The Biggest Loser

I love NBC's The Biggest Loser. The season premiere aired tonight and there is a woman on the show who lost her entire family (husband, three year old, and two week old) in a car accident. She is amazing. She chooses to get up each day and face the life she has been dealt and I find her outlook incredibly inspiring. I know that we all have coping mechanisms that kick in when pain and stress burden our lives and I find value in watching these people face their unhealthy habits head on as they change their lives. I think that in most cases an unhealthy (physical, emotional, or mental) coping mechanism masks a personal demon we are trying to hide from (which is what most of the contestants end up finding out as they struggle to lose weight and change their lives) and that is something we can all relate to on some level. So now that you have been indoctrinated with my The Biggest Loser testimonial let me take this opportunity to let you know that it is time for me to start working on #2. And if I stick with the program I have decided to follow I should also be able to check off #23.

#20

I saved 60.4% on my groceries last week which means that I am checking #20 off my list. I purchased 19 items including two pot roasts, a whole chicken, carrots, light bulbs, two bread pans (I really want to try my hand at baking bread), frozen rolls (because who knows when I'll get around to using those bread pans), and pasta. I spent $33.52 and saved $51.15

#27

I bought a book last week which means #27 didn't make it out of January. I have a valid excuse or should I say exception because all rules/goals have exceptions. I was stuck in the Denver airport for six hours and had to do something to cheer myself up and distract my brain. This is a really good book. It is raw and honest and something that I think all parents can relate to on some level.

#21

We went sledding today and I honestly can't remember the last time I had so much fun (it probably really wasn't all that long ago but I have been experiencing the post-Christmas blues the past couple of days and our outing turned into a much needed magical experience for me). George was an amazing sledder. He absolutely loved it and couldn't wait to go down the big hill. After 45 minutes of sledding on what he considered to be the small hill I walked him over to the ice packed big hill and he flew down it loving every minute. He walked back up to the top and then asked a lady if he could use their snow tube but he didn't like sticking his bum in the middle so ended up sitting on top and when he hit a bump he flew off and skid on his head for about five feet at which point I was very thankful for my cautious husband and his insistence on helmets (they were the only kids on the hill with helmets).

George's new signature pose

Charlie would not get out of this sled. When he got to the bottom of the hill he would stay seated and Paul or one of the uncles would picked him up and carry him and the sled back up the hill.

Here's the whole family.

happy birthday to me

Project 32 is underway...

1. Spend less money. I won't bore you with the details but we have a plan.

2. Lose 8 pounds. That is my remaining baby weight and now that my baby is nearly two I figure it is time to buckle down and get rid of it. Besides I am tired of having to dress around my muffin top.

3. Go mountain biking.

4. Potty train Charlie. Charlie would actually like me to start potty training him today. He asks to wear underwear nearly every day and loves to pretend to go potty. I am just not ready yet.

5. Learn how to take manual photos with my camera. This means I'll have to understand aperture, ISO and all that other stuff that currently alludes me. Maybe I'll even read those photography books sitting on my nightstand.

6. Read this.

7. Read a classic.

8. Organize and scrapbook our wedding pictures.

9. Finish Charlie's one year scrapbook.

10. Create an Eagleston Family 2006 scrapbook.

11. Create an Eagleston Family 2007 scrapbook.

12. Create an Eagleston Family 2008 scrapbook. I decided to break the project up in hopes that checking them off will become more attainable.

13. Learn to use Aperture 2.

14. Learn to use PhotoShop. So what makes this year different than last year? I got a MacBook for Christmas and Paul already has the software so no excuses this year.

15. Create a digital organization system for my pictures.

16. Spend a week in Driggs.

17. Take my boys snowmobiling.

18. Organize my garage.

19. Organize my storage room.

20. Save 60% using coupons.

21. Take my boys sledding.

22. Jump off the dock at Hebgen Lake.

23. Do something consistently for 40 days.

24. Strengthen my relationship with my Savior.

25. Read a parenting book.

26. Focus on Jesus Christ, His life and teachings during our Family Home Evening lessons.

27. Do not buy any books. I am really trying to use the library more and I have no more room for books in my house. In fact I need to sell and/or donate a lot of what I have just sitting in storage. Now there is an exception to this rule...I can buy books with other people's money (I got an Amazon gift card for my b-day and plan to buy books).

28. Try three new recipes.

29. Organize an awesome Mother's Retreat.

30. Figure out how to help George better cope with my travel schedule.

31. Make an effort to have family dinner more consistently.

32. Hang swings from our deck.