Steven Tyler's Funny - Who Knew?

So, on a completely unrelated to Emma note, has anyone been watching the "new" American Idol?

Okay, I have to admit that I didn't jump onto the American Idol bandwagon until late - maybe only 3 seasons ago. (Confession: I was a total David Cook groupie) And like the rest of America I enjoyed the auditions stage - laughing at the folks who made complete fools out of themselves, cringing at the scathing criticism that Simon Cowell dealt, and even feeling a tad bit sad for some of the contestants who seemed to have no clue they completely sucked.

I wasn't a huge Simon fan to begin with - I found him to be too harsh and a bit melodramatic. The whole weird thing going on between him and Ryan Seacrest drove me crazy. I think Paula may have only been around for one or two seasons that I watched - and the whole time all I could think about everytime she opened her mouth was what kind of drugs she was on.
My husband loathed Kara (me, I didn't really mind her) and the whole Ellen thing was nice (I heart Ellen) but a little misplaced.

Let's just say I didn't have high hopes for this season. While I have a soft spot for America's "dawg" - Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez (formerly known as J.Lo or Jenny from the Block) drives me absolutely insane. Yes, she's absolutely gorgeous but she seems so full of herself and the fact that she wears those ridiculous fur coats is totally off-putting. Not to mention Steven Tyler. In highschool I wore my copy of Aerosmith's CD Get a Grip out (specifically on tracks 9, 11 & 13) and had a huge girl crush on Alicia Silverstone and Liv Tyler (um, who didn't want to drive around in a convertible wearing a sexy school uniform). I think I wanted to be them. Surely this rock in roll legend was selling out and attempting a lame publicity stunt via reality TV to bring him back into the limelight.

Considering I am 5 episodes behind on Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice, 8 behind on Brothers & Sisters and an embarassing 10 on Parenthood (hello, I have an almost 2 year old)- I didn't plan to watch this season and save my reality TV craving for So You Think You Can Dance this summer. But, my smart little DVR was set up to record all new episodes of AI from last season(damn technology!) and the first week of auditions appeared at the top of my recorded list tempting me. Of course I caved.

My husband and I got Emma to bed and sat down to watch week one. And you know what? We actually laughed out loud. More than once. And not just at the unfortunate contestants who couldn't carry a tune to save their life (ok those made us laugh too) - but at the hilarious dead pan comments from none other than Mr. Tyler. Who knew he was absolutely hilarious?

Yes he is zany and if you google American Idol Tylerisms the list of wacky one-liners is abundant. But I think what really makes him funny is his dead-pan delivery. And the reaction of the other judges.

He is also kinder and gentler, holding back his criticism for contestents who really, truly think they can sing (even scolding Randy!) which is a nice change from Simon's snark.

But last night - when the now infamous (and completely lovable) Chris Medina brought his injured fiance into the room to meet the judges and Tyler bent over, kissed her cheek and told her, "That's why he sings so good, because he sings to you" I officially melted. Complete with tears (although, not going to lie, it doesn't take much these days).

So I guess American Idol will continue on my DVR list (I'll learn to ignore J. Lo)- I'll catch up with my other shows one of these days.

Dinner at the Kozel's

The holiday wouldn't be complete without our annual Kozel family dinner at my Uncle Glenn & Aunt Ginny's condo. The tradition started when Emma's cousin Katie was just little baby and the year after my dad passed away.

In typical Kozel fashion we all gather together to laugh (often loudly), eat too much, and watch the girl's get a special visit from Santa.

This year the girls got to sit at their very own kids table.

Notice Emma's little added centerpiece? She carried Kermit and Fozzie around for a good portion of the evening.

She's getting to be such a big girl! And is usually a bottomless pit. She eats pretty much anything she is offered. Including an entire cup of Chipotle Guacamole...with a spoon. Where does the time go? I can't believe she's almost 2!!

After dinner the tables are cleared and we all get ready for Santa's visit. Watching Emma and Katie's antics are thoroughly entertaining.

Trying to figure out how to get the toy out from under the entertainment stand when suddenly there is a knock at the door.

Just as a side note, this "Santa" is really our dear friend Larry. Every year around the holidays Larry grows out his beard and often wears a Santa hat around town. I love when my mom tells of stories of them going into restaurants and watching little kids eyes, as big as saucers, tug on their mom or dad's shirts and point excitedly as Santa is shown to his table. And then, after making eye contact with Santa for the ok, the parent's send their kids over to the table to talk to Santa.

Katie also thinks she has a personal connection to Santa. In fact, once the holidays are over Larry will shave off his beard. Throughout the year at various gatherings when Katie sees Larry it's always "Hi Santa! Hi Mrs. Claus!" It's the cutest thing ever. And I hope Emma shares the same enthusiasm and special bond.

Ok, maybe when she is a little older.

Hmm, do I see presents over there?

I could definitely get used to this...

I think this Santa guy might just be able to win me over.

At least she didn't completely melt down, right?

Sisters - Check out Taylor's super cute outfit!

Grandma and Santa checking out the super cool Yo Gabba Gabba paints that Katie got for Emma.

And now finally getting to play with some of her loot with her Daddy. This is an awesome Melissa & Doug wooden puzzle from Uncle Glenn & Aunt Ginny.

Emma made out well that night. Santa brought her an Elmo book with sounds and a Fisher Price Animal baby toy that takes a bottle and makes all kinds of cute baby noises. Katie & Taylor got Emma Yo Gabba Gabba bath paint & a doctor kit. And Aunt Ginny & Uncle Glenn got her the puzzle pictured above along with a second puzzle that also makes animal sounds.

What a great end to the night. We left with full bellies, smiles on our faces and one sleepy little girl.

The holiday season - Emma meets Santa

Well, it is mid-January already so I am just a bit behind on getting these posts together. But, better late than never! And I have some really cute pics I just have to share.

Looking back on the month of December it was a rush of family & friends, holiday themed dinners, countless trips shopping, picking up "just one more thing" for Emma and a lot of anticipation.

Emma is so much fun these days. Don't get me wrong, she's always been a joy. But I absolutely love this stage. She makes me laugh daily with a new word or action. I love when she does something silly which makes us both laugh hysterically. This morning as I changed her soaked diaper she looked up at me from the changing table and said "Mama, egg and toast!" So egg's and toast she got. It's really nice when you can actually understand what she needs or wants.

So as Christmas approached both Duane and I grew more and more excited for the big day. Now Duane is the kind of guy who listens to Christmas carols as soon as the local station beings non-stop rotation. He decorates with more and more Christmas lights each year (and is the first to hit the clearance racks the day after). He actually begs me to let him decorate the house before Thanksgiving (which I don't!).

I on the otherhand am by no means a scrooge. But, in years past never really understood his passion for the season. Until this year and all the fun we had with Emma along the way.

Duane and I opted not to take Emma to the mall for the traditional screaming photo with Santa. For one I was a bit leary of germs, long lines and a traumatized kid. Plus, we are fortunate enough to know two really great family friends who have an uncanny ressemblance to the man in red and often time plays dress up for other kids in the area.

My mom has a stuffed Santa that sits on the fireplace during the holidays. Emma loved to carry him around proudly telling us "Santa" followed by a hearty "ho, ho, ho". So I knew that when she saw the life sized version she would know who he was. But...I wasn't so sure how she'd act.

Her first meeting of the jolly guy was at Grampy & Grammy Lu's house. She arrived grumpy as usual after not getting her usual long afternoon nap. But after a bit she warmed up and was quite content playing on the living room couch with her cousin Ryan. Until she heard a knock at the door:

Hmm, who could it be?

Santa!!

"Get me outta here Mama!!" - You would not believe how fast she scrambled from one side of the couch into my lap as Santa stepped through the front door!

This was as close as she got without completely freaking out. Ryan on the other hand is an old pro.

Hmm, a present. I think I can handle this and I definitely know what to do this year.

So attempt number two at a picture with Santa and it's Daddy's turn. Does she kind of look like she knows something is up...she just doesn't quite trust us.

Checking out Santa from Daddy's lap isn't that bad...

Poor little girl! And look at her Daddy's face, don't you think he is enjoying it a bit? :)

Don't worry, this lasted all of 5 seconds before she escaped and made a bee line for me. She did eventually "make up" with Santa and even shared one of her toy cupcakes with him.

We then attempted to get a good shot of the two little cousins which is pretty impossible these days. This one is probably the best of the bunch. They are such partners in crime - I love to watch Ryan lead Emma around by her hand. Or run down the hall looking back to make sure he is close behind.

And before we made the drive home Grammy Lu read Emma some books - her absolute favorite thing to do. Except these days she prefers to read us the books. Which is just about as cute as when she talks to her "boyfriend" Noah on the telephone :)

Tomorrow's post...Christmas Dinner with the Kozel's with another visit from Santa!

A new year, a new me

One of my many New Year's resolutions this year (yes I actually wrote them down) is to write daily. For as long as I can remember I have always had a love affair with books. As a kid I'd line up all of my stuffed animals on my bed and sit cross-legged among them, reading them picture book after book, making sure to show them all of the pictures. As a middle-schooler my books of choice included The Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High/Twins and the likes. I could blow through a book in a couple of days. And today is no different. While finding the time to read between being a Mommy, wife and employed full-time presents its challenges, I still love to get lost in the latest Jodi Picoult drama.

But, something else that I have probably loved for just as long is penning my own stories. I think the first "book" I ever wrote (and illustrated - horribly) was called something along the lines of "The Great Jelly Bean Caper" and involved a rabbit, jelly beans and a mystery (it must have been around Easter). I'll also never forget when my 6th grade teacher asked me to read a story I had written aloud to the class - the assignment had been to write a mystery and my story spanned 12 hand-written single spaced, double-sided pages. I don't remember the details, just the pride I felt as I shared my words with my classmates. In fact, I probably still have it tucked away in a rubber container in the basement if I searched hard enough.

But, bottomline, I love to write. I love to develop characters in my head, outline plot lines on my commute home from work, and type away during my lunch hour or during other free moments (that are few and far between). I feel happy when I write. Hence the resolution to write something, anything, daily.

Secondly, as Emma gets older and older, I want to remember ever single detail from her life. And as she quickly approaches her 2nd birthday it's amazing the things I've already forgotten over the past year. So, not only will my writing daily plan hopefully help me personally...I hope it will also be a chance for me to capture the funny, day-to-day events of her life so she can look back and find a little glimpse into her toddlerhood.

Like the time she flipped out when Uncle Brian took Mommy's purse away:

Or the time that she learned she could crawl into her doll stroller all by herself:

Or when this picture, taken from my mom's annual clam bake, made it into the local paper:

So, while I can't possibly commit to updating this blog daily, I can commit to at least writing SOMETHING daily. Cheers to a great 2011!