

4. June 18th big change

5. Boating, boating and more boating

Happy Memorial Day!!! Thank you to those who served and continue to serve our country. You and your families have allowed us to be home of the free because of your bravery and sacrifice.

Port Townsend

Dinner on the dock in Coupeville (Finally ate at Front Street Grill)

View from the top of Mt. Erie looking out over Whidbey and other islands

Port Townsend lighthouse

Beautiful day for our hike

The pups loved the hike, but were exhausted coming back uphill

Coupeville, WA

Memorial Day parade in Coupeville, WA

Ladies of WWII

Beautiful drive back from Coupeville

Love his face!

Moving crew for Joanna and Sean

Memorial Day BBQ

Adore these women!

Robert is a rockstar at "Just Dance"

Robert's best friend, Bentley

The professional "Just Dance" ladies

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Great News Spring!!!

Happy May Y'all!!! Robert and I have had our hands full this past month, but are glad to know things are winding down. Our month was filled with AMAZING news from family and some big news for our family here. For starters, boating season officially began this past weekend on Whidbey Island so everyone was out and about on their boats soaking in the sun! We were able to enjoy Cinco de Mayo with some friends from our gun range and I believe we were the youngest ones there ;) The BEST news arrived yesterday when my sister and her husband announced the upcoming birth of their first baby...and it is a GIRL!!!!! We are all elated and over-the-moon excited with the big and exciting changes for the family ahead. She is due in September and you can bet I will be making the trip back to hold her and see her after she is born. Robert and I as well have some exciting and big news coming for us on Whidbey Island. No, we are NOT having a baby, but we do have something big in the works to make our next two years on Whidbey a bigger chapter. Nothing further will be noted until June 18th ;)

Some of the photos below are from my field trip with the second graders to Woodland Park Zoo. What an amazing zoo and what an exhausting trip!!! I felt just like the gorilla in the photo below as I wanted a stiff drink and a nap. Not to mention the one bridge we have to drive over to get on the island after the field trip was closed due to an accident so we had an extra hour on the bus with the kiddos. I love them though so it was a bonus! Oh, and Robert had his first shooting competition and he did wonderful. He received many compliments today at the party. I will be joining and taking photos next time.

Let's see other photos...I will give a quick highlight of the photos below:
1. Tulip Festival with none other than Kyle Dohm aka Dr. Dohm who has done wonders for my eyes ;)
2. Holland Happenings parade downtown Oak Harbor
3. Game night and scenic views from our friends amazing deck
4. Boating photos

Upcoming events for the Crawford Family:
1. More boating...and fishing
2. White Water Rafting trip in June with NHOH Command
3. Book Club--Poker Nights--Game Nights (we LOVE game...nights if you haven't noticed)
4. Trip to Olympic National Park specifically Hurrican Ridge
5. Kenny Chesney concert to kick off the month of June!

Someone lost a petal.

My reflection at the Woodland Park Zoo ;)

Tulip Festival

Bentley LOVES the water!

Sunset view from deck

You can tell it is opening day of boating season

Holland Happenings parade

Fansters first trip on the water...ever.

Nap time for Bentley Bear

He looks GREAT at the wheel of our boat.

Tulip Festival

First day back on the boat since November!!

Herring spotted

Deception Pass

Weekly Wednesday Knitting group...I like to think I am improving.

Crazy Hair Day!!!

Friday teacher-wine-and-relax night in Anacortes

Love being on the water!

Soaking in the sun!

My amazing kiddos!!! (some were missing, but man do I LOVE my job).

Made this little man angry somehow!

Dr. Dohm loves his flowers!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

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!!!