Friends & Family,

We would like to invite you and your family to join us this holiday season at the Laguna Beach Winter Fantasy Sawdust Art Festival. Jason Blankenship will be an exhibitor showing his photography at booth 233. Please feel free to stop by and see us but don’t forget to bring the kids. Below I have also included a link/picture to a coupon for $1 off the admission.

Other activities you can enjoy with the family at the show include:
Ø Winter Art Series of 60-90 minute art or craft classes of painting, wreath making & more!
Ø Free to low-cost art projects for children and adults
Ø Demonstrations by artists including glass blowing
Ø Holiday entertainment and community performances
Ø 3 outdoor cafés
Ø Visits with Santa!

Show Dates:

November 22 & 23

November 28, 29 & 30 (open Friday after Thanksgiving)

December 6 & 7December 13 & 14

Hours:

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends only (open rain or shine)

Admission:
$6.00 Adult one-day
$3.00 Child one-day (6-12 yrs)
Free Age 5 yrs & younger
$9.00 Season Pass(unlimited admission for one person during the Winter show)

Website: http://www.sawdustartfestival.org/winter_fantasy/winter.htm
Coupon for Admission: http://www.sawdustartfestival.org/promotions/Winter%2008%20$1off.jpg

We hope to see you there!

Jason & April Blankenship
High & Wild Photography
http://www.highandwildphotography.com/

Escrow

We officially went into escrow yesterday. Now we sit back and wait. We plan on moving Saturday December 20th. We need all the help we can get, so please call me if you are free and can help us move.

Rent!

My parents have 3 apartments that are available for rent. Choices of 2 bed/2 bath with a single car garage or a 3 bed/ 2 bath with a yard and a 2 car garage. Located in Costa Mesa. Please call Penny Rieck (949) 456-9544 for more info about the apartments. Please pass this info on to anyone who is looking for a place to live.

We Got It!

- House Update-

The bank accepted our offer on 1600 Canyon Crest Cir. and we are now starting the escrow process. The bank wants escrow to close on 12/3/2008 so it should be a quick sale. Cross your fingers and pray with us that everything goes fast and smooth. For more pictures of the house visit this link http://www.aprilandjason.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=4699

I'll post again when I have more info.

We are so excited about our first home!!!!!

House Hunting

Well it's time...the Blankenship's are searching for their first home.

1600 Canyon Crest....we made our first offer and are waiting to hear back from the bank.

5 bedrooms, 3 bath, 3300 sq ft. on a 10K sq ft. lot.

3259 Star Canyon...our second favorite and second offer

4 bedrooms, 4 bath, 3000 sq ft. on a 7K sq ft. lot

The Flower Girl

Taylor at Katie's Wedding

I LOVE this Baby!

Taylor Rieck

6 months old

Grandma Rieck's Funeral

Saturday my family attended the Funeral for
Wauneta Fay Rieck

My grandma lived to the age of 79 years old. She was loved by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. She will be missed by all. We love you Grandma!!!

Cari's Graduation

Cari Graduated!!!

Last weekend we celebrated Cari's Graduation from IDI - Interior Design Institute. We are so proud of her!!!!

Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair

Hope you all can make it down to the Laguana Beach Art-A-Fair Festival and check out Jason's Photography.

Tempe Festival of the Arts

Last weekend The Blankenship Family headed out to Tempe, AZ for Jason's first Art Show in 2008. The weather was perfect, there were lots of people amazed by his work, tons of compliments, and overall we had a good show. Below are a couple pictures of Jason's booth.

Q1 2008 Recap

I'm terrible at posting on my blog so I thought I would do a recap of events from

January - March

Desert Wild Flowers Weekend

Amboy Crater

Desert Lily & Desert Wild Flowers

Weekend Hike

Jason, Hannah and I went for a quick hike up Santiago Mountain to check out the waterfall. It was really flowing because of all the rain we've had this spring.

Salton Sea - Salvation Mountain

Salvation Mountain

Wild Life area

This was the most bizarre weekend. We headed out to the Salton Sea to take wild life pictures. We went to a couple wild life areas, saw some mud pots, and stopped by Salvation Mountain to see the hill side that was painted up.

Big Sur, CA

We headed up the coast to Big Sur with our friends, April and Rob O'Neil, for the maiden voyage of the camper and the new truck. It was a beautiful day on Friday, a bit gloomy on Saturday and we headed home on Sunday. April and Rob brought Hannah's new best friend, Mr. B, for a weekend of fun with the dogs and the beach.

April Blankenship, April O'Neil and Maggie

Mr. B & Hannah

The New Camper and Truck

Orange County AIDS Walk 2008

Jason and I are doing something really important to help other people, and I am writing to ask for your help.

Orange County AIDS Walk 2008 will take place on Saturday May 10th, 2008
@ Angels Stadium of Anaheim

On Saturday, May 10th, we are walking at Orange County AIDS Walk 2008. Click on the link below to view our personal AIDS Walk webpage. While visiting my webpage, don't forget to sign our online Guest Book as we would love to hear from you!

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=1723943

Any amount is truly appreciated and it is easy and secure to do... just follow the directions once you click on the link to my webpage.

Your tax-deductible donation will help prevent the spread of HIV and help over 8,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Orange County. I hope that you will help us exceed our goals!

If you can't give, but know someone who can, please pass this on to them! We would really appreciate it. If you would like to walk with us and raise money, let me know. I will be happy to show you how to sign up! When more people know about the Walk, even more can be accomplished in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We hope you will join us!

Thanks!
April and Jason Blankenship

More Baby Taylor Pictures

Taylor is now 2 weeks old....getting bigger every day!

Aunty April and Uncle Jason

The Rieck Family

Little baby Taylor Rieck has arrived. Jason and I are a pround anutie and uncle to the beautiful 6 lbs 1 oz 18 1/2 inch bundle of joy! Mommie and baby are doing well and dad has been a huge support system for the new family.

Taylor Harriet Madiko Rieck was born 2/4/2008 at 6:16pm.

Congratulations!

Scarlet Fever

For those of you that don't already know..... I have Scarlet Fever. Last week I was very sick with what I thought was the Flu. Unfortunatley it was not the flu, it was strep. If you don't take antibiotics to help with strep it can turn into Scarlet Fever.

What is Scarlet Fever you ask:
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by an exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes Group A and occurs rarely with impetigo or other streptococcal infections. It is characterized by sore throat, fever, a 'strawberry' tongue, and a fine sandpaper rash over the upper body that may spread to cover almost the entire body. Scarlet fever is not rheumatic fever, but may progress into that condition. The rate of development of rheumatic fever in individuals with untreated streptococcal infection is estimated to be 3%. The rate of development is far lower in individuals who have received antibiotic treatment.

I have been quarantined to my house until 1/24/07. I have decided to document my disease and share pubicly what I am going through.

Pictures......COMING SOON!

New Years 2007

New Years 2007 was another fun adventure for the Blankenship Family. We might be a little crazy for heading out in the cold but nothing seems to keep us from having fun. We started our adventure in Paige, AZ which is right next to Lake Powel.

After our photography morning and a quick hike, we headed up to Bryce, UT for the sunset and sunrise. It had snowed the day before and the average temperature in Bryce was 20 during the day and about 8 at night. Burrrrrrr COLD!

Spinnaker Company Holiday Party

Friday December 14th

This years Spinnaker's Company Holiday Party was on a beautiful private Yatch in Newport Harbor during the Christmas Boat parade. We had a wonderful time watching all the brightly decorated boats sail by. Merry Christmas!