Anngwilla or Anjila?

I promise that once this season of the Bachelor ends, I will begin posting about our lives, real lives of people whom you actually know. But until then, it is too much fun to put all my thoughts down on this blog! For your viewing pleasure, I uploaded some pics from Christmas that I've added to the end of the blog, sort of like a reward for reading my boring thoughts on a television show that you may or may not watch.

* I first off want to recant my original comments on how much I love Chantal O. Each week she seems to get on my nerves more and more. I feel like she is acting like a spoiled brat. Like last night when she broke into tears when Brad didn't give her a rose and then threw a pity-party for herself in front of the others. I get that their emotions are involved at this point and that her feelings were probably hurt, but I just felt disappointed in the way she handled herself. Also, I didn't really like the flower in her hair at the end of the show.

* Speaking of being disappointed, come on ABC! Could you get this show back to a somewhat "family friendly" show again? Maybe not for little kids, but at least show me something I can watch comfortably with my husband. Grayson was covering his eyes for 1/4th of the show last night b/c it was so inappropriate! Ugh...but on a positive note, I'm proud of Brad for looking away during Chantal O's photo shoot! Thattaboy!

* Okay, I know I'm all over the place with my thoughts, but welcome to my brain people! Emily's date was hands down the best one of all last night. I still feel like she is a little boring, or maybe too plastic, or stiff, but then again maybe that's a good compliment to Brad? I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but she doesn't seem "fun or silly or adventurous" like what he said he was looking for in a wife. I do love how she brings out the gentleman in him though. He obviously respects her and for that I respect him. I think he likes her best which is why he broke the show's rules to tell her she was getting a rose this week. That scored him major points with me and Grayson. That was the first time he stood up for what he wanted and we liked it!

* ABC is really throwing me for a loop this season (maybe b/c I haven't read the spoilers for a change). I really liked Emily last night, but to protect my heart from getting disappointed, I'm falling for their storyline that Emily leaves Brad b/c he doesn't mesh with her daughter. Then if she stays I'll be happy, but if she leaves I won't be disappointed. The mind games this show puts you through!!

* SHAWNtel's date is what kept her over Michelle, I think. Unfortunately though, I think she's a goner after next week's visit to Chico. I am a little creeped out that we're going to have to learn so much about funeral homes. I'm with Brad on that one, I do not respond well to death and I don't really want to learn about it next week.

* Poor, poor Britt. I'm really sad for her, but we saw it coming all along. I'm just glad that they didn't make her swim back to shore like they made her swim to the yacht. I thought it was hysterical how Brad kept asking her if she was okay, if she could make it. It was like he didn't think she knew how to swim or would have the stamina to make it. I felt like it was the same conversation he had with the girl from last week, I already forgot her name. The one with in the bat cave on the sinking table. Britt was agreeing with him while he was dumping her; she just didn't quite get it. Poor Britt, way to go Brad! He's finally learning how to put all that therapy and assertiveness to good use!

* The group date ... awkward! All around on all levels, it was awkward. Poor Brad and poor us! A) it was extremely boring, B) we had to cover our eyes for half the date so we didn't get to see much and C) group dates at this point are bound to stir up drama which it did last night. I think Brad really does like Ashley H., but I don't like how he has to fight so hard for her. She is constantly "retracting" to keep from getting hurt, and I'm wondering if she's doing that on the show does she do that in real life? Will Brad always have to reassure her and pull her out of her protective shell? I just think that would get old for Brad in the real world.

* This is a side note from an OCD person. How do you pronounce where they went? "Angwiluh"? That just sounds bad to me. I'm sure it is accurate, but they kept saying it differently and that confused me. Is it Anngwilla or Anjila? IDK.

* We're excited about the hometown dates next week. I'm all over the place with who I like/want Brad to pick. After last night, I really like Emily, but again I'm afraid she'll pull away. Next, I really like Ashley H. According to Grayson, she's been in the middle of the pack this whole time and she is hitting her stride at just the right time. He thinks it might be her. Then third is Chantal O; she needs to pull it back together.

Here's a question, when is the final show? I need to mark it on my calendar ASAP!

Grayson's 30th Birthday: Bunco Game Night!

The dining room set up for a tamale dinner.

The traditional pose in front of the Christmas tree. This marked Christmas #5 for the Allen's