One Year Anniversary

Last week marked the one year anniversary of when I started running. It boggles my mind that I have been running for over a year! So many things have changed in the past year, and I owe a lot of it to running. Last December I was really struggling with trying to eat right and losing the rest of my pregnancy weight. I was trying to eat right and work out, but it just didn't seem to be enough. I had watched a lot of my friends start running, but I "knew" I couldn't do the same. I would watch weight-loss stories on tv and people would talk about how they started running. I would say to myself, "There is no way I could do that. I have never been able to run and never will be able to run." One day I decided that I was at least going to give it a try. I not only made the goal to start running, but I also made the goal to run a half marathon the following June.

Things started out slow and rough. I would have good days where I thought that I would easily be able to finish my goal. Then I had other days where I doubted myself every step of the way. Along with running, I also joined Weight Watchers so I could have the accountability every week to go and weigh in in front of someone. Slowly but surely, running began to change my life. I not only began to feel better, but I also saw the pounds dropping on the scale. While talking to my friend Jessica one day about my new goal, she told me she wanted to run the race with me. I was more than thrilled! Not only was it nice to have someone to motivate me and keep me going, but I looked forward to our weekend runs where we chatted our way through many difficult miles. I was extremely sad when our race was over and we didn't get to see each other every Saturday morning. Jess and I decided to make a goal to run a race together at least once a year. Whether it's a 5k, 10k, half marathon, or full marathon!

Training for my first half was a lot of work. Jess lives in Layton, so the only days we could really run together were on Saturdays. That meant that it was only up to me to get myself out of bed to run early in the mornings. There were many mornings when I wanted to shut off my alarm and go back to bed, but I didn't want to let myself down. I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't miss a single day of training. And I'm happy to say that I didn't. Jess and I crossed that finish line after 13.1 miles! Our finishing time was longer than I was hoping for, but that didn't matter. We set a goal and we finished! That's all that mattered.

After our race was over and done with, I continued to run. Not as far as I had in the past, but I made it a goal to run at least 3 times a week. It hasn't been easy, but I have kept that goal. Along the way I have found people to accompany me while running. Four times a week, Cozette, Alexis, and I are out pounding the pavement around our neighborhood, come rain or shine, sleet or snow, or any other form of weather that gets thrown in our face! And I must say...running with friends is SO much more enjoyable than running with my ipod! I love the girl talk in the early morning hours! It is also a lot easier to get out of bed in the morning, when I know my friends will be there to join me! I am so grateful for them and the motivation they give me to keep going.

Since the half marathon last June, the only other race I have ran was a turkey trot on Thanksgiving. It is definitely harder to keep on running without a set goal in sight. Recently, Jessica and I registered for the Canyonlands Half Marathon which is coming up in March. Our 10 week training began today and I am so excited! I don't think Jess shares my enthusiasm, mainly because I forced her to register, but I'm hoping her enthusiasm picks up soon! I wouldn't be able to do it without her! Also on the agenda for 2010 is possibly the Salt Lake Half in April and maybe a couple of 5k and 10ks. I'm excited to see how each race turns out. Up until August/September, I couldn't honestly say that I loved running. It's definitely an acquired taste. Now I can say that I like running. I like the way I feel after a good run. I like the conversations I have while running. I like the friendships that I've built over running. Overall, running is pretty enjoyable!

Over the past year, with the combination of healthier eating and running, I've lost almost 60 lbs. I am in a smaller pant size than what I wore in 9th grade! I have struggled with weight my entire life, and now in my late 20's I'm in the best shape I've ever been in. The reason for this post was not to boast about my accomplishments. If it sounds that way, I apologize. That is not my intent. I'm hoping by posting this, I might inspire or encourage someone who has said to themselves "I just can't do it!" I'm here to tell you that if I can do it, YOU CAN DO IT! I always used the excuse that I just wasn't capable of running or exercising. It's not true. Anyone is capable of achieving their goal. It just takes a lot of determination and decide in the beginning to never give up. I am so grateful for all the many people in my life who have inspired me to become a better person! I'm also grateful for the many friends and family who have pushed me along the way. Without you, I would not be where I am today!

Maintenance is definitely not my favorite stage and it is harder than it looks. I feel like it is harder to stay at the same weight than it is to lose weight. Every single day is a struggle. It's challenging but I hope I can over come it. I know that just like housework, my weight management will never be finished! But I feel more confident now that I have learned the right tools to eat right and exercise. Here's to a healthy and happier 2010!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

New Years

This year for New Years, we decided to pack up the car and head to our cabin at Bear Lake. For some reason we had a really hard time deciding if we should go or not, but the day after we got there we were so glad we went! We had such a great time! I don't know who's kids we took up there because they definitely weren't ours! When we usually go up to our cabin our boys are normally rotten! They never sleep well and that makes for a couple of grumpy boys and two very unhappy and tired parents. This trip was definitely NOT THE NORM! Our boys slept in until 9 am every morning! They were so well behaved and hardly whined the entire trip! We had such a relaxing vacation. We slept in, played games, watched movies, took naps, read, and ate a ton of delicious food! I was even able to go on a couple of runs. It was exactly the type of getaway that our little family needed. My parents also went up, as well as my uncle Jamie and his family. We had a great couple of days!

New Year's Eve was an absolutely GORGEOUS day! The sun was out and shining most of the day! We decided to bundle the boys up in their snow gear and take them out to play in the snow and go for a ride behind the snowmobile.

All bundled up and ready to go!

Kendra and Beckett on the sled

Off they go!

Jared and Eliza

Wesley was not a fan

Beckett almost fell asleep sitting there

Me and the Husband

Wesley and Kendra

Beckett loved eating the snow

New Year's Eve night was so relaxing! We had a delicious steak dinner followed by hours of games! I have to admit...I really enjoyed ringing in the new year in my sweats! I was comfy and cozy! I don't even think I put makeup on that day. Rob and I are even considering making Bear Lake a New Year's tradition. This was the first year we let Wesley stay up until midnight. He loved every second of it! Including the fireworks, which he watched from inside the house with the tv blaring.

My Dad and Wes

Happy New Year!

The Rigby kids

We had so much fun and were really sad to come home. Until next year!

T'was the night before Christmas...

...and all through my parents house, not a single bed was empty. Not even a couch!

This Christmas was a little different than most. This was the last Christmas my family would be spending in my childhood home, so we decided as siblings that we would all spend the night at my parents and spend Christmas morning with them. It was a lot of work, but it was a Christmas we will never forget! My parents absolutely ate up every second of it! They absolutely loved having all of us there and asked if we could do it every year, but none of us agreed! We spent most of the evening on Christmas Eve at my grandparents, and then headed to my parents after for the big slumber party! It is tradition in our family (and many others too) to open Christmas pjs on Christmas Eve. After we were all dressed and ready for bed, we had a photo shoot in front of the tree.

***Warning***

Picture Overload!

Our little family

Me and my honey

Heather and Bobby (aka Hobby) Aren't they cute?

All the grandkids (minus lil' Brady)

The whole fam

This was the first Christmas Eve that Rob and I weren't in bed by 11pm. We were up way too late, and then poor Beckett didn't sleep well due to double ear infections (that we found out 3 days later), and the kids were up by 7:30, so we were beat most of Christmas day! This was the first year that Wesley really understood what was going on. He was so excited on Christmas morning when he woke up and saw that Santa had really come.

These pictures depict that we pretty much slept anywhere and everywhere!

the kids

the adults

Here are the rugrats before we let them upstairs

Opening Santa presents

Welsey was so excited to get his batcave he had been asking Santa for!

After opening up Santa presents, we moved into the other family room to open up family presents.

These are my parents looking at the present Jenny and I worked so hard on! It turned out fantastic!

Jenny got a new camera (super jealous!)

Bobby was a good sport...he is an huge BYU fan who is surrounded by our family of Ute fans. My Dad gave him this shirt as a joke, but Bobby put it on and even wore it to his parents house (who are huge BYU fans as well)!

We were teasing my Dad that he never really gets excited or shows any emotion about things. Here he is giving us his excited face when he opened his new laptop.

Kendra and Tyson hugging and actually being civil to each other

The Newlyweds

After presents we had our tradition Christmas brunch. I ate until I was about to explode! All of us took a pleasant nap after brunch and then our family had to wake up and head over to Rob's parents. We had an excellent Christmas dinner with Rob's family and opened presents. I failed to get hardly any pictures! Oops!

Late Christmas evening, we headed back to my parents to play a couple of games and load up our gear. Rob took the boys home while I had the chance to visit with some great friends from high school. Dan, Mike, and I have been friends for years! It was so fun to sit and chat and catch up!

Me, Dan, Trisha (Mike's wife), and Mike

*I stole this picture from Mike's blog

We had an extremely wonderful Christmas filled with a lot of memories! I don't know what was so different about this year, but both Rob and I felt a sweet spirit all day that we have never felt before! We are truly grateful for being able to spend Christmas with the people we love the most!