Killing the Beast

So, Mom and Dad are in the process of beautifying their yard and in the process needed help getting rid of what will now be referred to as The Beast! The Beast has been living in our yard for a few years now. It is a totally over grown honey suckle plant that smelt so good during the summer months. It smelt amazing...it's look was amazing as well...in the not so good way. Mom and I thought it would be quick and not too terrible but we were dead wrong! The pictures that follow are when we were half way through.

This is a close up of all the ash (it was right in front of the fire place) It was so gross...it was sopping wet and all of the branches were twisted around each other which made an even bigger mess.

Don't be fooled by the smile on my face...mom and I were laughing out of disbelief at how nasty it was and the fact that the two of us were doing it. Women would never have to do this kind of work if I ruled the world!

I found the rope that use to tie it up to the house and just started pulling as hard as I could. By the time I was done I had pulled The Beast all the way to the fence. It helped to get it untangled at least a little.

This is our 14 bags full of the Beasts remains. It looks like day in the picture but it was not. It was 10:30 p.m.! Mom and I drug all the bags to the front with the help of the wheelbarrow and then took turn taking rides in it on the way back to get more. That part made it all worth while for me!

Mom posing with all our bags!

Memorial Day Get Away!!!

I love, love, love Utah! This past weekend I was able to go to Utah to spend Memorial day with my good friend Ashlee and her amazing family. As you can see in the above picture we did some shopping. The Gateway in Salt Lake City is such a great shopping place. They have new stores that weren't there when I lived out there and it was fantastic! We found ourselves some sweet deals.

We went to a few really fun BBQ's and I got to meet allot of Ashlee's extended family. We also got to see what was left of a huge fire that took place in Cedar Fort (where Ashlee's family lives). Her grandfather's beautiful house was the only house that was threatened by this massive wild fire. We were driving back from church and missed all the flames. Kind of Scary!
It was so great, Ashlee's family lives out in the country and they have tons of animals. They had puppies running all over the place and just as many cats. They have Donkeys, horses and ponies as well. We got to go out and ride the horses on Monday morning which was super fun! I hadn't ridden a horse in years and I have to say I was a little nervous at first. We had such a good time riding though. I even was able to "lope" a little, it's not full out running but close. It was funny because we got to the open field and the other two horses took off running and I had no idea that that was what we were going to do. So, my horse takes off running and I start freaking out. I was holding on for dear life and trying all I could to get my horse, patches, to stop. Ashlee and Hailey looked back to find me running in the totally wrong direction. The poor horse was probably so confused because he didn't know what I wanted him to do. Later on I tried again and it went a whole lot better. Still a little scary but Oh So Fun! I was bouncing around in the saddle like crazy. I loved every minute of my fun little get away with the Berry's and would do it again in a heart beat!
Oh yea, I also got my hair cut again...this time by someone who knew what they were doing. Patrick did a fantastic job and I love the short hair! I couldn't believe how many people said I looked like Julie Andrews...I don't see it but it's super flattering to hear! The pictures aren't the best of my hair, I'll have to post better ones later so you can all see. The ones of me on the horse are after my hair has been slept on...not so cute!

Do we look like real cowgirls or what!

Ashlee and Shelly the horse.

Hailey and Ashlee

Hailey

Brandi Carlile Concert!!!

Last night I went and saw one of the best concerts ever!!! BRANDI CARLILE!!! It was so amazing and so much fun! She is truly an amazing singer...her voice is so great and husky! I really have never seen a performer put so much heart and soul into their music like she did and have so much fun on stage. I was truly sad when she sang her last song and it was time to go home. It was funny because this could possibly be the first concert that I haven't tried to sneak a photo or a video. Rachel and I took this photo in the car...not as fun as a photo at the concert but we had to have something. Anyway, check out the video of Brandi performing a few weeks ago in Boston (below) She is amazing!!!

The Story