Mrs. International

I am off to compete at Mrs. International. Here is my ad page that will be listed in the program. I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has helped me along the path that has lead me here. I thank my LORD for giving me the courage to stand up for what I believe in and to share it with the world. I thank my family for the endless hours of practice they have endured to prepare me. I especially want to thank my husband, Scott for supporting me even when he didn't understand why I was competing. My mother, also, gets a great big thank you for all her support. I couldn't have done this with out her. I guess you are never too old to need your mom's guidance. I am sure I can't list everyone here or this blog would go on forever. I would like to thank a few more people. Nicole Cosme at Denver Area Council , Reanne of the Royal Image Boutique , Megan of Graphique Fine Arts Photogaphy and especially, Suzy Bootz of Suzy Bootz Consulting . Without all these people supporting me, I never could have come so far.I would also like to take the time to thank Cindy Harwood, my state director. She has been such a help and source for information about this pageant. If you would like more information about the Mrs., Miss or Miss Teen Colorado International Pageant please go to Colorado Crown or check out the Mrs. International website if you live in another state. If you have a platform you are passionate about and would like to compete in a pageant system that is truly family oriented, then International Pageants are what you are looking for. I hope to see you at the next state level International Pageant!

Cub Scout Camp

One of the fun things that Boy Scouts is known for is camping. At the Boy Scout level, the boys camp over many weekends and in the summer they get to go away to camp for a full week. At the Cub Scout level, we do what I like to call "camping light". The Cub Scout Camp is for three days and two nights. The days are filled with activities like BB guns, archery, sling shots, crafts, catapults and swimming. The food is all cooked and served in large mess halls. We sleep in army style canvas tents on cots. So there isn't much for a parent to do except sit back and enjoy your time with your Cub Scout. This was our last year to do Cub Scout Camping. Although it was scheduled right before leaving for Mrs. International, I am so glad I took this time with my son. I hope the judges can appreciate a sun burned nose and tan lines!

Matt and his best buddy, Derek, work on crafts. They are building a small catapult.

Here are the boys getting ready to launch a full scale catapult. They first practiced with tennis balls eventually tossing 16 balls in the air. The final launch was a soccer ball. For the launch to be successful, the boys had to work as a team. This was a great exercise in working together and following directions.

The boys and their siblings are preparing for archery. They are actually establishing what is called "eye dominance". In children under 14 years of age, this can change quickly so it must be reestablished each time they prepare to shoot a weapon.

Safety was a big part of each weapon station. Each time we approached the range, the counselors reviewed all safety tips. We had to ask permission to enter and exit the range and eye protection was required at all ranges. Being a Boy Scout Counselor is a lot of responsibility. It is an opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills that will take all these young men and women into a better tomorrow for all of us.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival

As active members and business of the year 2007 for Cherry Creek Chamber of Commerce, I worked at a snow cone booth at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival to support the chamber. The Chamber seeks To welcome business leaders to the Cherry Creek Experience by providing opportunities for unique connections, professional and personal growth, and service to our community. I am also a board member for the Women of Cherry Creek. We meet on the third Wednesday of each month for networking and an informative presentation over lunch. It is such a joy to encourage women in their business endeavors.It was so much fun to scoop the ice. Who knew packing ice in a paper cone could be such a science. For every snow cone we sold, some of that money went back to the Cherry Creek Chamber to help businesses in the Cherry Creek area succeed through networking events and education.

The best part was watching the kids design their own cones.

4th of July Parade

Today we celebrate our Independence Day with parades all over the country. There are big city parades and thousands of neighborhood parades like the one in Highland 460.

I couldn't resist a photo with my friends daughter, Sophie. I love her tiara on her helmet. Safety first. Doing it stylishly is a bonus!

Each year the Littleton Fire Department leads our parade. A big thank you to these men and women who protect us and keep us safe.

The parade meanders through the neighborhood ending at our park.

This beautiful little girl just got a new family when she was recently adopted. Rebekah Negrete, Mrs. International 2007, promoted foster adoption awareness through her platform of Heart Gallery of America. For more information on this, please visit Heart Gallery of America .

Encouragement

One of the most amazing thing I have discovered about beauty queens is how much they really like each other. In general, we are nice to one another. I even remember overhearing a conversation between a young makeup artist and her mom. She was explaining how shocked she was that all the women who were competing in the pageant were so nice.

I am an encourager by nature. One of my favorite books is called Balcony People. It is a short book about how some of the most important people in the world aren't the ones on the stage, but the ones in the balcony, cheering them on. Tonight I was able to do just that. I attended the going away party for Erin Feltes, Mrs. Colorado Galaxy. It was so much fun to wish her well and catch up with an old pageant friend, Rita.Here we all are. I'm not sure what a good name would be for this group. We have spent the year attending each others pageants and cheering each other on. We have share appearances, medical emergencies and encouragement. These ladies represent the best of pageantry- true friendship. We are (L-R) Jessica Smith, Miss Colorado Galaxy 2009; Rita Case, Ms. Colorado Planet Beach 2008 and 1st runner up to Mrs. Colorado 2009; Erin Feltes, Mrs. Colorado Galaxy 2009 and myself, Mrs. Colorado International 2009

Miss Colorado America

This weekend I enjoyed the Miss Colorado America pageant with my friend, Vicki Hughes, Miss New Mexico USA 1997. I love to go and encourage the women who are competing!

It was an honor to meet Jamie Duckhart-Conti, Miss Colorado America 2008.

It is always great to run into a sister queen, Jamie Patrick, Miss Colorado International 2009.

All work and no play?

All work and no play? No way! As a way to encourage good behavior and cooperation in our Den we use a reward system. At the beginning of each Den meeting, we light a candle just after the Pledge of Allegiance. The candle remains lit for the duration of the meeting as long as there is respect for each other and the adults in charge. I am proud to say that we have never had to blow out the candle! At the end of the meeting, the boy that was best behaved gets to blow out the candle. At the end of the year, we celebrate the boys mutual respect by having a fun outing. This time we chose Chuck E. Cheese.

Working Together.

Concentration!

Field Goal!

Friendly competition.

Look at all the tickets I collected!

See what I bought with all those tickets?

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

What an honor it was to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Frederic C. Hamilton Boy Scout Headquarters on Monday. It was a beautiful morning for such an occasion. This new building will truly be a one stop shop for Scouts. It houses the new Scout Shop as well as all other Scout related activities. It even has conference rooms for training and meeting purposes. For more information, please visit the Denver Area Council web page .

This was the official ribbon cutting. Frederic C. Hamilton for whom the building was named for was on hand to do the honors.

Mayor Hickenlooper and Past Council Chairman and President Pete Coors were some of the dignitaries attending the celebration.

M. Doak Jacoway, Chairman of the Board, and his lovely wife welcomed everyone to the event.

This sculpture of the Ideal, Unknown Scout is in front of the building and was donated by the Jacoway family. It is said that it is good luck to touch his ax. This sculpture represents the the story of William D. Boyce who was lost in London in the year, 1908. He was helped by a Boy Scout who refused a tip because it was his Good Turn for the day. Mr. Boyce brought Boy Scouts to America and founded what we know today as Boy Scouts of America in 1910. This February,We will celebrate 100 years! I am committed to taking this time tested organization into its second century. It continues teaching character, citizenship and personal fitness to today's young people. It is more relevant now than ever!

Boy Scout Board of Review

Tonight I had the honor of sitting on my first Board of Review. It was for a young man who had fulfilled all the requirements for the rank of Tenderfoot. The board of review is an interview process that looks at how much the Scout can apply what he has learned in Boy Scouts to his every day life, what his plans are for his future in Scouting and how he is doing in life in general. We ended the interview with words of encouragement and helped him think about ways to advance to his next rank. It is very much like the interview process in Pageants. The skill of interviewing will take this young man far in life. In case you were wondering, yes, he passed with flying colors. Congratulations to another boy one step closer to the rank of Eagle.

Raingutter Regatta

Boy Scouts teaches character. One of they ways they do this is through friendly competition. Tuesday was our Pack's Raingutter Regatta. The boys make boats then "sail" them in real rain gutters filled with water.

The event started with a wonder picnic of Subway submarine sandwiches. Very fitting for a regatta.

The race is accomplished by the boys blowing on the sails. They are not allowed to touch the boats except to right it if it capsizes.

Part of the fun is cheering on all the participants.


The first, second and third place for each Den receives a medal. Every participant gets a patch for their brag vest.

The finale is a huge sunday that fills two raingutters with icecream, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and sprinkles.

No cheating and starting before everyone else. On your marks, get set, go!



Yum!

Colorado CoEd Pageant

This past weekend was the Colorado CoEd Pageant. Emily and I attended as representatives for the International Pageant.



Erin, Mrs. Colorado Galaxy and Jessica, Miss Colorado Galaxy are two of my favorite queens. We always have such a great time together.


Alina Perry won Super Model for her age division. Way to go! Look for her in an upcoming edition of Super Models Unlimited.


Chaplain Rourk was one of the judges for the pageant.

Denver Heart Walk 2009

Today was the Denver Heart Walk. I had the privilege of signing up participants for Go Red for Women.

Emily Shlehuber is our new Miss Teen Colorado International. She has jumped in to her new position with energy and enthusiasm. Love the red feather boas we wore to draw attention to this wonderful program!

Emily, Patsy and I worked the booth during the entire morning. Patsy is one of the many amazing volunteers with the American Heart Association.


One of the celebrities who came out to support the walk is retired Denver Nuggets player Ervin Johnson. He was making an appearance at the empowerme2b booth. This is the AHA program for kids that I am the coordinator for Boy Scouts.


Another celebrity at the walk was the Colorado Rapids mascot Edson Eagle. Soccer is a great sport and a wonderful way to work your heart no matter what age you are.