Stars & Stripes

This weekend we did something that I didn't think we would be doing for a very long time....if ever again! Raylee was in the Bella Rose Stars & Stripes Pageant in Pelahatchie. After several pageants, feeling the need to commit child abuse and nearly the end of my marriage I decided that Raylee would be in another pageant when she was able to say "I want to be in a pageant."

Don't get me wrong, I wasn't the toddler and tiara mom who made her get up there and got pissed when she didn't win. Raylee always had fun and wanted to do them, she just didn't play by the rules per say.

She thought that the stage was her own personal soccer field and she could run, jump and play on it as she saw fit. When she was corrected she would get pissed and fall out on the stage or dive off the front of it. Yes, I said dive off the front of the stage! She did that at the Hattiesburg pageant oh and lets not forget that was the same pageant she acted such a fool in running around that her diaper came loose and was around her ankles. This was pointed out to me by a judge during crowning.

Anyway, I have been thinking about trying her in another pageant just to see how she would do. She has been talking about and showing us her "pageant walk" for some time now but I just didn't have it in me to try it. Well last week I was contacted by the director saying that the numbers were low and asking me to put her in it and she offered me a great discount. I just happen to find the cutest petticoat skirt that was very cheap and the rest was history!

After getting her dress we walked in the auditorium, got a seat and waited for the pageant to start. We weren't even seated yet and Raylee took off to the side of the stage, climbed up on it and away she went! We didn't even practice before the pageant. when she got up on stage she looked for the first x, went and stood on it and did her thing all by herself!

headed to the second x

now on the third. Did she sneeze????

No mam...she was giving sugars!!!! Not sure where she saw this at. This was very Toddlers and Tiaras......

After coming off stage and waiting for the other contestants to go up she would run around and act a straight up FOOL!!! By the time crowing had come around we were all wore out, frustrated, ready to beat her and get a divorce. Saturday was totally different! She sat there the WHOLE time minding her business and watching the other girls. We were all like WHO IS THIS CHILD???

and you know we couldn't leave "Pageant Dad" out! He went up on stage with his baby girl during crowning!

She won prettiest eyes and placed Princess (2nd) in her division!!! She did great!!!!