All hands on deck - there's a pageant to go to!!!

So daughter no. 1 (third from the left, back row, totally obscured) is competing in Miss Teen Houston. Today, right now, at 3pm!!! No, we're not pageant people, I can't even use a curling iron. But the kid wanted to do it. She babysat and hostessed and saved her pennies for bathing suits and interview suits and then *POOF* a fairy godmother (in the form of Laura) appeared and ***WHOOSH*** we are swept into pageant world with hair extensions and fake boobies and oomba-loomba spray tans.

Here she is with Chelsea (center) the bestest coach EVER and Laura, the fairy godmother (I want one!) What I have learned! Oh. My. Gawd. There really is butt glue!

But the news!!!! So last night was the Preliminaries, and Jessica did fabulously! She walked the walk and smiled and oohed just like Malibu Barbie! I was so proud. She was runner-up in the Preliminary Swimsuit Thingie. And I am expecting her to be one of the 15 finalists today (my logic: if you're a finalist in the swimsuit in preliminaries, you gotta be one of the 15 finalists, eh?) So that's 3pm TODAY, Saturday, April 11 at the Hilton Post Oak.

Meanwhile, pageants have bizarre effect on family members. Husband-who-refuses-to-wear-anything but tennis shorts turns up in this Miami Vice outfit (and his new Superman glasses). And that's uber-cute daughter no. 2 (who has been a valiant little sister throughout this ordeal, save for the wicked imitations of pageant girls, her big sister included).


And where to even start with an irritating little brother who picks this moment to get a haircut straight out of My Name is Earl (at least he has that stupid hat on...)

Now if there's any doubt about what a cutie-pie Jessica is, here's absolute proof from this early early morning shot. Truly 17 going on 3 years old. I think I captured it.


p.s. SHHHHHHhhhh. We don't expect the kid to win :-( because these other girls were straightening their hair and doing pageants in the womb (not to mention all the mysterious-but-not-surprising politics of it all) but I give Jessica credit for having the guts to give it whirl. That SAID, I'd love to see her in the top 5. So pray with me sisters, can I hear an AMEN!