Weight Watchers Contest

Yep, I entered a weight watchers contest, mostly because we want a free trip to New York in September. Here is the essay I wrote and a before and after pic. I think you can tell which pic is which.

Ever since I can remember, I have struggled with setting lofty goals and then doing whatever it takes to achieve them. This was never more evident than in my weight loss struggle over the last 10 years.

I found myself putting on the pounds during college after becoming engrossed in my studies and giving up my gym membership. Coupled with terrible eating habits, lack of exercise and a generally lazy attitude toward being healthy, I found myself continually buying bigger and bigger clothes. Upon entering the workforce, I officially became the poster boy of a sedentary lifestyle, sitting at a computer (and eating) all day. After seeing some photos of myself following a family function to celebrate the adoption of my second child, I decided that something had to be done. I looked unhealthy, I felt unhealthy and I was determined to do something about it.

Once I got started and began seeing results on the scale, I became more and more determined to be successful with this goal, no matter what. I put weight loss at the top of my list of priorities. As the pounds continued to come off, I surprised even myself at my determination and began to be proud of myself for sticking with my goal. When it became hard, and it did many times, I would tell myself that if this journey were going to be easy, there would not be an abundance of people who struggle with weight loss.

A major key to my success was consistent exercise. When I started losing weight, I decided to dust off the treadmill that I had used sporadically over the previous year and put it to use. I put a TV on the wall, strapped an ipod to my arm, and started slowly. I gradually built up to 4 miles a day, 5 times a week, which is my current workout regimen. I found that I enjoyed my time on the treadmill and have looked forward to my 1 hour of solace each day.

Coming back to Weight Watchers has been the best thing I have done for myself in my life. I have more energy, I sleep better, I look better, I buy clothes that I like, and my wife enjoys being able to put her arms all the way around me again. What more could a guy want?

Father's Day

It was a great father's day today. Skye and Stacy got up and made waffles with whipped cream and berries for breakfast. Went to church, came home and took a nap (a looooong nap), made my favorite dinner of beef stroganoff and corn on the cob and finished up with homemade ice cream. I got a new work shirt and some new colgne, which was a nice gift. Hope everyone had a great Father's Day.

Picking Cherries in Leona Valley

Stacy and the kids went to pick cherries today at a cherry orchard close by here in Leona Valley with their playgroup. The kids had a blast running all over the place. Skye's friend is Camryn from church.

Club Libby Lu

If you have a little girl, I guarantee you that she knows what Club Libby Lu is. If you don't know, it is a place in the mall where little girls can go (and I suppose big girls that haven't quite gotten out of the Hannah Montana stage of life yet) to get a "Hannah Montana" makeover. They give you the heatset microphone getup and everything. Skye got up there and broke it down after her makeover was done.....in front of all the people walking by in the mall. She is quite the little dancer! Enjoy the pics

crazy Landon

Landon likes to climb in and on anything in his path. His latest place to hang out is in Skye's doll highchair. We caught him chillin' in there this week waiting for someone to bring him some grub!!!

Our Garden

We have become farmers this year, but so far we are losing the battle to a squirrel who likes our strawberries. That little bugger waits until it is just ripe and then he plucks it off the plant. This has happened two times in a row, so we have yet to eat our first red strawberry. Other plants that we planted are snap peas, carrots, radishes, corn, broccoli, green peppers and of course, my favorite, tomatos. We have been learning how to garden in a preparedness class that is put on by the Lancaster Stake, so we are putting to practice our new (limited) knowledge. So far, so good, I guess.

Also included are a few pics of our backyard, which I am almost done with.

Grandpa's Airplane

Last weekend, Landon and I went up to Grandpa's hangar to help him do a few things. We took the airplane for a little ride over the gas pump to get gas for a trip to Arizona later that week. He started in the back seat, but I think all the buttons and stuff to look at in the front seat were too much for him, so by the time we made it to the pump, he was on my lap. Here are a few pics........