Bismarck Bar-B-Queen

What was I thinking when I asked Kamdyn if she wanted to enter the Bismarck Bar-B-Queen pageant recently???    Yes, you heard me right.  Bar-B-Queen.   We have been asked to do pageants before and I never even considered it because of Kam's ever-changing moods.  Now that she's older, I thought this might be a good first pageant and she was excited to enter.

Here is JJ getting her ready on Saturday afternoon.  Let me just say that Mark was not excited about the makeup....and that is an understatement.  He was still talking about it Saturday night. 

Jamie entered Campbell in the baby division so that seemed like another good reason to enter.  

 

As soon as we got backstage, I was nervous and was pretty sure this pageant stuff was not for me.  Kam didn't like her slip or her hair or the fact that people could see her changing... what did I get myself into?

Once she was ready, she was anxious to get on stage.  She kept peeking her head out to see what was going on.   There was entirely too much time before her category and she was extremely antsy.

There were some beautiful little girls that Kam got to visit with backstage...Sadie (far left) won second-runner up.  She is in Cooper's AWANA class and she is a hoot!

Finally out on stage....she was very impatient backstage and kept asking when it was her turn.

Jamie worked all morning long with Kam on her turns and walk.... but she forgot to do all that when she got on stage.  Most of the girls did the same thing so she wasn't the only one.  

I am sure I am biased but I thought Kam was the prettiest girl on stage.  There were 17 girls in her category (Miss Tiny Tot, I think they called it!) so there was a lot of competition.

Campbell won first-runner up and Miss Photogenic in her category.  I'm thinking I should have entered Kam at that age--no attitude to deal with!

Even though she got a trophy, Kam was very upset that she didn't win.  When we got backstage, she started telling me that it was my fault she didn't win.  Several people at church on Sunday told me they heard that she didn't win because I didn't vote for her with the judges.    She is extremely competitive like her daddy and doesn't like to lose.  As a matter of fact, he had told her the night before, "you better win!" and they laughed.  Of course, I was mortified and told her that all that mattered was that she had fun. 

All in all, it was a good experience for her.  She is the Bismarck Homecoming Princess this year and she will get to dress up again in a "poofy" dress on Friday.  More on that later....  Until then, don't expect to see us on "Toddlers and Tiaras" anytime soon!

Cooper's Party at Mae's

Cooper had his birthday party at school about a week after his actual birthday in August.  He is always out of school on his birthday but this year we decided to have a party later on at school in addition to his family party.  I couldn't stand the thought of him never having a party at preschool.

Here he is with the boys in his class.... guess who the wild one is?

Aidan, Cooper, and Jace... for the longest time it was just Cooper and Aidan in class together.  They are excited to have some more boys to balance out the "stinky" girls now!  And, yes, that's what Cooper calls them sometimes!


When we got to school everyone started saying happy birthday to Cooper and he finally said, "it's not my birthday today!"  Mrs. Mae is explaining to the kids that Coop's birthday was actually while they were  all at home on vacation.

 

Cooper putting his candles on his cake and then counting them.....

  

Mrs. Mae giving Cooper his birthday spanking or "wuv taps" as Coop calls them....

  

Getting ready to blow out his candles on his cupcake....

I can't believe my Cooper Bear is 4 years old now.  Time flies!  I still haven't found the pictures from his big party at Timber Lodge.  I'm so afraid they are gone forever!

Queen for a Day

Kam's teacher sent me this picture this morning because she is "Queen for the Day!" today. She quoted Kam saying "I can't believe this is happening to me!" HA! Sounds just like something she would say. She has been dying to be the queen so I know she will be excited. I can't wait to hear all about it tonight.
Notice that her favorite color is brown, which is news to me. She's normally a pink or purple kind of girl. I also think it's funny that she said her favorite food is cheeseburgers. Last night when I asked her that same question for the BBQ pageant entry, she told me chicken nuggets and pizza.

Congratulations, Queen Kamdyn!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Birthday, Pop!!!

Kam is so thrilled that you are coming to eat lunch with her today. We love you!!!!

The Boys

Thought I would post a few pics of Mark's nephews here so everyone could see how much they have grown.

The twins, Cahl and Cade...they are in the 6th grade this year.
Aunt Carla and Quentin.... Q is in the 8th grade and playing football in Rogers.
Q is #74....
Although you can't tell here, I have no doubt that Q is the tallest person on the team... he dwarfs me, which doesn't take much... but he's dwarfed me since the 3rd grade!!
Good luck, Quentin!! Hope you have a great season!!!

Dance Dance Dance!

Dancing on my bed....
I found a hilarious video of Kam singing some random made up song here that I would love to post.... but it is sideways and I think you all would get tired of turning your head to watch it!

The Many Faces of Kamdyn

I found this collage of Kamdyn while I was searching for Cooper's birthday pictures. I'm pretty sure we were on our way to swim somewhere and she was being silly.

I miss summer already!!!

Cooper and Me...

Cooper and I spent the day together after dropping Kam off for her first day of school. We got a haircut and returned a few duplicate birthday presents. He checked out every toy at Wal-Mart and finally decided on a race car track. No surprises there!

Cooper wasn't too thrilled about the haircut....
Or shopping...but I was dying to check this new store out and somehow my car found its way to Little Rock. I will be visiting it again soon --without Cooper!
We made a trip into Toys 4 Us (that's what he calls it!) where he found another race track that he liked better. We also bought Kam an iCarly remote to give her as a surprise when we picked her up.
He couldn't wait to get home to play with his new Monster Truck raceway. It was a huge hit and we had a good time playing together. JJ brought the kids over and they all played while I went to get Kamdyn.

I do not even want to think about Cooper going to kindergarten!!! My mind will not go there!