#11-28 Miss outstanding Teen Pageant, Yakima, WA 8-21-11

On the 20th of Aug, Frank will have been home two weeks from Rehab. He is using a cane and has given up the walker except when we are in crowds. He is now driving, although he likes me to drive around Yakima because I’ve figured out where most places are that we want to go. He doesn’t mind being a passenger!

We wanted to stay over this weekend because Bernie and Ava’s daughter, Tamara (Tammy) has entered the Miss Yakima contest as a 16 year old teen. Which is a younger category than Miss Yakima. The pageant is affiliated with the Miss America pageant and has to follow the same rules. This is the first pageant that Tammy has ever been in. She decided just one month ago to try out—will look good on her resume!

Her (Allard Family) Uncles and her Aunt all came over for a pot luck dinner the day before the pageant. She Has 5 uncles and one aunt just on Bernie’s side of the family. Only two uncles were missing! Lots of family support.

We couldn’t have asked for better weather. A great time for visiting and telling stories. Tomorrow is the big day!

Inside the old Capital Theater where the pageant was held. Beautifully restored after a devastating fire.

There was an opening number with all the teens in their active wear attire. In the younger group, there isn’t a swimsuit portion, so they did a short dance routine to introduce each of the contestants. Then came the talent portion and Tammy, who is an excellent gymnast, did a dance with many of her gym moves. It was totally awesome to watch her walk across the stage on her hands and to do cartwheels without hands. She is very graceful.

Then the girls were introduced in their formal wear.

And each girl had to answer a different question that was pulled out of the bowl.

There was a “dash for cash” to help support the pageant, and to fund the scholarship money that the winners get. Team Tammy was her cousin. Tammy decorated his shirt with her name and number on it so we knew which bucket to put cash into!

Each contestant had representative dash around the auditorium and collect as much cash as they could in 90 seconds.

All the girls together waiting for the results. They all voted for who they thought was Miss Congeniality and it was Tammy! Then they had to wait for the judges votes to be tabulated on who had the most points in the different categories.

She Won!!!!

Here she is being crowned “Miss Outstanding Teen of Yakima!” The judges liked what they saw! We were all going crazy out in the audience. Tammy was very cool, excited but poised. What an exciting day!

The next day her picture was in the paper, and she was still really excited. Now she has to co-ordinate her gymnastic tournaments along with the events that she will have to go to and represent Miss Outstanding Teen. She is going to be one busy girl this coming year! She is home schooled and maintains an A average. Pretty smart young lady.

Frank did great at the pageant, We used the walker to keep people from bumping into him, but he gets around mostly with the cane. Now he is driving the car and doing almost everything he normally does. So it is time to pack up and leave!!