Emily goes home(town). A week late.

It's hometown visit week! Emily travels to Chicago, Scottsdale, Utah and Dallas to meet her potential new families-in-law.

Let's keep this concise, because I'm a week late posting this. (Sorry, a man needs a vacation now and again. FYI, I'm super tan.)

Emily meets Chris and his Polish family in Chicago first. It's boring, like Polish food.

Next she heads to Jef's Utah ranch (wow) to meet his 14 Mormon siblings and their 82 kids. But seriously, the ranch is amazing and they have killer chemistry. And who knew Emily could shoot a gun like a natural. Oh, the South never ceases to surprise us. Later, Jef reads her a lovely note and it's legitimately touching, even to my cold, dead heart. Bummer his parents don't come, since they're busy doing "charity work" in South Cackalacky. Luckily his innumerable blond siblings give their seal of approval.

After Utah, she heads south to Scottsdale to meet Arie's stiff, Dutch family. By "stiff" I mean that Arie's mom's face is stiff and stuffed with collagen and plastic. Also, they're rather rigid in a Dutch way. (I'm Dutch, so I get this.) But it goes well and she connects with Arie's mom's unmoving face.

Last, Emily heads to Dallas to meet Sean's sweet family. Their perfectly Texan (i.e. gaudy and overdone) house is classic, and his family is really cute and fun and easy to be around. Sean plays a trick on Emily by telling her he still lives at home, and even goes as far as showing her his fake, and horribly messy room with stuffed animals everywhere. A perfect Southern woman, Emily doesn't bat an eye, but her blood boils on the inside. Amazing. But can someone tell Sean not to lead with his tongue when he kisses her? It's horrifying. Also, who else noticed that Sean's brother-in-law's biceps match his own? It's a Texas thang, y'all.

Roses go to:
1) Arie
2) Jef
3) Sean

Byeeeee: Chris. No surprises there.

Awards:
1) Frontrunner: OMG I have no idea. Jef, then Arie in a close second.
2) Best fam: Sean's
3) Worst kisser: Sean
4) Most romantic: Jef
5) Most Mormon: Jef's family

Until tonight,
Mike