Woah! It's been awhile...

No excuse for my lack of posts! I've been extremely exhausted lately, which I'll reveal all here in a bit. I could make this several posts, but I'm too lazy to break it all up! ha So, sorry in advance for the lengthy post.


My baby, Toby
As my last post stated, I was waiting for Toby to arrive back home after being neutered. Luckily, he bounced right back! Unfortunately, I see no end in sight on the whole hiking his leg to pee issue. He has become downright defiant on the potty training. All the puppy training books I've read say that they can get a little awnry around 6-9 months...oh yeah, did I mention that he's about 7 months old now! ha We continue to praise him for good behavior and discourage the rebellion. I'll keep ya posted! And on another note with his surgery...they had to remove a row of baby teeth because they weren't coming out on their own and his adult teeth were ready to pop up. This of course cost me quite a bit more than I had anticipated and although the vet tech said he shouldn't chew as much anymore, we haven't seen anything to backup that promise!! He's pretty good by only chewing his toys, but if he gets distracted and finds your fingers...watch out!


There she is...Miss Ripley County
My last pageant as the director/committee member is officially over! I have one final event to attend, the opening ceremony at the county fair on Sunday night where the Court members will be introduced. It was a truly awesome pageant and we received many compliments that night and I still have emails rolling in daily! I am proud of all we have accomplished. As I said on-stage during my committee thank you (yes, I brought out the ugly cry! darn it! I thought I'd be able to do it without tears, but no such luck!) it was a bittersweet night knowing that all the work I've done is now over, but that I no longer get to work with the girls. We had 17 past queens in attendance and even surprised the first Miss Ripley County with a sash and crown! There were over 400 people in attendance and our audience donated almost $1,800.00 to the local food pantries through our penny wars! Talk about an amazing community! All in all, the 50th Miss Riplcy County Queen Pageant was a success! When one door closes, another will open...


Doctors
The week before the pageant I got a terrible case of poison sumac. Luckily Dr. Mulford gave me a shot to clear it up. I had to use the cream a little, but after the shot, I really didn't itch any until the very end of it cleared up! While he was checking out the sumac on my throat (it completely covered my throat, covering from ear to ear) he mentioned that he thought my thyroid was enlarged. Now recent events tell me that this may very well be a Menchhofer family trait. My cousin Sara, who has had to undergo extra sonograms and testing during her pregnancy, has a thyroid problem. Sara's brother Zach, my partner in crime, was also tested but they said his levels were fine. Our Grandpa had many health issues concerning allergies and what not when we were young and it seems that everything he encountered, I have as well. I'm not sure if they really diagnosed thyroid problems back then, but they do now. I've saving up to do the bloodwork to see if it is my thyroid...it's about $300 and I don't have insurance. *sad face* So, we'll see what happens! This could explain why I have such a hard time losing weight. I really don't eat all that unhealthy and I'm pretty active, so I should not be as heavy as I am!?!



That's all folks...enjoy a pic of the new Queen's court! Check out our website if you want more info! http://www.ripleycountyqueen.com/

"My" Girls

So...the madness of the summer rush began a few weeks ago. It was a sweltering hot June day, but we survived it! Each year the first annual event for the Queen Pageant is the Queen's Tea, a mother/daughter event, where the girls learn what will be happening the rest of the summer and get tips on how to do makeup and hair! This year we have 31 girls...yes, thirty-one, a staggering number for us! We are extremely excited about the contestants!!


I may have mentioned it before in a blog, but this is my last summer with the Queen Pageant. I have lived it, loved it, and possibly even disliked it at moments....but all in all, it's been a pretty awesome 5 years. I've seen girls go from quiet little seedlings to fully blossomed roses. I know that sounds corny, but it's true! Most moms would be surprised to find out that several of the girls have stayed in touch over the years. We (the committee & contestants) really do become a family throughout the summer. There are several girls that still come to me with life's problems and joys, and like any big sister would do, I try to help them the best I can. That's why I call them "my girls." haha The past few years I've gone to telling everyone at the Tea that this is like a sorority...the committee acts as the older sisters, watching out for the younger girls and helping them along the way...but we are also the ones who will hand out the harshest punishments should the girls break a rule. That's the way sororities work and I think it works well with the pageant too. Anyway, back to the story...


So the Queen's Tea went off without a hitch! After the event was over, all the girls are invited to a slumber party at one of the committee member's house. It is by far the most fun we have all summer! It would shock you to learn the things I've learned over the past few years...the girls are brutally honest about all aspects of their lives, something I love about them. I can say that we've truly gotten to know these girls, they trust us, and we would never do anything to break their trust. Many of the girls had to work the next morning, take SAT's, or prepare for their graduation parties...so we pigged out on pizza, breadsticks and ice cream cake, then played a bunch of icebreaker games, then stayed up all night talking and sharing our lives. It really is the ultimate slumber party! haha


Here are 30 of the 31 girls...Ash had to work late, so she didn't make the picture!

The 2008 State Fair Queen, Kristen Schmitt, also joined us for the Tea! She is such a sweetheart!

And last but not least...the girls who came to the slumber party working on an icebreaker!