Pageant tickets

I just got an email from the pageant director saying that tickets will go on sale Feb 1st at 10:00 am. She said that the event will sell out (I don't know how fast). Tickets are $15 and can be bought at www.NampaCivicCenter.com . I would be more than happy to see a few familiar faces (friends, family, in-laws, cousin in-laws)out there if anyone wants to come. I could use the moral support. (However, should I by chance do something totally humiliating you will all be sworn to secrecy and will never be allowed to say a word about it in public!)

I gotta dress!!!!

I am so excited! I finally found a formal dress to wear or the pageant. I didn't really think that after my senior prom I would have to keep worrying about finding modest dresses. YEAH RIGHT! I was so discouraged last weekend when I tried on all my sister-in-laws dresses and none of them worked. I really didn't want to go and spend a bunch of money on a dress that I would only wear once or twice. When many of the other contestants are spending hundreds (300-1,000+) on a dress I know I am cheap but I just didn't feel like I can justify that right now. So, in desperation I went shopping last night and found TWO dresses that would work, both on sale for way less than $100. That was almost as good as finding my interview suit for $10 (originally $75) last week! I am very tempted to post a picture of the dress but I want to surprise my friends that are coming to the pageant. Anyway, one less thing to worry about before standing in front of hundreds of people in spandex (aghh)!

On the Passing of A True Hero

This week marks one year since the passing of our prophet Gordon B. Hinckely, a man I loved and respected. I wrote this the day of his funeral:

It may sound strange to say that the late Gordon B. Hinkley was one of the first men I ever loved but, in purely platonic way, it is true. For most of my conscious life he has stood as the example every thing that is good. In my mind he was the personification of faith, courage, power and absolute love. Though he was not a big man, he carried enormous burdens with humor and grace. One can not be in his presence and not feel goodness radiating from him.

Even as a hard-headed, cynical teenager I could not help but look at President Hinckley with awe and respect. Now that I am grown and married, I feel like he has been a grandfather to me, watching me grow, and offering me invaluable words of wisdom. He was with me when as a teen when I struggled to find myself and when I was homesick at college. He was with me when I got married in the temple and with me when my children were born. He was with me day I buried one of my babies, and his words helped me get back on my feet again. And now that he is gone, I can’t help but feel like I lost a small part of myself. Though the closest I have ever been to him was to watch him in an auditorium with thousands of people, I think that should I be worthy enough to meet him in the next life, he will hug me and welcome me with open arms.

I know that there is no one more deserving than he, to be in the companionship of his eternal sweetheart and bask in the glories of heaven. His life was many times more full than even the best of men and he did his work exceptionally well. I have no doubt that his rewards will be great. But back here, where our perspective is much more limited, he will be sorely missed.

More Weirdness (caution contains minor blood and gore)

So, what began as one mouse in our kitchen has somehow turned into at least six. They must have been breeding in the walls or something. So, we called an all out extermination order and so far have caught five (three of which Paxton caught, not bare-handed but glove-handed). But something happened last night that rivals everything I know about mice. I came down this morning (Paxton had already left for work) to find the stove pushed away from the wall and the broom behind the stove. We have had a mouse explode in a trap before and it was gross, so that was my first fear. I called Paxton to see if I could put the stove back but when I reached him things got even stranger. He asked if I had moved any of the traps last night. I assured him that I hadn't touched any and asked why. He said one of the traps was missing. There was evidence on the baseboard that something had been injured right where the trap was but the trap had disappeared. He had moved the stove to see if a wounded mouse may have dragged the trap in there but there wasn't anything but mouse droppings, lost crayons and hairballs. I'm not squeamish. Even the thought of mice in my kitchen, although unpleasant, doesn't phase me much. But this missing mouse and trap have the thoroughly weirded out. Every unusual noise I hear makes me think there is a mouse, half stuck in a trap, mortally wounded and dying underneath one of my kitchen cabinets. Or I'm going to wake up one morning and step on it coming down the stairs. Seriously gross and seriously weird.

Quote of the week

Bryce: Mom, I have to tell you something.
Me (while doing the dishes): What Bryce?
Bryce: I want to tell you how much I love you.
Me (flattered): OK!
Bryce: I love you times one hundred thirty thousand and as much as a giant alien with lots of tentacles and squiggley things and and an eyeball as big as a bowling ball.
Me: Thanks....Bryce. I love you that much too, plus one more giant eyeball.

I am repentant

I will confess that I have misjudged all the girls (I haven't known any personally) collectively that I have ever made fun of for being in beauty pageants. When I told my mom I was going to do this pageant she asked what I had to do now that I was in and I said, "Nothing really." I will officially say that was a stupid answer. I guess it usually takes a full year to properly prepare for a big pageant. Also, the current Miss America was in the pageant FIVE times before she won. Talk about determined. So, I have spent the last month finding sponsors, critiquing my platform, speaking in classrooms, learning the "pageant stand" which is back foot at 10 o'clock and front foot at 12 o'clock with your front knee bent. (This really is a good way to stand for a picture by the way!), and learning to walk in four inch heels with out falling on my face (at least I am practicing on carpet). I did my catwalk strut for one of my tutoring girls and she busted up laughing. I guess I should practice some more.

Artistic Mediums

We do get some creative art projects at our house.
Shaylee (6) made this out of playdough.

I think she is also responsible for these. I found these when I went to make breakfast the other morning. A whole carton of happy eggs. (That was almost as surprising as the smiley faces on the toilet paper.

We also made this giant snow Tuga!

This is Bryce's. Poor kid. I hope he doesn't become an accountant.

Mispronunciation

As my kids have gotten older I have realized I am really going to miss a few things. The one that hit me this week was the cute mispronunciations that make you laugh when you hear them. Here are a few of my favorites.

taterpillar (caterpillar)
kellahopter (hellicopter)
Peepa Nineo (Grandpa Rhino)
tiss (kiss)
Nuncle Meekel (Uncle Michael)
hairplane (airplane)

Just a few of the sweet things about being a mom.

Pageant (with an e)

I am finding out all sorts of interesting thing this last week. The first of which is how to spell pageant. I have to keep thinking page-ant. I guess if I'm speaking about education I should spell it right.

Since only know one other person who has done this I thought I would walk ya'll through it. The first thing I did was decide which pageant I was going to do. In Boise, as far as I know, there are two major pageants. The first is the Mrs, Miss, Teen America Pageant, and the Mrs. Miss. Teen International pageant. The second one seemed more my style as it seemed more family oriented, and it requires "an athletic wear" competition instead of a swim suit. Having had four kids, that was appealing to me. Lastly, it was cheaper (but I will cover that part later).

Next you have to choose a platform. It is something that you will represent, speak about and promote. I was trying to decide between education and the March of Dimes. However, since I still have a tendency to burst into tears when I talk about Colin, I figured I should stick with something a little safer. So I chose to speak about the "gift of education." That it is a privilege and an opportunity to go to school and that there are many children who will never have that chance.

Then I sent my application in, and since I don't have a professional picture of me I used one that a friend too of me. Only two days later I got a call from the director telling me that I was in and that the Mrs. Kuna title was taken so I got to be Mrs. Tri-Counties. I am now figuring out, getting in was the easy part.

There is more but I have set a goal to lose ten pounds by the competition (four down, six to go) and I need to get my work out in before Bryce comes home from school. More to come later!!

Here's the website just for kicks

http://www.mrsidaho.com/mrscontestants2.php

Resolutions and Insanity

I am happy to say that I made my goal of being happy all through the holidays. I know that may seem like a silly goal but I have a tendency to get busy and stressed out and, occasionally just sad. I didn't want to put a damper on anyone else's Christmas so I made a goal to choose to be happy all through the holidays. It is a good thing I did or I may have strangled my daughter when she put her foot through the canvas I had been painting for two months.

On another note, I have figured out for me to be happy I have to have something to anticipate or something that is a challenge for me. I guess I am an adrenalin junkie or something. Anyway, to follow on the heels of learning to ride a motorcycle and speaking at EFY, my next adventure is the Mrs. Idaho International Pageant. I have been accepted and given a title. I am Mrs. Tri-Counties and I have no idea what I am doing (how's that for an opening platform?).
The pageant is March, my crown and sash (weird) are coming in the mail. I'll let you know how things go... If anything else this should be entertaining.