T-Shirts: The New Pajamas

The Little Ladies spent the night at my house the night before I left for PA. They all wanted to wear my t-shirts for pajamas. Averina and Brown Eyes got matching Reeses shirts and I was extremely excited for Mattie Faye to wear a NY Yankees shirt! Go Yanks! They are all crazy but well loved! 

My Little Helpers

 And the newest Yankees fan! 

Best Way To Pack Valuables

Pebble Beach photo in the Yankees blanket...double love! 

In Honor Of Jack Berry And The Yankees

Today is Jack Berry's birthday. At lunch Dadio was trash-talking my Yanks saying they were going to get beat today. I reminded him that today is Jack Berry's birthday and that the Yanks wouldn't lose on his birthday. In honor of his birthday I had tomatoes and macaroni ..so good! Always makes me think of my Grandpa and Grandma!  

Love and miss that one of a kind, Jack Berry!

Early 27th Birthday Party!

Saturday we celebrated the Berry National Holiday. Saturday also happens to be the 11th anniversary of my second chance on life. Recall story here. I'm grateful to be alive. I may be turning 27 years old on Monday, I may feel like I'm 80 years old most days, I may look like I'm only 18 years old, but no matter what age I am physically or mentally I'm grateful I have an opportunity to experience mortality. AND I'm extremely grateful for the family and friends that help get me to each birthday year after year. THANKS TO EACH OF YOU!

Amie made this AWESOME NY Yankees cake for me...total surprise!

 Poncho (one of my favorite Yankees fan!) and I...I like to think Jack Berry is with the two of us in spirit in this photo.  I'm extremely blessed to have the two greatest grandpas in the world...pure truth.  

 Someone really loved the blue pinstripes! 

 Sam Jam made an awesome cake for Mama Berry too...it fell in the car and Mama Berry said it was the perfect cake for a 50 year old. ;) A little ruffled but still pretty sweet!

 Mattie Faye loves Poncho!

 My newest Yankees' fan...in the making.

Here's to 27 being a better year than last year! Let's pray and hope it will be!

What Makes Me Have A GREAT Morning!

Not only are we in first place but the Red Soxs are 9.5 games back! Double Bonus!

Happy Father's Day

While Dadio no longer sports the mustache one thing hasn't changed, he's still the greatest Dadio a girl could ask for. He's also become the grandpa that I knew he'd be, adored by the little girls and spoils them silly.  I'm proud to be a Berry and the daughter of such an amazing father.  Happy Father's Day Dadio!   

Jack Berry...I spoke about him today in church and while he taught me to love the Yankees, The Price Is Right, and the family business; he mostly taught me family is most important. Still miss him but luckily for me the Jack Berry memories run through my veins. 

Poncho Villa! Happy Father's Day. You've not met a more hilarious and dedicated to his family (especially his grandchildren) man. To some he might seem rough around the edges but he's really got a marshmallow heart. 

And he's tries to give everyone birthday spankings...some things never change. 

Mattie Faye loves to cuddle with her Papa.

Matty's quite the daddy to his little girls as well...today it was a dog pile on daddy day because all three wanted to cuddle with Daddy at the same time. 

One More Game For The Road

I love baseball. I love going to games. I especially love going to games with LE, MP, and SP. Saturday night we hit one more game together before my exodus from the Bay. (SP's little bro was in town and so he joined us as well).  It was such a warm night, so fun, so entertaining (even if LE insulted my Yankees and I got beer spilled on me), and even though the A's lost we practiced celebrating the small victories of the A's (there is a life lesson to be learned and applied here too). I'll miss this live pass time dearly! More importantly, I'll miss watching A's games with these folks.   

Also, had to snap a shot of this classic tourist baseball behavior...since Dadio is so in love with his iPad I could see him bringing his to the ballpark as well. 

Wonderful Easter Weekend!

This is truly a blessed time of year. This particular weekend was especially wonderful. 

Let's review:

Celebrated Good Friday with the Perrys and Shoes. Burritos (yum!)

The Masters all weekend! (After Saturday I was sure my fellow lefty, Phil, was going to take his 4th green jacket but alas he couldn't sink the right putts and had a bad triple bogey that he never recovered from.) At least another lefty won. 

Some refreshing DP for my Masters viewing.

Opening Day of Baseball!  After a rough start over the weekend the Yanks are coming back. Let us remember: slow and steady wins the race. 

Beautiful Easter sacrament meeting, filled with music from angels! 

Easter dinner consisting of the following: Sloppy Dans, homemade rolls, salad, green beans, coconut cake, no-bakes, and Easter candy to cleanse the pallet. Dinner was so delicious and entertaining! From MB peppering DF(N) with 10,000 questions, to CBL's strong opinions on table cloths (totally agree with her), to cloth diapers (you must understand when all your guests are married and one pregnant this is normal), to JN explaining the novelty of Velcro this evening was never boring to say the least. We sure missed Jepsons and Richards though. 

Easter reunion 2013 in Idaho? 

Roddy Ranch Golf Outing

Saturday The Js Plus DW spent the day golfing at Roddy Ranch. It was an adventure and a hilarious day. This course was a mix between California, New York, Idaho, and Wyoming. (As you'll see from the photos)

It is also named the driest course in Northern CA, this shot is of the rough. I imagine it use to be a cattle pasture. 

JLS with a saddle and animal head mounted on the wall behind (this was the front entrance to the club house). She was in heaven. 

 And then Heaven really came when we walked further and found an ORIGINAL Yankees stadium seat in the pro shop, so you can imagine the excitement JNS and I both felt! Western themed with Yankee gear scattered throughout, does it get any better? I dare say, no it does not...

And then we saw this gem. I had to post this for Poncho Villa. In all my life I've never seen a mounted steer...and I grew up in IDAHO! Seriously.

The course was very busy which meant that our round of golf was slow...hence this classic shot JLS snapped of us. 

 Oh yes, horseshoes as tee-markers. 

Our scores weren't very pretty but we were still smiling at the end of the round! 

2011: Surviving Hard Times Plus Great Moments

My disclaimer: When I returned from my month in Idaho I was promptly welcomed by a cold that turned into a sinus infection, this in combination with a hectic month end my 2012 goal to pick up my blogging with more dedication has been delayed...by almost a month. I suppose that is predictable when you're busy living blogging takes a backseat.  


2011 in review:


It was a hard year: full of fatigue, sickness, anxiety, and loss. It was a year of survival, waiting upon the Lord. Luckily, my capacity to survive was expanded, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 
   

I could give a laundry list of the hard moments of 2011 and for historical purposes I have documented them but for purposes of this post I will be dwelling on the great moments that happened amid the storms of 2011. I believe it speaks volumes to the mercy we still receive from God even in the toughest of times.  While many of these may seem mundane to some readers, remember this past year was not about thriving but surviving and being physically ill for over a year (more than normal) even mundane moments become great moments if those moments allow you to focus on something other than the constant feeling of fatigue. 


(in no particular order)


Arizona trip in March with my family (spring training, golf, shopping)
Participating in the videoing of the Mormon Message, Our Hands His Hands, Our Hearts, His Heart.  
Watching my freshmen graduate
Lots of service (mostly received)! 
Opening day of baseball season 
Golf league with The J-Crew 
BS & BW's wedding in April
SJ & NJ's wedding in July
JBH & HN's wedding in July (yes, lots of weddings)
Gordo's wedding 
Spending time with SEC, parents, and BW in Utah in July
Going to Israel, a once in a lifetime experience (and 11 days of physically feeling okay to make the trip)
Spending time with AR and MPR before they moved
Golfing at Deep Cliff (great day)
 AC and NB's engagement surprise
Cook club
Spending time with the Carlstons 
Yankees in the BAY
Thanksgiving with The Ellwangers
Hot tubbing (lots of hot tubbing)
My birthday!
Mama Berry coming in October to help me  
General Conference
Parents and G-parents visiting in November
Purchasing my new bed! 
FMC
Post-Thanksgiving dinner with the Jarvis family
Being with my little girls
Spending the month of December in Idaho

Jack Berry would be proud that I'm still spitting in that "damn mitt". 

Here is to a better year in 2012. 

Guest Blogger: JP's Response To CP's Post

I received the sweetest email from JP this week and as author and editor of my blog I shall post it below.  Let me also just add: CP and JP are gracious and hilarious friends, who clearly love me and I have the utmost respect for each of them.  (I did not however pay them to say such nice things...promise). 


Dear JB,

I would like to respond to Mr. CP's blog with your permission, he missed a few of the most important points.  JB, you are allowed to edit, cut, paste, and rewrite. 

Here it begins: 

Hello dear readers.  My name is Jennifer Peterson.  I would like to challenge Mr. Chris Perry to a duel of epic proportions.  Unfortunately Mr. Chris Perry is the land of milk and honey in California and I am in the cold wintry Massachusetts so this duel of epic proportions will have to be delayed until we meet each other again.  I suspect the meeting will be at a distant mutual friend's wedding that we are both crashing. I will be talking to an acquaintance that I have forgotten her name when I will notice Chris Perry staring at me across the room.  Chris will come over and ask me to introduce me to the person I am talking to.  I will glare at Chris and ignore his comment.  Yes, this will be awkward. Yes I will eventually have to admit that I do not remember the person's name.  At that point the duel will commence. Until that awkward moment, I challenge Chris Perry to a duel of words and rhetoric.

I will mention that Chris Perry is correct in advocating that Jess Berry is Better Than You, however Chris Perry is off target on the word choice "Seriously."   I propose the following word choice with supporting quotes. 

Jess Berry is Graciously Better Than You. 

Quote One:  "Well they are in good company then."  Jess, affectionately known as JB, will use this quote when one of her friends mentions that a person of prominence holds the same opinion as JB.  JB has a well defined sense of self confidence.  Using her self confidence she inspires you to find your own.  She encourages you to be the best you can be. 

Quote Two:  "Yankees are ..."  I usually don't understand the rest of these sentences as they go off into baseball land.  This quote however emphasizes how loyal Jess is to her team.  If you are lucky enough to be on her team, she will be loyal to you.

Quote Three:  She appreciates sweet potato fries.  Jess Berry appreciates the simple pleasures and the finer things of life like no one else.  She has great taste.  (see CP's cooking comments) She will make you feel welcome.  She reaches out to those who need it most.  

Supporting arguments (I could not expand on all, after all I'm in Graduate School now and have homework and such!) 

Red Checkered Vans proves she is a better shopper than you. 

Her moves to Party in the USA proves she is a better dancer than you. 

P90X proves she is a better ab ripper than you. 

Any questions/comments/concerns/rebuttals/suggestions - please email me. 

Yours,

JP

The Joy Of This Weekend!

1. Spending Saturday and Sunday listening to General Conference. You don't have to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) to watch or listen.  Any and all are welcome to watch, in fact I encourage it!
For times and listings of the conference; go here. To watch here. To listen here. To learn more about General Conference, go here.2. An organized desk! 
3. Girls night while the men attend the Priesthood session of conference)!! 
4. Dinner with AS and LS!  
5. Saturday morning crepes!  
6. Resting! 
7. Postseason baseball begins!  

I Heart My Little Ladies

I suspect that many of you turn green with envy when you see yet another adorable shot of these two Berry girls on my blog.  Go easy on yourself, it is a common reaction.  I am bias obviously, yet this is my blog so my bias is truth. Averina and Brown Eyes are adorable and hilarious (mandatory traits for all Berry girls)!  These little ladies make me smile more than watching the Yankees win (that's love)...I'll gladly take one or two more of these cuties.  

September Cook Club

Butter chicken, Naan, roasted carrots, a classic salad. Delicious!  I love cook club!  Best club since the No Boy Allowed Club Lindy and I created as kids.  HB did an excellent job on the main dish!   

Don't worry, the night got better...we had these babies baked by HN...followed by the Red Soxs losing to Baltimore, hence losing the wildcard race when the Yankees graciously let Tampa Bay win (this is one loss I'm willing to wear proudly)!  Thank you Baltimore!  Go Yankees and hello postseason baseball!    

Yankees In The Bay! Happy Day!

When the Yankees come to town my excitement level is like my childhood excitement for Christmas. This also means that I sit much closer than other random baseball games. We made it for the first pitch, thank goodness since Jeter hit a line-drive right at Mark Ellis and true to his nature he choked (bobbled the ball and then let it pass by him). Double bonus! Followed by C. Granderson hitting a two-run homer! What a way to start the game. We went on to win 10-3. Well done Yanks, well done indeed. Oh and we swept the A's in this series!

Log, still smiling even though his team is losing 10-3, he celebrates the small victories of the game, not the loss.

Actually sporting his rally cap in the 9th...better luck against a team that is not the NEW YORK YANKEES!

New Era Commercial - One Hitter

What Is Almost As Sweet As Watching the Yankees Win?

Watching the Red Soxs lose when you're with a Soxs fan, and lose badly to boot!

Thanks to Sammy P and Mr. Ohio being too "busy" to go to the game LS and I were afforded the opportunity to go in their place! A well spent night in my humble opinion.

Things I heart from the evening:

1. The Yankees fan decked out in Yankees gear, who became my immediate friend when I playfully tapped his shoulders and said: LET'S GO YANKEES

2. Being an obnoxious Yankees fan among Red Soxs fan NEVER gets old! NEVER!

3. Waving arrogantly goodbye to the Soxs fan as they made the walk of shame, leaving early when they realized their team was not going to make a comeback.

4. The hot dog with relish (thanks LS!). There is nothing like the first hot dog of the season.

5. Winning the Dibs challenge...first time EVER!

LS and I at the game. I had my Yankees shirt on but it was FREEZING so it unfortunately was covered that evening.

Things I bet LS did NOT heart about the evening:

1. Red Soxs losing (obviously)

2. Listening to an obnoxious RS hater all night long (pretty sure she'll not be wanting to hit up anymore games with me)

3. The cold weather that burns a little more when you're losing

I heart BASEBALL!

New Era Commercial - The Trash Talking Begins

My Third Favorite National Holiday...

OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL!

(The Berry National Holiday is #1 obviously and Thanksgiving is #2)

A few facts for you on this glorious day of the year.

1. The Yankees pounced on the Tigers today (pun intended)!!!!

2. I have a crush on Curtis Granderson! See why here. He can be #3 in my heart.

3. The Yankees have NOT lost a home opening day game since 1982...1982!

4. Rivera became the oldest closer in the history today at the age of 41 years old when he threw his first pitch in the ninth and yes he still has the heat!

5. I LOVE THE YANKEES!