Mckenna's Performance in THE LAST SONG Premier

In May, Mckenna was, As I told you before, Privileged to perform at The Last Song premier for Kelly Preston, John and Ella Bleu Travolta.

Here are her two performances. Mckenna is the girl who goes up to the PoPular girl at the beginning. Her hair is lighter than the other two, but since the quality of the video is not so great, it is hard to tell... Sorry,  Also, the next routine Mckenna is the Smaller girl in the Silver dress!
Mckenna said it was very hard to dance on the  concrete. She actually ruined her New jazz shoes on it! Also, the performance before (which you don't see,) she fell doing her Arial, so she puts her hands for the Silver Dress routine! Pour kid, had scratches on her head. It could've been worse, I am glad it wasn't!
 I thought you might like to get a little taste of how it went down. Enjoy!

St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos

For Memorial Weekend we decided that we were going to be doing a lot of fun travel in Florida. Seeing places that we hadn't been before in our 7 years of living in Florida!

Sunday we were going to go to my Parents since they were leaving on Tuesday for their summer vacation, (yes, we have been there before but hey, it is our favorite place to swim and has the most amazing people dwelling there!), but on our way out the door we were told it was scattered showers and not so great looking so we high tailed it towards St. Augustine instead!

We ate at a fun place called the Florida Cracker Cafe on St.George Street. great food huge servings! Kyler got a Chicken Cesaer Salad, Kenna got a shrimp house salad that was a meal in of it self! Matt got a pulled pork sandwich and I got a swiss burger and fries and apple sauce... delish.

St. George Street was CROWDED! One day when Matt and I are visiting alone we will be able to look into the stores a little longer but, they had some fantastic stores based on the European crusades and the likes that is going to help us with our Halloween Crusades/Knights of the Round Table Mystery Dinner! Check out our pictures.

Here is your History Lesson for the day my dear students:

The City of St. Augustine is the nation's oldest permanently occupied European settlement, having been founded by the Spanish in 1565.

On Sept. 8. 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore and named a stretch of land near the inlet in honor of Augustine, a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on whose feast day - Aug. 28 - land was sighted. The location has been pinpointed in recent years by archaeologists from the University of Florida as being where the present-day Mission of Nombre de Dios and the Fountain of Youth stand, several blocks north of the City Gate and the Castillo de San Marcos.

Another History Lesson students:

There's no doubt the Castillo de San Marcos is the most impressive of all the historical landmarks in St. Augustine. Thousands of visitors flock here to see this unique structure and learn about it's colorful history.

Once the northernmost outpost of Spain's empire in the New World, construction on the Castillo was begun in 1672 and completed 23 years later.

The Castillo was twice besieged by the British -- once for 50 days in 1702 and again during a 27-day bombardment in 1740. Both times, the Castillo held fast against its attackers.

Politics, however, succeeded where cannon failed. In 1763, Spain gave Florida to the British in exchange for Havana, Cuba. For the next 20 years, the huge edifice was known as Fort St. Mark. In 1783, Florida was returned to Spain's control.

The Second Spanish Period ended in 1821 when Spain gave Florida to the United States, and in 1825 the name was again changed -- this time to Fort Marion. During the ensuing years the old structure was used, at various times, to house Indian prisoners during the Seminole Wars; to house Confederate soldiers during the Civil War; for holding Plains Indians captured during western campaigns; and as a military prison during the Spanish American War.

In 1924, both the Castillo de San Marcos and its sister structure -- Fort Matanzas, which was built by the Spanish from 1740-42 to protect the southern approach to St. Augustine -- were proclaimed national monuments. Nine years later, both were turned over to the National Park Service.

My New Life by Stephanie Nielson c/o Mormon Messages

Stephanie Nielson and her husband were in a Plane crash in August of 2008 and this Mormon Messages video is such an uplifting message I had to share...

I was so impressed by the little I saw in this video, that I had to look up her blog (Nie Nie,) and then ran into her sister's blog (C. Jane,) which impressed me even more.

If you would like to find out about Stephanie, read about what she has to say and find out what she has gone through go to the two blog addresses. C Jane enjoy it and Nie Nie Dialogues . You will have to go back to August 2008 but it is so worth the read through 2 years of her life...

Actually Nie Nie is so entertaining before hand and her pictures are darling that you might want to get to know her before the accident!
Enjoy.

Her Experiences have taught me to be so thankful for all my blessings and she has taught me that nothing is too hard to bear or work through. ( I would talk more about it but every time I think of what Stephanie has accomplished or gone through I get choked up that you will just seriously have to read it for yourselves!)

Thank you Stephanie for your your eternal happiness and sharing your voice and heart!

Game Night and Foil Dinners

So, Mckenna has been craving herself some foil dinners and we finally got to be able to be home all together and accomplish her crave...

It is quite hot in Florida at this time, but it was a little cooler this evening so we decided it was prime time for an outside adventure.

Thanks Kenna for craving it!

We always like to play games after having our foil dinners, it reminds us of camping and so because we have been on a Scum kick (yes, we are missing the Hunts so much!) we played some Scum and of course the king Kyler was El Presidente' once again!!!!! Grrrr... and I of course was Scum as always!!!

While we were cooking Kyler shot a little basketball, Kenna did a little Rip sticking, Matt did a little relaxing and I did a little photography!

The video pic is of Me and Mckenna watching Stephanie Nielson talk about her life after her and her husband's plane crash. If you don't know what I am talking about check out the video in the next post!

View from our Hotel in Orlando

So this past weekend we went to Orlando for a Conference that Matt was involved in. We didn't arrive until about 5:30 because the kids took their own sweet time packing up their overnight bag... How hard is it to pack for 2 days? :P
The Hotel inside was okay, the outside was it's Florida gorgeous best. It was funny because we were driving up and Mckenna and Kyler look at the hotel and their words were " this is a nice hotel?" in unison this was said... What do you take from that? I think that in the past few months they have been spoiled with extremely nice hotels!!! But their next hotel in Florida will be the nicest of all but that doesn't happen until July.

As I said before the grounds were so beautiful that I of course had to take pictures. And ofcourse we through in a few sittings for Mckenna and me. The guys they didn't want anything to do with the picture taking so we left them out!

Kyler's Georgia Flight Challenge Games

So, the same weekend that Mckenna has a dance competition Kyler has a Flight Challenge in his AFJROTC and it is unfortunately held in Georgia... I can't seem to figure out how I am supposed to be in 2 places at once and have Matt also gone to Utah Fly fishing, just not possible. So, Kyler goes off to Georgia, Mckenna and I head off to Lakeland and Matt of course is at the Lake in Utah having a grand old time!

Here are a few pictures from other people in his flight and Unit. Enjoy, I know I did!

The Many Faces of Mckenna Marie Brower

Forest High School's AFJROTC National Awards Ceremony

Kyler tells me one day that he has an awards ceremony to go to but that he isn't getting an award because it is National Awards and it is really for the Seniors and that Matt and I are not needed at the ceremony. I tell him that i know that we are invited because MStg. Fletcher has told me about it and that all parents are able to attend all events!

So, Matt and I dress up, Kyler is in his very stunning Uniform and off we go! We are impressed by the show and activities that they have at this awards ceremony. We have the passing of the baton to the new Student Commander (which is called something but I can't remember what,) we have a Senior presentation to the Adult Leaders in charge from the Senior class and vice versa...

But, the best of all is the video and then the awards!

It is a good thing that we were attending because low and behold ASI Cadet Kyler Brower received an award for outstanding leadership from the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (Funny little side story... Kyler when he was younger used to tell me that he was a black boy dipped in Whiteout and that he had mad hops!) Well, I turned to Matt after this award was given and I said, Maybe he really is dipped in Whiteout? because the The Tuskegee Airmen award was based on The Tuskegee Airmen who were dedicated, determined young men who enlisted to become america's first black military airmen, at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism.

I think it is incredibly interesting and cool all at the same time!

Here is a picture of Kyler who did not want to pose for me but did under duress

He does look handsome though:

don't you love the mugshot look?

Light Up Ocala 2010

Today was Pac’s performance at Light Up Ocala. There were adorable singers, little tap dancers, Makayla singing the First Noel and Jr.& Sr. Sudden Impact team members dancing to Christmas music. The girls did a really great job!
I will try and add video so that you can see Mckenna dancing. I just can’t do that on my laptop (no designated camcorder connector!)
It was absolutely gorgeous out, the down town area wasn’t badly crowded and after Eating with the Stentiford’s and the Griffis’s at Harry’s, we went to see the Crampton’s  Kettle and Kernal stand. Yummy Kettle corn… The caramel was the best! We sat there pulling gag advertising, yelling out that the Kettle Corn was hot and delicious! It was fun!
 
Around 6:30 Downtown was extremely crowded. I don’t mean crowded like an elevator gets but Crowded like we are jammed into a phone booth trying to get into the Ministry of Magic but the operator isn’t putting us through. It was oppressive seriously; It wasn’t even a great- Hey' let’s people watch here… It was just too CROWDED! Just a taste of the crowd:

The tree was beautiful, it was hard to see it while it was being lit up. And the sad thing was they didn’t play any Christmas music while it was happening! I wanted  music,” Oh, Christmas Tree.” any thing Kwanzaa, Hanukah etc… I am not picky about the theme for the holiday just wanted something!!!

 

                       The tree in the Day and the Tree in the green and Red stripe in the far away dark! 

Fairfax Virginia and Mount Vernon or Day 3 of our Trip to D.C.

So, we woke up fairly early and went and had a great breakfast at the Hotel Cafe. They have a wonderful Continental breakfast with Fresh Fruit- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries the works! While you are eating breakfast there is a wonderful guitarist playing great music. It makes me feel as if I am the most spoilt girl in the world!

After we had our great breakfast we had planned the night before that we were going to go see Matt's Hero~ George Washington and tour his Estate (I use that term loosely...) at Mount Vernon. I who were becoming expert Metro riders hopped onto the Metro made our connection at Huntington station and then hopped onto the shuttle in Fairfax and past some of the most amazing houses! There was one for sale that had a view of the Potomac that was to die for! I think I am falling in love with Colonial homes. But this one was of course right up my alley--- a Victorian!

I wasn't able to take pictures in George Washington's home but was able to take pictures of the outhouses and of his Tomb. And Matt and I were so lucky to meet Lady Washington herself!!! You don't believe me? Well, wait and see!!!!

I was absolutely in love with the view from Mount Vernon's home! I think I could have stayed there for the rest of the trip, eaten at the Mount Vernon Inn (which we did not... bummer,) and slept in the guest bedroom (which was quite substantial for that time.) Yes, I can say that I was in love with the peace of it all!

I hope you feel as if you are with us with our pictures!

Arlington National Cemetery or Day 2 of our trip to D.C.

Today was our first escapade out of the downtown area of D.C.
We decided that we would head out to the Hallowed grounds of Arlington and visit The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, J.F.K and Jackie Kennedy's burial site and enjoy the peace of all that is included.

It was absolutely amazing how peaceful the cemetery could be when the Ronald Reagan National airport planes weren't taking off!

We had a special chat with one of the soldiers on duty whom Matt saw inside their soldier quarters right before the changing of the guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. That fine soldier was absolutely the friendliest I had ever seen and was quite a contrast to his counterparts that were on guard who were silent, composed and really serious (which is as they should be, right?)

I loved the so many different war hero's that were buried in that large cemetery and it was quite sobering to think all the men and women buried there had been killed in the service of their country and were there to protect ME! Coming from a mom who's middle son wants to serve in the Air force, I am so thankful for their sacrifice to our country. Thanks to all of you who in some way or other are serving our country! My hat and heart is out to you. Kyler is considering a very special career and in some ways it scares me and in other ways I am so proud of him for being so selfless!

(disclaimer: I am sitting in B and N writing these blog entries and I didn't delete any of the numerous pics on this entry or give captions. I am sorry, but I am just tired of the yummy smelling coffee and it is getting late. Please forgive me. -S-)

I hope that you enjoy our pictures,
May you feel the awe that those who have gone on ahead deserve!

Washington D.C. in the Winter or Day 1 of our adventure

So, we are in Washington D.C. for Matt's Florida Municipal Power Authority (think that is what it is called.)
I am so lucky that I got to go with him thanks to our friends the Larsen's and Shaddix's.
It has been cold this first day! I anticipated the cold and was actually freaking out about it for weeks ahead of time that I actually made my own gloves, hat and scarf for this occasion and had to go find a coat in Ocala (which believe it or not had really been no existent because of the cold snap in December!)


Our first touristy thing we wanted to do was go to the Holocaust Museum. I was so excited about this because I had just finished reading the book NIGHT by Elie Weisel and knew that I could possible handle the photos and videos that they throw at you behind the high walls. It still broke me down to tears! I Just can't help it, it really hits me deep in the heart!



I am still amazed that so many people were fooled by the Nazi Propaganda. I mean they played their trickery so well what with the Red Cross tours, the Olympics, everything. They were so good at hiding the nasty, horrible things they were doing and yet, it still amazed me that there were so many that turned a blinds eye to it all. Even the United States turned a blind eye to the "rumors" because we had so many problems of our own at that time. and then when it came time for Liberation of the Concentration Camps that the USA military encountered the Horror of what had been going on finally reached home. I think that is when I broke down the hardest was the videos of the Liberation of Dachau and Buchenwald! But what really got to me the hardest was the thousand of shoes that were on display of the poor Jewish people who were put in those concentration camps! It reverberated to my soul and I totally lost it!

I have seen so many wonderful things while here. The hotel we are staying in is absolutely amazing, but to me is still not like the Grand America in Salt Lake City, Utah. (which is my absolute fav! Yes, I know I am a spoiled gal when it comes to some of the hotels I get to stay at!)



I didn't have a clue as to how much Matt and I were going to be walking and ended up seriously exhausted by the time I finish the first night.
Matt has been such a trooper waiting for me to stop and start and stop again to take pictures because this is what I do... I am a shutterbug and want to remember our trip in details!

Thanks Honey for your patience!!!
Well, I hope you enjoy the first day pictures!

October Murder Mystery Dinner or Who killed Notorious Nick?

So, I am a slacker. No, not really, just couldn't get my pictures off my super slow computer is all... p.s. also, still have to put all the wonderful people slideshow on, but wanted to make sure atleast this part was posted!

Matt and I, as some of you know love to throw a great party! Two years ago we decided to do a Halloween Costume party but didn't know how we would go about it, so we (me,) googled costume parties and I found this really fun idea to do a Murder Mystery dinner. Now, I had heard others who had done these type of things, but they were boxed versions that you played with a small group and we wanted to have a PARTY, so we found this great website, ordered the package and went full tilt on our plans. Here is a link to that dinner if you like to see our first fun party~:http://browerfamily.blogspot.com/2007/11/what-do-pirates-and-murder-mysteries.html.

So, we had told our wonderful friends that we would be doing another mystery dinner the next year and that they should save the date. But then Matt took his job in Ocala and started that very October and so with sadness I decided that I could not pull off a Party of that size by myself which made my friends terribly upset.

This past September not having our strong friend base like we did in Santa Clara we weren't sure if we were going to do our party or not. After much discussion (5 seconds worth! :) we decided that we needed to keep the tradition going and that we would invite new friends~(yes, we had only started it in 2007, but it was so anticipated that we considered it an old tradition. we had spent 3 months planning it.)

So, the plans commenced and we decided that we would be doing a Roaring 20's themed party because I love the flapper era and knew I could get great music for it!

We were so excited for this party, we had been talking to a few really fun members of our ward and they were looking forward to the party and I could tell that they would make it really, really awesome!!!

I originally had planned on being the Roving Reporter and go undercover by being dressed-up like a man, with a fedora, and suit with a press pass on my fedora, but then right before the party we had a few couples that decided not to come and so Matt and I assumed their roles. Luckily for me, I had a great dress that looked very 20's era and had watched A River Runs Through It and decided to do the finger roll hairstyle, not what I really wanted to do, but it didn't turn out so bad! I thank Cynthia Horst for taking this picture since I did not get a single picture of myself in costume~

Matt did the most amazing job of playing Notorious Nick Nemitz and I played his Fiance' Molly Moll.

I was trying to break into the movies with my gorgeous looks and killer attitude but was competing with Dina Dive for the role in Hollywood Hal's new blockbuster! What no one knew was that Nick had been greasing Hal's palms for me to be in the role instead of Dina.

All the important people of the town were invited to Rosie's Juice Joint to celebrate Nick and I's engagement. We even had Humphry Bogart grace our presence at the dinner.

During Nick's Toast to all our friends calamity hit and Nick was murdered (dang there goes my career down the tube!) but who had done it?!

Was it his sister, Natalie, his ex-wife Flora, his arch Nemisis Southside Sal or someone else? I want answers and I want them like yesterday!!!!
It was P.I. Pinkerton's job to find out who murdered Nick. Finally after all the clues were in we found out that the copper Chief Cameron murdered my fiance'!!

We had so much fun! Kyler and his friend Harrison were the bartenders.

Mckenna was the cigar and cigerette girl and 2 of her friends, Devin and Sam were a waitress and game dealer.

We had game tables with cards and dice games.

We had dancing, we had great Italian food and we even had Cannoli's!!! The company was great, the atmosphere was electric and the food was delicious!

What will we do next year? Well, you will have to wait to find out but I am thinking Gold Gobblets, eating with hands, Cornish Hens, Joisting, Serfs, peasants, Lords and Ladies, a King and a Queen... humm...

Family Photo session

So, for Christmas I received a wireless remote for my camera and also a tripod. I have wanted both of these things so that I can finally put myself into the photos that I love to take of my family.

Here is how our first session went. I am so thankful that Devin was home for Christmas so that we could have a complete family! This is actually the first picture that we have had all together since like 2004 when we took one with our German Shepherd Roxey! That is way to long to wait for pictures.

Hope you enjoy!

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