McKenna's Kingdom

In February of the year 2000, my family and I embarked on a new chapter of our lives. In effect, we moved. In order to garner much sympathy from my extended family and friends, here is a picture of the moving van which carried our belongings away from them. Did it work?

Why is my room empty? Where am I going to sleep? Where's all my stuff? Why am I here?

Here we are in the great city of Seattle. Now, I've been to the beach before and that sun is setting in the wrong place. This was the view from the apartment where we stayed when we first got here. That's Puget Sound. Lovely, isn't it?

This is the scene driving down the highway towards our new house. Those are the Cascade mountains. Apparently there are about 15 active volcanoes in this range. I hope there's a really good warning system in place. I imagine the earthquakes will warn us.

Here is one of the most famous landmark's in Seattle, the other being, of course, Microsoft. Yes, you're right, it's the Space Needle. Mommy doesn't like the Space Needle. She did find out that if you tell an employee that you need to get down right now, they'll get you down right now, the other people waiting be damned! I don't know what her problem was. The view was out of this world. I've been up twice, and both times voiced my displeasure at having to leave.

Here is Mommy and me at a park not far from our temporary apartment downtown. We were very tired of being stuck inside without a yard so we found one of the many green areas of the city to run off some energy. It was fun.

Here is Daddy and me in the same park. We're standing on top of a really big rock looking for sea monsters. We didn't find any.

Now that we are settled in our new house I'm resuming my duties of being cute. It is very important to dress appropriately for the job. Mommy even stopped unpacking to take this picture, so the outfit did the trick.

I told Mommy to put this picture up above, but would she listen to me? Who's web page is this, anyway? Just wanted to be sure the right person was blamed. Oh well! This is the view from the observation deck of the Space Needle. Those are the Olympic mountains, which are to the West of the city. It was right after this picture that Mommy decided she would rather be standing on the ground. I found out that the Needle can sway up to 7 inches on a windy day. In defense of Mommy, there was a breeze that day.

Okay, now I understand why these pictures are down here. They were taken while my Grandma J was visiting. This is the fountain at the base of the Space Needle. Mommy looks much happier to be on the ground. She doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects. I had a good time, though.

This is Snoqualmie falls. It's pronounced just like it's spelled. If ya need help, give me a call. Supposedly, it's higher than Niagra Falls, (whatever that is), but definetely not as wide. All I know is, it sure is wet.

Just down the road a bit from our mountain is an elementary school with a really cool playground. Sometimes I make Mommy and Daddy take me there so I can slide. I love sliding! It's so ... slidy!

Here you can see I'm concerned again about global warming; it requires a catastrophe of the highest level to make me frown, and even then it doesn't always work.

Here you can see Daddy doing his overprotective best not to let me fall off the ladder. I keep telling him it isn't necessary, but does he listen? I don't know what's gotten into that boy!

This is what I look like when I'm mountaineering! I love climbing on stuff, not least because it makes Mommy and Daddy yelp and get funny looks on their faces. I love that part.

Here I am getting ready to slide down the tube slide headfirst. You can't really see my facial expression, but I can assure you that "devilish" pretty much covers it. Did I mention I love sliding?

I'm doing my level best to ignore Mommy as she's yelling "Feet first! Feet first!". I give her a quick glance so she knows I hear her but just don't care. Whoops! I better get going before she gets here!

One weekend, we all decided to go over the mountains to the wine country just east of Seattle. We stayed in a hotel in Yakima, and drove around tasting wine and having a big ol' fun time. Here I am posing next to a decorative garden pond just chock full of koi. Those were the biggest fish I've ever seen!

Here is one of those giant mutant koi. They were a hundred million billion feet long! Well, a foot long, anyway. In any case, they were big big big.

During the summer, when the light's just right, I like to move my painting studio outside, where I can be inspired by the beauty of nature just like the Impressionists. (Mom told me to say that). I've taken a short break from my current masterpiece to take a breath and enjoy the natural setting.

I can't remember now if I'm pondering deep thoughts or trying to decide what to eat for lunch. It was lunch, I think. Macaroni and cheese, if I remember correctly.

Back to work! An artist's lot isn't easy, what with the continual demands from my muse. Plus which it's often difficult to mix the paints exactly right to get the correct shade of purple. (You can see the remnants of my palette on my fingers.)

Yay! Aunt Ellen came to visit us! We went back to Snoqualmie Falls and she didn't drop me over the edge or anything! It was a good day!

It's hard to tell because it's dark, but Daddy is reading one of my favorite books to me. (It wasn't that dark in real life ... the flash didn't fire). I love it when people read to me. I especially love it when Daddy reads to me, but not especially when I have to go to bed right after.

Here in Issaquah, they have what's called "wet lands" where you can go and see wild animals and stuff. We like to go and see the wild ducks! We aren't supposed to feed them, but hardened criminals that we are, we can't help ourselves. Here I am watching very carefully where I step. Apparently we aren't the only ones who feed these guys!

Mommy made brownies! Can you believe my luck? The best part was the caramel frosting she put on them. In fact, I don't see the need for the brownies, so I just licked the frosting right off those boogers. Now if I could just lick it off my face, I'd be the happiest baby in the land.

Here I am at tea time. All civilized people take time for tea during the day, and I'm no exception. I often invite members of my family to partake in refreshments with me. It's all very proper. Mommy prefers two lumps with her tea, and daddy leans more towards milk with his.

We went to a parade. My very first one. It was loud, and long, and I loved it! I can't wait to go to another one. Here I am wearing my crown, since I am the official P.I.T., (Princess in Training). I don't know why they kept giving crowns to other girls once the true princess was found. Oh well, the peasants can dream, I guess.

Boy, that parade just plum tuckered me out. Oh, you may have noticed I'm wearing different clothes. Well, Mommy thought it was going to be cold out. After all, we do live in a cold area. Personally, I just think it's a Mom thing. Anyway, it wasn't cold. In fact, it was HOT! So Mommy and Daddy graciously purchased me another outfit more appropriate for the weather. What do you thing of my dew rag?

Horsey, horsey, horsey! I got to ride a horsey! What more can I say?

"I am the mighty phoenix, risen from the ashes. Evil-doers, prepare to face my wrath!". Okay, it's just me dressed up, but I had ya goin' there for a minute, didn't I? Me and a bunch of other kids dressed up in neat costumes and had our own parade. Then we went inside a great big fish and listened to a story. It was a good day at the Salmon Festival, even if we didn't get to eat any salmon!

Alright, it's not a picture of me. I know you're all disappointed and stuff, but it's almost as cute as me! Mommy and I got really close to this deer, who was at the moment this picture was taken, eating our plum tree! Now I know why we didn't have any plums for ourselves. He didn't even seem to mind that we were hanging around watching him eat. Actually, this picture is to give you a moment to prepare for the next adorable picture of me!

Whew! Aren't you glad you had a moment to prepare yourself for this? In case you are not already a fan of children's television, I am dressed up as Blue, from "Blue's Clues" which just happens to be my favorite show. Anyway, Mommy and Daddy got me all dressed up, and then we went to other people's houses. After we knocked on their door I said, "Trick or treat" and they gave me candy. Can you just imagine? Well! I didn't want to stop! But, after awhile the bag got to heavy for Daddy and we had to go home. Now to keep my loot away from Mommy!

Skip ahead a month, and it's now Thanksgiving. I'm not sure what that is, but I got new clothes, so who cares? Here I am trying to look angelic, so as to lull everyone into a sense of calmness. I wonder how long I can keep pulling this off?

Okay, here's the obligatory family pose. Daddy isn't in it, cuz he's taking the picture. His turn is coming, though. I told Mommy not to wear that red shirt with her pink hair, but she didn't listen. I'm shaking my head in defeat of teaching her anything about fashion. At least my bear matches!

Here he is! My Daddy! Now you can see where I get my hair and my smile from!

I got the camera out one day and insisted that my picture be taken. No particular reason, just felt like it. Maybe it's cuz I was wearing my fancy Blue's Clues overall's. I'm the baby, I don't need a reason.

For my birthday, my Aunt Jil sent me this really cool Rudolph nose. When you put it on, it blinks! I love it, and insisted on sleeping with it for several nights. Plus, I get lots of attention whenever I wear it out in public. Thank you, Aunt Jil!

My Grandma and Grandpa Moore came to visit me for my birthday. Of course, we had to take them to Snolqualmie Falls. It's required or something. Anyway, it was cold and windy. I never thought we'd get PaPa to stand still long enough to get a picture taken. It was fun, though. The wind gives me lots of energy.

PaPa sometimes acts like he doesn't like little kids, but occasionally he slips up. Silly PaPa, he isn't fooling anybody anymore. I sure had a good time and hated to see them go.

I'm sorry, it's a little dark, but here I am on Christmas Eve modeling my Christmas PJ's. They have a flap on the butt with Santa peeking out. I don't get it, but Mommy and Daddy liked it. I really want to open some presents, but they keep telling me I have to wait. Poopy! So, it's off to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and then time for bed. The excitment is killing me!

And here it is, the final picture of the year. Mommy and Daddy were right, Santa left me a bunch of stuff, including the table behind me, the lincoln logs on top and that great doll bed by the tree. My Grandma J got me the really keen outfit I'm wearing for Christmas dinner. We are going to our friend's, the Eshner's, for dinner and we have to look our best. I think I've pulled it off, don't you?

Now, since there were so many pictures from my 3rd birthday, I decided to make a whole page just for those. Check it out!

As always, I've saved my old page as McKenna's Page O' Wacky-Fun Goodness. If you'd like to e-mail me about this, or anything else that strikes your fancy, I'm always ready to read (or have one of my personal handservants read to me). Send your love notes to mckenna_morris@mindspring.com.