Crawfords On The Move

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Our.First.Place

After weeks of waiting, we finally received the keys to our first place and it happens to be on an island ;) In the midst of closing on our first place I was also completing my year as a second grade teacher and Robert was very busy at work. I grew to love teaching second grade and am happy to say I will continue as a second grade teacher next year. Hopefully, I can teach second grade throughout our final year in Washington, but you never know what time may bring ;)

The pups have been very curious as to why there are many boxes around the house. I don't think my running around and making a million phone calls makes it any less confusing for them. We decided we needed to take a breather amidst the chaos of life this past month and spent time going to a Kenny Chesney concert, white water rafting with NHOH Command friends, final bonfire at the old house we rented, and definitely some time on the boat!

We also realized that we are getting closer and closer to our first trip back to the east coast in over a year. With a recent event in my family I have realized how large of a distance I am from home and close loved ones in times of need. Glad to say that all is on the uphill now and dad is in good hands. I will be home soon enough to drive that big bugar crazy ;)

We will be spending the next month settling into our new home and are excited to be living closer to town and surrounded by great neighbors. We are part of the country club community but we laugh because we are NOT country club people. However, having a beautiful golf course across the street certainly doesn't hurt. We both just need to take up golfing!
Some fun facts about the place we bought (or as I would say some signs it was meant to be our home):
1. The owner happened to be the principal of the original Oak Harbor High School, which is now the elementary school where I teach.
2. There was an old-school pencil sharpener in the closet hallway ;)
3. Our neighbor has children who went to the best school in the USA a.k.a James Madison University
4. I had randomly found it online the day it was posted, it happened to be the day I was home sick from school, and we almost didn't go visit due to being tired of looking, but thank goodness we did.
5. There is a built-in workbench and tool area for Robert
6. In the kitchen, there is a desk, just like the one we had in Orchard Park, NY.
7. We walked in and said, "We are HOME!!!"

Below are photos from the new home, end of school year, etc. Hope everyone is having a wonderful start to summer and we hope to see you soon. Much Love!

Baby Ben and Amy joined us
for boating!

Our new backyard!!!

We will be sure to keep up Bentley and Fannie out of the front yard ;)

I love my kiddos!!! Second grade end-of-year picnic at City Beach.

Church Family joins us at the bonfire and
their adorable boy Brecken.

THE pencil sharpener

The pups love the boat!

Taking out our friends Lincoln and Jennifer

Kenny Chesney Concert

One of my favorite homemade gifts!

Boating over to La Conner to scope out dinner options.

Robert at his shooting competition and he is certainly
learning from the older gentleman

Baby Ben LOVED the boat!

Amy and Ben

Bentley loved watching the baby and is actually
calming down...

Class Picture!

My big sleepy pup

We are so excited to be homeowners!!!

I am ready to go White Water Rafting!!!

Adore this little boy!!!

My amazing second grade team.

Bonfire in the backyard----check.

The best views of our area come from the boat...I think ;)

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!