Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

THE CONTEST WINNERS!!

Hi, had Sunday Chicken Noodle and dumpling dinner yesterday and picked the winners of the writing contest. We enjoyed our evening, I played Apples to Apples for the first time and we watched old family videos that George and Nancy put onto a DVD for me. How fun to see my beautiful family from the "other side". When it was happening, I was so often overwhelmed, I'm sure I didn't enjoy and love them up enough. Now seeing my little babies all still lap sized I just wanted to grab them up and smother them with kisses, even (maybe especially) Scott who was pouting with his back to the camera the entire way through one of the videos, (I'm sorry your feelings were hurt, I'm sorry you struggled so with being a middle child, but you are my first born son and will always be special!)

Trying to judge the contest was especially difficult, All the entries were fun and since I LOVE you all, I wanted everyone to win. I wasn't a very good judge--I couldn't narrow it down so I declared a tie between Del and Monica. The Random drawing was won by Grace. And I awarded Holly a gift for her outstanding writing even though it wasn't really what the contest was about. I LOVED READING EVERYONE'S ENTRY AND THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL SO CREATIVE! We must strive to do something creative everyday! To that goal, I am going to have another contest, but I have to decide on the details, it will probably be writing of some sort again but not necessarily. (I love Monica's picture gallery where they took one theme (light houses) or one object (flower in vase) and had everyone draw it.) So watch for the details to come soon, maybe even today.

The winning entries were:

DEL"S:

1.) With a voice hoarse from screaming, and fingernails caked with earth from clawing the ground, Earl spies the sign that reads; 'PLEASE DO NOT annoy, torment, pester, plague, molest, worry, badger, harry, harass, persecute, irk, bullyrag, vex, disquiet, grate, beset, tease, nettle, tantalize, or ruffle the animals' and realizes that dangling the corndog in front of the alligator was not the greatest idea for a good time.

2.) It has been commonly accepted for centuries that they numbered twelve, so the shockwaves are still being felt throughout the world as we find more proof of the thirteenth and fourteenth apostles, Rick and Bill, the Twins of Pagreha.

MONICA'S:

1.) I hate the saying home is where the heart is, since I don't have one thought the scarecrow.

2.) "He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me, he love me not" Carrie always thought she would love to come back as a flower until she bloomed and was carelessly destroyed on a young girl's whim.

The random drawing winner-Grace:

(Grace's story. Age 4(Her words exactly) I think it's cute how many (and)s she uses.)

There was a pretty princess and a prince and a witch, and the evil witch put the princess in the castle, and the witch was able to dance with the prince, and the witch's friends were Jealous. Her friends noticed that she put the princess in the castle and they saved the princess. Than the princess was able to dance with the prince, and they lived happily ever after.

Special award for outstanding writing: HOLLY

The nurse had a tear on her cheek as she brought her in to me, all bundled in pink.The nurse was like a saint to me during the 16 hours of hard labor full of complications. The baby had showed signs of stress. And now here she was being placed in my arms. "Oh," startled as I looked at her for the first time, "she's so beautiful." I didn't expect her to look like an angel! Oh her hair! Her dark, full head of hair and her creamy completion makes a beautiful contrast to her dark hair. She's so perfect. I adored her precious lips, and smelled her perfect new baby smell as I cradled her in my arms. Her skin felt so soft and I counted her cute tiny toes and fingers!"She looks just like she's sleeping." I whispered, I didn't expect that. Well, they told me she would, but Oh, I can almost imagine her breathing, as I looked at her perfect angelic baby face and chest. "Oh God, please, please." I started to cry out. My very soul started to quiver in grief. "This precious baby. My miracle baby. I can't, How can I live without her? God Please!" was my cry into the night as the realization of death hit me. Like a tumbling mountain rolling over me crushing my soul as each stone laid their heavy weight upon the pile leaving me... breathless.

End of the contest and some pictures from trip.

Here's a picture of Alex, isn't she turning into a beautiful young woman!!


Her body is changing as she blossoms into a stinky preteen LOL :)


She had alot of fun taking pictures, but I think she makes the best picture.


On our way to Mount Rainer we found this fun HOBO INN made out of old train cars. Alex took this picture and it is one of my favorites


The next day we went into Seattle to the Pike Marketplace here's a picture of one of the many many wares available there


There were lots of fish and shellfish


There was a giant brass piggy bank--


And several street performers, The guy down at the end of the sidewalk, played his guitar behind his head and while he was hula-hooping


Saturday Scott took Dad down to the pier to fish and crab. Unfortunately all they caught were a few undersized Crabs, but it was fun.


Thanks Scott and Kim! (FYI Josh was in Montana with his other Grandparents)


Here's my pretty MaMa. Pretty spry for an almost 79 year old!

Kim has posted more pictures of our trip to visit them on her blog so check them out at http://kimnscottonthespot.blogspot.com/ (you can click on their link in my sidebar)

Thanks everyone for your creative entries. I am having a hard time choosing the winners I am in my usual Saturday slump (I work every Friday night and then end up laying around all day Saturday) But hopefully my brain will be in tip-top condition tomorrow for the final judging and I will let you know tomorrow who is taking home the prizes..

Aguilars!!! Where are your entries??? Love you all