Wash Your Hands

Guess what's on YouTube just in time for flu season? Remember to Washer washer wash your hands!!!

Happy Holidays

I tend to not plan for "special moments" - its just not my thing. But this past Monday just happened to be the anniversary of Cory's proposal and so we took the kids up to temple square to see the lights. We walked up to the spot up the hill overlooking temple square where Cory popped the question. And, of course, Cory caught it all on video. Isn't it magical?

A Very Dotty Brown Christmas from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

Ignore the fact that I look like a single mom...

New York | Post #1 Dot and Ella...Ella...Eh eh eh

Dotty and Ella were almost inseparable while we were in New York. Neither one has a sister, and so it was as if they were filling that void! They danced, played games, practiced the piano, made forts. Dotty wanted to do anything and everything with Ella.







Ella even took Dot to the potty (no photo) and when I told her that Ella shouldn't have to wipe her, Dot had a meltdown. They are bosom friends and they were both crying when we had to leave. As it happens, Dot drew Ella's name in the Christmas Cousin Gift Exchange and she is dying over what to give her. We are so excited.

Disneyland

So here is the disneyland post. At the end of September we took the kids to Disneyland. For months, Cory had been showing Dotty Youtube videos of all the different rides. She was really excited. But Cory was probably more excited. So for the first day Cory and Dot went by themselves. I don't have any of the videos of Dot and Cory on that first day but you can imagine it was non-stop fun, ride after ride, with just a little bit of rain.


Townes and I tagged along on the next day and it was honestly the best time I've ever had at Disneyland. It was a rainy day, but we were prepared. Cory knows Disneyland so well that he had a plan of what rides to go on when, to get the most for our time. We started out at Peter Pan because it always gets the craziest. Then we hit the rest of Fantasyland, with some teacups at the end. Unfortunately Dot saw the whale and we had to do the Storybook ride, but whatever. Then there was Matterhorn (where Dot went with no hands, saying "Wooo" the whole time).



We hit up Tomorrowland at just the right time since it started to rain and we could do Captain EO and Buzz Lightyear to avoid getting soaked. As you can see Townes wasn't too into the giant Buzz, but he did like the Buzz ride.

Then we were on our way to ToonTown when we found the princess place and got in line to meet the princesses. We didn't know which princesses were going to be there, since as you know, the Princesses have a lot of work to do, writing policy and whatnot and so they can't just all be gone at one time (my sad attempt to make princess worship a little more feminist) But we were happy that we got Belle, Ariel and Cinderella! Dot was over the moon.

Annie

As you may know, Dot is in love with Annie. We decided months ago to be characters from "Annie" for Halloween. Dot will be Annie, Townes will be Sandy, Cory will be Daddy Warbucks and I finally convinced Dot to let me be Grace Farrell instead of Miss Hannigan. When we got back from California her costume was waiting for her. Its a little big, but we'll make it work. I can't wait to find a great Sandy costume for the buddy.






She has until October to get the words down. And hopefully she'll sing the entire song at every stop.

I went to dinner with Michelle on my birthday. When we were driving home, I told Dot that Michelle was coming over and she got REALLY excited. Dotty is seriously Michelle's biggest fan. And this night, it was obvious why. Michelle let Dotty paint her fingernails and Dotty was SOOO excited with the result. When she was done, she jumped up and down saying "I'm so proud of myself!" I tried to have her repeat it for the camera, but by then she knew it was funny and so she pushed it into overdrive... But here it is nonetheless.




Thank you Michelle for a terrific Birthday!

I asked Dot if she wanted me to show her how to write her name. She said she already had it figured out. Looks good to me.

Summer Begins

Fishler Ranch from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

A wonderful evening with good friends, funny dogs and delicious pizza. Thanks for having us over Sarah and Elliot.

Final Countdown

I gave my desk to the incoming intern and moved in with Cory at the "freelancers" table. He was pissed when I tried to document our lovenest. So don't tell him I posted it.
2 more days in Salt Lake, then 2 days in Chicago and then I'm done! I don't know who is more excited, me or Dot. Probably me...but maybe Dot.

Hi I'm Dotty

Dotty loves to introduce herself to new people, mostly to other kids. (I've always known that she would take after her Aunt Casey.) Usually she says things like "I'm Dotty, I'm three years old", or "I'm Dotty, how are you?"
I also knew that Dotty would use her powers of friendliness to get me out of my comfort zone, but I didn't think it would be so soon, or so blunt. Yesterday at the playground she called out from the tower saying "Hi! My mom's name is Mary." I, of course, proceeded to have a nice conversation with the lady with whom that introduction was extended.
What a girl.

Sick Day

So we're home sick with a weird virus and so we are watching a lot of videos. Dot likes Youtube. It used to be all about kids singing Annie songs, or Disney songs, or other things. But now we've branched out.





We spent a lot of time watching this guy, and watching this guy with a face drawn on him, and watching this guy edited into King Kong - the opportunities on Youtube are endless...
I think Townes likes it so much because he's pretty sure he could sing those words.
If you haven't watched his original performance, you really should. Find it here

So I was in Vegas

And Cory took the kids to the park. These are the famous purple slides that Dotty loves.

Canon 7D test shoot from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

I wish I could blame Dotty's messy hair on Cory watching her, but it doesn't look much better when I watch her.

Bathtime

Dotty has the best time playing with her polly's (mini princesses) in the bath. Here is a cute video of the voices she makes for them (+ some closeups on the Townes)

We're a couple of twos

Go Do from Cory LeSueur on Vimeo.

Cory made this video of our highlights from 2010 so far. This year has been incredible. Mostly incredible in how many times Oliver runs to the trampoline...giving Cory ample footage for a two-cameraesque edit.
Other highlights:
- Visiting The Rices in Oregan
- Dot turning 3
- Easter!
- Townes making Dot laugh over and over.

And yes, I saw this at work for the first time.
And yes, I may have cried a little bit.

The color of...

My sister's third girl is in love with green instead of pink or purple (Dot's two favorite colors), so naturally that gave me hope and on the ride home I started to steer her in a different direction.

me: "What about yellow? yellow is the color of the sun"
dot: oh ya
me: "and green, green is the color of grass, and leaves"
dot: "and Tiana"
me: "ya - what about blue? blue is like the sky, and swimming"
dot: "oh yes"
me: "and white is the color of clouds"
dot: "and...and doctors!"

I think I might have an edge with white and doctor coats...progress.

The Fun Store

Dotty calls Ikea, "The Fun Store". It used to be just because of the kid's section with the chairs, and slide and toys. But now she's discovered all the playhouses.



Mummy, let's play house...you make breakfast, while I take a nap
And then I'll woose the potty before we go to school

Easter Eggs and Ears

Easter weekend started with some egg dying with Grandma Donnay. I'm glad Dot gets to experience that - because there is no way I would do it on my own. Too messy. But Dot had a blast, and I love her apron.



I asked her to pose - this is what she came up with.



Then the Easter Bunny came on Sunday and dropped off a basket full of toys and games (I'm pretty impressed with myself for resisting the candy!). I asked Dot who she liked better, the Easter Bunny or Santa Clause and she said "Santa Clause, the easter bunny doesn't talk"...hmmm good point.

Here is her "enthusiasm" for the candy-less basket. Sorry for her "witch hair" as Greg would call it.



Happy Easter! We enjoyed the peaceful reminder of our Savior's atonement. Hope you did too.

We went and got our nails done with my mom and Anne. Dotty loved it of course. I'm always so surprised at how patient she is waiting for her turn. Just sitting in the "doctor chair" and telling me "you are doing so good mummy".

I had Anne take a picture of my mannequin hands.

Another Water Slide and Selective Memory

So we went swimming at Fairmont Pool when my mom was here. They also have an indoor water slide - but this one has a strict "one person at a time" rule - which means I couldn't ride down with Dot on my lap. Stupid rule but anyway.
Dot really wanted to go and I gave her the choice - go down by yourself, or not go down at all. She of course chose to go down by herself. I walked up with her and sent her off. Up on the stairs I had a perfect view of her the whole way down.
At the first turn she slid around backwards and spent the rest of the trip on her back headfirst with a look of terror on her face.
Grandma caught her at the bottom and she said, "that was scary"
I told her she was so brave.
When Cory picked her up later she had a different story.
"Were you scared Dot?"
"nope, I'm brave."



After swimming we took the Canadians to Macaroni Grill. Dot was pretty well behaved...




in case you can't hear - Dot says "a worm dancing"

There's something about Mary

So Dotty had the Easter lesson in nursery this Sunday (yes, poor girl is still in nursery, but she doesn't seem to mind). And she was paying pretty good attention to the details or at least grasped that there was a "Mary" involved - "just like you mummy!".
She brought home the classic scribbled coloring page with Jesus and the tomb and asked me to cut out the pieces. "Because my teacher said you could cut it out". So I cut it out.
A little while later she is playing with the cutouts and I overhear her yelling,

"Mary....Mary.... help me... aahhh... I'm stuck in the tomb"

[different voice] "Oh, I'll help you."

[first voice]"Thank you Mary".

It might be blasphemous but I kind of like the story that way.

Happy Week Before Easter!