East Valley Middle School

Introducing my children - - Grant (6th grader) & McCall

Speaking to the East Valley Middle School 6th Graders

Students at East Valley

Today I had the honor of speaking to 400+ 6th graders at East Valley Middle School in Nampa. I spoke to them about "Being the Best You!" We talked about peer pressure, setting goals and working hard to accomplish them. It was fun to be able to share some of my Mrs. Idaho & Mrs. America experiences. When the assembly was over, the students were dismissed for lunch - - instead of eating, most of them stood in line for autographs! I signed sweatshirts, id cards, arms, notebooks - - you name it! I speak again in a couple of weeks to the 7th graders and then the 8th graders. Stay tuned for pictures!

Young Women, Sponsors & Parades

Merikay Jost - - Parade Organizer

SuzAnn Ramos - - Pageant Friend and Kuna Cheer Coach

Mrs. Kuna America - - Jen Russell

Love the Car!!! Thank you to the Corvette Club!

I always love a parade!!!

M'Kay and a Tank

At Total Care with the Botox Rep

Karin Echols

Getting Glammed Up!

Nampa 34th Ward Young Women - - A Garden of Girls

Another busy, busy week! On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of speaking to the Nampa 34th Ward Young Women. It was their night of excellance program and their theme was "A Garden of Girls." I was asked to speak on "The Beauty Within." I loved being able to share some of my Mrs. America experiences with them. On Thursday I headed downtown Boise to "Total Care." They are one of my many fabulous sponsors. They were having an open house and asked me to make an appearance. Karin did my make-up for me when I got there (she did a great job!) Total Care has been extremely generous!!! When I was finished I caught the very end of a rehearsal for the Festival of Trees Fashion Show. I will be modeling for a fun little boutique in Eagle. Finally, today was the Veteran's Day Parade. This is one of my favorite appearances! It is all to honor our great veteran's and is an invitation only parade. I wanted to participate last year but found out that only Mrs. Idaho was invited - - but since Liz had another committement that day, I was able to fill in for her as Mrs. Nampa. I loved it so much and was really looking forward to being able to be in it again this year. As soon as the parade was over we were off to Capital High School for the Capital Classic Wrestling Tournament. I attended that event as Spencer & Grant's mom!!! Be sure to check out our family blog for the results!!

Liz's Princess Baby Shower

Perfect Princess Cake

The guest of honor -- Queen Elizabeth

Look at the Loot!!!

Mrs. Idaho Contestants

With Deanna & Suzanne

Liz & McCall

One of Liz's many cute pink outfits!



The whole group!!!

What do you get when you have a past Mrs. Idaho, who is the mother of 3 boys, who is getting ready to have her first baby girl? You get a totally PINK PRINCESS SHOWER!!! (Given by the current Mrs. Idaho who is the mother of 4 boys, who finally got her girl!) The food was delicious and the company was even better. We had such a great time - - especially since everyone that came was a pageant guru!!! Liz was such a great support to me as I prepared for Mrs. America - - this was my way of saying Thank You! I appreciate all of you who came and I hope you had a wonderful time!

Miss Idaho USA

Outgoing Royalty

Amanda Rammel - - Miss Idaho USA 2007

Krista McNeal - - Miss Idaho Teen USA 2007

Mrs. Southern Idaho, Mrs. Middleton, Mrs. Snake River

My good buddy "Panama Jack" from WOW Country 104.3

Shareece Pfeiffer - - Miss Idaho Teen USA 2008

Tracey Brown -- Miss Idaho USA 2008

I was honored to judge the Miss Idaho USA & Miss Idaho Teen USA pageants this weekend. Prelims and interviews were held on Friday and then the finals were on Saturday. There were lots of great contestants and I think Idaho is sending two great girls to nationals.

Mrs. Idaho America Fall Workshop

Some of the Mrs. Idaho America 2008 Contestants

With Deanna Curtis, Mrs. Meridian

With Megan Clay, Mrs. Madison

Yesterday was Fall Workshop for the Mrs. Idaho Contestants - - what a GREAT day. All of the ladies were wonderful and we had such a fun time together!!! They were able to go to mini classes on goals, wardrobe, paperwork, interview, & backstage help. We had fourteen of our contestants there. This is going to be a fantastic year!!!

Komen Pink Tea

Jackie Walker - Mrs. Snake River America 2008

Michelle Edmonds - Channel Six

Janet Harris (Komen National Office)

Lyle Nelson (4 time Olympic Biathlete)

Tonight was the 10th annual "Susan G. Komen for the Cure" Pink Tea. What a great evening! The dinner was absolutely delicious- -chicken, salmon, potatoes, steamed vegetables and chocolate cake! We were honored to hear from Janet Harrison, the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Director of Strategic Planning. It was great to have her here from Dallas as our guest. The Boise affiliate then awarded over $380,000 in grant money. What a difference we are making here in Idaho. I am so grateful to be able to share my voice in this great cause. A cure for Breast Cancer is not far away!

It was fun to see Michelle Edmonds (Channel Six) and Jackie Walker, Mrs. Snake River. I also had the pleasure of meeting Lyle Nelson from McCall Memorial Hospital. He is a four time U.S. Olympic Biathlete, and Team Captain and flag bearer for the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary. Tamarack Resort dedicated its Nordic and snowshoe trail system to Mr. Nelson.

Interviews, Parties & Celebrations - - Oh My!

Breakfast at Sher's
My director, Mandi Feely

With Susan Marler/Pageant Choreographer
Crowning Peggy! Our group always wears crowns and we are noticed by everyone!

Peggy Parton

With Jennifer Boals and daughter

Rain or Shine -- We love our Mrs. Idaho America Gang

Susan in her fashionable "PONCHO"

We love making appearance together!

YEA - - We made it!

Two adorable little fans!

With my mom and my sister

Genesis, Owner of Anytime Fitness - - Official Gym of Mrs. Idaho America

The Anytime Fitness Gang
All of us with Jared

JARED - - the famous Subway guy!

With Taylor Bergrenn
Signing Autographs for some very cute little girls!

With Chantel Moir (we go to church together!)

Jennifer & Carmen Peters

We ate our way through 10 x-tra large pizzas, salads, lasagne, breadsticks and drinks

My great friends Vicki & Gentry - - thank you for the roses!!!

Caroline brought me flowers - -thank you so much!

With Mandi, Jackie & baby T.J.

Taylor with a couple of his friends - - Ryan & Kody

Grandma Glo the Movie Star and Grant

Colby & Jennifer Peters (Mrs. Canyon County)

Sherm & Juliette Blaser

Go Broncos #86

McCall

Jeanette, M'Kay & Spencer

Brenda & Kevin - - KIZN 92.3

Thank you so much for providing all the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts for my Mrs. America viewing party. They were a huge hit!

Interviewing at KIZN Country 92.3

Interviewing at WOW Country

Panama Jack and Amber Lee - - WOW Country

This week was crazy busy! On Wednesday I headed over to Boise (in the early morning hours) for an interview on the new WOW Country Radio Station, 104.3 They of course had lots of questions regarding Mrs. America, the snakebite, making top ten etc. It was a lot of fun to be there. Friday morning I had another radio interview - - this time with Brenda Mee (former Mrs. Idaho America) at KIZN 92.3 Again, questions about me sucking venom out of Mrs. Tennessee's foot, the airing of Mrs. America that night on WE television, and my platforms. Again, a super fun time! When I was finished, I ran over to the Women's Fitness Show at the Grove. Mrs. Idaho America had a booth there for 2 days and we were able to visit with so many women and spread the word about our pageant. Hopefully we met some future contestants. It was fun to be able to share some of my experiences and sign autogtaphs. After working the booth for about three hours, I headed home to get ready for the Mrs. Idaho America viewing party. We had about 45 people show up to the Pizza Factory to watch the show. It was so fun to be able to share that with so many of my family and friends. Marc was in Texas on business so he wasn't able to be with us. He was however able to watch it with about 30 of his family members down there. You would think that would be enough excitement for one week, but wait, we are not done yet. Saturday morning came bright and early as we all met at Sher's home for a quick breakfast before the Women's Fitness Celebration. This is the 15th year for this event -- the largest "women's only" walk in the nation. Mrs. Idaho participates each year and we have a fabulous time together. We even had Subway's own "Jared" as a celebrity. The weather was questionable this year and we had to break out the umbrellas a few times - - but all in all it was awesome!

What a week - - and that is just the Mrs. Idaho stuff! Add in scouts, football, school, football, cross country and more. Not to mention the fact that my washing machine broke - - not a good thing with laundry for 7 piling up! All in a day's work!!

Enjoy the pictures!

~Lauralyn