Baby McKinney

He's coming soon! 26 weeks now, he is moving alot and we are looking forward to meeting Case William in early August.

McKinney Landscaping 101

It may have taken us a year to find all the rocks for our big project, but it is finally coming together. Also included are photos of the chickens, Belle and Angel, and of course our Christmas Tree 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family! I know I have been a terrible blogger but I am trying to get it back again! The above picture is a view from our road of the mountains in Stokes and Surry County!

Lots has happened since my last blog, my chickens are huge and still no eggs! Sky and Jon had their beautiful girl Leah on October 22. I lost my aunt Edna this fall. I am waiting for my new nephew to come in February 2012 from Wayne and his sweet wife Tab! Robert and I are continuing to be busy homeowners with too many projects to count going on...new sinks and updating the landscaping are our currnet projects under construction!

This Thanksgiving be sure to think about what you are thankful for friends and make sure you tell the ones you love.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Chickens

May 2011

Good afternoon Family and Friends,

I know its been so long since I posted but I am excited to share with you some photos of our recent new venture - Chickens! I am so excited and plan to have fun learning all about chickens this summer. Only a few more weeks until Summer break - YAY! and hopefully I will be better about posting again once school is out for the summer.

Congrats to Sky & Jon - we are all looking forward to meeting Baby Casperson in October 2011!

Happy New Year!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we loved spending time with our families and seeing the beautiful snow! Belle and Angel also had fun playing in the snow and seeing all their family :) As we move into the new year we are looking forward spring...i can't believe we are expecting more snow yet again! Take care everyone!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
The McKinney's

The Tree!

Well we have been wanting to have a tree that has recently been infested with ants...which have damaged our beautiful oak tree off our back porch. Thank you Steve for helping us. We hope you enjoy the video and pictures. Very scary moment and you may hear the nervousness in my voice behind the video...the tree has HUGE and just too close to the house! Take care everyone and happy Thanksgiving!

NOVEMBER!

The leaves are changing and air is crisp! How exciting to think that Thanksgiving is less than four weeks away!
I had a great time this past weekend geting to go Trick-r-Treating with the boys. Not a lot of candy found at the King Downtown sponsored trick-r-treating but it was a neat experience and you know we had to follow up any outing with a trip to McDonalds :)
We are feeling the wonders of the season - speaking in terms of allergies! Robert has been congested for over a week now and I started getting headaches this weekend! Let's hope I can stay well until my flu shot on Wednesday (yes on my birthday I have to get my flu shot)
I am looking forward to the weeks ahead as I have completed most of my Christmas shopping so I can relax and enjoy more!
Now to think about what to make for Thanksgiving...I have to have mom's sweet potatoes, they are so yummy!
Its so nice to know I have a hair appointment right around the corner (Veteran's day) so I can get these highlights updated :)
Well Happy November Family and Friends! I wish you all wonderful Fall Blessings!

You have to be kidding me, a BEAR!?!

So it has been confirmed. There has been a black bear spotted just a 100 yards from the house...yikes! What a scary thought, walking Belle and Angel early in the morning or at 5pm in about 2 weeks when it is completely dark outside and now I have to watch out for bears? Hopefully Brownie and Chester will keep the furry beast from around the houses. But I tell you I am keeping my eyes peeled anytime I am alone walking outside!

I am so happy Fall is here, and when it begins to feel like Fall again I will like it even better! I am looking forward to our 3rd anniversary on the 20th...its gone by so quickly, but how lucky I am to be married to by very best friend and such a handsome husband!

Also Happy Anniversary to Robert's parents (Annie & Wendell)on 40 years on Oct 23rd, Tab's parents (Darryl & Jane)anniversary on Oct 20th as well, Steve and Mary's anniversary on October 16th, and Ty's 4th Birthday on October 23rd.

Loving this Fall weather & it's Fair Time!

Finally it feels like I can wear my jeans and be comfortable outside. Last night we were at a Birthday Party outside and it was great! I can't wait to have a fire in our fire ring and to start work on our new project, a walkway from the porch to the parking areas. I will be sure to update the pictures soon of the house and our new project. About two weeks ago Robert, Isaac, and myself worked to remove all the pine needles from in front of the house so we can prepare for the brick chip. The dust and pollen kept in the pine needles is not helping the allergies! Always re-using, the still good condition pine needles are now around our beautiful oak trees.

I can't wait to make it to the fair this year. I am dreaming of my candy car/chocolate apple, yummy! Not to mention the roasted corn, and maybe something fried! I hope we can make it out to the fair one evening this week.

Good news - Belle and Angel or now able to stay out in the house and not put up in the laundry and my bathroom during the day. We tried this out for the last two days and the girls did a great job. Just some pillows turned over and well I know that Ms. Belle was on my bed during the day but other than that I am proud of them this week...finally Belle is becoming responsible at 2 1/2 years old!

I am still off the soda...mostly water now but still the occasional sweet tea or lemonade, but made with far less sugar than in the past. I have lost around 10 pounds as of date. I am now at 45+ days with no carbonation and other things from the soft drinks!

Okay new favorite item...yesterday Robert and I were working on our Christmas shopping list (yes I am determined to finish before Thanksgiving this year)and we have made the best purchase, new pillows! I generally have to purchase new pillows every 4 to 6 months because my husband has missed his calling as a pillow tester! If you feel the same way - try out the Iso-Cool pillow from Belk, a great buy!

Don't even miss sodas!

Well until today I really wanted one because of the longest day I have had this school year. Had a meeting at 745, then got to my room at 835, found out that I could not use my room because my new computers came today (well some of them - no not all but they did take all of my old ones...yikes!) But as always we are flexible down at the room by the bathroom. Then tonight was my third open house, so I left when it was dark and got home when it was dark tonight. But i resisted the eurge to have that diet dp...so now I have been a right at a month and I knew I could do it, now my treadmill is calling me...I am making a date to get on it for an hour tomorrow and at least 4 times a week starting ASAP!

Only one week til Fall Y'all (to take that phrase from my sister in a recent email)

Happy early Birthday to my sissy Donna, late Happy Birthday to Wayne Jr. and Melissa. And a Happy 47 years to my Mom and Day as of September 20th.

15 Days and 5 Pounds!

Okay I am very proud that I have made it now over two weeks without a carbonated drink. Yes I have had a sweat tea here and there but I drink two large cups of water during the day at work and another when I get home. Next week I am working on adding my workouts and I hope to drop more weight. I am working to make better choices and smaller portions, so more work is to come. I have two months before my 31st birthday an I hope to have dropped a total of 15 pounds by that point. (half way to my goal).

PS - we have spotted the mystery animal, we think last Friday night on the most amazing full moon. we were riding home and about to turn on our road, and if anyone knows that is in very sharp curve. well as we round the curve a mystery animal is scaling the 10 foot rock wall. I know it had a tail and the size of a large dog (but no large dog could climb that hill). So it seems that there is a large cat (like mountain like) maybe in the neighborhood. Yikes! Me and the girls are on the look out!

9 Days and counting

Busy! Is the only word I can use to describe life now. School begins tomorrow but I have already been able to adjust to the drive, as other schools have opened on my battleground final approach to school just a few stoplights down. Desks have been cleaned, seating charts made, and we are ready to open the doors tomorrow morning.

I now need to iron and get ready for the morning but this is the first time I have had in 6 days to check my own email and to catch anyone reading on my no soda campaign.

I have made it now 9 days without any soda, water and some tea (every other day so not completely rid of all the bad in soda but most).

Take care everyone and Welcome back to School.

3 days!

I have now made it three days with out a soft drink...had the headache last night but I stayed with it and powered through! I am interested to see if I see a weight change after this week. I will be sure to post if so.

Also Happy 3rd Anniversary to Sky and Jon! Their furry babies: Cooper, Ben, and Shelby are so lucky to have such great parents!