The Crazy Crain Crew: December 2011

December 26, 2011

The best Christmas Present Ever

JOSEPH IS HOME!!!!

Sophie Helen's side of the story:

Joseph gave us the best gift of all! 3am someone is knocking at the door and the dog is barking crazy! I peek through the window and see Ben's Jeep. Ok, Ben is here at 3am, Let's open the door. Nothing came through my mind. I open the door and get out and Ben tells me that he has a Christmas Gift that he thinks I would like right away .... and here it is ... I hear Joseph's voice from the corner of the house " What can I get for my Parisian Princess for Christmas?". And I lost it. I started to cry and laugh on the same time as Joseph was taking me into his arms. That was the first surprise. The second was that he is not here for only 2 weeks. He is here for good!!!!! He is not going back!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Joseph's side of the story:
Well, I can't condone lying at all, but there are times when stretching the truth can be justified. This was one of those occasions. As many have already heard on the news, the Marine Corps is drawing down its forces in Afghanistan.About three weeks ago I was notified that since there are two Chiefs where I work that one of us had to go home. I was the more logical choice since I have already deployed as a Chief 3 different times and the new Chief there had just recently been promoted to Chief and therefore had no combat time as a Chief. I am married with a child, he is single. I have a home and he had moved out of his apartment before the deployment and put his household goods in storage. And, he wanted to stay. Easy decision. So then came the surprise for Sophie Helen. If I can come home...and the prospect of coming home on Christmas Eve...or Christmas day, why not surprise Sophie Helen since I didn't get her anything for Christmas; I'll give her me. Because a secret this good is just too juicy to hold on to, I minimized the temptation for others to leak the secret by not telling them in the first place. I only told two people: my niece Courtney Crain, and one of my best friends Ben Cote. I told Courtney because she is in the Air Force and is currently working at the Manas air field in Kyrgyzstan where all U.S. forces going into or out of Afghanistan have to fly through. I needed to tell her just in case she saw my before I saw her. And Ben had to know because he needed to pick me up on base and get me home. Ben didn't even tell his own wife that I was coming home until that night. He is amazing for holding a secret, and well, just an amazing friend all around. The video below tells the rest of the story.

We called Riley and she did not answer. She called back and Joseph answered the phone. Riley : "wait? what? why are you answering from Sophie's phone?". She was exited and Joseph will tell her all about it when she is back from visiting her mom and her family in WA.

We drove downtown San Diego with Ben and Chara to surprise Stacey and the Kids ....

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

December 23, 2011

December 20, 2011

4 Cheeses Potatoes Au Gratin a la Sophie

This evening was our Home Group Christmas Party at my house. Ruth came a little early to cook with me. We prepared a nice Pineapple Glazed ham and while She was making macaroni and cheese I made a 4 cheeses Potatoes au Gratin ... Yummy!