Christmas Day

Christmas Day is a relaxing day for us at the Brower house! Now that the kids are older, they sleep in so that we don't have to do the Wee hours of the morning stocking and present opening. But, I don't think that 7:30 a.m. is sleeping in and that is what time Mckenna decided was when we were getting into the Christmas Day events!

we look in our Stockings, then each family member takes a turn opening presents. This year we didn't do many because they were big ticket items!

Devin got some clothes from his siblings, a blank check for Tuition help from Matt and I.

Kyler got some clothes from his siblings, and a big item ticket--- A LAPTOP

I really had the green eye'd monster than. His Laptop is amazing!!!

Mckenna got some clothes from her siblings, and a Sony Cybershot Camera!

Matt got a John Wayne tshirt from Devin, and is waiting to use the money he got for our Trip to Washington D.C. in February. Mckenna gave Matt a really nice red tie, and Kyler gave him really nice Dress socks!

I was spoiled I feel, but didn't get the big ticket item that I had asked Santa for: A Kitchen-Aide food processor...

I recieved a Tripod for my camera, a Wireless remote for my camera from Matt, a beautiful pair of earrings and necklace from Mckenna. A wallet from Kyler and from Devin i recieved my iphone Hello Kitty cover!

So, I think that we have been blessed for Christmas, but our best blessing was being able to give back to others this season by doing a lot of Gift Wrapping with a bunch of Charity causes, and also, working at the Salvation Army in the Angel Tree shopping, wrapping, and giving away packages to those who are in need. I was impressed with the fact that some of the people that we worked with in all our Giving experiences might also have been wanting this year, but were looking to Pay it Forward to others because they had been help out in previous years.

An older Couple and I were discussing (at our lunch break working at the Salvation Army, )each of our situations why we were working at the Salvation Army this season and their reason was to Give since they have so much and have been blessed in their lives. Mine was to give back for the same reason, but also to teach Kyler and Mckenna about tolerance, compassion for others and to show them how many people are truly in need in Ocala this year. The economy has thrown our community for a huge loop (not unlike other communities in the nation,) but if you are not living in it, as a teenager you really have no idea what these poor families are going through unless you see it first hand.

I pray that my children have picked out a few experiences from our Service to enlarge their hearts toward others and truly pass on the Spirit of Christmas!

What do you do for Christmas to carry the spirit to others?

Christmas Eve

One of the many traditions that we have in our family on Christmas Eve is having Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup (or in Mckenna and Matt's case, Chicken Noodle soup and no Grilled Cheese- so boring!)

This year we added a new tradition: Matt decided that he really missed our firepit in Santa Clara so He went and bought one, set up chairs in the driveway and decided that we could do our Christmas Eve dinner around the firepit. It was a great addition to our evening.

After we have dinner we usually start our evening opening up one present which has been on the whole been pajama's but has also been blankets that have been made by me!

Then we move on with the program by reading The Night Before Christmas by Clarence Moore and then singing a few Christmas songs which we end by singing Silent Night and then head into reading the story of the Savior's birth!

Right before we go to bed we put out the Santa Bowl filled with Cereal, a spoon and a cup of milk in a Christmas cup for Santa. Then we place out the reindeer food (one carrot for each reindeer, Rudolph too,) and a special mixture to guide the reindeer on their way to our house. It contains: oats, glitter, grass, more oats.

Then we watch family videos of Christmas' Past and then it is off to bed!

Mckenna at the age of 1

What Kind of Family Christmas Traditions do you have?

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree

So, we showed you what our finding a Christmas tree was like, well. Here is the finished product!

Mckenna the Artist!

Mckenna this past year has been taking Art in school. Yes, a school that appreciates the arts! Anyway, she has been learning about impressionist art and realistic art. She has done some really cool Paintings and Pastels. It made me think about how much I had wanted to learn how to paint with oils, but never did. I really still want to do that, I might just have to take a class on oil painting!!!

But, I digress, This is about Mckenna, SO Enjoy Mckenna's Art!

I need to frame these because they are so awesome!

Ocala Christmas Parade

We were invited by the Stentiford's to share their lot to watch the Ocala Christmas Parade. Mckenna was over at a friends house, Kyler was in the parade which is why we went in to the first place! Matt doesn't necessarily like parades, and yet, I love them. So when the kids are going to be in a parade I am so thrilled!!!

Matt With Robert "Papa" Stentiford, They had

a great food and music set-up!

I love the smell of the vendors food even though I was not eating any of the crap they were selling, I love watching the people who are there observing the parade, and I love the patriotism that the Veterans create when the parade starts and that beautiful American Flag and the participating State and/or City Flag glides past!

Big Bands marching down the street are so exciting, and that is probably the best part of the parade for Matt so he endures it for me!

I love Florida parades, the part that they have that other states don't is that since there is no snow, it is usually the majority of the time warmer so that to provide the Christmas spirit, we tend to add lights to the floats! Nothing is more heartwarming than a boat encrusted with Christmas lights. I have actually been to a parade during Christmas that was actually a boat parade on the water and that was really an interesting twist to a parade for me, but was awesome!

Floats representing decorated with Christmas Lights, these are the ones that I found the most festive. I mean who can pass up on a Toys for Tots toy drive?

Kyler was marching in the parade with his Air Force ROTC. There were many High School ROTC's involve in this parade, but Nothing was more impressive that Forest High's ROTC. They by far were the largest group I have seen outside of College! I love that they had Fatigues, Dress Uniforms and their normal uniforms represented. Kyler actually loves being involved in the ROTC and is planning on being involved in the Airforce and ROTC through out the upcoming years. I am looking forward to seeing him in a Dress Uniform, because he looks so handsome in his regular Uniform. This summer he will be going to a Airforce ROTC camp, which he is looking forward too!

Partial section of the Forest High AFROTC, I took pictures of the whole group, Kyler is somewhere in there, but I didn't want to over whelm this blog entry!


The only down fall to this parade was that it was extremely long and there were too many gaps between entries. Also, the feel of the parade going down Silver Springs Blvd was not as personal as was our parades in Santa Clara, which were on a small street or Newnan's parade where it was on a busy street but was tree lined so that it was also more cozy. I think that this must come from my many planned and executed parades that I have done over the years, so I end up watching and thoughtfully come up with things that could be improved! I know, it isn't always a good thing to critique parades but I love trying to make things better and I would kill to be involved in the Parks and Rec department so that I could do what I love in helping plan the activities in the City!!! lol