You can also view all other 19 videos on the Gap site here. Enter your email address, and then click on the pictures of the kiddos!
Here is a link from the West Central Tribune paper article that was run yesterday - click here.
Happy Friday :)
Friday, November 30, 2007
Gap video
Check out Parker's Gap video above...what a cutie pie! I'm so proud of him, and am really pleased with the way the clip tuned out (even though I'm not really a fan of seeing myself on camera).
You can also view all other 19 videos on the Gap site here. Enter your email address, and then click on the pictures of the kiddos!
You can also view all other 19 videos on the Gap site here. Enter your email address, and then click on the pictures of the kiddos!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Holiday projects
I love any excuse to do a project! This weekend we made these cute little trees (inspired by Ali Edwards). Parker had a great time helping, and it is so good for his fine motor skills. He's concentrating so hard in these pictures. So cute!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Tis the season :)
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Photos from our trip
The site is up, the votes are calling your name! Please visit the Gap site for Parker's chance to be one of the new Gap faces :)
Here are some photos of our trip - enjoy!
Here are some photos of our trip - enjoy!
Trip recap
Amazing. Emotional. Once-in-a lifetime. A truly unique experience. This was our trip to San Francisco!
From flying on the airplane and Parker expressing his interest to "hold the ocean" to the bright lights and the click of the camera...we had a BLAST! Our days were filled with amazing things from start to finish.
The day of the fitting was a peek into the world of fashion. When we entered the room at the studio, the people from Gap turned their heads and said "oohs" and "aahs" over Parker :) There were racks of clothes, tables of shoes, an on-set hairdresser, and a room of seamstresses. His clothes fit just right - with not an inch to move or give. When the Converse sneakers went onto Parker's feet he told me "those too tight, mama". And, underneath the 3 shirts they layered on him was still that boy I love and adore...
The dinner at Gap headquarters was a true "wine and dine" event - with a kid twist! They thought of everything - tables filled with crayons, slinkies, sticky slime to throw on the walls, and macaroni and cheese that even the grown-ups loved! We got to meet some of the key faces behind the design, purchasing, marketing, and publishing decisions at Gap. Wow.
And then the photo shoot. I talked with Parker and told him that he was going to have to wear the shoes "that were too tight" for just a little bit while he had his picture taken. I asked myself how to prepare for this day, and couldn't anticipate how it would turn out. I reminded him that if he was a good boy that his Papa would reward him with a ride on the backhoe. Hmm... he had to think about this for a bit. We were in the dressing room getting things in just the right place when Parker decided that he didn't want a thing to do with wearing the clothes that were snug, the shoes too small, bright lights, and the unfamiliar people telling him what to do (do you blame him?). It was at that moment that the British woman (her name was Yett), turned to me and said "Well, mum, what'll it be?" I politely asked if she could locate Kenadi (Parker's new best friend that we met on the first day) and asked for her presence to help persuade Parker to take his photos. Yett piped up, and exclaimed "Well then, Kenadi it is - on we go...OOOOHHH, Kenadi darling, come hither, I need you!" Yett quickly returned with Kenadi and plopped her on the lap of the photographer. At that moment the thoughts running through my head were that this was either the make or break moment for Parker's photo opportunity.
Stefano Azario was so polished, skilled, and centered his energy into every click (that Kenadi assisted him with) and immediately transformed Parker into the radiant, shining, brilliant little boy that he is! With Kenadi on his lap, he moved the camera into place and captured Parker at his finest. It was at that very moment that I realized how rewarding this experience truly was. This phenomenal man behind the lens did not let the temper tantrum of a 2 year old get in the way of turning my boy into a work of art. There were so many positive comments coming from the Gap people behind the screens on set that included lines of: "he's animated" "those eyes!" "captivating" "we've got it".
And so, Kenadi saved the day! It was to her cooperation and Parker's instant liking the day we arrived that contributed to priceless photographs. I stood on set with tears of joy and pride. This, I will never forget.
We had a safe flight home, managed to get caught up on laundry, and stepped back in to our "real" life here at home in St. Cloud. When I reflect on the pictures of our trip, and the video of the things we did, I still take a step back in awe and wonderment. These 5 days in California have been life-changing.
Now...it's up to you! It all comes down to the votes. There will be 4 winners selected - one from each category: baby boy, baby girl, kid boy, and kid girl. And the even better news is that Parker has a 1 in 5 chance of winning in his category (baby Boy)!!! It's up to America to select their favorites :) You are welcome to vote for one child per day in each category, every day. Please select only 1 primary email address to use in the voting process, as multiple addresses will disqualify your voting entries (or so I've been told).
Visit this link to cast your vote: www.gap.com
From flying on the airplane and Parker expressing his interest to "hold the ocean" to the bright lights and the click of the camera...we had a BLAST! Our days were filled with amazing things from start to finish.
The day of the fitting was a peek into the world of fashion. When we entered the room at the studio, the people from Gap turned their heads and said "oohs" and "aahs" over Parker :) There were racks of clothes, tables of shoes, an on-set hairdresser, and a room of seamstresses. His clothes fit just right - with not an inch to move or give. When the Converse sneakers went onto Parker's feet he told me "those too tight, mama". And, underneath the 3 shirts they layered on him was still that boy I love and adore...
The dinner at Gap headquarters was a true "wine and dine" event - with a kid twist! They thought of everything - tables filled with crayons, slinkies, sticky slime to throw on the walls, and macaroni and cheese that even the grown-ups loved! We got to meet some of the key faces behind the design, purchasing, marketing, and publishing decisions at Gap. Wow.
And then the photo shoot. I talked with Parker and told him that he was going to have to wear the shoes "that were too tight" for just a little bit while he had his picture taken. I asked myself how to prepare for this day, and couldn't anticipate how it would turn out. I reminded him that if he was a good boy that his Papa would reward him with a ride on the backhoe. Hmm... he had to think about this for a bit. We were in the dressing room getting things in just the right place when Parker decided that he didn't want a thing to do with wearing the clothes that were snug, the shoes too small, bright lights, and the unfamiliar people telling him what to do (do you blame him?). It was at that moment that the British woman (her name was Yett), turned to me and said "Well, mum, what'll it be?" I politely asked if she could locate Kenadi (Parker's new best friend that we met on the first day) and asked for her presence to help persuade Parker to take his photos. Yett piped up, and exclaimed "Well then, Kenadi it is - on we go...OOOOHHH, Kenadi darling, come hither, I need you!" Yett quickly returned with Kenadi and plopped her on the lap of the photographer. At that moment the thoughts running through my head were that this was either the make or break moment for Parker's photo opportunity.
Stefano Azario was so polished, skilled, and centered his energy into every click (that Kenadi assisted him with) and immediately transformed Parker into the radiant, shining, brilliant little boy that he is! With Kenadi on his lap, he moved the camera into place and captured Parker at his finest. It was at that very moment that I realized how rewarding this experience truly was. This phenomenal man behind the lens did not let the temper tantrum of a 2 year old get in the way of turning my boy into a work of art. There were so many positive comments coming from the Gap people behind the screens on set that included lines of: "he's animated" "those eyes!" "captivating" "we've got it".
And so, Kenadi saved the day! It was to her cooperation and Parker's instant liking the day we arrived that contributed to priceless photographs. I stood on set with tears of joy and pride. This, I will never forget.
We had a safe flight home, managed to get caught up on laundry, and stepped back in to our "real" life here at home in St. Cloud. When I reflect on the pictures of our trip, and the video of the things we did, I still take a step back in awe and wonderment. These 5 days in California have been life-changing.
Now...it's up to you! It all comes down to the votes. There will be 4 winners selected - one from each category: baby boy, baby girl, kid boy, and kid girl. And the even better news is that Parker has a 1 in 5 chance of winning in his category (baby Boy)!!! It's up to America to select their favorites :) You are welcome to vote for one child per day in each category, every day. Please select only 1 primary email address to use in the voting process, as multiple addresses will disqualify your voting entries (or so I've been told).
Visit this link to cast your vote: www.gap.com
Please share this with others to increase Parkers chances of becoming one of the new faces at Gap! The polls will be open from Tuesday, November 20th - Saturday, December 15th. Enjoy the attached photos from our trip...go Parker! Get voting ;)
Beaming with excitement of Parker,
Abby
p.s. I'm also encouraging votes for Kenadi in the baby girl category - what a sweetheart! She and Parker make a cute pair :)
Monday, November 12, 2007
San Fran here we come!
The laundry is done. The suitcases are waiting for the final things to be added. The DVD player is charged up and ready. The extra camera batteries are on standby. Parker has 4 of his favorite balls perfectly placed next to his Spiderman bag. And...we are ready! Stay tuned for pictures next week of our trip. Thank you, everyone, for your kind words of encouragement and support! We truly appreciate it from teh bottom of our hearts!!!
We met my sister & Graham at Space Aliens on Saturday afternoon for lunch. Notice the alien headband - we also went home with a Sponge Bob Football after Parker scored 100 tickets on one of the machines. THAT was cool to see :)
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Gap Questionnaire
Here's the latest "TO DO" for the Gap trip next week. I was asked to complete the below questions about Parker...
GAP CASTING CALL
BABY FINALISTS QUESTIONNAIRE
BABY’S NAME: Parker Duane Knutson
GENDER: Male
HOMETOWN: St. Cloud, MN
AGE: 2.5
BIRTHDATE: 04.20.2005
TOP/BOTTOM/ SHOE SIZES: Top: 4T/Bottom: 3T/Shoe Size: Infant 9
PARENTS NAME(S): Abby Andries & David Knutson
QUESTIONS
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT GAP’S CASTING CALL? I was online shopping for a winter coat one day and the Casting Call Ad caught my eye.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO ENTER? The display information on the advertisement and how adorable looking the winners were from last year.
WHY DO YOU WANT YOUR BABY TO BE IN A GAP AD? Parker portrays the finest example of a true “kid” who loves life to the fullest. It would bring me great joy to share this with others.
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HEARD YOUR CHILD WAS PICKED OUT OF MORE THAN 800,000 KIDS AND BABIES TO BE A FINALIST? Ecstatic and astonished! It is extremely rewarding & confirming to know that there are others that find him as attractive as I do.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BABY’S PERSONALITY? Flamboyant, warming, and inclusive – he always has to make sure that nobody is left out. When in Parker’s presence, he reminds me that life is all about LIVING.
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE SONG OR TYPE OF MUSIC? We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Greg & Steve
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza.
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE TOY, GAME, OR THING TO PLAY WITH? Parker loves a ball (of any sort). And, his favorite book to read is Llama Llama Red Pajama.
DOES YOUR BABY HAVE ANY PARTY TRICKS? Singing nursery rhymes (at the top of his lungs!)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOMETOWN/LOCAL ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR BABY? GO TO A PARK? THE ZOO? CHEER ON A LOCAL SPORTS TEAM? Believe it or not – Parker LOVES to play in the “tunnels” (as he describes them) at McDonalds.
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR LOCAL PAPER AND LOCAL NEWS STATION IN YOUR TOWN? Local paper: St. Cloud Times. Local News Station - there are several in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area: Kare 11/WCCO/Fox9/5 Eyewitness.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BABYGAP? I love how CUTE everything is - it makes me just want to buy everything! And, not to mention how well they wear and wash up. What mom doesn't love that?!
GAP CASTING CALL
BABY FINALISTS QUESTIONNAIRE
BABY’S NAME: Parker Duane Knutson
GENDER: Male
HOMETOWN: St. Cloud, MN
AGE: 2.5
BIRTHDATE: 04.20.2005
TOP/BOTTOM/ SHOE SIZES: Top: 4T/Bottom: 3T/Shoe Size: Infant 9
PARENTS NAME(S): Abby Andries & David Knutson
QUESTIONS
HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT GAP’S CASTING CALL? I was online shopping for a winter coat one day and the Casting Call Ad caught my eye.
WHAT PROMPTED YOU TO ENTER? The display information on the advertisement and how adorable looking the winners were from last year.
WHY DO YOU WANT YOUR BABY TO BE IN A GAP AD? Parker portrays the finest example of a true “kid” who loves life to the fullest. It would bring me great joy to share this with others.
HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU HEARD YOUR CHILD WAS PICKED OUT OF MORE THAN 800,000 KIDS AND BABIES TO BE A FINALIST? Ecstatic and astonished! It is extremely rewarding & confirming to know that there are others that find him as attractive as I do.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BABY’S PERSONALITY? Flamboyant, warming, and inclusive – he always has to make sure that nobody is left out. When in Parker’s presence, he reminds me that life is all about LIVING.
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE SONG OR TYPE OF MUSIC? We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Greg & Steve
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE FOOD? Pizza.
WHAT IS YOUR BABY’S FAVORITE TOY, GAME, OR THING TO PLAY WITH? Parker loves a ball (of any sort). And, his favorite book to read is Llama Llama Red Pajama.
DOES YOUR BABY HAVE ANY PARTY TRICKS? Singing nursery rhymes (at the top of his lungs!)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOMETOWN/LOCAL ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR BABY? GO TO A PARK? THE ZOO? CHEER ON A LOCAL SPORTS TEAM? Believe it or not – Parker LOVES to play in the “tunnels” (as he describes them) at McDonalds.
WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR LOCAL PAPER AND LOCAL NEWS STATION IN YOUR TOWN? Local paper: St. Cloud Times. Local News Station - there are several in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area: Kare 11/WCCO/Fox9/5 Eyewitness.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BABYGAP? I love how CUTE everything is - it makes me just want to buy everything! And, not to mention how well they wear and wash up. What mom doesn't love that?!
Monday, November 5, 2007
Parker is a finalist in the Gap modeling contest!
I was online shopping for a winter coat one day - searching some of my favorite sites. As I entered the Gap site, an advertisement caught my eye that read "Gap Casting Call - enter your photo here. Your child could be the next Gap model!". So, I entered the site, added Parker's photo and went on with my shopping.
On Thursday, November 1st, I received a phone call at work. What sounded like a telemarketer, I soon learned was confirmation of Parker as a finalist! I received 2 affidavit forms that needed to be signed, notarized (thats when I started realizing that this was serious stuff), and sent back in to confirm things. So, on I went with the forms and sent them in. The email that I received read:
"Congratulations! You have been selected as a potential top 20 Finalist in the Gap Casting Call.
As a Finalist, you win a babyGap photo shoot prize package, consisting of: (i) a trip package for you and your child featured in your submitted Photo to the babyGap/GapKids photo shoot, including roundtrip, coach-class air transportation for two (2) from a major airport near your home to San Francisco, CA; five (5) days and four (4) nights accommodations at a hotel (single room, double occupancy); and a $500 gift card to cover travel expenses. Each babyGap Finalist must travel between November 13 and November 17, 2007 or the prize will be forfeited. Please see the Official Rules for further prize details and eligibility requirements. This prize has an approximate retail value of $7000."
On Friday, it was ALL confirmed with a phone call from Gap Corporate. I learned that there were over 800,380 (to be exact) entrants for the contest. 5 kids from each of the 4 categories were chosen as finalists. And - my boy, Parker is one of them :)
My mom, Deb, is going with Parker and I to San Francisco next week! So far, I've been told that we will be picked up - at the front door of our house - in a Town Car at 8:30 am. on Tuesday, November 13th to fly out of the MPSP Airport at 11:40 a.m.
When we arrive in San Fran we will spend our days doing the following:
Tuesday, November 13th – travel to San Francisco
Wednesday, November 14th – clothes fitting
Thursday, November 15th – meet & greet with all 20 finalists & dinner with the Gap crew
Friday, November 16th – photo shoot with Stefano Azario, who is flying in from France!
Saturday, November 17th – travel home
I'm elated - to say the least! And, so proud of Parker. When I told him we were going on an airplane he looked at me and said "No thanks, mama. Maybe later". We've since then talked more about going on our trip next week and Parker has warmed up to the idea. When I asked him last night where we were going in an airplane he said "San Fwancysco, mama!"
Here's the winning photo that I uploaded onto the Gap site. I'm so proud to be a mama to this boy!
So...mark your calendars! Go to www.gap.com on Tuesday, November 20th to vote for Parker Knutson!!!!!
I'll be posting more details daily - be sure to check back for updates :)
On Thursday, November 1st, I received a phone call at work. What sounded like a telemarketer, I soon learned was confirmation of Parker as a finalist! I received 2 affidavit forms that needed to be signed, notarized (thats when I started realizing that this was serious stuff), and sent back in to confirm things. So, on I went with the forms and sent them in. The email that I received read:
"Congratulations! You have been selected as a potential top 20 Finalist in the Gap Casting Call.
As a Finalist, you win a babyGap photo shoot prize package, consisting of: (i) a trip package for you and your child featured in your submitted Photo to the babyGap/GapKids photo shoot, including roundtrip, coach-class air transportation for two (2) from a major airport near your home to San Francisco, CA; five (5) days and four (4) nights accommodations at a hotel (single room, double occupancy); and a $500 gift card to cover travel expenses. Each babyGap Finalist must travel between November 13 and November 17, 2007 or the prize will be forfeited. Please see the Official Rules for further prize details and eligibility requirements. This prize has an approximate retail value of $7000."
On Friday, it was ALL confirmed with a phone call from Gap Corporate. I learned that there were over 800,380 (to be exact) entrants for the contest. 5 kids from each of the 4 categories were chosen as finalists. And - my boy, Parker is one of them :)
My mom, Deb, is going with Parker and I to San Francisco next week! So far, I've been told that we will be picked up - at the front door of our house - in a Town Car at 8:30 am. on Tuesday, November 13th to fly out of the MPSP Airport at 11:40 a.m.
When we arrive in San Fran we will spend our days doing the following:
Tuesday, November 13th – travel to San Francisco
Wednesday, November 14th – clothes fitting
Thursday, November 15th – meet & greet with all 20 finalists & dinner with the Gap crew
Friday, November 16th – photo shoot with Stefano Azario, who is flying in from France!
Saturday, November 17th – travel home
I'm elated - to say the least! And, so proud of Parker. When I told him we were going on an airplane he looked at me and said "No thanks, mama. Maybe later". We've since then talked more about going on our trip next week and Parker has warmed up to the idea. When I asked him last night where we were going in an airplane he said "San Fwancysco, mama!"
Here's the winning photo that I uploaded onto the Gap site. I'm so proud to be a mama to this boy!
So...mark your calendars! Go to www.gap.com on Tuesday, November 20th to vote for Parker Knutson!!!!!
I'll be posting more details daily - be sure to check back for updates :)
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Parker aka Monkey
Here's the little munchkin - he had SO much fun trick-or-treating last night! And, he WAITED at the door for the kids to come. Had a blast handing out candy. So fun to see the excitement in his eyes and hear it in his voice. I love that he can be a kid :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)