Jingle Bells

Dot loves this video. I love it too. Dot says "daddy was funny even when he was little" . I can't believe how much Townes is just like Cory. They are identical.

Facebook Friday

Sometimes I'm funny on facebook too.

Mormon Women Project Video

A year ago I found the Mormon Women Project and quickly signed up to volunteer. I volunteered (with Cory's permission, kind of...) our services to help them make a video for the website and for their recent fundraising event the 2011 Salon. The theme of the night was Crafting a Deliberate Life, and so our video explored this idea in its complexity and I'm so grateful for my friends and family who sent in little thoughts and words of wisdom!
Enjoy.


Cory worked so hard on this video, only to have the technical staff at the JSMB botch the showing. One of the truly heartbreaking moments of my life (I know my life is pretty nice if that is one of my saddest times), but luckily with the beauty of the internet, all will see it.

The Religious Test

This is what we're working on these days. Please spread the word to help fund our travel to interview politicians and evangelicals and experts all over the country. We've already interviewed two of my heroes - Joanna Brooks and Dr. Richard Bushman. It is going to be a really great exploration. Please help!

Dot's New Challenge

A couple of Dot's Barbies have met unfortunate, tragic ends by being mauled by a giant Bulldog (in their eyes). I won't post pictures since they are kind of disturbing. One was Dotty's Barbie that Aunt Erin bought her in Calgary which was especially tragic ["But this Barbie is only sold in CANADA!!!] But I told Dot she could get a new Barbie, and all Barbie's in Canada are sold in America, if she could prove that she could clean up after herself and keep her toys off her floor and safe from Bella for two weeks. We'll see how it goes.

For eve

Dot's cousin Eve has requested sone videos of Dot dancing. Here is one from her first tap class.


- Posted from my iPhone

Townes has some moves

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Bella the Bull

So we got a bulldog. She is adorable as you can see, but also she is just awesome.


Cory has always wanted a bulldog, and this one needed a good home.
Noone loves her more than Townes. He doesn't say Mama, dada or Dotty, but he learned Bella the first day she came.
We've always called Townes our bulldog, mostly because of his droopy eyes and baby chubby cheeks, but with a real bulldog I'm realizing the similarities don't end there.
1. Small bursts of energy followed by long lazy days
2. Concern when someone is upset.
3. Very patient and uncomplaining and rarely barks
4. Loves belly scratches, head scratches and nuzzles.
5. Short legs and a big tummy


- Posted from my iPhone

Kung Fu Townes

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Townes' words

Today at talking school, townes' speech therapist asked how mNy words I thought he had. I thought of ten. She said it was more like 25. Way to be positive mere!
Here's a list
1. Hi-ya
2. Bye
3. Ball
4. Buzz
5. Car
6. Go!!!
7. Uh oh!!!
8. Mmm
9. Good!!
10. Bubble
11. Hi
12. Alldone
13. In
14. Out
15. Crash!!
16. Bath
17. dot
18. Bum bum
19. Poopoo
20. Off

But really everything after 10 is a stretch. I'm just being realistic.


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I didn't know Liz and Cory were babies at the same time?

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The Beach is Back

The Herriman lake park has been closed, but it opened a little while ago and we went over for a dip.

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Cory Townes

So everyone who knows Cory says Townes looks just like him. If you don't know Cory it might be hard to spot. There are a lot of physical similarities (the Hutchings forehead, the mouth, squishy ears) but a lot of it is pure personality.
Exhibit A

Here is a picture of Townes with Casey:




Here is a picture of Cory at the same age. You'll know which one is him.



So awesome.

- Posted from my iPhone

Grecole | party of the century

Just got back from Calgary where we had an engagement party for Grecole. The kids won't be at the wedding so this was their time to kill it and party lime rock stars. They succeeded.



The girls



The boys.




Take 3

The Von hudrassLeWrights


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We own the internets

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It's a Perfect Day

For shooting marshemallows


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Townes in Ikea

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My little Feeler

So we were at the new mcdonald's play place with sone friends. And after awhile realized we didn't see Townes. Turns out he had started to leave and when I found him he signed "all done". Awesome! He had never signed that before (probably because when he's trying to get out of his high chair and i ask if he's all done he's thinking- why else would i be climbing out of the eating chair idiot mom).



That boy gets overwhelmed quickly when he's around a lot of people.
Also he kept eating fries off the floor- and wouldn't eat them off the table. Only off the floor. Double awesome.


- Posted from my iPhone

Old Future

OLD FUTURE from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

Cory is forming a new company with his partner Michael Potter. He has spent this past week putting their Reel together. I, obviously, think it is awesome and heart-pounding. Thanks to Tom Bean for the awesome logo.

Serial Friendster

So while in line to get our hot dogs at Target one day, Dot made friends with some kids ahead of us. Then they asked her to sit with them. Embarrassing. But seriously cute. Dot always ends up talking about Townes, what we just did, the fact that she's four and in this case when she turns 5 she wants to celebrate with her cousin Ella.


Dlt experiencing a whoopie cushion for the first time.
- Posted from my iPhone

Easter

We had a talk on fhe Easter Sunday. What gives?





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Facebook Friday

Why I loved studying Philosophy at BYU

Its a long video, but really great. I loved studying Philosophy at BYU. I don't think I had a class with Foster, but this sentiment just kind of permeated the whole place and it was lovely.

Bossypants

I just finished reading Tina Fey's book, "Bossypants" and I thought it was amazing. AMAZING. I read it all in one night. So funny and even a little poignant at times, or was that just because it was 2am? oh well. Also, things I learned Tina and I have in common:

1. Stressed-induced chin acne.
2. Hideous childhood haircuts (sorry mom, it's true)
3. An early sense of acceptance through small-town community theatre.

There were also things that gave me absolute joy and hope for the world:

1. That a self-admitted shy person with little to no salesmanship could pitch a tv show and just generally have success in life.
2. That someone can write a book with a dangling modifier and get away with it these days - grammar nazis be damned. (For the recond I only found one, but I'm someone who takes joy in grammar mistakes and so obviously I'm not that great at spotting them)
3. That there is a book that compares the creepiness of putting in a contact lens with the creepiness of looking for a lost tampon string.

Tina Fey I absolutely adore you.


- Posted from my iPhone

Coniference

That's what Cory calls it.
Here is our post session conversation.
Cory wasn't watching conference, he was computer working.
Cory (face down, glasses off): "I wish I didn't wear glasses, this is so comfortable"
Me: "ya"
Cory: "What did people blind as me do before glasses?"
Me: "they were called the blind, and they begged on the street"
Cory (in all seriousness): "oh that sounds awesome"

Someone is a little stressed. Time for an eye-ball massage. Hoe you enjoy a restful weekend of inspiration.

- Posted from my iPhone

Facebook Friday #7

Dot face

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Just for Greg

Another gem from my journal circa 2002 or 2003
"I ordered proactiv, I'm pretty excited about it. I'm pretty sure I have ovarian cancer"

philosophy major or pothead?

memorable journal entries from a young mary hudson in 2003

1. I don't really have as much control over my mind as I would like, when I write a paper I just kind of wait for the paper to come to me, a 5 page paper doesn't take very long to write itself."
2. What is truth? - why does a concept so important have to be so abstract and ethereal?

(and my favorite)

3. There is only one letter separating clever from cleaver (now that's deep)

Eve's IS Going

So my cousin's daughter Eve Asplund is an amazing singer! She is a finalist to sing at this year's Stadium of Fire. So please vote!

My daughter myself

1. Makeshift long hair
2. Uncontrollable urge to dance after watching dance/ music shows
3.propensity for bare feet despite cold temperatures.

These behaviors are reminiscent of a young Mary Hudson. I love my mini me.

- Posted from my iPhone

Townes isn't gross

Although Townes was off the charts in fine motor skills, (delicately adjusting his blocks as he stacks) he is delayed on his gross motor skills (clumsily knocking the stack down while he reaches a new block)
Apparently gross motor delays are connected somehow with language delay, the lady couldn't tell me why but I find it fascinating. So we have to work on the gross stuff. You know what's sad? That means correcting his (super cute) knee sitting since it discourages core muscle work and playing games like this.

- Posted from my iPhone

The other day dot woke up knowing exactly what she wanted to do that day. Make a super delicious treat. She only needed me to help reach her ingredients. She asked if I want a taste, I told her I had a big breakfast.


- Posted from my iPhone

Spring

It's been warm enough to get out the beach toys.
Dot is in friend heaven.


- Posted from my iPhone

New Lexicon

Things dotty said (just today) that I never would have said as a four year old.
1. I know, maybe the Internet is broken
2. We have to wait for it to load Townes.
3. We'll use the recipe on my phone AND the recipe on your phone.
4. Now that I downloaded the donut game, you can delete it off your phone.
5. I'm going to write an email and see if that will fix it.



Our wii is broken (we think a certain turtle-pup stuffed something in it) and so poor Dot has been left with just her iPod, cory's iPad and her computer all morning. and the mustache app on my phone.
Still with tears coming to her eyes she said, "I just miss my princess game so much"
Poor little Dotty.com


- Posted from my iPhone

Piano man

I played a scream while play ad the stop and freeze game with Townes the other night. Today Townes showed off his new skills to Dot.

- Posted from my iPhone

Helping

Dotty wanted to give Townes her old runners and couldn't wait for me.

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Look mom, I have a friend

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Tactile Learner and Right Brained

So at Townes' 18 month check up the pediatrician asked how many words he used. I told her he didn't have any words. She didn't seem extremely concerned but she did suggest early intervention "just in case". I'm not worried about him, since I can tell he's just like Cory - right-brained. Left brain is language, and right brain is emotion and images and design. I haven't found any list milestones that are strictly related to right-brained development - like "does he get jokes? that is usually at 24 months". Cause Townes was making jokes at 10 months, is he advanced? I don't know. Doctors are all left-brained...
My question for you is how can I help Townes develop his language knowing that he is primarily right-brained and a tactile learner? I should have started sign language, where do I start with that now? I stocked up on touchy, feely books and that totally increased Townes' interest in storytime (see last post) but what else?



If you're curious to know if you are primarily right brained or left brained, I found a quiz online.


I wanted Cory to take the test so that I could get a glimpse into Townes' mind, and he was pretty much super-annoyed by it. Cory figured out a major flaw in any test about this. Tests are verbal, sequential and ultimately left-brained. If you really want to see if someone is right-brained there should be a big question at the top - "do you want to take this test?" nope? you're right brain. I laughed really really hard.

Townes has one word

He says on his own. It's roar. And he only says it when he reads this book.
$500 to the person who can guess what game Dot and Cory are playing in the background.

- Posted from my iPhone

Pretty Pictures

So I've been using flickr to find great pictures from places from my childhood.





Just leaving the marina at Shuswap Lake





A path somewhere behind my old house in Gold Bar Park. I love the future.

- Posted from my iPhone

Facebook Friday #6

Facebook Friday #5

Am I blowing your mind?

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They make eachother laugh

And yes dotty has 3 ponytails.

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Now that I'm four, I get to do homework

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Big boy Townes

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Party time excellent

Dot's party was her first friend party. It was tough to keep the guest list down with alldot's favorite people an her desire to an I quote "have Meghan and lizze from school meet Oliver and Juliet"
It ended up being a ton of fun.











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