Why I love Brit Hume

I've always been a fan of him on Fox News, and I miss him hosting Special Report. His long saggy face, hound dog eyes, and dry sense of humor are fantastic. Well, it turns out he's a Believer, and he took a huge leap by professing it. Here's the video of him talking to O'Reilly about it...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gteKuPgLy8I

The Bachelor Premiere with Dida & Bella

Oh, how I love The Bachelor. It's my one silly, pointless, mindless show that I faithfully watch. I have literally watched every season except for the one with Charlie O'Connell, and I think a lot of faithful Bachelor watchers skipped that one. So last night, Jake the pilot returned as the new bachelor, and Lisa (Dida) came over with Bella. We ate pancakes and bacon (sinfully good), and enjoyed watching our children interact! Emerson and Bella exchanged a few too many open-mouthed kisses, and Jax just sat and took it all in.

First, before pics, I just have to say that I'm completely ashamed of the Bachelor contestant from Norman. She walked up to Jake and said she heard that he's from Texas, and she figured they should put their college football differences aside. So, what does she do??? She flashes a hook 'em horns. Right there. On national TV. Disgraceful. Disgusting. The entire Sooner Nation threw their dinners at their TVs at that very moment. Well, okay, I'm guessing not many of the Sooner Nation were watching the Bachelor last night, but those who were undoubtedly threw something. She didn't make the Top 15, and I can honestly say I'm glad. Traitor.

This morning Emerson climbed out of bed, and the first thing she said was, 'Where's Bella?' I said, 'Bella's at home with Dida.' She said, 'We'll see Bella & Dida another time, okay Mommy?' Sometimes she's just too grown-up for me.

One other fun discovery we made is that Emerson's darling little hat that Dida bought her when she was born still fits her. Barely. We've gotten more mileage out of that hat than I would ever have imagined. Here are some pics of her wearing it in the last 2 years...

Fun with friends in December

Two days after Christmas, we had dinner with our friends, the Leyvas. Kyna is a fabulous cook, and her guacamole is to die for. I seriously think it might be on Jason's Top 10 favorite foods list. I'm pretty sure last year I asked him what I wanted for his birthday, and he said, 'Kyna's guac.' It's that good. Our kids are ridiculously close in age (6 weeks and 2 weeks, respectively), and I love getting them all together. Am I sad that the Leyvas are Texas fans? Yes. Does it change the way I feel about them? Only on gameday. :)

Then, this week our friends Josh and Kristin Lind were in town, sadly for her grandmother's funeral. We've missed them terribly since they moved to Missouri a few years back, but we're actively praying for their return! I was able to watch Emery, their baby girl who is 1 week younger than Jax, while they were at the funeral. Jax was mesmerized by her.

Happy New Year!

To anyone reading this post, I want to wish you a wonderful 2010. May it be your best year ever, filled with love and blessings!

My New Year's Resolution? To make this a year of trying new things in the kitchen. I'm tired of being a wuss and being afraid of certain cooking techniques or ingredients. So here's to a culinary adventure in 2010! Hang on, tastebuds!

Christmas Recap

Oh, the joys of Christmas! We had a great time celebrating with our wee little munchkins this year. A little pictorial update for you... (I hate the word pictorial, by the way).

The festivites started on Christmas Eve day. I made homemade sugar cookies, iced them, and Emerson decorated them all by her big-girl self. It was funny watching her select just the right color and quantity of sprinkle. There was definitely a method to her madness, and it cracked me up.

She got to eat a cookie as a reward for all of her creativity! She cried when she couldn't have another one.

The result of the sugar cookie consumption: putting on her tutu and running wildly through the house.

Our plans of putting the kids in the car and driving around looking at Christmas lights was foiled that evening by blizzard-like conditions and TONS of snow. We stayed cozy in the house and had potato soup and cornbread for dinner.

Daddy rounded up the natives first thing in the morning. Well, officially Jax was already up, having enjoyed his early morning breakfast complete with a game of let's-bite-the-nipple-and-see-how-far-we-can-stretch-it. Yes, friends, it's a lovely little game, one you'll probably never want to experience first-hand. Just tellin' ya. Emerson looks a little out of it in this one... she looks like she doesn't quite know where she is.

After a quick round of 'Happy Birthday to Jesus,' with the Holy Child wrapped in the couch blanket, the present-opening began. Here they are opening stockings from a distant relative.

Emerson proceeds to amputate her faux-Barbie. She's thinking, 'You gotta be kiddin' me.'

Jax looks at Daddy as if to say, 'Oh my gosh! Did you see that? She just tore her frickin' leg off!'

After our morning festivities, we bundled the kids up and headed to Jason's parents' house. Jax, of course, looks darling in his little OU hat. I just wanna pinch his widdle cheekies!

Opening gifts was fun for all! Pa-Pa, Grandma, and Uncle Travis went crazy as usual and bought the kids some wonderful gifts. It was a fantastic day, a wee bit exhausing, but worth every minute!

Christmas Train at Dry Gulch

Emerson LOVED going to the Christmas Train with Daddy, Mommy & Uncle Travis last Friday night. The actual train scared her a little when its whistle would blow, but then she got used to it and enjoyed the ride. Her very favorite things were the big playground and riding on the carousel. I think we'll make it a tradition every year! Thanks, Uncle Trav!

Getting excited in the car on the long drive there!

I had the flash settings wrong on this picture, but I think the subjects are really cute in this one!

Brothers and partners in crime.