Pollyannas We Are Not

I'm sure you all remember my "Grumpy Face" post from a few days ago. Pouty lips, evil eyes, twirling leaves, snarling faces....they laid it on thick for my camera that day.  In fact, since I'm on the topic, let me take this opportunity to declare that the winner of the Little Miss Grumpy contest via your popular vote...

 Ellie!  Between her downcast eyes, furrowed brow, thumb in mouth, all the while clutching her special "corner blankey"  Ellie outgrumped the competetition and took the prize----an entire chocolate chip cookie to herself.  (The rest of the kids are hoping she'll share).

And while we're still on the topic, I thought I'd show a little glimpse at the rest of our New Year Day, including our visit to US Botanic Gardens in DC which also happened to be the site of our grumpy face photo shoot. 

The lines were long, the weather cold, and the whole family sleep deprived.  The pouts were not hard to come by...

But as we entered the warmth of the gardens, our icy dispositions slowly made way for wonder and delight as we finally arrived upon the reason why we'd come: 

The seasonal display of an elaborate fairytale wonderland filled with detailed castles....

colorful model trains,

quaint cottages,

gorgeous gardens, and any fairytale character you could think of....

  It truly was an amazing spectacle of childhood delights and we could have stayed and explored for hours, if it weren't for that pesky line out the door that reminded us that other families were still waiting outside in the freezing cold. 

It didn't take long before at least everyone could ATTEMPT a strained smile for this family picture taken by a random stranger...

 

and by the time we were walking back to the car, the wonder and beauty of the gardens had thoroughly worked its magic and I had to secretly wonder if some garden fairy had waved her magic wand while we there and dusted them with some kind of happy dust.  And if so, I wanted to go find her and bring her home with me.  I'm sure garden fairies could be bribed with some of Cami's baking.

 

Do you know how absolutely cool I think it is that the Capitol of the USA is in the background of pictures of my kids?  Living by DC rocks!

 

 

And lest you think Little Miss Grumpy Pants was all pouts and  scowls, she did eventually manage a little bit of sunshine to shine through....

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Now if anyone had a good reason to be grumpy that day it would be me....

Thankfully it's only the outer protective lens, not the actual lens.  (Best 5 bucks I ever spent buying that protective lens cover--thanks Aitch). 

But too bad that when it fell it dented the protective lens just enough that it won't budge a bit and it is stuck right where it is.  Even a pair of pliers didn't help.

But there is a silver lining....

all of the pictures in this post  (and the grumpy face pictures) were taken with this cracked lens.  I was beside myself with horror when it happened on New Year's Eve (my fault) and was shocked when my test pictures to make sure the camera still worked actually turned out okay.  The only time you can really tell is on the really wide angle pictures (like the picture of the long line at the beginning of the post).  Now if anyone knows of a way I can turn this into a good excuse to buy a fun new lens, even though this one is actually broken, just let me know.

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Vanity Above All

 When I was twelve-years-old my parents finally let me get my ears pierced.  I had just cut my waist-length hair and got a perm for the first time and couldn't wait to take the next step towards my "coolness".   It was with great disappointment though that  I discovered mere hours after getting my ears pierced to learn that I was severely allergic to metal. I had always thought it odd that I would get rashes on my wrist or finger whenever I wore a watch or ring, but had never related it to metal before.  Now that I had  metal inside of me though my ears were a miserable mess and I couldn't even take them out for six whole weeks. 

My ears were itchy and red all the time and would often bleed.  Looking back, I realize that I should have just taken the dang earrings out and called it good, but not me.  My sense of fashion martyrdom was such that I would rather put up with the pain and the gross looking lesions on my ears (which apparently made me a little dense too) than go back to my earring-less days.  Eventually I would just wear earrings for a few hours (during school or on a date), then take them out as soon as I got home to avoid the worst of the reactions.  My vanity won out while my ears suffered for a good 10 + years before I finally realized that it would take a lot more than stylish earrings and big bangs to make me cool. 

Now I haven't worn earrings in over a decade, I'll never be able to wear watches, I can't wear my wedding ring at night, and recently I've noticed that I even react to my aluminum based deodorants. 

So you can imagine it was with great trepidation when Cami started asking to get her ears pierced several years back.  She'd always been my rashy child with bad eczema and I was just so sure she'd react to metal like I had, but we felt like we had to let her try it for herself.  A few years ago we let her Grandma Sandy take her to the mall and give it a try.  She was nine-years-old and thankfully NOT allergic to metal.  She can wear any type of cute earring she wants and never have a problem.  

But we'd started a precedent.  Since Cami was nine when we relented, that meant that the day Emma turned nine we started getting pestered about when it was her turn.

As we had for Cami, we opted for the Christmas present route for fun (and for cool Aunt Heather who was in town). 

She was bit nervous...

but in the end was as happy as could be with her newfound sparkle!

 

  And after a week

I think it's safe to speak

Daddy's genes

raced to the scene

and give her a shot at cool

unlike her poor mama fool.

Emma's got the bling

without the sting!  

Sorry about the poetry again...

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A Little Help Please

Like many families around the world, our family stayed up just a wee bit too late last night.  We watched Sydney's New Year celebration on YouTube, drank our Martinelli's, then sent the three little ones to bed about an hour past their bed time.  The rest of us, however, had to stay up to see the official New Year ring in in our time zone, then attempt to wait up for Spencer's return from his "epic" New Year dance.  In aggregate I estimate that we're short about 187 hours of sleep or so over the course of the winter break. 

Of course, I'm not complaining or anything, it's just that I  like to brag about how little sleep I get in hopes that people will be  impressed.

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So, we've been having this ongoing argument over the last few days and I'm hoping you can help me out...

1.  Keep in mind the following people are not actors.  They are full and true members of our family who all happen to be having a "bad" day today. 

2.  Please be honest and forthright in your answers as a lot of chocolate chip cookies are riding on the results.

3.  Please note that the freckles, age spots, and gray roots were photoshopped into my picture to eliminate any jealous jabs at my flawless skin. 

Whose face do you think emanates "grumpy" the best?

 

 

 

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Day 365--Woo hoo!

I'm sure you didn't think this day would ever come, but I'm done! 365 days! All done! C'est fini!

Day 364--Bye Nate

After we let Heather fly home with nary a picture of her, we were bound and determined not to let Nate get away photoless too.  I think he was really, really sick of my camera by the time he left (sorry Nate).  I love this picture of Nate and Spence!

Simple Math

   6 Crains in one house
+ 2   little sleep
+ 2 many goodies
________________

=100% FUN!


PS  we missed you K, Tim, Mom, & Dad! 

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The Santa Connection

Ellie must have made quite the connection with Santa this year...

'cause he was really nice to her this Christmas!   

PS This post was published for the sole purpose of showing off that cute picture of Ellie and Santa.  I  just love that delighted  look on her face.

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Day 363--Uncle Nate!

It was almost time for Uncle Nate to head back home to California, so we decided to make sure we got some photos of him before he left.  My kids treat Nate as a human jungle gym whenever he comes to visit.  I don't think he minds this role at all.  :)

I ♥ Faces---Hilarious Outtakes

 I haven't participated in an I ♥ Faces challenge in several months, but thought it would be fun to join in on this one featuring "Hilarious Outtakes".

I snapped this picture of my husband's fun-loving cousin earlier this year as one of the other cousins pointed out the striking similarity between Jeff and the religious drawing of Peter on the wall behind him.   Jeff was a good sport and was happy to don the appropriate facial expressions for the occasion!   It cracks me up every time I come across it.  :) 

{Hi Marisa and Jeff!  We missed seeing you this Christmas!}

Be sure to check out lots of other hilarious outtakes at I ♥ Faces this week.

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Our Family Rocks

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the air

the smells of a Bethlehem dinner  wafted without  care.
The lentil soup, Greek salad,  and homemade flat bread
were better than even Cami would have said.

The homemade baklava was a pain in the patootie to bake
But in the end it was so yummy we shoveled it in with a rake.

Then we opened our jammies so filled with style

That they even gave Spencer a small little smile

We read the scriptures and with raspy, hacking voices
Filled the night with the sounds of our favorite Yuletide choices
So maybe it didn't rival the Mormon Tabernacle Choir,
But for our little home was enough to inspire.

After the singing tribute was complete
The kids wrote to Santa to make sure he made it to our street.
To sleep they went with visions of Christmas splendor in their heads
They rose at 4a.m. ready to see what Santa had brought but we sent them back to their beds!

In due time all was made right.
But we were grateful for the time we spent together the previous night.
Worshiping and celebrating the birth of the Savior born in a manger of hay.
We pray his spirit will fill your heart this and every day.


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(Lara's not a poet 
and now you all know it.  
Starting about line nine 
where it starts to sound fine
is right when my sweet faithful Glen

stepped in and made this poem what it should have been.)

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Day 362--Holey Moley

As a Christmas present to Emma, we brought her to the mall to get her ears pierced.   She was a little nervous, but was excited as can be in the end!

Day 361--Family Gathering

Today we had a family gathering at our house.  Ellie and Pete's three girls (Lauren, McKenzie, and Bridgette) had a fabulous time playing with the dollhouse.  

and with six out of eight Crain siblings all together there was a whole lot of silliness going on there. 

Day 360--More Playing

Today was another day spent playing with their new toys.  This rubbery pink ball from Spencer was a huge hit with all the kids.

Day 359--Merry Christmas

It was a rather quiet Christmas, as far as Christmases go.  We spent the morning taking turns opening presents and then the rest of the day was spent playing with their loot.  This larger than life dollhouse was among the favorites of the day.