The McKinley Family

Wow its been awhile since I have blogged.

2010-02-11T01:45:00.001-08:00

I didnt realize it has been so long since I had posted a new blog. Well, we are doing good... my classes started back up so I have been really busy with school and Abby. Boy is she is really testing the boundaries lately with daddy and I. I'm ready for the terrible twos to be over!! They are exhausting. :p

Looking at these pictures I can see how much she is changing and growing everyday. I'm trying to remember to cherish every moment with her, I know they wont last, and before long she will be older and wont want to play blocks with me. Someone told me to remember how important it is to enjoy her while she is young, because time will go so fast and I cannot get this time back.

So, thank you for the advice, I'm going to work on that and enjoying my baby girl MORE!! She is pretty amazing! :)

Abby's 2nd Birthday Party

2009-12-13T18:16:00.001-08:00

For Abby's 2nd birthday we decided to throw her a birthday party. When we started planning the party we realized we had a long list of stuff we wanted to do for her. For instance we wanted to have a jump house, a bubble machine, a pinyata, and lots of kids. We figured we had to make up for last year since daddy was in Iraq and missed her first birthday, so, we decided to do it all and go ALL OUT!!!! Of coarse Abby choose a Yo Gabba Gabba party, which is her favorite TV show. Overall, it was a great party and tons of fun. Abby had a blast and that is what it is all about.

The Yo Gabba Gabba characters on the balloons

Looking down at the party

The decorations we spent weeks making

The party favor bags

The food table

The jump house

Abby waiting for her friends to arrive

Abby playing with her party blower

Abby running around getting excited

Abby playing in the bubbles

Abby hitting the pinyata

Daddy carrying down the "Muno" cake he made. Muno is Abby's favorite character in the show

Daddy did such a good job

Blowing out her candles

Abby enjoying her cake and ice cream

Abby opening some of her presents

Abby and daddy at the beach

2009-12-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures taken shortly after BJ got back at his favorite beach, Bellows. Abby and daddy had lots of fun funning around and building sand castles.

Abby playing on her bike outside

2009-12-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of Abby riding her bike outside. She cant do the pedals by herself, but she still likes to sit on it. :)

And a cute picture of her feet.... she is getting so big.

A few family photos on the beach

2009-11-29T06:06:00.001-08:00

Before my mom leaves Hawaii we have been trying to get as many family pictures as possible. Here are a few taken a few weeks ago. It was a fun shoot, we started out dry on the beach and ended up getting soaking wet and playing in the water. Of coarse we didn't plan on getting wet so we weren't prepared with towels, but it was still fun and resulted in some fun pictures.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-02T09:44:00.000-08:00

For Halloween this year Abby was dressed up as a lady bug. Not only was her costume different this year but the whole experience was different compared to last year. Last year she was only eleven months old and although she was walking she had no interest in "trick or treating". Well that was not the case this year. This year she loved her costume and was so excited to see all the witches and supermans running around in their costumes.

We first took Abby to our Churche's Fall Festival, which had a jump house, rides, games, food, and dancing. She had lots of fun running around with her friends and trying new fair food, like cotton candy. At first B.J. had to force her to try it, but once she tasted it she was grabbing for more. After the festival we headed to post to do some "trick or treating" with some friends since the houses are closer together. As soon as Abby saw the first group of trick or treaters Abby was so excited! She started jumping up and down and chased after the group of kids trying to follow them. LOL... it was too cute!! By the third house Abby had the "trick or treating" down and understood that going up to the door and yelling "trick or treat" was going to get her a piece of candy to put in her bucket.

Overall it was a great Halloween and I was so glad to have B.J. home to take Abby out and witness her first "real" halloween".

Pumpkin Patch Fun

2009-10-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

The other day we took Abby to the Hawaii Pumpkin patch, which we were shocked they had one. They had rides, jump house, and lots of pumpkins that you go and pick yourself. She wasn't to happy on the ride we put her on, but she loved the jump house. Abby loved picking her pumpkin and tried to pick everyone she saw, calling them "apples". We had a great time and of course my mom got some great pictures.

B.J. Redeployment Ceremony

2009-10-22T20:27:00.000-07:00

Yay Daddy is finally home!!!!!!! Here are some pictures from B.J.'s redeployment ceremony. Enjoy!!!!

Abby's Retro Fairy Shoot

2009-10-03T15:06:00.001-07:00

My mom and I were bored the other day, so we dressed Abby up and took pictures. They turned out really cute and I just love them. She looks so big to me in these pictures, she's growing so much everyday, but I didn't really notice it until I was looking at these pictures. Well. I hope y'all enjoy them.

Abby trying on her Halloween costume

2009-10-03T14:31:00.000-07:00

Abby finally got her halloween costume the other day, so we decided to try it on her. Well, she loved it and started running around the house and wouldn't let me take it off her. It was too cute, so my mom took a few pictures. I decided to post them and give everyone a preview of her in her lady bug costume.

Waves on the North Shore

2009-09-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

It is getting to be about that time of year again where the waves here on the North Shore reach 20- 30 ft. Right now they are only about 15 ft, however they are still amazing to watch. My mom has been going to beach to watch the waves almost every day and has been getting some awesome pictures. I wanted to post a link to her site so y'all can check them out. The pictures can only show a glimpse of how powerful these waves are. Definitely check them out! They are under the gallery just for fun.

SL Photography

Some new pictures of Abby and I

2009-09-26T00:58:00.001-07:00

Riding the Waves at the Beach

2009-09-11T13:07:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we went to Bellows Beach, BJ's favorite beach, and I decided to try taking Abby out to try body boarding. Well of coarse she wasn't the least bit afraid and was cracking up and having so much fun. That little girl has no fear what so ever... BJ is so excited to take her out when he gets home. :)

If he could I'm sure he'd having her surfing by the time she turns three... well see about that though. Alright well enjoy the pictures she had tons of fun, as you can tell by the pictures.

Other Sites

2009-08-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you that are following my blog, I wanted to give you the link to my moms photography website and her blog. She will have new pictures posted on those sites as well.

Her blog page is:

http://slanphearphotography.blogspot.com/

Her website is:

http://www.slphotography.biz/

Abby trying to sing the ABC's

2009-08-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of Abby trying to sing her ABC's. She is too funny and talking more and more everyday.

Playing at the Beach in Hawaii

2009-08-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

Here are the most recent pictures of Abby playing at the beach across the street from our house. She absolutely loves the water and took to the ocean very well.

(They were all taken by my mom)

:0)

Some more Pictures from B.J.'s R&R

2009-08-11T00:56:00.001-07:00

B.J.'s R&R

2009-08-11T00:31:00.000-07:00

Back in July, B.J. came home for R&R after being away for 9 months. Unfortunately he had to go back to Iraq after only being home for 2 weeks. But we had a great time and enjoyed having him home for a little while. Here are some pictures from his homecoming.