Pinecone Princess Coordinator

I am so thrilled and honored to have been officially offered the postion of Pincecone Princess Coordinator for the Miss Washington Scholarship Organization. This year the Miss Washington pageant and the Miss Washington's Outstanding Teen program will be taking place at the same time. This means that the Pincone Princess will have a chance to interact with Teen and Miss contestants.



What an exciting prospect! Quality young women and teenagers mentoring girls from across the state.

There are still many decisions to be made, but I am looking forward to taking on the job and seizing the opportunity to establish these fabulous mentoring relationships!

Back to School!

It is so good to be back at school! Back to work and a regular routine. I missed the kids and staff so very much. Plus I think I am much less "Needy" as a wife now that I am not home all day on my own. :)



The kids are finally falling into a routine and it feels good for all of us. A big change for me was finding my new identity here at school as "Mrs. Jacobson." The kids have already gotten used to it for the most part. Although I sometimes feel like a split personality., being called "Miss Duchemin" in the bathroom/hallway by a student from last year and then "Mrs. Jacobson" in my classroom by this year's students. But I love it! I am truly a Mrs. and get to hear it everyday.



I just started Jazzercise with some young ladies from my small group and it is so much fun! I am really excited. However, it does remind me of my pageant days and how "not a dancer" I really am.



Ben and I moved furniture this weekend and worked around the house, we've started attending a small group in our neighborhood and are having so much fun meeting the people in our community.

We are looking for some more consistent work for Ben and maybe something with benefits. It's amazing what becomes important when you are a "grown up." :) If you know of something, let me know!



Life truly is falling into a wonderful routine with fun surprises here and there. I am looking forward to the pageant season as I plan to do some judging in the Miss America Outstanding Teen program this year - let me know if you need a judge. I've also been keeping up with Janet (Our Miss Washington 2008) and her schedule. She truly is a remarkable woman. It means so much to continue to be a part of this incredible organization.


www.misswashington.org

Thanks for reading!
Alex Jacobson

Campin' and Crabs

The weekend started with a birthday celebration for my sister - a pirate theme! With booty and eye patches. What a blast.

Then ... a campin' trip filled with crabs. We took some good friends out to Seabeck to go camping a couple of weekends ago. What a time we had.





First after setting up the tents we hit the water to go crabbing. The gentlemen had dropped to pots early that morning so first we hit up Pleasant Cove for lunch. I had a great chicken pesto sandwich, but the French Dip was to die for. (Yes Carol, I still LOVE them!)





After lunch we headed to pull up the pots. Which... were filled with 12 crabs! Back to the campsite we went where we boiled the crabs, played a little Phase 10 and then ate to our heart's content.





It truly was a feast. And lucky for us, my sister was there and likes to crack but doesn't like to eat it as much. :)







In the morning we made breakfast over the coleman stove.



A laid back evening at home, filled with more crab and games was the perfect conclusion to our camping extravaganza!

Whirlwind

I've had a whirlwind four months since my last post! Including completing my first year teaching, getting married the day after school let out, and now working and playing the summer away.


I have hosted kid's camps out of our home for 3 weeks this summer, worked in our yard, and found that settling into "real life" as I like to call it, suits me very well.







The kids have been great, and have learned a lot. The first week we studied Zoo animals and took a field trip to the zoo. The second week we examined the human body and that took us to the Pacific Science Center and during this past week they have been exploring the performing arts and are learning monlogues and 2 dances! I'm having a ball.

One exciting thing that happened this July was that my best friend, Janet Harding, became Miss Washington 2008. I get to have the chance to follow her through her journey and in a way experience it myself. God knew his plan for my life, and I am so content and thrilled with the outcome of my pageanting days.






Pageant you ask... no more competing because of the new last name. ;) (and marriage!) but I am looking to do some judging in the teen program this pageant season, taking the necessary steps to later be involved in judging in the Miss program.

Wedding, marriage, and life at home with Ben is all I could have hoped for. He is the most amazing husband and partner.


He has the most incredible work ethic, takes care of me, encourages my dreams, and we are making quite the life together in our little home in Poulsbo.

School wrapped up nicely, and quickly for me (since the wedding took place the next day). Here we are at "graduation" a few days before school let out for the summer.

But I had incredible classroom volunteers who helped me get it clean and ready to be the school's tour room for the summer. I felt great leaving Friday after field day and heading to my facial. Then that night we had our wedding rehearsal and the next day embarked on the incredible journey of a wedding and honeymoon.

Check out our wedding website to see more wedding photos! What a day, and it was all made possible by family. I had no wedding planner or coordinator and the day of, was truly stress free due to all the family members and friends who lent a hand! It truly was all we could have imagined, and more.







Can you tell we had fun?!

I need to head back to work, but I want to encourage you to follow our new Miss Washington's journey on her blog at http://janetharding.blogspot.com/ she truly is an incredible Miss Washington and will do great things this year.

Blessings, Alex Jacobson

Miss Poulsbo 2008 is .... Amy Stadshaug... Here's the night in a nutshell.

Here's the night in a nutshell - thanks to the Kitsap Newsgroup for the slideshow!
Enjoy!

Only 2 more days to go...

I can't quite believe it, but there is only two more days to go.

I will only have the title of Miss Poulsbo until Saturday, March 29th. However I will always carry the honor of having been Miss Whatcom County 2005 and Miss Poulsbo 2007. Having been a top ten, people's choice winner at Miss WA in 2005 and the second runner up to Elyse Umemoto (who was 3rd in the nation) in 2007. Plus I was given so many honors at state this past year.

The highlight of my year was receiving word from the National program, when I returned from Miss WA that I had won the national community service award for Washington State!

The other highlight is the relationships I have built with two incredible ladies that I have come to love. Molly Lemmon, my pageant little sister, and Megan Hornbuckle - Miss Kitsap and my partner in crime! I am so lucky to have been blessed with these relationships. They have been a gift from God.

Megan We were a dream team!

Molly we were meant to be together. I am so blessed to have you as my little sister!

The Lord knew I needed this year. I needed to connect to my community. I have found my home, which is something I've said a million times - but is SO true.

Some of my favorite hometown past times include but are not limited to:
~Wednesday night BINGO at the Sons of Norway
~Walking the boardwalk in downtown
~Coffee at Latte on your Way - I had to abandon Starbucks because they no longer have almond syrup but I am not bitter any more since it led me to a new local stand!
~ Dinner and a movie with my fiancé Ben here in town
~ Taking Ipa on a walk with Ben at night and seeing our town all lit up

And one future thing I can't wait for is getting married on Liberty Bay! We just couldn't do it any other way.

See our engagement photo! Downtown is our place.

Thank you Poulsbo for embracing me, please do the same for the next Miss Poulsbo and Miss Kitsap.

Thank you for loving me and encouraging me to pursue my dreams, please do that for the next Miss Poulsbo and Miss Kitsap.

Support them like you did us.
Give to them like you did us.

And it will be the most memorable year of her life, as it was mine!

Democratic Caucus

I will begin by stating that I understand that some will say, "This is not the place for her to be posting this information." I disagree. I post this blog so that people know what my life is like as Miss Poulsbo, and also as me - Alex Duchemin. Miss Poulsbo should be active in her community and in her government whenever possible, no matter her views. I hope with that said, you continue reading.

I, Alex Duchemin, participated in the Democratic Caucus today... Yes, I am a declared Democrat -at least with Obama as a candidate I am - and I was so proud to participate in the Democratic Caucus today, as a supporter for Obama.

But to be honest the real reason I am posting this is to encourage all of you young people - especially young women - to get registered to vote, and to vote in this primary election if you still have your absentee ballot!

Also, I want to stress that when voting in a primary election, by absentee ballot you MUST mark the party you are affiliated with by marking the party's box by the signature line - it's on the flap of your envelope. If you do not mark a party your vote WILL NOT COUNT. They will throw it away.This is only true in the primary election and it does not have to effect how you vote in the final presidential election.

Register if you haven't, vote if you still can, and learn something new about our system this year. You will be impressed.

I also challenge you, look beyond the moral issues and examine the parties political views on education, environmental issues, international relations along with their views of taxes and where that money goes.

Ask yourself, who can inspire Americans to get behind a cause, and who can make a difference and do it quickly.You might be surprised who you end up voting for. I know I was. But I found a candidate that represents what I believe politically and I am willing to take on the moral issues myself among the people I can directly effect.

Most importantly get involved in your government, it is a priviledge and an honor that we can!

Thanks for reading, Alex - a dedicated and registered voter.

Congratulations Elyse!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ELYSE UMEMOTO FOR 2nd Runner Up at Miss America & yourTop 3 Finish in theMiss America Reality Check series!

She walked away with a wardrobe from shopIntuition.com and a $10,000 scholarhsip from Crest White Strips!

Watch Miss America Live tonight on TLC at 8:00pm!

The wedding scoop...

Some have asked... so here is my wedding site.

Yes I am engaged!

www.mywedding.com/benandalex

Anyone know of a great wedding dress store with dresses that are a "steal of a deal"? Or have tips for a bride on a budget... let me know.

:) Ben is the man God made for me.
Alex

We are best friends and our families are the people we would pick to hang out with on a Friday night!

Elyse is making the "buzz"! ~ Thursday Preliminary Awards

THURSDAY NIGHT AT VISITATION - AFTER HER TALENT PERFORMANCE!





Talent - You Go Girl!

The Washington Pageant Family! Elyse with her sisters.

Unofficial from another blog site - prelim. awards for Thursday Night

Miss America Preliminary Night Three Unofficial Results

Swimsuit goes to Miss Texas

... as predicted by many.

Talent is won by Connecticut

... which is a little out of the blue, consi

ELYSE IS MAKING THE CUT - OTHER BLOGGERS ARE TALKING
ONE WROTE...
Miss America Preliminary Night Three Early Returns

Swimsuit Buzz
Texas and Georgia

(No one has commented, good or bad, on Roberta's Swimsuit presentation.)dering so many states were mentioned as strong contenders, but not her
Talent Buzz

Florida, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Washington, Virginia AND Michigan
It must be a very competitive group!

Gown Buzz

OHIO

I'm in a live chat room with people getting texts from Miss America, and as they were giving gown feedback someone wrote,
"No, now Ohio is the most amazing!"