My Sissy is coming home TOMORROW!!!!!!!

Does this face just not SCREAM "My sissy is coming home tomorrow...na, na, na, na, na"

"The Legend of the Snowflake Angel"

"The Legend of the Snowflake Angel"

The little angel put the finishing touches on her gift. Lighter than a feather, delicate as lace, sparkly as crown jewels and white as the purest soul - it was the perfect present for the Infant King who was to be born that night. Swiftly, she made more and more of the lacy, little creastions - until clouds of heaven finally burst with the load.

As shimmering crystals floated down blanketing the earth, a peaceful hush fell over the land....broken only by the sound of a Baby's cry. The newborn Child looked out the door at the angel's beautiful gift and smiled with infinte delight.

Children today call this winter wonder "Snow".

Happy Thanksgiving Madisyn!

Miss Madisyn left this morning to fly to her dad's for Thanksgiving break! I sure do miss her...but of course I missed her before she ever got on the plane!!!! I know she has had a fun day full of festivities and good food, just like we did! Only a few days.....and she'll be home!

Love you sweetie...have a fun, safe and enjoyable trip!

xoxoox

Mommy

Amanda's Blog Makeover

http://thegidcumbs.blogspot.com/

Above is the link to Amanda's blog makeover. I gave her a gift certificate from Jen's Design shop for par ot her wedding gift! She didn't chose anything......she had me choose it all, then Jen put it together and then we let her on last nigh to see the suprise! HOW do YOU like it?

Amanda is getting married Feb 7, 2009 and I will be her photgrapher at her wedding.......Am I nervous? A little...but all this practic with new camera is helpng A LOT!

Just wanted to share our excitment over her new blog! As ALWAYS Jen, awesome job!

http://jensdesignshop.blogspot.com/

Our Weekend Get Away!

What a weekend we had. My parents got us an early Christmas gift to Tranquil Spa and Inn in our small town of Shoals......we needed a get away BAD and she needed to take care of our two girls :-) We took the girl to mom and dads and I helped bring in the birthday presents and balloons for Byrdon, LaRissa and MacKenzies birthday! Then we headed to the Inn! It was totally peaceful and relaxing, as we were the only ones there!! She showed us to our room and Chris just wanted to fall asleep, instead we went to the church and got a Turkey dinner, brought it back and had lunch by the fire! Then we just took our time browsing the place before my first photo shoot! At 1:00 my friend Lynette arrived with her three kiddos (Olivia, Clayton, Logan) and there were some beautiful back drops at that old Inn and the pictures turned out wonderfully!!! We all then headed ot my mom and dads for the festivities.......MacKenzie is Lynettes niece. Whoa.....crowded house and it looked like Christmas in there!!! I don't think anybody knows who got them what......about an hour later we snuck out the front door to go back and relax. We had scheduled some fun things for us to do! Ahhhhh(my sister in law normally does my massages, but with the birthday party going on she couldn't), so Chris and I first had a tranquil aromatherpy spa (he picked stress relief). He said he fell asleep and the timer woke him up. I stayed up at the Inn and Lynette came over to keep me company! When it was my turn I chose "calming" for my aromatherapy. The massage was great too. When I got back to the room Chris was asleep. I just let him sleep while I shower, washed my hair, etc. We then got dressed and went out to my mom and dads so I could say goodnight to the girls (and convenience!!).......we went back, explored the house and it's surroundings some more then decided to sit in the cozy living room and read. She had a ton of books on Martin County....so we read up on our history of Shoals and Loogootee! After that we called it a night!

Day #2

We got up around 9:30, got dressed, as I had a photo shoot at 10:30 and 11:00. They both arrived on time, both shoots went wonderfully and I was pretty pleased with the outcome! We were treated to breakfast there at the Inn also!

After my photos shoots we headed out to my mom and dads for Thanksgiving Dinner. YUM! YUM! Madisyn helped my mom bake.....she loves to cook! After dinner and playing with LaRiss and Brydon for awhile and talking with Trish and Brandon we decided we would go back to the Inn for a catnap. This time we took Madisyn with us, as I had hoped she would like it enough to have a mother/daughter retreat....just the two of us in December as part of her Christmas Gift! SHE LOVED IT, but wanted the Queen Suite because it has a much, much larger whirlpool tub!! So....we reserved that! We are going Dec. 13, so we have something to look forward to shortly!!!

She took a lavendar aromatherpy bath in the claw tub.....washed her hair and got all prettied up (like she isn't always anyway) and we did some ...ok, alot of photo shoots of her all over the house (the scenary is too good not to practice with)...then we headed outside to the gazebo, rocks, fencing areas and took some more. I will post those tomorrow or the next. I have to make time to post Birthday Photos and Hotel Photos!!! Chris and Maddy walked to Bo-Macs (small curb side pull up that has car hops.....my first job!) and ordered a light dinner while I napped for just a bit! Then Chris ran to my parents and got Lyza while Maddy and I tidied up the place, made sure we had everything and then took the opportunity for some pis's of her and Lyza when Chris got back.

So, all in all, we had a wonderful relaxing weekend just as we had hoped. We had fun, been awhile since could just sit and talk....about adult stuff and no little ears around!! I am more than sure we will return again.......I mean, who can pass that up when the babysitter is only 5 min away??? Madisyn also asked if she could take two friends and stay there for her birthday! Sounds fun to me!!!

Watch for more pic's later. Sorry so lenghthy

Madisyn took this photo, wanting to practice her camera skills (No, she did not go with us.....we brought her back with us on Sunday afternoon to take naps and see if she liked it enough for us to go there for a mother/daugher overnighter

Mama' and Daddy enjoying some alone time in the living room reading!

Mama' and Daddy when we had just gotten there!


Eating Area w/small tables to seat plenty with a cozy fireplace!

View of the forma dining room

View going down the wooden stairs

Master King Suite - Our Room

Vanity in our suite

Relaxing Claw Foot Tub for soaking

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYDON CODY MCKIBBEN!

Happy Third Birthday Brydon!!!

(To my favorite Nephew.....I can truly say that and mean it, the rest are nieces.... Poor kiddo! I grew up in a family of all boy cousins, no girls (except one), so I know how you feel little guy)

Tomorrow will be Brydon and LaRissa's birthday parties held at my mom and dads "Nonny and Paws" . Should be a fun day. We will not get to stay long....but read the bottom below and you'll understand!

I love how he had me call twice to sing happy birhtday! He's a handuful, a little on the rotten side (guess where he gets that from BRANDON?!).....but he can turn around and be sweet as can be and very loving!!! I love that about him. He's sweet, charming and knows JUST how to look at you to get what he wants! McKibben quality for sure!!

Happy Birthday Little (I mean BIG Guy)

WE love you!

Aunt Misty, Uncle Chris, Madisyn and Lyza

Photos are through years I had on my computer from now, until he was bout a year or less old!!! All other pic's were on those "disposible cameras"???? Remeber those???!! HA!

Brydon and Mommy just a few weeks ago

Brydon made it down the big slide at the corn maze....all by himself!! Yippee

Daddy and Brydon

MMMMhMMMM a TRACTOR!



Lyza and Brydon......I belive Brydon wants her OFF, or that is a very hard/non gentle HUG!




Lyza and Brydon on the tractor.....all seems well at this point!!




Aunt Misty's Pretty Boy!
Forever and ALWAYS

Gues who came to see Brydon, LaRissa and Lyza Christmas Morning!!!

Nemo for Halloween!

Little Rough Housing from Uncle....um, I mean Dr. Christopher.

OH,OH,OH,OH,OH,OH,OH IT'S freeeeeeeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzing!

Typical Country Kid.......We do drink from the garden hose!!

Cousin Maddy floating around wth Brydon!

Uncle Chris and Brydon!

More fun with Uncle Chris

"They SAY, there is this new baby coming home named Lyza...but until then, I am going to play with all her toys and try on her hats"!!!!

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  Tomorrow morning Chris and I leave for my parents. Not your typical "weekend at the parents" They have set us up to stay at Tranquility Spa and Inn"!! We have never been there, heard it is very nice and we are going to get pampered from head to toe. Our intnetion is to get there around noon.....relax, unpack take it all in. AT 1:45 I have my first photo shoot with 1 year old Olivia! She will be great pracite with me......it is my best friend form back homes daughter. At 2:30 we must be at my mom for Brydon, LaRissa, and MacKenzie's birthday party. MaKenzie is Lynettes niece (Who looks EXACTLY lIKE HER...long red hair, attitude....the works) so it will be like a big family reunion, as I pracitally grew up at their house. We have a lot catching up to do! (Talking) Lynette's brother Woody is dating Trish's sister....so it is kinda neat that we are all intertwined by family this time! I do like it.....it makes for come fun converstations, that is for sure.

• So then....at 2:30 we will head back to the Spa for our Tranquility Spa/Aromatherapy Treatment. My muscles are relaxed thinking about it. WE will then get 1 hr massages and she had a gazebo/firepit so I am sure we will relax around that remainder of the evening......and just be us....talk, crack up......just be us and know that the kids are 10 min away if WE (by WE, i mean ME) need to tuck them in or something!!!! I'm like that a little bit!!! Anyway then Sunday we will get breakfast in bed......and I have two more photo shoots after that, before noon so we can have Thanksgiving!!!!!!!!!!! We are then putting the kiddos down for Naps, then we will to back to the Inn, I will get some shots of Brandon and Trish

• Sounds like a perfect weekend to me! Chris says I should work....ha...I told him this is NOT work for me....it is fun, it just so happens I get paid doing it!!! I love it.
• Again, Happy Birthday Brydon Cody McKibben!
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Favorite Foto Friday "For Crying Out Loud"!

Tonight while putting Lyza to bed...she said "No bed, I a Princess".....hmmmm, I guess Princesses don't have to go to bed either! Found it very cute. She is in a phase kiss only on the lips......which, kinda weirds me out, but I'm going to love it as long as she'll do it. Nothing like a snot nose dripping sloppy kiss smack on the lips is there???

Be sure to check our Lyza's video below saying her ABC's...it will put an instant smile on your face! Madisyn singing "Once Upon a Dream" is just below that akso...she did a wonderful job. This weeks theme was "For Crying Out Loud......Crying Photos"! Didn't figure much could top the snotty face cry in the first photo above! ha! Have a great weekend! For more "Crying" go to http://www.kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com/ !

This evening I will update you on our weekend plans. I am "OH SO" excited about! We leave Sat morning, no kids all weekend (except I am SURE my mother will be stopping by our Inn for me to fix Lyza's hair....other than that and a few photo shoots......we are going to have THE PERFECT weekend. I will explain more tonight. ALSO, if you are in the Shoals area and need Christmas/family/children photos done.....I will be there Sat. and Sun. and have a few spots left that I can get you in. Just shoot me an email. cp.melvin@insightbb.com.

Madisyn and Lyza....."Sisters"

First of all, Like my new blog look? Thanks to Jen at http://www.jensdesignshop.com/ for the "winter" makeover. Click on her tab on my right column and she can set you up! Not just saying she is good because she is my friend....I'm saying it because she IS good at what she does!

Today's post is about "Sisters"! Some of these are old pic's of Madisyn and Lyza...and some are brand new. As stated, when we first brought Lyza home, it was an adjustment....however, now...as you can tell things are perfect! They adore each other and I am SO very glad. I was worried there for a bit. They are both cute as buttons (sorry, I'm the mommy...) and as funny as they can be. Not to mention sweet and kind. Lyza is going to have a wonderful role model to take after. I am equally proud of each of them as they are learning at the stages of life they are in! I have added many new photos to my sidebars....I hope you enjoy them! During the next several days I will be adding new and updated photos of my family.

Until then.....replay Lyza's ABC's and Maddy's Talent show performance for an instant smile and uplift to your day!!!