Hey now...I'm a Rockstar!

...Or at least Brooklyn is! (more to follow...here's a little background first.)

Darin is back to being a "party planner". The new company he works for, Max International, just held their annual convention this month at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City. Darin spent the last 2 months planning a stellar event that usually requires more than a year's worth of planning. The evening portions of the convention usually include parties, entertainment, an awards gala, and dinners (not to mention all the day-time general sessions, keynote speakers, special surprise guests, etc.). Highlights of the week included meeting Evander Holyfield, M.C./Hosting the Awards Gala alongside entertainer/comedian/singer Jason Hewlett, and pulling off a world-class event in such little time.


When Darin was at NuSkin, I would usually try to go to some of the entertainment portions of the event, particularly the final night's Awards Gala and Live Show. This was no different, except Brooklyn and Makenna accompanied me to see Jason's show (and to see their Dad as the Master's of Ceremony). We were also planning to go to the after-party. The show was so fun. Jason Hewlett did an awesome job with all of his impressions, singing, and off-the-cuff humor. Here is a direct link to Jason's page. (You can watch clips from his shows right on his site. Check him out.) The unrehearsed banter between Jason and Darin was hilarious, too! We enjoyed watching them on stage together.

Jason with one of his MANY amazing facial expressions,
and Darin crackin' up beside him.

After the Gala, we went over to the after-party and danced our little hearts out. I felt 20 again (in spirit)...my body sure felt it the next morning. The girls tuckered out before I did, so Darin offered to take them back behind stage to tie up a few loose ends, and to give them a change of scenery. I stayed behind over in the "club" scene so that I could keep DANCING!

When Darin got over there, the live band was still playing on stage. Brooklyn and Makenna wanted to sit and watch. Brooklyn had mentioned to Darin that she thought it would be fun to sing with them. The owner of the production company overheard this and ran up on stage. He asked the band members if it would be o.k. if Darin - the guy who planned this whole thing - if his daughter could come up and sing with them. They said, "Yea! Send her up. What does she want to sing?" They were told, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin' ". They started the song...and up walks this little girl...they were not expecting a little girl...and then came the voice! They couldn't believe that that voice was coming out of that little body! Microphone in hand; spotlight set; and camera booms hovering, Brooklyn belted out one of the greatest rock hits of all time. No lyrics were provided for her, so she had to sing it from memory. With the exception of a couple middle parts, she aced it. The band helped her through those parts, and then she sailed off with a sweet finish! Everyone cheered, clapped and the band couldn't stop smiling!

AND I MISSED IT ALL! :o

I walked in after it was all over. Darin had to recount the story to me. Luckily, the cameras were actually rolling and it was all caught on film, so I will get to see her live performance...eventually. Darin had to sign a release for her 'cuz they want to use the still shot photos and the movie reels for their production video. So, Brooklyn really is a rockstar! (at least she felt like it at the moment)...all while I was too busy being a dancing queen. (ha, ha, ha)

All in all, it was a very crazy couple of months for Darin (and us because he wasn't around much). It was a race to the finish, literally, and now he's convalescing in bed with his post back surgery recovery. He just discovered the following photos that were taken of Brooklyn during her moment of FAME.

"Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world.
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere."

The band members were all smiles!
(and all wigs...they dressed the part for the occasion.)

A little one-on-one help.

"Don't stop BELIEVIN'. Hold on to the feelin'. "

"High Fives!"