Mrs. COLORADO® Pageant & Miss CO for America Pageant
Today Miss Rodeo Colorado, myself, and World's Universal Princess judged the Our Little Miss Scholarship pageant in Denver.
It was another windy day in Colorado yesterday, and I had the privilege of being the "flag girl" at the Rocky Mountain Vintage Races at PMI in Pueblo. I had no idea how much fun it would be to stand above the track and wave the green flag signaling the drivers to GO! 
Pictured with one of the "Production" race car drivers, Robert, aka "Lil Bob".
Lil Bob and I posing before his big race.
During the lunch break they shut down the gates and let Lil Bob take me on a 3-lap ride (2.2 miles per lap)...at a max speed of 130 mph!!! I couldn't hang on tight enough to my seat belt, but it was so much fun! Maybe I should be a race car driver...watch out Danica Patrick :)
Saying a prayer before we took off :) 
With Lil Bob and his daughter, Rabecka (Tiny Miss Patriotic 2007), helping him get his race car ready for the big race!In the control room before the races began.
It was a windy day in Parker this past Saturday as we all gathered together for a Kids Safety Day hosted by the Yin Yoga Center and Parker Pilates. Children learned about the importance of fire, helmet, and stranger safety by firefighter Tracy. All the proceeds benefitted the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund. I'm pictured above with Roberta Hughes, Mrs. Parker 2007.
All the kiddies!
Pictured with Mountain View Chiropractic and their best friend, Kyla, who also participated in the Kids Safety Day.
Pictured with Rhonda's children and Pasqual the Penguin from the childrens book "Fire and Ice" by award winning author Rhonda Spellman, which teaches children about fire safety.
What a whirlwind the last 17 days have been and definitely the time of my life! I'm overwhelmed with emotions and very tired of course. Thank you to my loyal fans who have been following my blog and wondering what I've been up to. Thank you to all the ladies that sent me letters and messages while I was in Tucson, I really appreciate your friendship, encouragement and kindness. Thank you to everyone who came to watch!!! It was so nice having my family and friends cheering me on in the crowd. What follows are pictures from final night. The picture above is our opening number routine.
Parade of States in costume.
Getting called into TOP 10!!!
This might be a little confusing, but what happened is there was a top 10 named based on preliminary competition (50% interview, 25% swimsuit, and 25% evening gown). I was in the original top 10. Then, the pageant decided to bring the next 2 highest scoring contestants back based on the additional competitions we had, i.e. golf, tennis, baby diaper changing, scavenger hunt and horseshoes. Well, there was a 5-way tie for those next two spots so they let all five come back and compete in swimsuit. As the night continued, the reality show began to surface. After we all competed they strategically placed us on stage in three groups of five. Two of the groups moved on to the next "round" and one group did not. I unfortunately was the group that did not move on.
Modeling my swimsuit.
I was so proud of my roomie, Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska, she placed 2nd Runner Up!!!
I happened to be at the right place at the right time during rehearsals one day because I was asked to do the Carol Wior photo shoot for promotion, along with Mrs. Florida, Wyoming, Ohio, Louisiana and Alabama. Here we are being videotaped nearby the pool at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
I had my cheerleader, Nana, with me for support! Lookin' good for 84 years old!
Showing off our Carol Wior Slimsuits and our Special Occasion shoes.
Nate didn't want to miss this photo opportunity! :)
Pictured with my Nana in my state costume, the "Colorado's State Flower, the Beautiful, Wild Columbine" after preliminary competition. 
My Nana and mother in-law Vicki anxiously await preliminaries to begin!
Myself and Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska, after competition. Michele is a peacock from their zoo where they run wild.
Mrs. Virginia and myself head off to the tennis and golf competitions in our golf cart at The Lodge.
Hanging out with the girls at the golf competition. My buddy Michele came in 2nd place in golf!
My tennis partner, Kelly McBee, Mrs. Wyoming (NOW MRS. AMERICA!!!) and I are working hard on the tennis courts. I came in 3rd place in the tennis competition.
Today all 51 of us saddled up at the Tanque Verde Ranch for a trail ride and authentic pancake breakfast.
Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. Vermont hanging out in between our trail ride at breakfast.
Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. America, Marney Duckworth, trying to stay cool after breakfast
On my white horse getting ready to round up some cattle for a team roping activity. 
Thought I might try team pinning one more time, this is fun!
Our team, "Three brunettes and a blonde", Mrs. Nebraska, Mrs. Colorado, Mrs. Louisiana, and Mrs. West Virginia before the scavenger hunt. 
Is anybody else itching? The hotel staff came and got them with a 10 foot pole, seriously. The scary thing is they just threw them back out in the area near our room. I'm sure we'll be seeing these guys again soon. :)
Hola from Mexico! Today we traveled to Nogales, Mexico to meet some government officials and tour the town. We were greeted with paparazzi, news media, and a mariachi band. Then we drove out to one of the most beautiful ranches I have ever seen called "La Esmeralda Rancho-Resort". I learned how to make a local cheese, and also a flour tortilla from scratch.
With my buddy, Michele.
With one of the government officials in Nogales.
With another government official.
Here is the fence we saw as we were crossing back into the U.S. Our bus was stopped for an inspection at the border and we all had to unload for about a half hour. Everything turned out fine and we were back on our way to Tucson.
Michele and I getting ready for our first big competition of the day...Baby Diaper Changing Contest
After my round of competition...I definitely was not the fastest! Mrs. D.C. showed us all up!
The competition was narrowed down to Mrs. Nevada and Mrs. D.C. for the finals.
And the winner is...Mrs. D.C. with the fastest time!
Mrs. Nevada, Mrs. Nebraska, and Mrs. Colorado in the lobby before leaving for dinner.
Mrs. Nevada, Mrs. Colorado, Mrs. Kentucky, and Mrs. Nebraska.
Our table of ladies at dinner.
Yesterday we rounded ourselves up on the bus for a trip to Old Tucson Studios and the Sonoran Desert Museum. Picture above on stage at Old Tucson Studios is Mrs. Pennsylvania, Mrs. Kentucky, Mrs. Kansas, Mrs. Wyoming, Mrs. Nebraska, Mrs. Colorado, and Mrs. Arizona
Mrs. Vermont and Mrs. Colorado at Old Tucson Studios
Mrs. Arizona, Mrs. Arkansas, Mrs. Utah, Mrs. Idaho, and Mrs. Alaska
We are inseparable if you haven't figure it out already.
I got thrown in jail for being hot...literally, it was 107 degrees.
I was surprised when I actually hit the targets and all these bells and whistles started going off!
At Old Tucson Studios with the actors.
Mrs. Nebraska, Colorado, Indiana, Arizona, Delaware and New York at the Sonoran Desert Museum.
I could only get as close as 3 feet from the Barn Owl, so I was being careful!
Mrs. Nebraska and Mrs. Colorado stylin' at the museum in our cowgirl gear.
Getting ready to load onto the bus for Old Tucson and the Sonoran Desert Museum.
In front of the butterfly garden. 
Thank you Kathy for taking us on a tour of the Sonoran Desert Museum.
I couldn't resist taking a picture with the Colorado River fish.
With my roomie, Michele, before rehearsals this morning.
Mrs. Colorado, Nebraska, California, Hawaii, and David Marmel
Taking a photo inside one of the planes at the Pima Air and Space Museum.
A rattlesnake was right outside our rehearsals! I'm definitely paying attention to where I step from now on!!!
Diane Tucker, Mrs. World 2007, and Tiffany Sawyer, Mrs. Colorado, at the Loews Ventana Room for the Presidents Dinner. We all dined in Loews' 5 Star restaurant and the food was delicious! After dinner we all presented our state gifts to Brian Johnson, the manager of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort.
Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. Mississippi
Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska, myself, and Missy Soto, Mrs. Oklahoma
Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. Ohio
Mrs. Kentucky and Mrs. Colorado
Michele and Tiffany
Mrs. Colorado, Mrs. Arkansas and Mrs. Oregon
Mrs. Nebraska, Mrs. Illinois, Mrs. Wyoming, Mrs. Colorado and Mrs. Utah
Sorry about the fuzzy quality of the picture, but I wanted you all to meet our choreographers Frit and Frat! They are so much fun.
Last night we all loaded up on our bus and headed out to the Rancho Valle Milagro, a beautiful mansion in Tucson, for a cocktail party. We all had a great time getting to know each other better as well as meeting Mayor Walkup and his wife again, and many other business people from Tucson's Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau.
Mrs. Mississippi and Mrs. Colorado
Tiffany and Michele
Michele and Tiffany at breakfast before rehearsals with Frit and Frat.
Mrs. Rhode Island, Mrs. Nebraska, Mrs. Colorado, Mrs. Minnesota, Mrs. Georgia
Mrs. Nebraska, Mrs. Oregon, Mrs. Colorado, Mrs. South Carolina
Sitting with some of the contestants today in the lobby before a promotional interview that may be used during the Mrs. America television production on the W.E. Network in late Sept.
Don, our official photographer, is taking a picture of us while we're taking a picture of him.
With Diane Tucker, Mrs. World 2007. 
Orientation dinner.
Michele and I at orientation dinner last night.
Hello from Tucson!!! This is the view from my room at the beautiful Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. As time permits I will post as many pictures as I can! Thank you to everyone for all the phone calls and warm wishes before I left!
Me at lunch today after checking in.
My roommate Michele Strom, Mrs. Nebraska, and I had some free time so we decided to take advantage of it and go tanning!
Pictured with Michele and the official car of Mrs. America.
On Aug 16th I spoke to the Women's Ministry Group at New Life Church during their monthly meeting. I talked about setting goals and most importantly believing in their goals and themselves. "Everything is possible for him who believes" Mark 9:23.
Chatting with some of the ladies afterwards.
I had a great time at my Mrs. America send-off party at the Chinook Tavern with 9 former Mrs. Colorado's! They all gave me great advice and kept me laughing the entire night. I'm so blessed to have the support and encouragement from my new sisters.
Tricia had this photo of my Nana and myself framed for me. Nana has made the trip from Virginia to Colorado three times to watch me compete for the title. She's always been my best supporter!
Tricia and I are admiring the beautiful flowers my husband sent to me...oops, I mean the flowers Janet's (Mrs. Colorado 1992) friend sent to her! Tricia gave these to me at the end of the night and she thought my husband, Nathan, had sent them to me at the restaurant when in fact Janet's friend sent them to her! The card read "To the wisest queen of them all", and of course we all thought they were ours.
presenting awards with Natalie Tysdal, CW2 Morning News
