What Makes Me Happy Today

1. No longer sitting in the SLC airport

2. HC coming to the airport rescue

3. A nap in the afternoon

4. Ginger Ale + Cranberry juice

5. Sleeping in my bed

MoCo Is Quite The Baker

This was our Christmas breakfast bread! MoCo did all the eggs. :)

Merry Merry Christmas!

Are you sensing a pattern with Squasher? The social butterfly of the group!

love this girl!

Brown eyes blowing kisses

The boys and I piled on the lazy-boy

and the girls decided to join us...we almost tipped over at one point!

Me and my Mini me in our rockin awesome matching pjs Christmas morning.

The girl is such a poser!

Coolest PJs Since The 90s!

Brown Eyes Is An Adorable Tease

Christmas Eve Photo Recap

Yes, Squasher was very social this evening

Dadio and MoCo

Reggie Reid!

Susie Q and Rico

These two are friends one minute and wrestling the next...

Lacey Lin and Averina

My little girls! (Sam Jam isn't taller than me yet so she's still one of my little girls)

Oh How Our Wardrobes Hint At Our True Desires

My parents are silently screaming through their choice in outfits that they want a sunny, by the beach Christmas next year. Dadio sporting a Hawaiian surfboard shirt on Christmas Eve. Mama Berry sporting the leopard print pjs with a hot pink sweatshirt to fight off the bitter cold. Screaming folks...it is so obvious to me!

Dadio Turns 25x2 +1

Although he doesn't look a day over 35! :)

For his birthday we went to dinner, followed by birthday cake, the famous Berry birthday song, and of course lots of ice cream to satisfy the birthday boy's sweet tooth.

Squasher and I after the party.

MoCo and Averina striking a pose.

I like to pose as if I'm taking mug shots Matty and I

Brown eyes takes after her Papa in her need for ice cream

and she's hilarious!

The Only Way To Survive Holiday Shopping...

Mama Berry had a full knee replacement 9 weeks ago so that gives her a license to drive heavy machinery inside stores!

Reason #2 Why I'm Not Allowed To Wrap Gifts

Remember, I'm Spending Christmas With Jesus Christ This Year...

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven’s stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can’t compare
with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear.
And be glad I’m spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do
For I can’t count the blessing or love he has for each of you
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas
with Jesus Christ this year.

Author Unknown

Averina In Her New Christmas Dress

She's growing up a little too fast!

First Night In Idaho

I always could pull off the cowgirl look well. :)

Happy 25th Haley Noelle!

HN turned 25! Yet she's as wise as any 75 year old I've ever met.

A few reasons why I am so grateful for this gal!

1. She's an amazing Visiting teacher to me, she goes above and beyond her duty to rally the troops to help me when I need the extra help and she herself is always just a call away.

2. She likes to chart things on spreadsheets that aren't work related, a nerd after my own heart!

3. She uses LA Looks hair gel!

4. She is about as patient as I am, which is much appreciated. ;)

5. She listens and listens and then listens some more!

6. She holds me accountable to my goals, a real constant connie this one.

7. She has a tender heart and a robot exterior.

Happy Birthday Miss Haley! Love you!

HN and Hammer; they make a good-looking couple and this little dinner celebration wouldn't have happened without Hammer! Thanks so much Hammer!

The decor was amazing (CW earns the credit for this!)!

You obviously don't need a caption for us. :)

I swear these two should have been born in the colonial period. HN could have been the first woman voter, much earlier than when women actually received the right to vote. CW could have look more in style wearing her pioneer bonnet. :)

The CW and HN being normal...

BT and HN

JB turning into Uncle Sam for the latter portion of the evening, he even gave us an encore performance of "Jingle Bells" EPA style.

Look at how patient these loungers are being as they wait for dinner to be served.

Some of the ladies with HN...we sure love her.

Jess Berry Quote Of The Day!

Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it. The only question is how we will react to it. Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping-stones?

Our responses will inevitably shape our souls and ultimately determine our status in eternity. Because opposition is divinely decreed for the purpose of helping us to grow, we have the assurance of God that in the long view of eternity it will not be allowed to overcome us if we persevere in faith. We will prevail. Like the mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary. What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them.

Elder Oaks, Adversity See full talk here.

Remembering Kate

Many of you will recall reading about my dear friend, Kate Finlayson, in previous posts related to Team Hydro. After a courageous and diligent fight against hydrocephalus Kate passed away on Nov 27th, 2010.

Today the memorial services were held in Danville, CA for Kate. It was a beautiful service; full of love, sweet memories, testimony, hope in the Savior, and comforting music. Kate was and continues to be a beacon of hope to me, a source of comfort, and an empathic friend. It is not often in my life I've found a friend that understands my physical struggles in the way Kate did. I'll forever be grateful for her example of courage, unwavering faith, and for her friendship that will continue one day. I love you, Kate.

You can read more about Kate here.

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

This Christmas when you're thinking of worthy causes to contribute to consider helping further the research to fight against hydrocephalus by donating to Team Hydro for the Kate Finlayson Research Grant here. Do it for Kate!

Reasons To Heart This Wednesday

1. Two days until the Boring Berrys reunite

2. I received an email from CP with a signature line that says: I heart JB (yes I noticed CP)!

3. Mama Berry's rolls will be sweet aroma of my workplace this afternoon

4. Great year end review

5. Dreamed about the Yankees last night

6. It is Dec 15th, which means the Grinch in me takes a vacation until the 27th

7. Did I mention that I'm taking a two week vacation?

Happy Wednesday!

If I Judged People I'd Probably Do It Based On This Too...

Look To The Light

My Weekly Roommates: The Ladies of Xanadu

Miss Mi, Rebs, me, L. Smithie, and JP

These ladies are amazing! They've let me be a welcomed 5th wheel each week. I love each chance I have to spend with these girls, it is not about the quality of food, but rather the quality time spent. Rebs is headed off to Oxford, we are excited for her, but I'm going to miss her A LOT! Thanks girls! Love you all!

This Dodgers Fan Is Alright

GG is about to snowplow his way to Utah to finish law school and hang with his darling fiancé. This is GG and I at an ugly sweater party (how awesome is that cat sweater of mine?!). It isn't very often a Dodgers fan and Yankees fan can be real friends...but somehow we pull it off! GG is going to be missed!

Golf Poetry

I grip the club like Palmer, address the ball like Snead
Relax like Julius Boros to gain full clubhead speed.
I follow through like Littler, blast out of traps like Wall
I concentrate like Nicklaus, about to putt the ball.
I imitate the top flight pros on fairway, green and tee
In spite of all my efforts…..I hit the ball like me.

Written by Dick Emmons (I think)
Printed in Golf Digest about 1966

10 More Days Until...

A Look At Some Lovely Ladies

RH got married in May but since I adore her, HN, and Bena it is never too late to post it.

Gingerbread Building