Let's start out this post by adding all the pics that my mom hasn't posted! I really can't be mad at her for not posting these - my brother and I keep her super busy. So, here are a bunch of pics!

Let's see from top to bottom they are sort of out of order. Silly mommy! So from the bottom:

Not sure if I mentioned that I went to the Miss Greater Springfield pageant. Delesia Watson won! She is our Miss for Virginia NAM. Nyasha, Elizabeth and I went to cheer her on! We even got to go on stage to introduce ourselves and let me tell you NAM girls rock! The big surprise was that Chinah Helmandollar was there!

Next Elizabeth and I road in the Alexandria St. Patrick's Day parade. That was a blast! And my mom talked Ourisman Dodge into loaning us a convertible!

Virginia Open Calls in Reston was so much fun and we saw so many wonderful girls! A few weeks later Nyasha and I came back for the workshop to help get the new girls ready for the pageant in July. We were also surprised by a visit from Queen Griffin the National All American Junior Pre-Teen Queen.

I also worked another community outreach event for Ashburn Volunteer Fire and Rescue. They had a Grand Opening for Station 22 - the newest fire station in Loudoun County. There I scooped ice cream until my hand hurt and was frozen! I also mingled with the kids and signed autographs. I can't wait until their big Open House in May! I also will be at their fund raiser 10K/5K on April 25th!

Oh - I almost FORGOT! My school - Ashburn Elementary - won a special assembly only for the 5th Graders from the Washington Capitals Hockey Team! We played floor hockey and even had SLAPSHOT the mascot show up.

WHEW! Busy! I need to write more often so I don't have to make these so LONG.....

Until next time....

Hugs, Love, Laughter and of course CHOCOLATE!

Kailee

PS: My mom threw in some pics from my dance academy.

Seriously - I am the worst at actually keeping up with blogging!! However, I am pretty good at keeping up with all of my school work, and with all of my friends! Since I last posted in January SO VERY MUCH has happened - not just to me, but in the world around us! In Virginia in February we experienced a record breaking BLIZZARD - so much so that we lost an entire WEEK of school! In Loudoun county we are lucky and have enough days built in so we don't have to make up any days. Our area is still dealing with all of the damage. In February - on Valentine's Day I also participated in the Miss Virginia International Pageant and won the pre-teen title. Unfortunately the director had to move next year's pageant to October - so I don't get a full year - time to make the most of it! February was also a big birthday month in my house - mine was on the 3rd, my brother Alex had his on the 10th and my dad's was on the 11th. So then we move into March. I had the opportunity to ride in the Alexandria St. Patrick's Day parade with Elizabeth, a Virginia NAM Cover Girl. It was so much fun! In the car in front of us was Miss Alexandria (MAO) - Stephanie Connolly - a former NAM queen and in the car behind us was Delesia Watson - Miss Greater Springfield (MAO) and current NAM Miss for Virginia! I also had a great time working at the NAM Open Call in Reston with my sister queen Nyasha and Cover Girl Elizabeth. Next month I will help out at the Reston Workshop. March has been busy with school - writing tests, and DARE and picking classes for 6th grade. Yesterday I had my eye doctor appointment and I got contacts!!! My mom also had her birthday in March, but she says she wanted to ignore it this year. Spring finally got here and now we wait for the weather to get better! Right now we are on Spring Break. I hope to get to DC to see the Cherry Blossoms - tomorrow we're going to Baltimore.

Kailee's 11th Birthday

This Wednesday, February 3rd is my birthday, but we had my birthday party today since next week was booked solid for me and my friends! What a fun day!!! My mom came up with the idea to do an Amazing Birthday Cake Challenge - since she used to be a cake decorator. My friends and I were divided into two teams and each team had to decorate a cake. We worked with fondant - just like they do on Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss and my mom even taught a few girls how to make icing roses! We then ate pizza and I opened my gifts and I have to say all friends were so generous! I had so much fun and was so glad they all could make it - even though we had a bunch of snow (close to 7 inches). Now my mom and I will settle in for an evening of watching Miss America - the only way the day would be better is if we were in Las Vegas seeing it live! Oh well there's always next year! For now - thanks mom for a great party - and dad it's okay I know they needed you at the firehouse today and tonight (I'll save you some cake). To big bro Alex glad you were able to be some place else and not be bored ! And to my best friends - you are the best!! Love you all!

Love, Kisses, cake and sweet dreams,

Kailee

Catching Up

Wow! It's been a LONG time since I've been on to post! To be honest I've been pretty busy. Let's start with the Christmas Parade in Leesburg, VA. It was so much fun! I rode in my dad's jeep and it kept me warm. While I was there I met queens from the Virginia ANTSO system. They were really sweet and so was the state director. As far as the parade goes - I cannot believe how many people were out on such a cold day. The next weekend we got SNOW and I mean A LOT of snow - 20". School was canceled for the last two days before winter break and it really shut northern Virignia down. But man was it fun to play in!!

Christmas was great and my Granny and Grandad came to visit. Then New Year's Eve was spent with close friends and now it's the new year - 2010!! My time as Miss Virginia is going by so quickly. I wish I could find the pause button. In early January I went to see pre-lims for Miss Virginia Outstanding Teen. My NAM sister queen, Nyasha, was competing - she didn't win, but she said that it was okay. My mom didn't get a chance to take any pictures - well she did, but I only got to be on stage for like 15 SECONDS as visiting royalty and besides that we were trying to keep the spotlight on Nyasha.

This past weekend I went to the NBC4 Fitnes Expo in Washington, DC. There are so many great organizations that I want to volunteer for - but I think we've narrowed it down to two! While we were there I got to meet some personalities from NBC - Liz Crensha (local) and Hoda Kotb (Topday show - and just as pretty in person!) AND Miss District of Columbia USA - MacKenzie Green. They all asked me lots of questions about NAM and being Miss Virginia and it was so cool to have the opportunity to talk about it to these women - they made me feel very special!

Lately school and dance have kept me very busy. Preparing for the Science Showcase at Ashburn Elementary is a big deal. My project is on - you guessed it - chocoloate!!! It's all about statistics! Then in dance we found out we are doing Snow White for our recital. I'll dance in the first part of the show as an "emerald" and then have two other dances with the contemporary pieces at the end.

Hey, I also got my video from Nationals! I want to post a little bit - if my mom can figure out how :-)

All in all - busy and getting ready to be busier! I'm also competing in Miss Virginia International on February 14th and will decide if I want to compete in American Coed after that. The rest I'll tell about as it happens!

For now- I'll send you -

Smiles, Laughter, and Hope,

Kailee

PS: Have you donated to the Haiti relief fund?

I know - I know - no posts since before Nationals! Well, when we got to California we had so many technical difficulties and not much time to work them out - we finaly gave up. Since we've been back things have been crazy trying to get back to every day life. School, homework, dance, getting ready for Christmas and SNOW this past weekend! So, please forgive me and my parents.

So - the real news - I placed 3rd Runner Up at Nationals! Quite an honor since the competition was so tough (there were so many great girls!). Having never been to Nationals I had no idea what it would be like. It's BUSY! From the first day of check in and Optional Rehearsals to the last day of rehearsals and Finale night it is go, go, go! Meeting all the great girls from across the U.S. was so cool, Disneyland was fabulous (can you say Space Mountain twice?) and the Hollywood Tour was great (hanging out with my new pageant bestie Miss Oregon - Maddie Monlux), but making it to Top Ten and then to Top Five my FIRST time at Nationals - well that the BEST! These are memories I'll treasure! I really hope to get a chance to spend time with the girls I met - maybe Nationals in 2011?!!!
I think the best lesson I learned from Nationals is pretty much the same lesson I learned from State - actually two lessons - believe in yourself and your dreams and DON"T pay attention to gossip. At State and Nationals a few girls were saying if you don't win any Optionals you won't win or do well - and that is so untrue. Just make sure to have FUN!!

That's all for now - I promise to update more soon!

Until then - Lots of Hugs, Kisses, Chocolate and Love,

Kailee

PS: Pictures are from top - 1) Mot of the Virginia girls who came to compete 2) Circle fo Queens 3) Check In Day - Lucky Penny toss 4) Santa Monica Beach near the pier 5) 3rd Runner Up 6) On stage w/ my trophy 7) Marilyn Monroe, Maddie and me 8) Before Personal Intro 9) Formal Wear competion 10) me and Big Bro Alex 11) Another Luck Penny toss - did lots of those during the week 12) 50's Party w/ Ann - 1st RU in VA and Elizabeth - VA Cover Girl 13) Crazy Hair rehearsal 14) Maddie and me at Disneyland 15) New friends - Yazzie, Mallory and Lauren