Learn How To High Five Folks

I actually have particular opinions (I know, shocking) about when the use of high fives are acceptable and when they are Not acceptable.

(this list is not inclusive but rather a sampling to help you gauge your high five etiquette)

Cheering during sporting events (acceptable)

While playing sports (acceptable)

While playing board games (acceptable)

While playing pool games (acceptable)

As a guy: Greeting a girl at the beginning of a date (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Dropping a girl off after a date (Not acceptable)

As a form of greeting when meeting important people, parents, professors, boss, etc. (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Greeting a girl in any social situation (Not acceptable)

As a guy: Saying goodbye to a girl in any social situation (Not acceptable)

***High Five Etiquette video courtesy of Classy Matty's GReader! Thanks Matty!***

The Red Velvet Queen!

Meet HN, the queen of any amazing baked good!

Reasons HN is GREAT:

1. She bakes better than Betty herself, full of love!

2. She has fashion style that goes beyond GQ

3. She's a VTer that goes beyond the monthly visit

4. She provides level-headed advice A LOT

5. She also makes red velvet and throws you a bday celebration!

VOTE For My Friend, Jason

Jason has CF (Cystic Fibrosis). Jason is the son of my Dad's childhood best friend, Brad. I've known Jason my whole life, as our families have shared in many wonderful life events throughout our lives, including but not limited to more baseball games than one can count. Jason's attitude of hope and determination is contagious. Maybe it is because Jason has CF and I have CP that I have such a tender spot in my heart for this man that will always be a cute curly redheaded little boy in my eyes. Watch this video and you'll see what I mean.

After you watch the video I have an action item for you...and this action item is worth completing!

Go to www.solvaycaresscholarship.com and VOTE!

There are 3 super easy ways to vote:

online

and

by phone

(1–888–305–9808 and 19)

or

by text

(text VOTE19 to 30364)

To learn more about Jason click here!

MPR's 5 Step Plan To Save My Soul

Email I received from MPR today, a direct quote:

"And I am trying to save your soul with baby steps. step one: flu shot, steps two-four: undetermined and tba, step five: register your booty on mormonhottielookingforamealticket.com and get you hitched. That is all."

Simple enough plan, expect results soon.

September Flies By

After returning from Idaho I've been somewhat MIA for a few good reasons...

1. I've been a sickie since hopping on the plane home to PA (I have since recovered)

2. JP is back in town! YAHOO!

3. My yearly tradition of celebrating my birthday as a "birth-week" has turned into celebrating as a "birth-month".

4. Peter and Nina got MARRIED!

5. Several sessions of relaxation

Squasher In Action

The Little Girls Love Mama Berry

Not real much of a surprise though...

She Might Forgive Me One Day...

Hey, when you pick your nose you're bound to get caught on camera. She is still adorable!

Squasher At His Best

Apparently this look works for the young ladies in THE Valley.

Golf Vacation: Berry Oil Represents!

Monday I was lucky enough to throw on the Berry Oil hat again and golf in a tourney that my Dadio organized for the IPMA. Thanks Dadio! It was held at Huntsman Springs, a gorgeous Scottish links course that lies in the shadows of the Grand Tetons. I was very impressed!

Dan's (Yes, THE Dan, as in the originator of the famous Sloppy Dans) team took first. Yes he's rubbing it that he took first place. Congrats!

Matty and Amie's team took 2nd, I just stole his envelope.

During a four day period we golfed 45 holes, including the 18 holes for the tournament. The jury is still out whether I love my new putter or not after the 45 holes. I do however still heart my driver and 7 iron! Now if one needed to describe what their ambition for retirement I could explain it in two words: golf bum. I had a taste of retirement this week and I like it (a lot)! Washing each round down with some sweet nectar, DP, was an added bonus!

Dadio "Hard" At Work

I walked into his office to find this...all the while Mama Berry and I were slaving away up at the house, eating chocolate, laying on the couches in the sun, and playing with the little girls...like I said, "slaving away". He's got it pretty easy, right? ;)

My Girls Are My Favorites!

Sam Jam gave me an awesome pedicure! Thanks Sam Jam!

MoCo and I

MoCo cheesing!

Brown eyes is hilarious!

And she looks like her Dad!

Averina in her new shirt!

First Time On A Harley

Gordo brought the Harley to Sunday dinner and took me for a ride. I will state for the record that I feel much safer on a snowmobile than on a motorcycle.

Golfing With The Girls

They are adorable...even if Averina can't stop jabbering while we're teeing off.

She'll be driving by the age of five!

Miss Brown eyes is starting really early...

Pink Sunglasses Are IN This Season

Celebrating With These Girls (and Mike!)

We missed having SEC! Christmas will come soon enough.

Breakfast was good. Catching with with SJ, Mike, and Gari was great! Meeting little EJ was pretty amazing too. She has such beautiful blue eyes!

Traditional Birthday Celebration

We Berrys have our traditions...which made this Berry National Holiday (my 25th!) even better. 1. Ice cream cake, see above (I believe this tradition was instituted by Dadio's sweet tooth)

2. Measuring wisdom based on growth, hence no wisdom increasing from this girl since she was 14 years or so. Sam Jam on the other hand will probably be towering over me by next year. Actually who am I trying to fool, probably by this Christmas.

3. We always invite Susie Q (if she's behaving well, hehe)

***Sidenote on this cheesy photo. Dadio was giving us a hard time that we both have the same "fake, show all your teeth" smile. Turns out he was right. Also turns out that is my "real" smile!

4. Oatmeal cake for MY birthday! Don't knock it till you've tried it folks. It is delicious...and that is understating the goodness of this cake, the only cake I actually prefer any time of the year.

(The girls and I)

5. You can't really photograph the vocal talent that the Berrys and Ericksons possess when it comes to singing Happy Birthday. I failed by not recording it this year. Things that make it more special than any other way of performing it: singing loud, singing off key, the more off key the better, oh and when Jed Fred or I are participating (our talent pushes it right over the top!). For those of that haven't ever participated or haven't been privileged to receive such a unique harmony you're missing out and I suggest one of two ways to rectify this: 1. Be in our family or 2. Be cool enough to have me share it with you. Good luck!

6. The attempt at birthday spankings still happen, even at my age

7. And I still fight back! Even when Poncho is holding your one good arm...

What I Woke Up To On My Birthday...

I am loved!

Always Be Ready To Give A Lift

It is important to know, when you feel down, that many others do also and that their circumstances are generally much worse than yours. And it's important to know that when one of us is down, it becomes the obligation of his friends to give him a lift.

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Strengthening Each Other," Ensign, Feb. 1985, 4

Nine Years Ago Today...

I was in a car accident that should have been fatal on my way to work at the golf course, just two days before my 16^th birthday. I was speeding on a dirt road that was in washboard condition, not a very smart idea. I am just lucky that I made it to see my 16^th birthday. I think about that day often. I had actually rushed out of the house in a huff because I was late. I made almost an unconscious decision that morning to wear my seatbelt, it possibly was one of the most defining decisions of my life yet at the time I was blind to the significance it would have.

There were many miracles that morning. As I reflected on what should have happened that morning I was in awe with the hand of the Lord in sparing my life. The Lord deemed my life worth providing such miracles to give me the opportunity to live. This was miracle number seven of the day. As each year passes by my gratitude increases for the miracles that happened that morning to allow me to continually experience the precious gift we call life. I look at the many struggles, joys, successes, trials, pains, and lessons learned I have had in the past nine years and can’t possibly imagine not having had the chance to experience it all. Last week I posted a quote by Mary Oliver that asked: What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? The Lord gave me the miracle on that Saturday morning in September to ask myself that question every day. What my hope and prayer is each time I ask myself this question is that the way I’m living the one wild and precious life that God gave me and spared is pleasing to Him and that it is continually aligning with His plan for my life.

Life is good. Yes it is hard, sometimes harder than we expect, but our capacity to handle the hard is much greater (thanks to a loving Heavenly Father) than we realize most of the time. As this anniversary comes around again I am excited for the next year of living that I GET to experience because the last nine has been amazingly worthwhile. Life is wild and precious.

You Know You're In Idaho When...

Someone is asked to speak in sacrament meeting about protecting the family...and he talks primarily about guns, firearms, history of Browning guns, etc.

(Seriously folks...some of the redneck stereotypes are justified)

Oh and I'm Going To Celebrate Birthday Week...

with these weirdos!!! (with a new little addition!) Happy Birthday to US, to September!

Activities That Make "Labor" Day "Labor-less"

1. Jogging the Dish bright and almost early (hey it is a holiday!) with HN

2. Eyebrow threading

3. Ab Ripper X (granted this activity happens every other day but it feels even better when you'll on holiday)

4. Frozen Gogurts for breakfast

5. Golfing in the heat of the day with CH (oh and receiving a free bucket of range balls since it is my BIRTHDAY week!!!)

6. An ice cold DP to follow immediately upon my return from golfing

7. Lemons...lemon cream cupcakes...lemon tarts...lemon frosting

Happy 27th Granny...

...I mean SEC!!! What a woman, not many women can pull off the curler look with such swagger. Sure love SEC, hopefully she'll love me after she sees this.

It Is All About The Right Perspective

Our Impact on The World...

doesn't have to huge but rather worthwhile.

The White Hot Putter Has Arrived

It is no golden putter but as with all things in life we must progress, move forward. The golden putter will always have a place in my golf bag (literally) but it is going to have to share the "limelight" (aka the greens) with the White Hot Putter.

The christening of the White Hot putter will be Monday!

The Visual Definition of Adorable

Voice of the Spirit

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mama Eskimo

I mean, Mama Berry!!!