Farewell Good TV

So it is that time of year again....

when all of my favorite shows go away and we are left with absolutely NOTHING to watch on TV. Thanks to my DVR, I am able to stay on top of the latest person voted off of American Idol (even though they were all terrible this season) and can hope that Jim and Pam really get married, I can weep for the poor girls who get their heart broken on the bachelor, I can be so angry when the "Dragon Slayer" still hasn't been voted off the island, be furious when Joan Rivers (GAG!) wins the apprentice, plug my ears when Adam sings on Idol, and feel proud of Margie and Luke on the Amazing Race. I'm the first to admit that I'm addicted to my shows and the disfunction that comes along with them. Thankfully, there are only a few of them, but for now, I say farewell until next season.

But not all is lost...

At least I'll always have my FOX News...

COUSINS!

Here are all the grandkids on the Smith side. Getting a picture with them all together does not happen very often! I love the chocolate all over Cooper's face. His mom should really pay more attention! : )

Our Little Golfer

If it is a sunny Friday afternoon, chances are my 2 boys are out golfing. They LOVE it! Cooper prays for the sun to come out so he and his dad can go golfing together. He has his own clubs and says that sometimes he is "pretty good" and sometimes he is "terrible". I think he is pretty darn good for a 3 year old. He certainly has a better golf swing than me!

Cooper & Abbey

One of Cooper's best friends is his cousin Abbey. The Nelson girls went out for lunch over spring break so Derek watched both of them. They have such a fun time together and it is nice that he has such a great cousin to play with! She is so cute and calls him Coopie... Coop thinks she is so funny!

Easter Egg Hunt 2009

This Easter, we took Cooper to the Easter Egg Hunt in Salem. It was really cold and raining, but we had a great time.

Cooper Cooper Cooper

These are all just random pictures of Cooper. Since we bought a new camera, he is always wanting his picture taken.

Disneyland Spring Break 2009

Well I have definitely been the worlds worst blogger lately. There are a few reason and excuses that I could tell you, but the bottom line is I have been lazy, busy, and had a broken camera. So I am going to try to be better from now on.

Back in March we went with my sister Katie and her family to Disneyland. Cooper, my mom and I drove down together. We had a great time, but I don't think we will be going back during the busy season anytime soon. Thank goodness for Fast Passes! Because of some hiking boots stuffed with socks, Coop was able to go on most of the "big kid" rides. He would usually cry the first time and then beg to go back on them. He says his favorite rides were Tower of Terror and Space Mountain. I didn't realize he was such a dare devil, but he loved all of them (except getting wet on Splash Mountain). Anyone who has been around him since we got home will hear him talk about Disneyland. He is a little obsessed, but it is cute. It is too bad for him that it will be quite a while before we will go back. He also LOVES to watch the rides on YouTube.

Because my camera was broken, I don't have any pictures. If I ever learn how to get pictures off my phone, I have a few that I will post.

Just a random cry for help!

I need someone to magically make Cooper 2 inches taller in the next 2 weeks! Any takers!

Cooper and I are taking a somewhat spontaneous trip to Disneyland with my sister Katie and her family. Cooper however, is still about 1 1/2 -2 inches too short to go on all the fun rides (splash mountain, space mountain, thunder mountain...etc...) Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has any great ideas on how I can help him meet the height requirements OR if anyone has any boots that might work. It is a little harder with boy shoes because I can't really put him in heels like I could a girl!

Any suggestions are welcome!

Gov. Jindal's Speech

I must admit, I didn't watch Pres. Obama's state of the union speech. I was out "stimulating the economy" by going out to dinner with some friends. I did however just read the Republican response to his speech and I really think it is worth reading. Gov. Jindal did a great job contrasting the differences between the two parties. I especially appreciated how he calls out Republicans for not standing up for the principles of limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility. It is so refreshing to see Republicans come together to showcase the clear differences between the two parties. Gov. Jindal really "gets it" and it gives me so much hope for the future. So if you have a few minutes, I stongly encourage you to read this!

JINDAL: Who amongst us would ask our children for a loan so we could spend money we do not have on things we do -- we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It's irresponsible. And it's no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.

In Louisiana, we took a different approach. Since I became governor, we cut more than 250 earmarks from our state budget. To create jobs for our citizens, we cut taxes six times, including the largest income tax cut in the history of our state. We passed those tax cuts with bipartisan majorities.

Republicans and Democrats put aside their differences. We worked together to make sure our people could keep more of what they earn. If it can be done in Baton Rouge, surely it can be done in Washington, D.C.

To strengthen our economy, we need urgent action to keep energy prices down. All of us remember what it felt like to pay $4 at the pump. And unless we act now, those prices will return.

To stop that from happening, we need to increase conservation, increase energy efficiency, increase the use of alternative and renewable fuels, increase our use of nuclear power, and increase drilling for oil and gas here at home.

We believe that Americans can do anything. And if we unleash the innovative spirit of our citizens, we can achieve energy independence.

To strengthen our economy, we also need to address the crisis in health care. Republicans believe in a simple principle: No American should have to worry about losing their health care coverage, period. We stand for universal access to affordable health care coverage.

What we oppose is universal government-run health care. Health care decisions should be made by doctors and patients, not by government bureaucrats.

We believe Americans can do anything. And if we put aside partisan politics and work together, we can make our system of private medicine affordable and accessible for every one of our citizens.

To strengthen our economy, we also need to make sure that every child in America gets the best possible education. After Hurricane Katrina, we reinvented the New Orleans school system, opening dozens of new charter schools and creating a new scholarship program that is giving parents the chance to send their children to private or parochial schools of their choice.

We believe that with the proper education the children of America can do anything. And it shouldn't take a devastating storm to bring this kind of innovation to education in our country.

To strengthen our economy, we must promote confidence in America by ensuring ours is the most ethical and transparent system in the world. In my home state, there used to be saying: At any given time, half of Louisiana was said to be half underwater and the other half under indictment.

Nobody says that anymore. Last year, we passed some of the strongest ethics laws in the nation. And today, Louisiana has turned her back on the corruption of the past.

We need to bring transparency to Washington, D.C., so we can rid our capital of corruption and ensure that we never see the passage of another trillion-dollar spending bill that Congress hasn't even read and the American people haven't even seen.

As we take these steps, we must remember, for all of our troubles at home, dangerous enemies still seek our destruction. Now is no time to dismantle the defenses that have protected this country for hundreds of years or to make deep cuts in funding for our troops.
America's fighting men and women can do anything. If we give them the resources they need, they will stay on the offensive, defeat our enemies, and protect us from harm.

In all these areas, Republicans want to work with President Obama. We appreciate his message of hope, but sometimes it seems like we look for hope in different places.
Democratic leaders in Washington, they place their hope in the federal government. We place our hope in you, the American people.

In the end, it comes down to an honest and fundamental disagreement about the proper role of government. We oppose the national Democratic view that says the way to strengthen our country is to increase dependence on government. We believe the way to strengthen our country is to restrain spending in Washington, to empower individuals and small businesses to grow our economy and create jobs.

In recent years, these distinctions in philosophy became less clear. Our party got away from its principles. You elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline, and personal responsibility.

Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust, and rightly so.

Tonight, on behalf of our leaders in Congress and my fellow Republican governors, I say this: Our party is determined to regain your trust.

We will do so by standing up for the principles that we share, the principles you elected us to fight for, the principles that built this in the greatest, most prosperous country on Earth.

You know, a few weeks ago, the president warned that our country is facing a crisis that he said, in quotes, "we may not be able to reverse." You know, our troubles are real, to be sure, but don't let anyone tell you that we cannot recover. Don't let anyone tell you that America's best days are behind her.

This is the nation that cast off the scourge of slavery, overcame the Great Depression, prevailed in two World Wars, won the struggle for civil rights, defeated the Soviet menace, and responded with determined courage to the attacks of September 11, 2001.

The American spirit has triumphed over almost every form of adversity known to man, and the American spirit will triumph again.

We can have confidence in our future because, amid all of today's challenges, we also count many blessings. We have the most innovative citizens, the most abundant resources, the most resilient economy, the most powerful military, and the freest political system in the history of the world.

My fellow citizens, never forget: We are Americans. And like my dad said years ago, Americans can do anything.

Thank you for listening. God bless you. God bless Louisiana. And God bless America.

I love my child!

Cooper decided to do an art project.....

I love my job!

I am pretty sure I have the best job ever! You all know that I helped out on Jason's campaign last year as his Volunteer Director. After he was elected he gave me a job working on his campaign staff. I am his Events Director and so far it has been fabulous! I can do most everything from home and I get to attend a lot of fun events and meet some great people. I feel so lucky to be in the position I am to be involved and see how our system works. It makes me get out of my comfort zone, but I hope that I can continue to learn more and become even more involved in politics. I feel so blessed that I have found something that I love!

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This is at the Utah County Lincoln Day Dinner. It's like playing "where's waldo" to find me in this picture. I forgot to take pictures that night so I stole this off of someone's facebook page. : )

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This picture is at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake. From left to right the people are... Bob Lonsberry (for anyone who doesn't listen to talk radio, he is on 570 AM in the mornings.) Deidre Henderson (Jason's campaign manager), Lee Lonsberry (Bob Lonsberry's son), Me, Jason and then his wife julie.

Chuck E Cheese

Because Cooper was so good while Derek and I were in Vegas, I rewarded him with a trip to the happiest place in Orem. He and I spent 2 1/2 hours at Chuck-E-Cheese and actually had a great time together. He thought it was the best day ever, and I loved spending an entire day just hanging out with him. He is the best little boy and I don't know how I got so lucky!

Las Vegas

This year, Derek and I decided to spend our 7th anniversary in Las Vegas. Cooper stayed home and was spoiled by both sets of grandparents while we had a little get-away together. We had a fabulous time together and decided that we need to get away together more often.

I need to be a better photographer, this is the only picture I took of the entire trip.

Woops!

I need your help!

I need your help everyone! For anyone who read my "25 random things", you will know that I have no clue what to do with my hair. I just posted a poll on here and would LOVE your suggestions! I am pretty much open to anything except a super short haircut. I'm to wimpy to really chop it all off! Thanks everyone!!!

25 Random Things

25 Random Things about me.
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1-I am a reality TV junkie! As long as it is clean, if it’s a reality show, I’ve probably watched it.

2-I have been LDS all of my life and can’t imagine what my life would be like without that as my foundation.

3-I started playing percussion instruments in 7th grade and was part of the marching band “pit” for several years.

4-I used to be a dancer. I started dancing when I was very small. I took ballet for many years until I talked my mom into letting me quit. I then started ballroom dancing at Pleasant Grove High School and then at BYU. I also was a Cheerleader for 2 years in high school.

5-I graduated from BYU in 2003 with my BS in Marriage, Family & Human Development. If I could go back now, I would definitely study Political Science.

6-I was the store manager at Kara Chocolates in the University Mall for 5 years. It was the perfect job while I was in college and I made some really great friends there. It is also where I met Derek, and I am forever thankful for that job.

7-I spend way too much time watching Fox News. I LOVE Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and keeping informed on what is happening in the world. My next choices are HGTV, TLC, or the Food Network.

8-I am NOT a scrapbooker, singer, or book-club going, type of person. (Which makes it hard to fit in with other girls sometimes.)

9-I danced in the Nutcracker at BYU for 7(?) years. (Ask my mom for the accurate number of years—she would know because she came to every single performance of mine!) I was a Cookie, Mademoiselle (the little girls under the big dress), in the party scene, a soldier, and a ribbon.

10-I can’t stand long toenails. Ewwwww!

11-I failed Geography at BYU. My friend and I took it through independent study and we both failed. We must be very persuasive, because we talked our professor into giving us a passing grade.

12-I love Training Table’s ultimate dipping sauce. It is SO good on anything!

13-I have a hair identity crisis. I can’t seem to find a cut, color, length, or anything dealing with my hair that I like. Suggestions are always welcome, because I am clueless.

14-I have amazing parents and siblings. I am very very blessed with a wonderful family. My mom should win the “super-mom” award. I am pretty sure there wasn’t a single ballroom competition, Nutcracker performance, band concert, cheerleading event that she didn’t attend.

15-I used to stay up really late and watch paid programming. Weird…I know!

16-I have 23 amazing nieces and nephews who make me so happy! (Dallas, Micailey, MacKenzie, Brinley, Jordan, Cohen, Macie, Oliver, Lily, Marian, Clara, Madison, Paige, Bailey, Cort, Logan, Kara, Tiffany, Paisley, Tyler, Zak, Abbie, & Megan)

17-I was on the “Nostalgia” TV Channel. They came and filmed the BYU Ballroom Competition my senior year. I was lucky enough to take 2nd place in the Youth Standard Division, which meant doing a solo on TV. Unfortunately, we had to do our Foxtrot which was pretty darn terrible.

18-Nothing makes me happier than my amazing husband and little boy.

19-I am a mall-walker. I go every morning with my mom and Cooper.

20-I have served as a primary teacher, primary pianist, primary chorister, (which is funny if you have ever heard me sing) primary secretary, YW beehive advisor, and I am currently the YW Personal Progress leader. It is by far my favorite calling.

21-I have the best husband in the world. He does all the ironing and cleans the toilets. Could a girl ask for more! Plus he is really good looking! : )

22-I sometimes feel very misunderstood. I am an extremely shy, quiet, and introverted type of person. It is frustrating because sometimes my shyness is mistaken for being snotty. It is really hard for me to open up to people and extremely difficult for me to make new friends.

23-I sang backup (again, very funny considering I am a terrible singer!) to Mr. T at the Freedom Festival (Now called the Stadium of Fire) at BYU when I was 5 or 6 years old. I also was a dancer for many years in those shows.

24-I love interior design. I don’t have a clue what I am doing, but I like pretending!

25-I would love to be on the show “Amazing Race”. I can’t seem to talk Derek into it.


Since I don't think there are 25 people that even read this blog, I tag anyone reading this to come up with their own 25 things and then post them on your blog. It is actually pretty fun and I would love to learn more about you all!