The McKinney Family

Meet Izlei Mae!

2011-07-19T15:52:00.000-07:00

My niece Cassidei had a beautiful baby girl in May. They named her Izlei and I have not been able to meet her until this past weekend. The kids and I met Dan (my step-dad), Cassidei and the baby in Colorado. They met us half way between where we are in Kansas and Cedar City,so that my kids could spend some time in Utah....needless to say Izlei was THE STAR OF THE SHOW! I still cannot believe that I am a great-aunt (it sounds SO OLD!!) I look forward to getting to spoil her!!!.

2011-07-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

OK I have been trying to post on our blog for about 6 months and everytime I do it DOES NOT WORK! Help!!!!

A Day in the Life.....Summer @ the McKinneys

2011-07-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not these pics were taken while we were at the dentist office...there is neVEr a dull moment with our family. Bryce and Aydan had friends along while Blayne and Aydan had work done at the dentist (Blayne 2 cavities and Aydan 3).
Bryce and her friend Zach enjoyed time in the massage chairs, although, it sounded more like they were being tortured than relaxing. All in all the time passed quickly and we even scored Smash Burger meals for the boys!

Wyatt's 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony

2011-05-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Wyatt completed the 8th grade this year and will begin high school! I

it does not seem like long ago he was entering kindergarten. He is

still quiet and smart. I love that he is growing up to be such a great

person. I know the sky is the limit with this kid and I am proud to be his mom!

2011-05-30T07:12:00.000-07:00

I am going to pledge that I will post more on my Blog...I have a dear friend that does a great job on her blog and I love to follow her family. I have not been very successful with my journaling lately and hope that this will help. Bryce composed this awesome video for one of her classes at school and received a perfect grade. I love my talented and crazy kids!

Aydan Goes Under the Knife

2010-11-29T16:22:00.001-08:00

Aydan had to have surgery the Tuesday before Thanksgiving...his Doctor was a urologist -enough said- Aydan was so brave and everything came out just fine. Jeff and I were by his side the entire time....the nurses and staff were so impressed by how calm and good he was. We love our Aydan and are sure glad that this is over and done with!

Stem Cells & Washington DC

2010-11-02T13:46:00.000-07:00

The Lincoln Memorial

Arlington National Cemetary

The Subway

Jeff all hooked up and watching TV

The final product!

Jeff found out that he was a match for someone in need of stem cells and plasma (he is in the national donor program). It just happens that he is on Department of Defense list too. We found out that the person needing the donation would need it quickly so we had about 10 days notice to get organized so that we could travel to Washington D.C. My sweet sister Neshia came and stayed with our kids so that I could accompany Jeff...she is an angel & made it so we had no worries concerning how things were going at home. Jeff had to have shots for five days that stimulated the stem cells in his body to extract or multiply (I am not sure which is correct). Then on the last day they hooked him up to a machine that took blood out of one arm, then it went through a machine that extracted the stem cells and plasma from his blood, and finally the blood that was left went through a tube and back into his other arm. Jeff was a trooper the entire time and was grateful to be able to help someone out. The first two days he was feeling pretty good so we were able to take in a few sites. We went to Arlington National Cemetery, walked the mall and also visited the Holocaust Museum. I loved every minute of our time in our Nations Capital. I am thankful for Jeff too and his selflessness.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-01T19:29:00.000-07:00

We had a week of celebrating Halloween here in Kansas. The kids had opportunities to dress up every day from the 28th up until the 31st. To add to the festivities Jeff celebrated his 39th Birthday on the 29th. Happy Birthday Sweetie! Happy Halloween to everyone!

First Day of School 2010-11

2010-08-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

Bryce - Sophomore at Junction City High School

Blayne 3rd grade at Custer Hill Elementary

Aydan 1st grade at Custer Hill Elementary

Wyatt 8th grade at Fort Riley Middle School

YiKEs..............SSSnAkE!!!

2010-08-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

I went out back to move the sprinkler and guess what was just outside our fence! Yes a Snake! Jeff and Aydan were the only ones brave enough in our family to leave the back step. Here are a few choice pics (from the back door)....there is NEVER a dull moment at the McKinneys.

March Madness!!

2010-07-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

The Grizz turned 6 on March 8th...I am still in disbelief that my baby is as old as he is!! He loved taking Rice Krispy Treats to his kindergarten class! His teacher lets the birthday child pass out the treat and then after everyone is served, the birthday child gets to take the first bite! Aydan thouroughly enjoyed being able to take the first bite and took his "own sweet time." I have been able to volunteer in his class twice a week here in Kansas and really have enjoyed it! When we first arrived and I found out that he would be in school all day (because that is how they do it here), I almost had a heart attack! Aydan has thrived and made many friends and loves his teacher too. I know that I am partial - but he is the most special and smartest boy! He can read and uses big words that never stop surprising Jeff and I like..actually and exhausted which he uses in as many sentences as possible. He also had a part in his music program this year, he did a great job as "Johnny works with one hammer" LOL. I know that Aydan would enjoy life more here if his "best friend" grandma Kathy lived closer, but he will have to talk to her often on the phone and make frequent visits to Southern Utah. He is a joy and blessing to our family....Happy Birthday Aydan Douglas!!!

Trying to get CAugHt uP!

2010-07-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

It has been since January that I have posted. I am going to try to highlight the past months. February 2 Wyatt turned 13 years old! Our second born arrived on Ground Hogs Day (it was a Sunday). He was born in the same state that his dad was ...North Carolina when Jeff was stationed at Fort Bragg.Yes it is true we officially have two teenagers in the McKinney house. We had a family party and he also went on a sledding trip with his good friend Luis. Wyatt has always been pretty quiet and easy going...don't get me wrong, he is not a push over, but he gets his point across well "without drawing too much attention." He is an awesome reader and he seems to think out everything he does. I love how good he is to me and I love his thoughtfulness toward his Dad and Bryce.....and most of the time he is great with Blayne and Aydan (he would defend them to the end but they seem to make him CRaZy most of the time. I joke that Wyatt should have been an only child because the chaos that seems to follow us everywhere is not comfortable for Wyatt. He would rather be in his room or hanging out with the pets in quiet. I do not know where our family would be with out "Dub" he is such a good kid and we love his sense of humor and his "voice of reason." HAPpy 13th Birthday Jeffery Wyatt McKinney.

Cheers to the Murie Sisters

2010-01-19T08:36:00.000-08:00

Today my sister Jodi would have celebrated her 39th birthday. It has been almost 22 years since we lost her and I still miss her and think about her daily. Our family cherishes the memories and laughs we have of our beautiful sister, daughter, cousin and friend. Neshia and I have nine children between the two of us and three of the five girls share part of her name. All of our kids know about Aunt Jodi and enjoy the memories of her we share with them. She touched many lives during her short seventeen years with us. Growing up the oldest of three girls was great for me....I fought with my sisters, they let me fix their hair, sometimes we got in trouble, but I always remember sticking up for each other! My parents divorced when I was 6, Jodi was 4, and Neshia was just under 2 years old. Our house was full of four strong willed females...I think back on some of the poor guys that took my mom on dates, (we did not make it easy for them)...I guess we just didn't want to share her. Our house only had one bathroom (& the bathroom only had one electric plug outlet-that only worked if the light was turned on)...but that is an entire other story. In the end we all learned to share and love each other dearly! Happy Birthday Jodi....Cheers to the Murie sisters!

Happy 15th Birthday Brycie

2010-01-12T08:19:00.000-08:00

It was fifteen years ago tomorrow, that I gave birth for the first time....Jodi Bryce McKinney made her grand entrance into this life several weeks early, at 1:19 in the afternoon. She had beautiful locks of dark hair and pretty olive skin and although she had to remain in the ICU for a while, we were thrilled and blessed to have our princess here. We named her after my sister Jodi and she has always had a sweet and determined personality. I do not know what we would do without our only daughter and oldest child. We count our blessings daily that we have been given such wonderful kids, and even when we fall short and make mistakes parenting, we adore each of our children. Happy Birthday Bryce! We love you and are very proud to be your parents.

2009-11-05T08:16:00.000-08:00

On the 9th of October Blayne celebrated his eighth birthday! It just happened that there was no school that day so he was able to have a birthday party. We had his party at Burger King, here on Fort Riley....since we are new to the area (and do not know many families) we allowed Blayne to invite his school classmates to celebrate with him, and they turned out in force. Blayne kept saying that he wanted his friends and cousins from Utah to surprise him for his big day (which made my heart hurt) but, we convinced him that they would be wishing him well from afar. The kids were able to play on a great inside playground, they ate lunch, opened presents and enjoyed yummy cake. Blayne wanted an Army theme which was pretty easy. All in all he had a great day. I was very proud of him for being a good host. Now that he is older we really tried to impress upon him how important it would be to welcome everyone that arrived (especially because he would know the kids & we would not) he took everyone's coats and gifts and introduced them to Jeff and I, just like a little gentleman. Happy Birthday Blayne! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!

Kansas,Here We Are!!

2009-10-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

The McKinney's have a new address! Yes, it is true we reside in Kansas now....a lucky stroke of fate has brought us together as a family (if only for a few months). Jeff will not deploy until Fall of 2010, so the boys and I were able to join Jeff at Fort Riley on Labor Day weekend. We are fortunate enough to be able to live in military housing here on the army base. The boys are enrolled in school; Wyatt at Fort Riley Middle School and Blayne and Aydan at Custer Hill Elementary (yes, the school was named after General Custer himself )! Kindergarten is all day here so I have been trying to unpack our household goods during the time school is in session. Jeff is pretty busy, as his Brigade is preparing to deploy....but the time we are able to spend with him is wonderful and irreplaceable. Bryce did stay in Cedar City with my folks and we miss her desperately, but understand the need she has to fulfill commitments she has there as she is now in high school. I do not know what we would do without such wonderful family and friends at home. Saydi the dog is with us and is now settling in here as well. If any one is passing through or would like to come and visit, please know that you are always welcome and we would love you to stay with us...we will show you around the area. I will write more about our escapades very soon. I also hope to find our camera so I can post photos as well!

Summer in a Nutshell

2009-08-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

As summer "winds down" I find myself wondering why time passes so quickly! We have packed a lot into just a couple of months....I started the break off by traveling to St. Louis to spend time with Jeff. We had a wonderful time together, he surprised me by taking me to dinner on a river boat that traveled a couple of hours on the Mississippi River...we saw the "Arch" and drove around the beautiful area. Upon returning home everything was running full tilt at the McKinney Household with T-Ball, Baseball & Soccer; not to mention Boy Scouts and other church activities. Bryce's club soccer team took a silver medal at The Utah Summer Games and then she started with cheer practice soon after. Jeff arrived at the beginning of June and was able to be with us for three weeks. We managed to visit his folks in Northern Utah and even do some sight-seeing. We took the kids to Lagoon Amusement Park during our visit. We had our photo taken in an old "Wild West" setting. Jeff left and is now stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He has his own private room in the barracks where we correspond through the internet and telephone, just thankful for daily contact! The kids and I have been able to attend two family reunions this summer. My moms side of the family (The Cosslett's) held their family reunion here in Cedar City at a park close to the mouth of Cedar Canyon. There was good food and time for the older folks and kids to get re-acquainted with each other. My mom always puts this reunion together and does as great job! My dads side of the family held their reunion (The Robb Reunion) at a park in Parowan, Utah. I loved being able to see cousins that I have not seen in a while as well as the older members of our extended family. The kids ate and went directly to the Parowan City pool to swim...which was reserved just for the reunion. It was the firs time I had been to a reunion since the passing of my dad, and even though it has been five years since his death, it took me quite a few minutes to get a hold of myself (turn off the water-works) and enjoy the time spent with relatives ( I just kept thinking back to times when my dad would take us places...he would give my sisters and I "a talking to," about behavior and the finer details of politeness before we could join in on the fun). In the sort weeks of Summer I (by myself) was able to fit a visit in to Jeff in Kansas. We talked and enjoyed each others company the "SHORT" three days I was able to spend with my soldier. We found the church he will be attending, went to the movie (Harry Potter), purchased a car for Jeff to get around post in (an older model Volkswagen Jetta) and drove around admiring the countryside near Fort Riley, Kansas. In another nutshell Summer went by too darn quickly!!! Other things to mention about the summer; 4th of July in Cedar City with my folks and Neshia's family, Bryce attending Cheer camp, Bryce attending a Pioneer Trek reactment in Wyoming with many other young adults (ages 14-18) from our church. Swimming, hiking, mowing yards, trips to the library and just trying to enjoy the things we are blessed with.

Extra $ doing what I enjoy!

2009-08-23T17:45:00.000-07:00

To bring in a little extra money, I take care of two other yards than ours. One of them is just up the street from our home and the other is across town. The kids have really helped this year making the time I have to spend taking care of the jobs much easier and less time consuming. Here are a few photos of the flowers we have been cultivating.

Cheer Camp-Bryce

2009-07-17T21:27:00.000-07:00

Wyatt, Aydan & I were able to spend some time with Nana and Paw Paw McKinney the week of July 7-12, due to Bryce attending her first Cheerleading Camp. I traveled to and from camp between Layton (where mom and dad McKinney reside), and Logan (where USA cheer camp was held). Blayne stayed with my folks in Cedar, because of baseball games, the other two boys (and myself) enjoyed Nana's wonderful cooking; they also spent time with cousins in Huntsville. Nana and Paw Paw celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary when we were there as well (what an accomplishment)! Bryce made the Cheer Team for Cedar High School this past April and has been practicing hard for next year. Our house has been filled with cheers and dance moves (so much so, that the boys know every word to the cheers and can sing along to the music that every dance is coreographed to.

Here is one of their performances....

Go Redmen!!!!

2009-07-03T21:56:00.001-07:00

"He's in the Army now"

2009-03-17T13:14:00.000-07:00

Jeff returned to active duty service as a soldier in the US Army. I can't tell you how proud I am of him, but at the same time I miss him very much. We have been able to talk everyday via cell phone. The kids miss him for many different reasons but one of the top being his homestyle breakfast! No eggs and bacon from Mom weekday mornings...I am sad to say it is fend for yourself at the McKinney household...we all need to be out the door at 7:30am. The first week was a bit shakey without Jeff because my sweet Mother keeps the younger boys and drops them off at school and pre-school. Mom was unable to help out that first week because my step-father (Dan) had to have heart by-pass surgery (X5). He is home and getting better each day. Did I say that some great friends stepped in and made it possible for me to work a couple of hours a day when my mom was with Dan? Thanks to all of you! I better be going it is time to pick Aydan up from pre-school.

2009-01-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

Jeff will leave for training with the Army on the 25th of February. I have mixed feelings about him re-entering the service full time. I am looking forward to him working full time and keeping busy, for his own peace of mind. I will certainly be glad to be able to watch what I want if I have time to watch TV...but, "dang it" we will miss him! It has taken a year but, he is a pretty good house keeper (he does not clean all the time, but is very good at influencing the kids to keep things tidy). I will also miss being able to go for a walk or ride in the car with him at our leisure. We sure have had to adjust financially this past year but we have grown together so much that those blessings outweigh being poor. We have enjoyed playing board games and cards with the family, having long discussions about life and everyones biggest concerns (from Aydan-worries about what to take for sharing to Bryce- wondering what elective classes to take in High School next year)! I will have to get back on a strict schedule in terms of getting everyone to their scheduled events and also make sure that we have a bathroom schedule again (if not, Bryce will bathe 4 times a day and the boys won't bathe at all)! What happened to the days when I could throw them all into the tub at the same time??? I will cease rambling and post more in the future.