Keepin' It Real!

Many of you know about my Nephew Anthony and His wife Amanda, they met right after boot camp in the Marines and have spent the past two years serving in Iraq. Well, they're finally home, and have a new addition!  Adrian Eric Anthony Wider, was born April 13th, 2009.  I was so excited to see them all,  they traveled to California last month to visit. We did our first Baby shoot, Adrain, is six weeks old here.  I know I'm biased, but isn't he the most beautiful Angel Boy you've ever seen!?  I'm so proud to be a Great Auntie!

For the past eleven years we have had the tradition of our family reunion here at our home on Memorial Day weekend.  It started the year after we moved here, and on the first Bash I was pregnant with our son Louie, and Patrick was two years old. ( I seem to always measure time around the kids' ages :.)  Well, on our first Bash we had about 25 people, and in recent years it's grown to about 70!  it's been an amazing way to connect with our Family and has provided our children with the most beautiful memories.  All the cousins strengthen bonds while having a great time.  Just about all of them are in agreement that the Penick Bash is the best time of the year, yes, even better than Christmas! Seeing the kids and adults share themselves across the generations has got to be one of the most gratifying pieces of our lives.  Everyone contributes to make it happen, and we have our traditional Campfire, Softball, Volleyball, Fishing, Singing, Lipsyncing, eating, and hangin' by Cow Creek, we feel so lucky to share this time with our family and hope to continue The Bash, as long as we are here...I love photographing the event, and making the slideshows every year for our ever growing family(seems like there are new babies every year!).  To all my Family and Dear Friends that help with preparing for the Bash, All my Love and Gratitude, for your time and love!

Well, I don't mean to brag... but I'm gonna :.)  Because, I've never felt the kind of love, joy, and fullfullment that I felt on the eve of my son Patrick's 13th birthday when he handed me this Mother's Day card which read:

"Thy God, has blessed me, but not with wealth and riches but with a mentor, an example well set.  As I approach my teenage years, I will be unlike many others who are unhonest and not pure. Unlike others I will be free of heorine or meth constant partying or adult drink.  How will someone like me manage to be truthful and good? I will tell you I have a lioness hearted Mother, Like a female salmon she will accomplish any task for me, tiny or one that requires a hero. Become successful in life I will, and owe it to my warrior Mother."

I was speechless and after crying for a good 15 minutes, my heart filled with gratitude, and all the sacrafices of motherhood melted away, and I felt so blessed to be a Mother and I've never been so happy to be compared to a female Salmon :.)  I may have to pull this card out a little later in the teenage years to remind Patrick of his conviction, but I know this young man is destined for greatness, and I'd like to say it was all me...but, it really comes from the most incredible and dedicated Father I've ever known, my husband, Jim Penick, who has given our Sons the example of what a true man is and will show them the way to thier highest potential.

Hola Everybody, I can't believe it's time for Announcements again!  Congratulations class of 2009!  It's not too late to order your custom announcements so email or call me with you top 2-4 images and text and I will create you a  custom proof for your appoval and we can have your prints ready for you in 3-5 days!  There is a $50 creative set-up charge to create your custom announcement.. The  sizes are  4x8's  or 5x7's (depending on how many images are used in the design) prints come with envelopes, a sample announcement and our prices are below:

PRICES FOR 2009

25 Cards    $65

50 Cards    $125

75 Cards    $170

100 Cards   $225

The "East Coast Meets West Coast" Fashion Show is happenin' on April 23rd!  The doors open at 7:00 PM and the show starts at 8:00 PM at the Win River Casino Eagle Room where DJ Mike Flanagan will be jamin' the tunes for our Cat Walk!

THE BUCKLE in the Mount Shasta Mall are so generously sponsering the fashions for our models.  I feel so lucky to have The Buckle for our Event, as they have the coolest threads in all of Redding ~ that's for sure!

Tickets are on sale now, and purchaseable from the models in the fashion show or me. $5 for students and $7 for adults. All proceeds to benefit Breast Cancer Research through the American Cancer Society

We will be taking pictures and giving away door prizes, and I will be giving special discounts on sessions for the senior class of 2010. So c'mon down and check out our models strut their stuff on the cat walk, have some fun, and support a good cause.