Monday Morning Workout

Don't know if my OB would approve, but we sure get a kick out of it.


P.S. He's too old to get Shaken Baby Syndrome, right? 

P.S.S. Sorry if the title fooled you into believing I do any more working out than spastic dancing...or am in shape. At all.

Clark is One!

Clark's First Year from Natalli Ellsworth on Vimeo.

Well our baby is officially a whole year old! I won't lie and say I'd like to turn back time or even freeze it. I'm glad we've made it this far and I'm excited to continue watching him grow and learn. But ask me again in three or four years. I can honestly say that after the first couple months, time really flew by! We are so in love with this sweet, funny, opinionated little guy!

Music

Today I've been thinking about music. As a kid, I just liked whatever everyone around me was listening to and it was nice to have on while cleaning, riding the bus to school, etc.
Then one night in jr. high, I went babysitting and brought my really awesome portable CD player (Walkman for CDs) but instead of bringing my usual Shania Twain and A-teens, I grabbed some CDs Bethany had left lying around.
Once the kids were asleep I got out my homework and popped in a CD that said Ben Kweller on it. And it was good. All of the sudden it was like a whole new world opened up to me: there was all kinds of music out there and it could be good and it make you feel something.
And we've had a beautiful relationship ever since.

Wishlist

(Full-Screen it kids)


All I really want for Christmas is to go to the movie theater all by myself with a purse full of junk food and shamelessly bawl through the whole thing.

Amendment: "All alone" mostly means without a baby, I just didn't want Clark to get his feelings hurt. If you are willing to binge and cry with me, then you can come with me (so I guess no men either).

Lullaby

I remember my mom always singing this to my nieces and nephews as babies, so I sing it to Clark every time I put him down for a nap.




  I had no idea where it came from until I found this little clip, and somewhere along the way, our words got changed a little. Still love it and so does Clark!

Music Video

Me with an afro. Enjoy.




Maybe next time we'll try to learn the words.

Dabbling

I used to wish that I was really super amazing at just one thing, but I've learned to embrace the face that I'm just ok at a lot of things. I think this transition happened around Sophomore year of high school when I decided to quit going to ballet for 3 hours every day and just be a kid and have a social life. Then I reached my peak of hobby exploration. That year alone I was in dance, orchestra, and ice skating classes, culinary club, the ski/snowboard club, badminton team, and a few weeks on the tennis team (I think I quit after I got my fingers stuck in the strings of the racket when I was supposed to be listening to a lecture from the coach...or because if I did manage to hit the ball, it hurt my little wrists real bad). I even got the boy I liked to teach me and a friend guitar lessons.

Snowriders

Badminton

obviously

orchestra trip

So my latest hobbies are learning to use Adobe Illustrator to make the blog all cute (could you tell?) and penmanship. I just decided that being able to write really pretty would be a good skill to have, so I got this book last time I was at the library:

I guess if I can't be in school (I miss it so bad), I'll just teach myself anything and everything. Except sporty things. No hope there.

A Little Jig

The little one seems to be feeling much better

Clearly inherited his mama's dancing skills, too. Can you imagine how fun it was to be pregnant with this guy? (That was in real time. No fast-motion effects)


And of course Jacob knew little cookie dunkers with random stuff written on them would make me feel better. What a guy.

good things

Lots of good things happening in my world lately...

 I get out of the house almost daily. Yesterday was for a Bachelorette premier viewing at Brooke's.

I remembered seeing this on Oprah years ago, and looked it up yesterday. Think what you will, but it's absolutely true! I'm so glad I found it again.

Clark went 6 hours last night without needing a feeding and slept from 8pm to 7am. This is a big deal. It brings me hope that one day I will sleep again. It's also great that I can put him down wide awake at night and know he will go to sleep without a peep!

Having a baby with me makes me feel like it's more socially acceptable to dance and sing along to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" when it comes on at the grocery store. There's no holding back now.

A move sometime this weekend or next is looking promising! Let's hope it all works out.

Green Eyes

I love riding my bike to school with my good ol' ipod (from like 2006). I wish UT would stay pretty year-round, because it sure is great right now!

Also, this song reminds me always of Jacob. And I love it, and that's final.

here we go again

We have started our last year here at BYU, and now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm kinda almost sad to be so close to being done. I know I always complain about how hard school is and Provo and the cold and all, but for the most part, I love going to school here. I've learned to laugh at the little quirks and all the marriage-obsessed, bad-driving, I-call-my-mom-3-times-a-day-to-tell-her-about-my-love-life people here and just be grateful for the really great education I'm getting. (Plus, there are a lot of really cool people here, too).

Anyhow, one thing that makes me laugh each year is the first time a teacher has us sing a hymn to start the class. I don't know why, but it is sooo funny to me that a bunch of college kids asked to sing a song on the spot end up sounding like this:



ok, not quite Mo Tab, but pretty close. I remember freshman year at FHE we started with a hymn, and I started laughing so hard I was crying. Then Kami and Devaun caught my giggles and it was bad news. I've never seen such death stares. "Gosh, don't you know we're trying to invite the spirit!"

Only at BYU!

Bachelorette Party

I nearly forgot to mention the fantastic party we threw Bethany a few nights before she got married. We ate treats, talked, sang a little karaoke, and watched her open gifts. But no party is complete without a game, right?
So we had a lingerie-making competition: Smith family style. I brought a big bag of various craft supplies, fabric scraps, sparkly appliques, and hot glue guns which each team had to use to create a lingerie set for Bethany.



I was so impressed with everyone's creativity and resourcefulness.

Adina, EmmaLee and I went for a party/gift theme:


I think we won... and if we didn't, we should have.

one of the best things about summer

It's going to be a good season!

my sister's wedding.

Last Friday was Bethany's wedding, so ALL of my sibling+their spouses and children came into town. I love being able to see everyone at the same time since it rarely happens (look how many of us there are!).

Somehow all seven of us have managed to get married...

And even better, we all got to be there for her sealing.

She looked beautiful in the dress she MADE HERSELF, and I'm so happy that she found someone so perfect for her.

To be honest, I haven't gotten to know Blake all that well, but anyone who will dance to this song for their "First Dance", is perfect for my sister (and will fit into the family splendidly) :

They turned life into a musical

I love crap like this. So much.
Olivia and I spent most of our high school career trying to make this happen: at lunch, in the locker room, running to seminary.
Then my cousin and I pretty successfully created an impromptu musical while dancing through crowded streets in Denver.

I'd say I'm due for another attempt. Who's with me?!

holly and jolly

We are in good ol AZ for Christmas Break and it has been fantastic so far. I love Christmas time, 75 degree weather, and spending time with both of my families! It's been really nice to just relax and not feel like I should be studying something.

Our first morning here was spent at the swap meet where we found many treasures, as usual. Jacob's sister, Emily, got her wisdom teeth out at the beginning of the week, so I kept her entertained by having Sims "House-off"s, making crafts, and playing Super Mario Brothers. Jacob's been having fun playing tennis with my brothers, Cities and Knights, and Castle Crashers.

On Christmas Adam, my sisters and I got footage for this little gem (if you weren't convinced that my mom is the coolest person ever, you should be now!). Then I got to see a lot of my friends at a Christmas party!

On Christmas Eve, we went to my house for the annual Smith Family Christmas Eve party. After our turkey dinner, the Christmas Elvises brought us our pjs. Then we had our talent show and white elephant gift exchange! Late on Christmas Eve, I was informed that I was responsible for filling Jacob's stocking! WHAT?! Luckily, my dad and sisters went with me, in matching pajamas, on a late-night adventure to find ANY store open on Christmas Eve at 10:30. Walgreens came to the rescue, and I was able to find some lovely stocking stuffers. We stayed up way too late watching a Lifetime original Christmas movie and waiting for our husbands to get back from helping a certain brother-in-law put together a ping pong table.

Singing with the grandkids and papa in the talent show

Sisters. modeling our new pjs.


Christmas morning was wonderful, and I got everything I ever wanted, plus some. After we finished up at my house, we headed over to the Ellsworth's for more fun. I love double Christmas! We had dinner with his grandparents and played card games.

Tonight we had Cafe Rio salads and Karaoke Night at Steven and Adina's. We had a couples sing-off, and Jacob and I graced everyone with our beautiful rendition of "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing". Somehow the mike kept coming back to me and/or Amy

By the way...

I'm in a band. Meet "The Jingleberries". Wait does that sound like.. nvm.
Brooke on drums
Devaun on keyboard
Me on vocals
watch out.

Saw them last night for freeeee at bum park. Minus the sweaty, smelly crowd it was fantastic. And the very first song they played was one from our wedding vid. How sweet.

talents and shtuff

With all my free time this summer, I've been developing many new talents:
Sewing, cooking, painting, jewelery-making.
I think this will be my next endeavor. (Jacob and I watch these for hours at night when we should be sleeping)


Yes, one man doing ALL sounds.
I had quite a knack for free-style rapping as a kid, so I'll probably incorporate that talent as well. who knows.

More Birthday Stuff

That lovely party happened 2 days before my real birthday. The next night, I felt that I should do some teenagery stuff before I turned the big 2-0. So Jacob and I snuck out to Wendy's in the middle of the night. I wanted to toilet paper our friends too, but Jacob was too mature (he's almost 24). Oh, but he did sing and dance to "I Can Go the Distance" for me. Then I told him that wasn't romantic enough, so he sang and danced to "She's so highhhhighhighh, high above me". Best gift ever.
The next morning, he made me breakfast, did my chores, gave presents, took me shopping, and we ate lunch at Carino's. mmmm. He said I also had to take a nap, sew, and go watch the Bachelorette finale so I would be doing all of my favorite things that day. I did. It was the greatest!
When Jacob got home we lit sparklers with a few friends. Then I accidentally lit a sparkler on Jacob's hand so now he has a really cool blister.