So, it’s been a few days since we returned from our California pageant; West Coast Fabulous Faces. I’ve finally shaken what it often referred to as “pageant hangover”. We love WCFF for a few reasons. It’s usually fairly low stress, it’s always fun, we usually get a chance to watch the big girls (we’re usually so busy or exhausted we miss them), and it’s well run. This trip was no different in regards to those things. However, it was different. We walked in feeling ready. While we’ve always felt welcome, this time was different. It took me an hour just to make it to my room because of all the hugs, hellos, and conversation. You see, THIS is what Toddlers and Tiaras never showed. Pageants can be tense. That makes for better drama. There is competition and people have a competitive edge. As humans, in the heat of the moment we get snippy with each other. That is drama that the cameras love. It happens, it’s there. What they don’t show is the hugs, the running down the hall to greet each other, the laughter, and the silliness. There is far more of that than there is the drama. Why do you think they focus on 3 contestants at each pageant and spend the first half of the show following them as they get ready? The rest would be boring.
I will now step off of my soap box.
We allowed her to compete in an extra event just because. It sounds crazy to pay money for a kid to go on stage with 0 directions but, we did. She had an absolute blast and the ballroom and judges were cracking up! As soon as she came off she shouts, “Can I go again?!”
Our favorite Keely conversation of the weekend was when she walked in to tanning and loudly stated, “Miss Sarah, make me chocolate!” Miss Sarah replied with, “Yes baby, you are very vanilla.”
All in all, it was a good weekend. Keely has finally started to “get it”; practice translates to performance. That’s a big “get” for such a little girl. We’ll see if it sticks. It was so great to have friends there supporting us; supporting her. They also got to see how ugly I cry. I was so proud of her, I couldn’t help but cry. Keely got a kick out of the idea that she did so good momma cried. She was so proud of it, she told EVERYONE!
She really had a great time and so did we. The laughter, the craziness, the fun, the stress; it was all worth it. On to the next adventure of our road trip!