MAY 19, 2007 THE 2ND ANNUAL "BIG PARTY" (ST. PAUL, MN)

The 2nd Annual "Big Party" was our last big hurrah in the series of pre-pageant parties and events for 2007. State Directors Faith & Carl rolled out the red carpet for us and I think everyone had been looking forward to this event for a long time. My husband Matt got super sick on Friday night with a really bad case of the stomach flu, and I was hoping he would be better by Saturday night but unfortunately that was not the case. My mom had made a special trip back from my parents' lake cabin to babysit for us, but she ended up being my date instead. I was really bummed not to have Matt along, but my mom was a great "fill-in"! Apparently Matt wasn't the only one who was sick...Jason Young (husband of Melissa Young - Mrs. MN 2004) of Youngquest Fitness stopped by solo because Melissa was home sick with the same thing.

I have a quick cute story...our 2 1/2 year old daughter Ava isn't attached to a stuffed animal, but INSTEAD is quite attached to her "scarfie" (she LOVES silk scarves and REALLY likes this one in particular...she calls it her "scarfie"). Well, I was getting ready and was in full hair and makeup, with these big sparkly chandelier earrings and wearing a dress where the skirt part was made up of a bunch of "scarf" looking pieces...Ava got a load of me in this dress and was ALL over the scarf-skirt part, working it between her fingers and saying "I hold you?" and "I wear a dress like Mommy?" She could not take her eyes off of me and was saying these things in the CUTEST and SOFT little voice and would not leave my side. It was SO touching and sweet. Well, all of a sudden she took off and was gone a few minutes, then came clomping down the hall wearing her "princess" dress and her "clapper" shoes (she has these play dress-up shoes that make clacking noise on the floor when she walks), and said "NOW I look just like Mommy!" It was really sweet. Needless to say she was NOT happy when we left for the party because she REALLY wanted to come, too.

Everyone looked GREAT at the party (including the husbands), and it was great to see everyone having such a wonderful time. Shannon Martin (Mrs. Wisconsin 2006) made the trip over and it was nice to see some of the Wisconsin contestants in attendance as well. A highlight of the evening were the great hors d'oeuvres and the chocolate fondue fountain. A number of former Mrs. Minnesotas and their husbands attended and it was fun to catch up with many of them. This is a wonderful pageant "family" and I am so excited to see who the new titleholder will be! There are SO many great contestants this year and I truly have no idea who is going to win, and I really feel like it is ANYONE'S game at this point! It is going to be a really fun pageant to watch, that's for sure! The next time I'll see the contestants is at our blocking rehearsal on June 1st...the countdown begins!

PHOTOS:
1) Ava being "just like Mommy" in her princess dress and "clapper" shoes
2) Group shot of the contestants with Shannon Martin (Mrs. WI 2006) and I
3) L to R: WI contestant Ellen Sendelbach, me, and my "date" (my mom Bonnie!)
4) L to R: Barbara Kaiser (Mrs. Woodbury), Tressa Avestruz (Mrs. Rosemount), me, Janelle Zunker (Mrs. Hennepin County), and Katina Schroeder (Mrs. Savage)
5) L to R: Bessie Giannakakis (Mrs. Edina), Tina Godes (Mrs. Eagan), Katie Thiry (Mrs. Washington County), Jenn DeFoe (Mrs. Wright County), me, Shonna Ochu (Mrs. Buffalo), and Dessi Urban (Mrs. Dakota County)
6) Former Mrs. MN's at the party (clockwise from L): Tami Krause (2003), Jane O'Hern (1983), Robin Duffney (1995), Faith Schway (1984), me, Mary Johnson (1982)
7) Faith and I have fun with a "wedding ring" balloon
8) Faith and Carl greet party guests
9) Wendi Russo (Mrs. Eden Prairie), pageant sponsor Jason Young of Youngquest Fitness, and myself
10) Shannon Martin (Mrs. WI 2006) & I with our fantastic State Directors Faith & Carl Schway