The Chrastina Family

Holiday Season 2008-2009

2009-07-05T17:12:00.002-04:00

We spent the holidays at home this year (after our time apart) with our friends. it was quit, but full of joy and friendship!

Christmas "dinner" was at our house. We feasted on buffalo chicken dip, little pigs in a blanket, ad other appetizers! We watched Christmas movies and participated in the British tradition of Christmas crackers. You pull on either end of the wrapping and a joke and little gift pop out! The jokes were cheesy (and so were the gifts), but fun was had by all!

New Year's was spent at a friend of a friend's, but we all had a good time eating, drinking, and watching the fireworks in London over Big Ben and the Thames!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2009! Enjoy some pictures from our Christmas festivities!

The gang in the afternoon; already full from brunch.

Bailey and Melissa take a mid-afternoon nap!

Kyle and Loni

Melissa and Griffin using their Christmas cracker gifts!

Fall 2008

2009-07-05T16:53:00.003-04:00

Our Fall began with a trip to Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre! We picked pumpkins, went to pumpkin carving demonstration, and visited the farm and all the animals!

Halloween was fairly uneventful; back in our cottage in the woods we had 3 trick-or-treaters, who were all in the same group of kids! We didn't buy any candy, but luckily we had some in our stash to hand out.

This time of year also saw the arrival of our furniture and tons of unpacking. As well as saying goodbye to our good friend Kate, who departed good ole England to be stationed in Washington D.C.

Thanksgiving was also nice, but busy. We had a big Thanksgiving dinner with friends at our house. Melissa flew back to the U.S. the following day for the weekend to attend her mother's wedding. Congratulations Mom and Greg!

All-in-all a busy time of year! Enjoy some pictures from our trip to the farm!

Before Pictures - Part 4

2008-10-04T07:22:00.003-04:00

Last set of pictures!

Our Bedroom.

More bedroom.

We would like you to notice how none of the bedrooms have closets in the rooms, which is going to require some creativity in terms of storage.

Also, we would like your opinion on something. Please look at all the rooms upstairs. We're having difficulty trying to decide how to paint them. Since all the ceilings are slanted, it's difficult to determine where the ceiling ends and the wall begins. Any suggestions or advice please!!!!

And remember to stay tuned over the coming months as we unpack and settle into our quirky British cottage!

The Chrastinas

Before Pictures - Part 3

2008-10-04T06:53:00.004-04:00

More pictures!!!!

Upstairs hallway - we've already bought a chest for the hallway

to put extra sheets, blankets, and linens in.

Spare Bedroom #1 - this will house a twin bed for guests

as well as a desk and Melissa's crafting/knitting supplies.

Spare Bedroom #2 - this room will have a double bed

for guests to stay in.

Upstairs Bathroom - very spacious, but no room for a shower

due to the slanted ceiling.

Upstairs Bathroom.

The Chrastinas

Before Pictures - Part 2

2008-10-04T06:40:00.002-04:00

More before pictures of the inside of our house!

Downstairs hallway and cupboard under the stairs - Harry Potter style.

More hallway, internet equipment, and the door that won't open.

Dining room - complete with loaner furniture and hideous tangerine walls.

Living room - with loaner couch and our awesome entertainment center

(i.e. rubbermaid storage containers).

More living room. There is also a fireplace on the wall you can't see.

We intend on putting bookshelves on either side of the fireplace.

The Chrastinas

Before Pictures - Part 1

2008-10-04T05:26:00.004-04:00

Since we're going to be living in our house for the next 3 years, and our landlady has no problem with it, we're going to be painting the rooms of our house. Here are before pictures of the inside of our house before unpacking, before our furniture is here, and before we paint the different rooms. Stay tuned over the next few months as we paint and unpack to see the final results!

Downstairs bathroom - the only one with a shower.

Tiny kitchen - which is currently a complete disaster.

More kitchen - thankfully we have a regular size fridge.

British refrigerators are much smaller. And yes, our

washer and dryer are in our kitchen.

The office - completely filled with boxes.

This room is currently totally un-usable.

More office. This is the only room in the house with a closet.

The Chrastinas

Our Life...

2008-10-04T05:24:00.001-04:00

...is just completely inundated with boxes!!!!

The Chrastinas

Baby Bosch

2008-10-03T12:40:00.003-04:00

For those that don't know Griffin's sister, Ann, is expecting her first baby in February! Here are pictures from her 10 -week and 20-week sonograms. They want to be surprised about the baby's sex, so we still don't know the gender of little baby Bosch!

At 10 weeks.

At 20 weeks.

Look! It already has the Chrastina signature nose!

We can't wait to meet you Baby Bosch!

The Chrastinas

New Pictures of Baby Laela!

2008-10-03T12:35:00.002-04:00

Here are updated pictures of my cousin's baby, Laela, at 7 weeks!

The Chrastinas

Congratulations to Caitlin and JP...

2008-09-27T11:15:00.004-04:00

...who are expecting their first child in April! We couldn't be happier about the start of your family! Congratulations!

The Chrastinas

Welcome to the World Lilyana Jean!

2008-09-27T11:10:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to Devon and Bob who welcomed their first baby girl last week!

Lilyana Jean Weaver

September 15, 2008

8:58 p.m.

8 lbs. 6 oz.

20 inches

You can follow little Lily's life at her blog: www.littlelilyjean.blogspot.com

The Chrastinas

Happy Fall!

2008-09-05T02:59:00.002-04:00

It seems that autumn has quickly fallen upon us. Melissa and Griffin have both gone back to school; Melissa in her last semester before graduating and Griffin another class towards his degree. We are both enrolled in the same Public Speaking class on-site at RAF Alconbury and then Melissa is taking the remainder of her classes online.

The house is moving along very slowly. With Melissa back to work, at the base Child Development Center, there has been little time to do much around the house. Due to a paperwork snafu by the Navy down in Norfolk, it looks like we won't be getting our furniture for some time. Which does leave us a little more time to do some painting around the house.

Other than that, there's not too much to report from across the pond. We have quickly settled into our daily routine of work, school, and unpacking.

Happy back to school and fall to all others out there!

The Chrastina's

Introducing Laela Mae

2008-08-14T16:28:00.002-04:00

Laela Mae Stackhouse

August 13, 2008

born at 8:36 p.m.

7 lbs. 1 oz.

21 1/2 inches

The Chrastina's

Congratulations Jaclyn and Mike!

2008-08-14T09:03:00.003-04:00

Laela Mae Stackhouse was born last night, August 13, by C-section at 8:36 p.m and weighing 7 lbs. 1 oz. Pictures to come as soon as we can get our hands on some!

Congratulations on your new family and beautiful baby girl!

The Chrastina's

Robin Hood Festival

2008-08-06T13:44:00.002-04:00

On Saturday we went to the Robin Hood Festival in Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. We had a really good time. It was like a Renaissance Faire, but actually took place in a country that experienced the Renaissance! There was food, gift shops, story-telling, archery demonstrations, alchemists, and, of course, a joust. It was a really fun day!

Griffin & Robin Hood

A very patriotic archery demonstration.

Sherwood Forest

The joust.

A victorious Robin Hood.

The Chrastina's

Our British Cottage

2008-08-06T13:16:00.003-04:00

This is our new home! Our little British cottage is located just outside the village of Alconbury and right near the base! Though it has some bugs, needs some sprucing up, and has had its fair share of problems, we're looking forward to have a very British experience this time around! Some of the home's highlights include: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, study, dining room, lounge, kitchen, patio, and a nice size backyard! We can't wait to have visitors! And did we mention that we have a gardener! No yardwork for us!

The front of our house, including the medieval door that cannot be opened.

Sliding glass door and patio.

Nice, big backyard for Bailey.

The "driveway."

Shed and kitchen door (how you would actually enter our home).

Look for pictures of the inside shortly. Right now there's just stuff everywhere. But once we've painted, received our belongings, and set-up we'll be willing to share pictures of the inside of our cozy new home!

The Chrastina's

England, here we come!

2008-08-06T13:14:00.002-04:00

For those that don't know, Griffin is being stationed in England again. So we have moved back since July 15th! We'll be here until July 2011 and welcome visitors! Cheerio!

The Chrastina's

Delaware - Bed & Breakfast

2008-08-06T12:59:00.004-04:00

To enjoy our last week-end in the U.S., we decided to go on vacation with Bailey. We decided to go to a Bed and Breakfast in Lewes, Delaware that is pet friendly! This way we were able to enjoy time with Bailey and just relax after the stress of packing and getting ready for the move. The Lazy L (http://www.lazyl.net) was a fantastic place to stay! Our room was beautiful, breakfast was delicious, and the pool and scenery were amazing!

The front of the Lazy L.

The marsh.

The back, including hot tub.

More marsh.

Mr. Bailey with his huge tongue hanging out.

Bailey at the beach.

Bailey with his paws (and whole body) on this side of the Atlantic.

Family portrait.

Outdoor dog park.

We had such a fantastic time, and would recommend it to anyone!

The Chrastina's

The Lake - Summer 2008

2008-08-06T12:43:00.003-04:00

This year, we went up to Griffin's family Lake House near Cooperstown, New York. We were joined by all siblings and significant others, as well as all aunts and uncles. It was a packed house, but we could imagine spending a better 4th of July with all our family before our big move to England!

The Lake House

The amazing leaping Bailey - who loved playing fetch off of the dock!

Our little swimmer.

All 3 Chrastina children - Ann, Jean, & Griffin

The epic Battle Boats unfolds.

And the canoe is flipped!

The victorious boys on the paddle boat.

All the contenders.

Griffin & Bailey

What a fantastic week-end! Happy 4th of July!

The Chrastina's

Jaclyn's Baby Shower

2008-08-06T07:30:00.011-04:00

Melissa's cousin Jaclyn is having a baby, and Melissa did a lot of the planning for the baby shower. Enjoy some highlights from the shower!

The decorations and some of the guests.

Melissa's beautifully crafted diaper cake.

Favors and special touches.

Lots of gifts for the Mom-to-be.

The surprised Mom-to-be's arrival.

Opening gifts.

Dr. Suess themed cake.

The Mom & Dad-to-be.

Melissa & Jaclyn

Jaclyn, Aunt Laurie, & Kristin.

We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of the baby any day now!

The Chrastina's

Montréal

2008-08-06T07:17:00.006-04:00

Melissa and her friend Kaelynn went on a week-end girls' trip to Montréal for some fun and excitement before Melissa moves to England. They had a fantastic week-end! Enjoy some of the highlights!

Old City Streets

The Botanical Gardens

View from the top of Mont Royal

Site of the Jazz Festival

The Girls at the top of Mont Royal

The Chrastina's

University of Maryland University College

2008-08-06T07:04:00.004-04:00

Melissa continued to take classes at UMUC while Griffin was away this year. These are photos from when Melissa visited the campus to take her final exams. Check out some highlights from the beautiful campus in College Park, Maryland.

The Chrastina's

Baltimore Aquarium

2008-08-06T06:57:00.003-04:00

Check out these pics from the Baltimore Aquarium!

The Chrastina's

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

2008-08-06T06:49:00.005-04:00

Since Griffin has been stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for the last year, Melissa was given the opportunity to go down in visit over Easter. Griffin had to work some of the days, but overall they enjoyed everything the base had to offer, including the beach!

The Chrastina's

Valentine's Day

2008-08-05T09:26:00.004-04:00

Check out some fantastic photos of Melissa's Valentine's Day flowers with our new Nikon D40x! And have a Happy Valentine's Day!

The Chrastina's

Our Photo Shoot

2008-08-05T09:14:00.009-04:00

Before Christmas, Griffin's cousin Caitlin did a photo shoot with Melissa and Bailey as a surprise for Griffin. Her hobby has turned into a great business, and she has a real passion for photography. Check out her photography on her blog: http://caitlindomanico.blogspot.com/

Happy Holidays!

The Chrastina's

Our Little Snow Bunny

2008-08-05T09:06:00.004-04:00

Is that Rudolph?!

The Chrastina's

Initiation

2008-08-05T08:59:00.003-04:00

Unfortunately, Melissa is a little slow on the up-dating! But continuing on, Little was initiated at the end of her new member period, and Melissa's Phi Sig Family couldn't be prouder!

Little & Big

Little's Pledge Class

The Chrastina's

Big/Little Fall 2007!

2007-10-15T09:25:00.000-04:00

As many may know, Melissa has become involved in her sorority again while being at home this year, and was given the opportunity to take another little sister. After a long week of clues, gifts, and driving down to West Chester every night last week, the Big/Little Reveal was fun and exciting. Afterwards, her entire Phi Sig Family went out to dinner at the Olive Garden.

Big & Little

Big Big, Big, & Little

Our Growing Family!

<3 The Chrastina's

Bath Time for Bailey!

2007-10-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

And then after all that playing Bailey needed a bath, since he was covered in dog slobber and dirt! Look at that sudsy little puppy!!!

<3 The Chrastina's

Bailey at the Bark Park!

2007-10-01T15:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday morning Melissa took Bailey to a Bark Park in Fort Washington with Aunt Laurie, Brent, and Tugger. They were joined by more than 20 other dogs in the area and spent hours running around and playing together!

<3 The Chrastina's

WCU Homecoming 2007!

2007-10-01T15:02:00.001-04:00

On Saturday Melissa went down to West Chester University to celebrate homecoming with her sorority sisters, the lovely ladies of Phi Sigma Sigma! It was a good time getting to see all the alumni and the newer sisters with an afternoon of snacking and chatting (and for some, lots of drinking)! It was a beautiful day!

(The Alumni)

(Big & Little)

(The Alpha Gamma's)

(Catelyn & Jenny)

<3 The Chrastina's

Surprise!

2007-10-01T14:59:00.001-04:00

Melissa received a surprise a work last Saturday, flowers from Griffin! Aren't they beautiful?! And the vase is soooooo funky and neat!

<3 The Chrastina's

Jean's & Mom's Birthdays!

2007-10-01T14:49:00.001-04:00

On Saturday the 15th we went to the Iron Hill Brewery with the whole Chrastina clan + Caitlin to celebrate Jean's and Mom's birthdays! We gave gifts and had a delicious meal, complete with a comedian for a waiter! Happy Birthday Jean & Mom!

(The Birthday Girl opening her gifts.)

(The happy parents.)

(Melissa & Caitlin)

(Ann & Scott)

(Jean & Joe)

<3 The Chrastina's

Welcome Home, Scooter!

2007-10-01T14:42:00.000-04:00

On September 15th Jacki and Jordan brought home their new puppy, a miniature dachsund named Scooter! He was inundated with visitors and is finally settling in to his new home and family. Congratulations guys! He's a cutie!

<3 The Chrastina's

Dad Chrastina's Birthday!

2007-09-09T18:32:00.001-04:00

Last night we went out to the Washington House for dinner to celebrate Dad Chrastina's Birthday. Ann and Scott came up and Jean and Joe joined us for dinner as well. After a superb meal of appetizers (a trio of canapes and a vegetable quesadilla), entrees (marinated chicken with a mozzarella and tomato salad for me), and dessert (warm bread pudding) we returned home to let the birthday boy open his gifts! Happy 58th Birthday, Dad!

The Birthday Boy enjoying his presents!

The Newlyweds, Ann & Scott

Jean & Joe

Melissa photographing herself!

Kelsey wants to join in on the birthday fun!

<3 The Chrastina's

Bailey Went to the Groomer!

2007-09-06T17:42:00.001-04:00

Last Thursday Bailey went to Pampered Pets and was professionally groomed for the first time. Doesn't he look precious in his little bandana?

<3 The Chrastina's

New Bedroom!

2007-09-06T17:20:00.000-04:00

Melissa has been working hard over the last few weeks to redo her bedroom, so it doesn't feel like high school while she is home this year. After a few painstaking weeks of cleaning, organizing, and painting it's finally finished!

Before:

After:

<3 The Chrastina's

Our Ford Focus!

2007-09-06T17:15:00.000-04:00

Our Ford Focus is finally PA registered, so now we'll be driving around with boring PA license plates instead of our awesome British plates! Boo!

<3 The Chrastina's

Our First Post!

2007-08-14T21:48:00.000-04:00

Since this seems to be the new, cool thing to do as a young married couple, we've gotten on board. I've finally taken the time to begin the blog, which seems to be the hardest part. Well, Griffin, as most know, is stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba until June/July 2008 and Melissa is living at home in Sellersville with her dad, her brother, and Bailey (our chocolate lab!).

It's already been a busy summer! Caitlin and JP got married on May 5th, Jacki and Jordan on June 1st, and then Ann and Scott on July 21st!

Melissa will be starting school again on September 4th at University of Maryland University College, and she'll be graduating in May (finally :)).

So look for more updates and posts about the past!

<3 The Chrastina's