Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ~Robert Browning
Sweet Toonces, my Valentine, I love you more each day.
I told Martin that if you had told me even 20 years ago that I would be having a photo competition on this thing called the Internet with people all over the world entering I would've said "really? huh?" and I could've never imagined just how much fun I would have and how many great people I would call friend.
Thank you so much to all our entrants. By mail or via email you've brought many smiles to our faces. T would come home and say "Did we get any new pictures today?" and we would sit down that night and go through the latest pictures. With over 64 participants by the deadline we were shocked to say the least...bloggers and non-bloggers alike have entered. Kitties, puppies, babies and kids were all submitted and I was glad I wasn't judging.
The winners received a cash prize and a card signed by Caleb, Izzy and Jackson. Ben voted...he picked his favorite, told me that was who he wanted to win, and Ben was gone, no time for signing his name.
Each kid came in separately and made their picks. I was surprised actually at how they went for the exact same pictures. I did not influence them in the least. Toonces picked a Valentine for his first choice as well and then the finalists are the combos of Toonces and the kid's top picks.
So here they are...the winners and finalists of the 2008 Toonces and Rollie Valentine Contest.....based on cuteness, sweetness, personality and fun:
1st Place Winner:
Coco from Winnipeg. The adorable Coco comes to us from Colleen. Is he not a cutie? And he was a very gracious winner.
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Toonces's Valentine...drum roll please....
Roxy from Michigan. Roxy actually has her own blog and you can visit her through her mom Jenn.
Did you guys know that Toonces's favorite dog breed was the Basset Hound? He is crazy about them. Don't you dare tell Earl and Eudora...It would be like me finding out that I am not his dream girl. Maybe that is why they love me so much more than T. Toonces had Basset Hounds growing up. Down the road I'd like to have a Basset named Tallulah and a Yorkie named Zelda.
The 3 Finalists:
Sweetie in Los Angeles...everyone's favorite blogger Naomi submitted Sweetie.
Tally and Conner have the Valentine spirit. They live in Martinsville, VA and were submitted by our good friend Lee.
Little Katelyn from Alabama dressed in her Minnie Mouse costume. Katelyn was submitted by her mom Rachel.
And the Funniest Valentine?
The winner:
This great Valentine was submitted by Criz Lai from Malaysia. Criz has kittens that are about 1 month old and into everything...they are so cute, you need to pay him a visit.
So a big round of applause for our winners please! See why I am glad I wasn't judging?
Thanks again to all of you who entered your loved ones...I wish I could post all the entries.
We will definitely do this again. In fact I have been thinking of maybe a summer competition with one BIG special prize.
Happy Valentine's Day! xxx-ooo! Rollie.
I gotta go show my man some love......