Lasting Moments (photos by Nicki)

playing with sunlight in the snow

2011-02-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Molly plays in the snow

2011-02-09T15:09:00.000-08:00

Snow day

2011-02-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Mom finally got her convertible

2010-10-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

Mom finally got her convertible!

She and I went riding around through country roads in Kentucky.

She pulled over now and then and I jumped out to take some pictures.

She even let me take some of her.

I really enjoyed out time together and the weather was BEAUTIFUL.

I love you, Mom!

Lovers Lane in KY

2010-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

trying different frames

2010-09-25T14:32:00.000-07:00

Senior 2011

2010-08-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

Did some cut and pasting for sister, Judy.

3 Cheerleader Annual Memorial Banquet 2010

2010-06-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

Reg and Glenda are WONDERFUL people. All 3 girls' families

Alicia Rix - Taylore' Hall - Jae Lynn Russell

3 Cheerleaders Softball Tournament of 2010

2010-06-07T15:04:00.001-07:00

flowers

2010-05-03T06:50:00.001-07:00

One of these days I am going to get a lense strong enough to take some clear photos but until then, these will have to do.....

snow day in February 2010

2010-02-09T14:43:00.000-08:00

thru the window.....

valentine ......

3 cheerleaders magnet on bug......

NEW BOOTS!

Alicia's weeping cherry blossom tree....

ice on bug....

Morning winter sun reflecting on wall....

Heavy pine.......

creek near the house.....

Morning sun thru tree.....

Snow day - back of Alicia's bug

2010-02-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

This is on the back of Alicia's bug.

catching the spirit of some old memories...

2010-01-28T13:03:00.000-08:00

Working with Dr. Hanna...

Alicia talks to Aunt Cindy

2010-01-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

Easter morning Rick and Alicia telling Aunt Cindy all about the things she got for Easter. Listen and you can hear her tell Aunt Cindy she got a suitcase to take to school.

Look how young Rick is in this one :) "Back in the day"

Also, I had forgotten that Alicia use to call me "Mime-mee".

I miss her soooooooo much. Look how cute her little face is.

Killing flies for Daddy

2010-01-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

Several flies got in our apartment and the kids were catching them, well Alicia was catching them as Blake screamed and pointed them out to her. They were collecting them and putting them in a brown paper bag. It was sooooooo cute. As they were doing this they saw their Daddy pull up outside in the parking lot and they started screaming "Daddy's home!" and "Daaaaaaddy!" and ...well, ... here is the video

Alicia dancing

2010-01-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

Alicia is the one on the end in the maroon. She was so little and so cute. God, I miss her.

testing video ability 1987 Amanda singing

2010-01-12T07:02:00.000-08:00

James E Howerton and Edna R Bell Howerton

2010-01-05T07:48:00.000-08:00

Gaston Upchurch Allmon and Viola M Yarbrough Allmon gravestone

2010-01-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Paicyn says "I good"...

2009-12-29T07:30:00.000-08:00

Alicia Nicole Rix 2009 Christmas tree(s)

2009-12-21T11:39:00.001-08:00

When Rick and I got to Alicia's place with a Christmas tree for her (the white one), we found that someone (probably Heather and Tracie) had already left a beautiful little tree for her along with a picture of Heather and Alicia and a little angel. It appeared her place had been cleaned as well.

.....sigh and tears. That was so touching. To know someone still loves our little girl enough to visit her place and leave her a tree and gifts. Broke my heart. so so so sweet.

Before the accident whenever we would see Christmas trees at grave sites, I thought that was soooooo weird but now, I find it very normal and moving. I even find it sad when I don't see one or something fresh or new at someone's "place". That is what we prefer to call Alicia's place. Anyway, I thought it was sweet and it made me cry.

Hopefully, no one will walk off with this little tree. The skirt is VERY pretty. I know Alicia would have LOVED it.

If you look close at the tree Rick and I did, you can see the brick we glued the tree to hidden by the red plastic wrap and ribbon. hehe Bet that won't walk away. If I had had some string or wire, I would have wired the other tree to it.
It is sad that someone has to take from those who we have lost. I don't get too angry though because I know they will have to face the Lord for it someday. He will deal with them accordingly.

Laci Nicole - Lulu

2009-12-14T09:08:00.001-08:00

I LOVE this photo of Lulu!
Look at those eyes... melt your heart.
Sweet little thing reminds me sooooooo much of Alicia Nicole.

I can't wait until she comes to see me this summer. I am going to send her back as a SPOILED brat! heheheheheeeeeeee We will have soooooo much fun. I'm going to take off a couple of days to be with her and we're going to play dress up and modeling. Just like I did with Alicia.
I miss that.

Remi and Paicyn Christmas 2009

2009-12-14T08:43:00.001-08:00

This picture of Paicyn looks EXACTLY like Amanda when she was a baby!

I LOVE this one of Remi. She was such a HAM! She jumped on my reflective sheet and smiled up at me. How could I not take her picture?!

With a few of these I stood over her and took her picture. She looked at me soooo strange and said "What are you doing Aunt Kiki?"

...but as you can see, it didn't take her long to catch on. :)

I had so much fun.

Thank you Amanda for letting me do this.

Love,

Aunt Kiki

5x7s of Paicyn

2009-10-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

Mom, these are for you.

Paicyn Michael Pankey

2009-10-13T08:55:00.001-07:00

Born Oct. 9, 2009

3 Cheerleaders Softball Tournament of 2009

2009-07-15T12:28:00.001-07:00

PHOTOS COMING SOON

beautiful little faces during 3 cheerleaders tournament

2009-07-12T18:24:00.000-07:00

My first two customers.

Carson looks so cool!!!

Kyra with a butterfly tattoo and Alicia's picture showing on her t-shirt. (awwww)

This one was very popular with one team (players number with zebra stripes).

Very sweet.

My first fairy.

All the boys wanted this ... - cute

or batman.

I think this little one was VERY pleased.

My partner in paint... Aunt Cindy.

Great job Cindy!

Cindy and I worked together to get this one.

swan painted on Mandy's face

2009-07-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Bless her heart. She was so sweet to come over so late last night and let me practice painting on her face. -

Mandy,

If you read this, thank you.

Nicki

practice face painting

2009-06-27T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have no one other than Rick or myself to practice on, so here is my first attempt.
I wish you could see the glitter, it makes it magical.
I can't wait to hold all those little faces in my hands at the softball game while
I paint pretty pictures on them. :)

draft of this years t-shirt for softball tournament

2009-06-26T12:13:00.001-07:00

Edna Rebecca Howerton's funeral flowers

2009-06-10T20:13:00.000-07:00

Softball Tournament poster and application

2009-05-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

2009 poster photo

2009-05-08T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hwy 5 and Hwy 89 aka Angels Crossing . . .

2009-03-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

You would not recognize the intersection at Hwy 5 and Hwy 89 (also unknown as Angels Crossing) today as compared to 5 years ago when our girls were there.

The light posts don't have the street names, I pasted my own in...

photos for the kids bathroom

2009-02-25T09:21:00.001-08:00

Playing with light and color

2009-02-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos I've been playing with today. Using colors, black and white, different lighting as well as other features of my photoshop program.

Original I took of Holly.

then...

Original I took of Taylor,

then ....

Original of Daddy,

then ...

Then the same in black and white

Then I took some today working with different lighting.

Original I took of Rick today,

then ...

Some of Molly, notice the lighting, color, blurriness in some as well as the darkness around the edges.

Check out my other blogpage

2009-01-11T20:34:00.000-08:00

http://seeyouinheaven-nicki.blogspot.com/

- thanks, nicki

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Grief opened my eyes . . .

2009-01-11T18:51:00.001-08:00

I have always wanted to draw but was not able to UNTIL after Alicia's accident. Strange, I know, but true. It happened just this way . . .

One of the many, many, sleepless long nights shortly after the accident, I was sitting in the living room looking through a book of presidents (I love American history) when, for some odd reason while looking at a black and white picture of one of the presidents (Adams, I think), I was suddenly able to see what must be what a true artist sees when he/she looks at something. I was bewildered and thought to myself, I have to try to duplicate what I am seeing. I ran into Blake's room and got one of his drawing pads and a black crayon (he didn't have any charcoal) and went to work. I sat for hours drawing this picture. I couldn't stop! It was as if I was possessed!!! Apparently I was totally engulfed in getting the image on paper because the crayon kept breaking as I was drawing. When I finally finished, I had black crayon rubbed all over my arms, elbows, fingers, shirt, pants, nose, cheeks, forehead, and even the chair. (I'll insert a photo of that picture I drew once I have taken a picture of it.) For a period of months, I saw things differently. What I mean to say is, I could see in two dimensions. I couldn't stop drawing. I drew Gramp's (my mother's mother's father) barn (see below) then I started drawing pictures of Alicia (one of many is below). I did one of myself. I even drew pictures of other people's babies. Most of those I gave away.

Here are some of the things Blake and I did. These are hanging in our hallway. As you can see, Blake is a natural artist. He does beautiful work.

The barn is a sketch I drew of my mother's mother's father's (Gramp) barn. Mom grew up playing in this barn, and as a kid I also played in and around the barn whenever we visited Gramp and great Grandma. The trees are a charcoal drawing Blake did in school. (BEAUTIFUL)

This is a sketch I drew (and haven't finished) of myself as a child . . .

and this one is one I drew of Alicia around the same age as the one of myself.

The picture in the center is one Blake did. It is hard to see but it is of various masks with different expressions.

I also attempted to paint but I have to say, that was something I didn't master like the sketching. It just didn't happen for me. The painting below in the gold frame is one Blaker's won an award for during ninth grade art class. The others below his are mine. Yep, like I said I didn't exactly master the art.

I have since, lost my eye for drawing. The desire is still there but I just can't see what I saw before.

I hope to some day get that ability back but if it is at the cost of such heartache, I hope to never draw anything but stick figures as long as I live.

Perhaps this drawing ability was a temporary gift from God to help me get out of the deep black hole of depression I found myself in after the accident. Those who have lost a child know what I am speaking of but to those who don't (and I hope NEVER do), I'll go into that in more detail another time.

. . . just thinking.
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Christmas 2008 at the Rix's

2008-12-29T20:07:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Alicia and her grandma and grandpa Rix during 2003 Christmas morning.

There were pictures of Alicia everywhere this year including this one I brought.

They always hang her stocking every year. Aunt Cindy made this one for Alicia.

I wondered what happened to this picture.

Here are a couple of ornaments on their tree.

See the little angel in the photo under the tree?

Here is a closer look at it. I remember taking it many years ago.

Aunt Cindy Claus, Big brother Wesley and Uncle Scott.

Here is a sweet angel Rick's parents got for me. I haven't decided if I want to put it in our yard or chance someone taking it at Alicia's place.

Here is one of Grandma Rix and her mother, Nana. Nana is in heaven with Alicia now.

Here is something you will find everyday at their house.

very sweet.

Next time I am at Nanny and Papa's house (my parents), I'll get pictures of their pictures of Alicia.

It is so heart warming and important to us to have her pictures around everyday and during the holidays. It lets us that she isn't forgotten.

I was touched by the photo of Alicia on my brothers frig when we went to open presents at his house this year. Brought sweet tears to my eyes. I will never forget it. Thank you Jamie and Jimmy.

Elena

2008-11-20T11:50:00.000-08:00

For my friends in Atlanta

2008-11-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Some new friends!

2008-11-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

Blake's new puppy, Molly Rix

2008-11-08T19:49:00.000-08:00

Hi! I'm Molly.

Where are you going Blakers?!

Molly LOVES Blakers...

but isn't fond of my camera.

Cage before Beauty

2008-11-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

This is probably some gimmick but it sounds cool anyway.

Dear Nicki,
We had to be the first to tell you this exciting news! Cage before Beauty has been accepted into the International Society of Photographers Hall of Fame !

Caleb and Jayla Talkington

2008-11-04T07:19:00.001-08:00

Look at this pretty little thing. She looks just like Caleb.

The car the girls were in

2008-10-23T20:01:00.001-07:00

Jae Lynn was driving, Taylore' was in the front and Alicia was in the back behind Jae Lynn. Apparently Alicia was run over by the wheel of the truck.
In the picture it appears the girls are still in the car.

Lately I've been thinking about watching the video of Alicia's funeral but I'm not sure if I can handle it. Since I don't remember much about that day, I think I'd like to see what the funeral was like because I heard it was beautiful but....

How cute are they?

2008-10-23T19:59:00.001-07:00

Laci Lu and Remi too

2008-10-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

Here are two pictures Tracy took of Laci and Remi on the beach a couple of weeks ago.

The thing that really gets me is that Remi looks just like her Mom, Amanda (Alicia's cousin) and Laci looks just like Alicia, so that these pictures look just like Alicia and Amanda playing together on the beach.

Laci reminds me soooooooo much of Alicia.

I love to call Tracy and hear Laci in the background jabbering and playing.

Ike meets us in Kentucky

2008-09-15T09:50:00.000-07:00

While we were visiting Mom and Dad, Ike's winds blew into Murray during the last night we were there. I woke up to see the trees being tossed about in the woods behind the house. I walked into the living room to check on the hummingbirds and was brokenhearted to see the wind blowing all the little birds down onto the concrete porch. Poor things. When the winds calmed down, we got dressed and went to breakfast. When we got back and discovered there had apparently been some very strong winds blowing through the area while we were eating.

Mom and Dad's roof suffered a bit of damage.

Unfortunately we discovered the path those missing shingles took...

Yep. Right across our bug!

Power and water were both out at Mom and Dad's house so we decided it is time for us to go back home.

Rick put the last of our things in the trunk.

Homeward bound

What's that in the road up ahead?

A tree has taken down the power line and blocked the main road out of town.

DETOUR

OH NO, the detour road has been blocked by a large tree across the road.

WOW! that is a BIG tree!

Back to Mom and Dad's to take more pictures of hummingbirds.

Since the electricity was still out and it is dark in the house, Mom and Dad had decided to stay outside to cleanup after the storm after we left.

So when we got back to their house and told them we were trapped, Rick and I volunteered to help them with the clean up.

I think all but two apples were blown out of their apple trees. We started off having an apple throwing contest. My arms are sore and I have a large bruise on my hip where I slipped and fell on an apple. But it was fun playing with my parents.

We raked apples out of the yard, Daddy shoveled apples into the bucket on the front of the tractor and Rick carried them off into the woods.

Daddy tells Rick to take the apples to the woods.

There were a lot of apples!

Mom loves to explore the woods.

Come on Nicki, let's explore the woods.

Mom, I am NOT going tracking through the woods in my flip-flops!

Here comes Daddy to clear out the woods and search for us.

More storm clouds rolling in.

Hummingbirds at mom and dad's this weekend

2008-09-15T08:55:00.000-07:00

It looks like this one might be checking out his reflection in the water.

There is a was wasp on one of the flowers that is stirring the birds up. Look at the bird on the bottom left of this photo. It's tail wings are spread out to halt its flight because the wasp is on the flower it want feed from.

This little guy is minding his own business when along comes another,
and POPs him on the head. OUCH!

The hummingbirds were so thick this weekend, the porch was nothing but a constant buzz with an occasional chirp. All the fuzzy things in the background that looks like something on the camera lens are really a bunch of hummingbirds out of focus. There were so many!

There were anywhere from 50 to 100 birds flying all around the front porch at any given moment.

Here are two others fighting in mid flight. One of them is upside down. Talented.

These two got into a spat. You could hear their wings hit each other.

Look at all the birds out of focus - tons of them!!!

Hummingbirds do have mouths.

missing her

2008-09-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

I miss my little Miss Morning...

Look at how sweet they are.

Laci Nicole

2008-09-03T08:52:00.000-07:00

Laci has her Daddy's eyes.
Look at those lashes!

Silly girls....

Alicia's 21st Birthday . . .

2008-09-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

Alicia's 21st birthday. We ate at Olive Garden where we had a glass of wine and toasted her birthday. We then went to her place and let her balloons go.

She is such a sweetheart and still takes care of me today.

She came to me in my dreams this morning while I was sleeping.

She was a little thing, probably 3 years old.

We played in the snow and made beds. - silly.

I really miss her.

(I downloaded these photos backwards, last is first so you should start from the bottom and scroll up to the top)

A rose for Grandma Rix.

Nanny, I took a rose petal and traced the A in Alicia and saved this for you.

Blakers is leaving a rose petal for Alicia.

I love you Misses Morning.

I wish I could hug you.

Away to heaven ...

Off her balloons go...

Blake releases Alicia's 21st birthday balloons.

Blakers writes Alicia a note.

Dadders and Blakers write Alicia love notes on her balloons.

We always save one of Alicia's roses to take home and put with those from her funeral.

Alicia's glass of wine, balloon and rose at Olive Garden.

Reed's Bridge battle reenactment . . .

2008-08-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

Rick and I went to a reenactment of Reed's Bridge battle today.

Here are some pictures I took.

Battle of Reed's Bridge

2008-08-31T17:53:00.001-07:00

Here are some more pictures I took.

Exploring Little Rock

2008-08-24T17:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take some pictures downtown today so Rick and I went exploring...

Water play on the River market.

2008-08-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

OH my goodness. Rick and I went downtown to the river market to explore and take some pictures. We found this place and I could have stayed all day long taking pictures of these kids playing in the water.

this little one was not happy with this place until she saw me pointing my camera at her. hehehe

Dawg gone it.

This little guy reminds me so much of Blake at that age.

I dont know who had more fun, me or the kids.

new bedspread - FINALLY!

2008-08-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

I couldn't decide if I wanted to get a blue bedspread or a burgandy bedspread since the main wall in our bedroom is burgandy.

I finally decided today that I don't have to decide which one because I can make them work together!

Beary looks so cute snuggled into our new bedding.

My only problem now is deciding which do I want showing, stripes or floral pillows.

more proofs for Jena

2008-07-23T16:31:00.001-07:00

proofs for Jena

2008-07-22T22:32:00.001-07:00

The Old Mill flowers

2008-07-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

I love the blue sky on this one.

I actually didn't adjust the coloring on either of these photos.

Jena

2008-07-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

3 Cheerleaders Softball Tournament of 2008

2008-07-16T07:00:00.001-07:00

PAINTED FACES

2008-07-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

This cute little guy promised his sister that he would get something painted on his nose if she swung the bat at the ball. Well, she HIT the ball and he got a frog painted on his nose.

This is one of the coaches that promised his girls that he would have whatever they wanted painted on his face if they won the game. By the time we got through with him, he had butterflies, hearts, and sparkles on his face! The other coach got a large flower and purple hearts and sparkles.

Jae Lynn's Aunt Susan...

A lot of flaming softballs were painted before it was all said and done.
This one however, got large purple, green, and pink flames on her face. - cute cute cute!!!

Alicia's Aunt Cindy...

3 Cheerleaders Softball Tournament of 2008

Some photos from the office

2008-07-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

Dr. Calvin Hanna,

If you happen to read this, I miss your lectures.

Dr. Glenn Knotts of Herman Eye Center - taken Oct 3, 2001

Larry Blansett and Mike Huckabee

Blansett's Press Conference

2008 State Champs!

2008-05-19T07:02:00.001-07:00

RALLY THE TROUPS!

Blake gives his opinion about the choice of plays. . .

Spirit is high...

shoot!

awwwwwe....

Check out Blake's expression when Coach gets pumped up.

He is crying.

ALICIA was there in SPIRIT! (This is her megaphone)

Game Ball!

WE WON!!!!!!!!

Proud Dadders!

Blake never gave up, he never guit even though he didn't get to play much, he never quit!

That takes a lot of a person. He is a good Christian man.

We are very proud of him.

Alicia's flower on our sample box

2008-05-14T15:18:00.001-07:00

We used one of Alicia's flowers from her funeral on our sample box.
It is the purple/pink flower in the circle below.
This will be in doctors' offices all over the US.
:) She would have been so tickled.

Blake's Senior Prom at The Clinton Library

2008-04-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

the day we cleaned out Alicia's locker at school...

2008-03-31T18:20:00.001-07:00

Blake reads what the kids posted on signs in the cafeteria for
Alicia, Taylore' & Jae Lynn just days after their funerals.

Alicia's locker at school.
The Seniors saved it for Blake to use during his
Freshman year at High School so that he would be on the same
hall with their lockers and they could be there for him each day.

Visiting Blake's art class.

Blake showing us his self portrait he started in art class.
Look at how little he is. Sweet thing.
Great job on those eyes, Blakers!

Flowers from Alicia's funeral taken on 03/26/2004

2008-03-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Alicia was laid to rest by her friend Kyle. Kyle was killed in November, 5 months before her accident.

colorful perspectives

2008-03-11T06:49:00.001-07:00

red jewels

Through my kitchen window...

Blake's baseball game March 2008

2008-03-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Alicia at the Old Mill

2008-03-06T13:19:00.001-08:00

Picture of Blake being tackled

2008-03-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

If you can see this photo, it is a sequence of 3 photos I took of Blake #22 in the blue jersey being tackled by #7 in the white jersey.

Remington Panky at the Old Mill

2008-03-04T08:45:00.000-08:00

Graduation Invitations Sample # 12

2008-02-29T12:28:00.011-08:00

# 11

2008-02-29T12:28:00.010-08:00

# 10

2008-02-29T12:28:00.009-08:00

#9

2008-02-29T12:28:00.008-08:00

#8

2008-02-29T12:28:00.007-08:00

#7

2008-02-29T12:28:00.006-08:00

#6

2008-02-29T12:28:00.005-08:00

#5

2008-02-29T12:28:00.004-08:00

#4

2008-02-29T12:28:00.003-08:00

#3

2008-02-29T12:28:00.002-08:00

Graduation Invitations Sample #2

2008-02-29T12:28:00.001-08:00

Graduation Invitations Sample #1

2008-02-29T12:14:00.000-08:00

New angel for Alicia's place

2008-02-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

I miss you Alicia

Kyra's 1st Christmas - 2007

2008-01-27T16:48:00.003-08:00

Blake's tattoo (continued)

2008-01-27T16:48:00.002-08:00

Blake's tattoo 2

2008-01-27T16:48:00.001-08:00

R.I.P. A.N.R.

Friends show up for support or . . .
to watch Blake cry?
Hmmmmm?

Blake's tattoo

2008-01-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

Alicia's 17th birthday

2008-01-25T07:36:00.001-08:00

Lil' Bro Blakers and Dadders

Alicia's place of rest and her birthday balloons

Mom visiting Alicia at her place...

Aunt Cindy made Alicia's birthday cake.