April Showers...Not Cool

Dear Idaho, 

If this ridiculous weather continues I just might have to sell my house and move back to California. It is almost May, please stop. I'd like to landscape before the end of the summer, but if winter never stops how am I to do that? Please stop snowing and start shining. 

Sincerely, 

A Californian missing warm weather 

My Buddy, Mattie Faye

 This kid's personality is growing like a weed recently...she's hilarious and laughs at just about anything. I love her a lot. 

And she really loves her daddy! 

My One Year Anniversary

One year ago I left my home in Palo Alto and returned to my Tetonia home. I told myself it would take at least a year to feel settled and adjusted back to Idaho living. I was right. I still am very much a Californian Idahoan. I still freeze in this "balmy" weather we have in Idaho. I still crave frozen yogurt and Thai food on a daily basis. I still eat like a "hippy" according to my brother. I still wear my Sperry's and skinny jeans. I still love my bright colors (hence a blue house with a purple door among the sea of brown ones). I still miss Gustavo. I still miss shopping at H&M. I still get up on Saturdays wanting to walk The Dish. Most importantly, I still miss my California family.

Having said that, many things have changed. 

I am a homeowner! I sit by my fireplace at night and remind myself how awesome it is to have a place to call my own (and NO roommates!). I now do more home decor shopping than clothes shopping. I work in a very spacious office, that has a door (no more cubicle life for me). I LOVE work. I never thought I'd say that, let alone really mean it. We are working hard and there are great things ahead for Berry Oil. Working with family is extremely fulfilling. I'm grateful I get to be a part of such a legacy. For the most part, I am feeling better physically than I was a year ago and when I'm not I've got an army of family and new neighbors that are there to help me. In my free time I get to spend time with the coolest little girls in the world. They make me feel like a million bucks, give me purpose, and really think I'm the coolest (which is pretty awesome). While I wear my boots more than I wear my Sperry's here, I feel at peace with the changes that have occurred this past year. 

I look forward to another year ahead, with hopefully a little more golfing. I'll continue to blend my Idaho and California roots together to be make the next year even more awesome.   

PS...visitor welcome anytime! COME!

Averina Turns The Lucky #7!

Averina is officially 7 years old! It is unbelievable how quickly she's grown. We sure love you, Miss Avery Lou Berry. To celebrate her birthday we went to Bear World, followed by her basketball game, and then rounded it off with ice cream cake and an awesome birthday song. 

 (Averina and her crew) Averina, her friend (Madeline), Brown Eyes, her friend, (Savannah), and Moco. They loved the rides! It was especially hilarious watching Brown Eyes keep with with the "big girls". 

And we saw lots of bears...big and little. 

 And we saw some in trees...

The birthday girl in all her glory!

The girls are all smiles after Grandpa treated them to ice cream cones at Bear World.

Rubber Ducky, You're The One For Me...

and then the song should go like this: "Aunt Jess makes bath time so much fun..." I only know those two lines of the song but Mattie Faye and Brown Eyes think I'm fun nonetheless. We've been having a lot of fun lately, making cool hairdos with the shampoo (see Brown Eye's do below). My goal for next week is to stay dry during bath time. 

Brightened Up My Week

These were delivered to my office with one line on the card: YOU ARE AWESOME

Pretty nice...and true. ;) 

Thanks Mama Berry...it is a genetic trait. 

The Only Way To Survive Long Work Weeks...

Is by laying on the floor of your office with your legs up. I always end up getting caught "laying down" on the job, no matter what time of the day I try to stretch my legs. 

Life At Berry Oil...

Have I mentioned we are implementing a new accounting software program at Berry Oil? Have I mentioned we might go crazy in the process? Or pass out from exhaustion? 

We were going live on May 1st...that deadline isn't going to happen, so we are shooting for June 1st now. This means until mid to late June my blogging will be spotty and a bit limited. Just imagine that every post would look the same if I were posting daily: in my office, making lists, training on the new software, making assignments, crossing things off my many lists, and occasionally taking a break to go sit in one of my outdoor office locations to soak up a little vitamin D. 

Things I'm looking forward to when we get up and running on the new system: 

GOLFING

Vacation (I will be coming to CA and DC when I'm free later this summer) 

Joshy coming home from his mission 

Leaving the office early enough that others aren't locking me for my own safety

Cooking again

Until then...

The Time I Received Injections Twice In One Visit

Yes that is a little kid's paper hospital gown. Mama Berry, my lifelong OT, and my doctor thought it was hilarious having the "adult" in a kid's gown...and it fits to boot. 

Turns out that the first set of botox injections were really just saline. (no kidding, folks) I, of course, have the best luck of anyone I know so when the doctor returned to tell me she had to inject me again with the real stuff I took it like a "champ"...sort of. It hurt as per usual but I didn't cry. That's a win in my book. 

Needless to say, I've been a little extra sore this round of injections. I've received a lot of great help from my family and my neighborhood. Just within a short week I've made lots of new friends. Service really does eliminate barriers and opens doors for friends. For this reason alone I'll forever be grateful for a less than perfect body. 

6 Year Old YMCA Basketball

Averina is playing YMCA basketball. Matt and Amie are the coaches. Which means I'm the short-stack wrangler of Brown Eyes and Mattie Faye. Averina is improving each week. I am not taking it as serious as I've been taking Sam Jam's 7th grade basketball. (You know you're too much of a hot head when you get a migraine after a 7th grade bball game). Matt and Amie are growing in patience each week. :)  

And one member of the peanut gallery. 

My Little Charmer

Mattie Faye is growing personality faster than her little body is growing. I love being around to watch her grow and develop. Her smile brightens my day even on the worse days. She's my little pal and even when she's moody I still think she's funny. I think Ardella Faye would also love our little namesake, in fact, I know she DOES love her.