We received some out-of-this-world entries for our annual Peeps Show.
Seriously. At least three artists or groups created dioramas with the colorful marshmallow treats that imagined Peeple living and working in space.
Television shows and movies, including “Barbie” and “Jurassic Park,” were well and humorously represented. We received entries from classrooms, retirees, and astronaut trainees in Hampton. Several Swifties sent homages to the music icon Taylor Swift and her beau, Super Bowl champ Travis Kelce, but none of those entries made our final list. (We appreciate the fandom, though.)
We ranked entries on creativity, how well the pieces were executed and LOL-ness — the ability to make us laugh out loud. We’ve included our favorites here, and these and a few others can be found online at pilotonline.com and dailypress.com.
Houston, we have a Peeps problem! Transmission: We are Peeple in the aerospace industry, and our mission is to send more Peeps to the moon and beyond! Mission control, do you copy?! (Submitted by adult astronauts in training from NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, including Jenny Monokrousos, Susan Moran, Thai Ngo, Pat Lucker and Stacey Hughey)
When there’s something sweet in your neighborhood … who you gonna call? GhostPeepers! Made with cereal boxes, egg cartons, felt and Legos. We have the four GhostPeepers facing GozerPeep, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Peep peeking around the corner, and GhostPeep fan Louis trying to take out Slimer down at headquarters. (Submitted by Miranda Downing, Williamsburg)
“This diorama was inspired by memories of living on a dairy farm in my early childhood. Back then, this area was much more rural and small farms dotted the landscape. Constructing the scene took me back to the early 50s and precious memories of my hard-working mother and father.” (Submitted by Margaret Padilla, Portsmouth)
Must go FASTER! (Submitted by Stephanie Bussiere, Virginia Beach)“My granddaughter chooses a theme, ALWAYS a musical.” Here, it’s “Wicked.” (Submitted by Deby Mallery, Chesapeake)
Volunteer Peeps responding to a home fire and giving blood at the American Red Cross of Coastal Virginia. (Submitted by Jenny Metzger Lester, regional philanthropy officer, Norfolk)
Peeps at a Gloucester daffodil festival. (Submitted by Suzanne Mercure, Gloucester)
Good food, good Peeple. Whether you gather with family or friends, your holiday tastes better with Smithfield at the table. (Submitted by Kathy Mehaffey, Sue Carlson, Lauck Mueller, Rachel Alexander, Charity Wright, Mary Austin Darden, John Davenport, Larry Paul, Matt Johnson, Lyla Trace, Michelle Brillhart, Shannon Torries and Valerie King of Suffolk)
“Campeeping”: “Once springtime comes, we love to go camping at our favorite campground in Louisa, Virginia, with our peeps!” (Submitted by sisters Shelagh Morris, Moyock, North Carolina, and Terri Houpos, Virginia Beach)
GrandPEEPpa and GrandPEEPma watching their Peeps working to keep the Norfolk Botanical Garden neat and litter-free. They know that “Where litter lies, beauty dies.” (Submitted by Alice Claywell, Portsmouth)Chick Beach. (Submitted by Abigail Craun, 15, and Caroline Blair, 7, Norfolk)
Welcome to GaliPEEP Montessori School. It is a model of a Montessori primary classroom designed for children ages 3-6. One Peep is the teacher (or “guide”) and the others are the students who can work alone, with a friend or in small groups at tables or on small rugs. The classroom is broken into four main areas: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math and Language. (Submitted by Blythe Dyson, 9; Harriet Rutherford, 9; Joss Livernois, 9; Mac MacDonald, 8: third-graders at Galilee Montessori School in Virginia Beach.)
The Peep is saluting the troops and paying his respects to fallen soldiers. (Submitted by Quinton Galvez, 16, Yorktown)
Bunny the VamPeep Slayer, along with her friends Willow Rosenbun and Xander Hare-is, and her Watcher Rabbit Giles, fight off VamPeeps, ZombPeeps, demon chicks and GhostPeeps. (Submitted by Heather Barnes, Norfolk, and Kimberly Karle, Suffolk)
Blue Blood’s “Peep Day” Family Dinner: “I’ve always loved this television show. No matter the problems of life around them, they always have their Sunday family dinner and deal with it.” (Submitted by Cheri Seburn, Chesapeake)
Peep Peep — a spinoff from the “Barbie” movie. (Submitted by Alice Kaus, Chesapeake)
Mama Peep and baby shopping at the local Peepmart for their Easter treats. (Submitted by Cindy Thomas, Chesapeake)
In anticipation of the next moon landing, the Peeps wear helmets and are looking at moon rocks. (Submitted by Peyton Shafer, 12, Poquoson)
