Weekend Show

I attended the state level Our Little Miss an hour and a half away. Even tho you may not be into pageants, keep reading and get a glimpse inside a full scheduled pageant. 

The pageant was well organized and we were told when to do what, where to do it, what to wear, when to leave, when to return.  So yes, we weren't in control of most of our time. 

Some was at the hotel ball room. Most was at the Strand Theater, an old style theater in the downtown area that had been restored and made the whole experience really nice. 

The theater stage was set with bright lights and filled for two days and nights with beautiful young ladies from 0-19.

1st event was "upclose appraisal" for baby division by judges at the hotel ball room. Jennifer said Brooklyn was fussy, so that didnt go well.

2nd event was talent at the theater.  0-2 years old and 3-6 years old was not mandatory to do talent, but they encouraged it. They want to see every inch of character in each contestant. So this was an optional event for her age group. And mandatory event for all contestants 7 years old and above. So I came up with the idea for her to go on stage with a tiny picture book she has, and to "read" the book with a microphone.  It went really good. Jenfr walked her on stage, Brooklyn carrying one of her stuffed animals and her book. They handed Jenfr the microphone. The first 3 pages went real cute -- "fish" "dog" "cat" -- she said them nice and crisp and plain in the microphone . Then Brooklyn took the microphone from Jenfr and banged it on the floor 3 times.  (You know how a microphone sounds when you do that?)

Jenfr calmly took the microphone and turned to the emcee and she came to the rescue and graciously thanked her for her performance and ended her talent. The rest of the night between events going on and trips to the restroom people would stop Jenfr and comment on how cute her talent was and how her words were clear and crisp in the microphone. One lady said she wished she could have finished reading her book for them . One 10 year old boy who was seated in front of us with his family said he liked her talent especially when she banged the microphone on the floor and then he laughed. She definitely left an impression.

3rd event was the theme party "UnderThe Sea", at the theater. Attire had to be a theme-wear. So she wore her bubble guppies suit from the prelimanary pageant in BR. 

There was mingling on stage, then costume parade and two winners, 1 from 0-6 years old and one from 7-16 years old. 

There was movie time in the theater, showing The Little Mermaid on the big screen. Free drink and popcorn was a treat for everyone with a $5 admission for all. 

4th part was sportswear. Mandatory for all ages.  She wore the sailor suit. The sewing of it is posted a few posts down. 

5th part was beauty dress wear.  She smiled a few times, waved once, and kept her tongue out the rest of the time.
Told her mother "no" on stage in the lineup with her age group when Jenfr tried to move her hand out of her mouth.

We weren't allowed  to take pictures. But I took a few anyway, just like everyone else was doing. 

The final results::::
For photos she submitted she got 4 medals for different categories.

For talent she got overall optional talent in 0-6 years old combined division. The other little girls in that division either sang or did a little ballet dance routine. She got a trophy, a banner, and a crown for talent winner.

She got prettiest eyes in 0-2 years old and got a trophy.

And for the actual beauty dress pageant division she got Baby Personality Plus. Receiving a crown, a large trophy, and a banner.  

So no official queen title. Would have been nice to get queen. But queen has to go to nationals in Miami in July. And Jenfr couldn't go with new baby plus she didn't want to go to Miami.  If you got state queen and not participate in nationals in Miami, they take your title away and give it to the next runner up, and on down the line till one participates in the nationals. 

No queens crown but she came home with 3 trophies, 2 crowns, 2 banners, and 4 medals.  

The hotel had the hot courtesy continental breakfast. We had sandwich fixings in our room for lunch to have between the pageant schedule so Brooklyn could have naptime. And dinner was with the pageant one nite at the hotel.  

I think that about covers the details. 

It was an amazing and fun weekend. 

T-ball

We have a ball player already. 

Cohen caught on real quick what to do with the t-ball set. And he wouldn't let you help him at all. 

  

Great eye contact and a hit every time.

He was the batter every time. I was the catcher and fielder every time. A lot of work for me. 

He has a good arm there too. 

I'll be finding myself on the ball field in about 3 years. 

Yayy!!

Remember back here and here when I said I think this is a winner? Well, I was right. It had to win. It was so dog gone cute.

For favorite under the sea character we choose Bubble Guppies. This is the outfit when it was completed. You can read about how it was made and came together  here.

                                                   

For beauty dress we choose to make a blue/white baby doll. You can read about making  it here.

                                                   

This pageant was a local preliminary for LA Our Little Miss. First a theme wear of favorite under the sea character. Then the beauty dress part.

Bubble Guppies put a different spin on under the sea besides all the Ariel and Nemo stuff.  A lot of the older little girls would come up and say "ohhh look, bubble guppies." It was a hit with the other contestants and with the judges, too. Brooklyn got top winner in her age group for the theme wear competing with 12 others in the 12-23 month division. She sported a small crown during awards in this segment for her winning.

A few minor adjustments were made to the outfit before pageant day since I posted the Bubble Guppies project. The two gold ruffles on the top were really too big for such a small body. So I turned the ruffles half down and hand stitched them to make it more appropriate and it was just perfect.

The beauty dress was also a hit with the judges and with the pageant director. Not only did the dress give us a winner but our little contestant did nothing wrong.  First time ever she did so good.

 So the dress and her performance put her as Official Winner in her age division and she donned her crown, banner, and trophy. And she received award for best dress.

A few last minute adjustments were also made to this dress before pageant day. The mom thought the skirt was too full. It had 5 layers. She thought a few layers removed would be better. She was right. Two layers were removed and then I made shoulder straps instead of v-neck halter type straps. Then I shortened the ruffle around the top bodice. All the changes fell right into place and was just what was needed.

Yayyy!!! Brooklyn!!!

The 70's Today

Miss Heart of the USA is a local, state, and national level scholarship pageant that we participated in at the local level last weekend. It's primary focus is for food drives for communities for the participants to give back to their community. 

You can read about this great organization athttp://www.missheartoftheusa.com/

Of course with Brooklyn being only 1 and 1/2 years old, we made it a family affair recruiting sisters and aunts and uncles in collecting. Although We didnt collect the most foods to win that Category, we did collect our fair share. 

The theme this year is the 70's and outfit was to dress in 70's theme wear. I didn't make This outfit. I kinda went creatively blank on this one.  So it was ordered from a fb page pageant designer/

seamstress online at "Sweeter Than Candy Pageant Wear".

And here she is.  Can you say so cute?

Just adorable. Some one said a Jane Fonda look. What about those boots!

Made from sparkly stretchy fabric that is worn over the shoes. 

And she did great on stage too (with her preggo mommy). Her scores were all 10's and 9's in a group of 10 in her division. 

A little winner with 1st runner up, best fashion, and prettiest eyes. 

And of course we don't always win or always place.  But it's always an experience and always fun. 

 

Egg-cellent Easter

Knowing Easter isn't just about eggs, chocolate bunnies, and food, even tho that's what we actually did, we did reflect on our Risen Savior and was thankful He arose and the tomb was empty, and HE lives. He lives in us.

Our Saturday was our family Easter Day.

With the b-b-q on the back patio. 

With the little ones hunting eggs one time and one time only. They picked them all up once, then I had to pick them all up the other times because seems like once was enough for them. 

It was fun while it lasted.

There were cracked plastic eggs everywhere. You would think we had real boiled dyed Easter eggs. 

Most of the time was spent climbing and sliding. 

And sitting atop the "wonder mountain" counting our eggs. 

We had bunny baskets to share with toys and clothes and toddler friendly candy/food treats. The parents requested no choco bunnies or real Easter candy. So I included animal crackers, Motts fruit gummies, gold fish and take and go juice drinks. 

Spring

I let 3 birthday celebrations pass me by. My bad. But I am going to make them happen very soon with cake and gifts and food and people and a great big party for you. Just you wait and see.

Meanwhile, we are basking in spring fever.

                                              

Getting out and enjoying the sun and high temps until, uh-oh, cooler weather strikes back. 

But spring is here to stay now and we just can't get enough of it. 

No Crown This Time

A fun day at LA Cameo Girl Pageant with a little one who kept us entertained.

No queens crown, but she got a 3rd place trophy. And that was just fine with her. She walked off the stage and down the isle carrying her own big trophy like it was the best ever.  

                                                   

She played most of the time. She sat down on the stage and then laid down . 

She did wave to the judges. And put her fingers in her mouth.  She's a 15 month old busy baby toddler. 

Of course during the awards she was perfectly at attention doing what she was suppose to do. 

                                                           

The pageants are fun. We're in it to win of course. She may not have won the top spot this time, but we went in with and came away with the prettiest baby (to us anyway, don't know what the judges were thinking).  It's like any competition, you do your best and be proud of yourself. 

My other little cutie is also the most handsome of all. Here he is checking out the snow on snow day.

Mr Independent.

                                   

XOXOXO

Baby Drama

Twenty days is too long to go without a little drama from the little ones. At least I think so.

While spending the day with them a few days ago, I corralled them on the sofa with a comfy pink hello kitty blanket hoping they would get still and quiet and sleepy. It was past the noon nap time and I'm in charge for the day. 

                                  

Cohen's wanting my phone while I try to take a few pictures. 

                                  

They can get rather silly.

                                   

No nap, no quiet time, just play play play.  

                                 

Life Un-edited

This day I was having more fun than the little ones. They were not cooperating with my picture taking.
Nor were they wanting to sit with me for just one second to take just one good picture. It was rough. They are getting older (and so am I)  and they are very acrobatic.

            

gin (aka: mawmaw)

The Day Of Christmas

The Day of Christmas included:

• The noon Christmas meal
• A Christmas Story all.day.long.
•  family in and out
• girls gift exchange
•  reading of the Christmas Story before the last of the gift giving 
• and getting late so some are in pajamas already.

The parents had their fun helping the little ones open their gifts.

While the others watched and got to play with things as they were opened. 

Girl gift exchange time while the little ones napped and the men napped or was doing something else.

Each adult girl brought a gift and we took turns choosing a gift and then you could take someone else's gift if you wanted it instead. One gift was opened, with ooooing and ahhhing the gift was kissed and was told I love you, before someone would take her gift in trade. FYI, she got to keep her gift thru the whole gift exchange. A zilllion pictures taken until we cold agree on one for public posting. Fun, with a lot of cute good gifts like bubble/bath things, gift certificates, nail polish, all girly things.  The younger girls wouldn't do the picture thing.

When time to leave, one more gift arrived for a dad to assemble. Both were waiting patiently and helping for the final assembly for playing again.

Which took a while. You do know that dads have a hard time with Christmas toy assembly. 

And a good nite to all!

gin