happy nest too

Meatballs

2011-02-04T11:58:00.000-08:00

I gave my best years to the restaurant trade so that my kids could answer this to the preschool questionnaire?

Ah well. They are Good Viking Boys, after all.

Ponyo and Totoro

2010-11-11T17:18:00.000-08:00

When you get sick of Nick Jr. and All That is the Marvel of Pixar and Disney, try these:

Ponyo

and My Neighbor Totoro.

Ponyo was the boys' first theater movie, and they were totally caught up in it, despite the somewhat odd little plot and characters. We recently rented Totoro, and they loved it just as much. The animation is old school, but gorgeous. The backgrounds are masterful; the imaginary characters are weird and just scary enough to keep the pre-schoolers on their toes; and the human characters have real life problems and flaws.

Both films were made by Hayao Miyazaki, who also makes more grown up animated film like Spirited Away (Oscar for Best Animated Feature, 2002) and Howl's Moving Castle. I'm looking forward to watching those with the boys in a few years. Disney is involved in the US versions. They have the rights to distribution or something, but they didn't mess with anything, so they're all original, except for the English dubbing.

PS: Voice of the mom in Ponyo = Tina Fey. How's that for cred?

I'm all for a good Toy Story or Nemo, don't get me wrong. But these 2 films are on a different scale of awesome. Check them out.

We're Back!

2010-11-06T11:26:00.000-07:00

The View from Here.

Portland Autumn 2010

(So far beating the hell out of Portland Summer 2010)

Been gone a while. I'll admit it. Facebook took over my photo posting needs. But we'll try this again with a slightly new twist. Plenty about The Boys, of course, but some other fun things, too. Projects, food, recommendations. Blog stuff And here are photos from today to catch us up on what 18 months looks like in the growth of a preschool boy.

*SUCCESS!

2009-05-22T17:37:00.000-07:00

Yes! We were potty trained for approximately one hour.

It was totally worth it to wear our underpants.

*Photo taken in March. Haven't worn the underpants since. Heavy sigh.

R.C. Belt and Sons Construction, Inc.

2009-05-22T16:59:00.001-07:00

Grandma's visit

2009-05-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

Happy boys. Happy grandma.

Grandma knit them cozy sweaters. Sean still requests "I want to wear the sweater Grandma made me!"

What a mess.

2009-03-14T11:20:00.001-07:00

This morning I was reading the paper and there was a picture of Michael Jackson in all his splendour: black sunglasses; huge, red, lipsticked mouth; hair in his face; lots of sequins.

Sean said, "Mommy, what's that?"

I said, "Mmmm...What do you think it is?"

He looked and thought for a bit and said, "I think it's a funny mommy." But he wasn't laughing.

If Iron Butterfly Made a Christmas Album...

2009-03-13T22:38:00.000-07:00

Open letter to the lady with the pink hair and the guy with the giant nose ring.

2009-02-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Dear Giant Nose Ring Guy and Pink Hair Lady,
I apologize for my son, Sean. Sort of.
See, since he's not a 19th century toreador, his experience with giant (1/4" thick and black) nose rings is limited. So, when you joined us in that elevator...well, lets face it, there wasn't much else to look at for a 3-year old.
And when he said, "Mommy. What's that in his nose?" he meant it in a "Cool accessory, dude!" kind of way, I'm almost positive.
And when I, as his mother, (who was almost cool, at best, in her day) said, "Whose nose?" I was totally kidding and trying to get you to smile. So, by not smiling, I can only assume that you were a. deaf, b. stoned, or c. insulted. If it's c, then you are even more hilarious than Sean.
Pink Hair Lady at the library who flashed us a huge smile when Sean said, "Mommy! That lady has FUNNY PINK HAIR!" Thank you. You rule.
Sincerely,
Proud Mother of Sean

Clo-oser...

2009-02-16T18:15:00.001-08:00

Coconuts

2009-02-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today, Luke woke up crying from his nap. He keeps having a nightmare that he's "little." I tried to calm him down and suggested we go downstairs and watch "Chikka Chikka Boom Boom." It's one of their favorite books and we have the DVD version too. It's actually just a catchy rhyme about an alphabet climbing a palm tree.

Anyway, Luke was trying to see the bright side of life, and he said, "Chikka Chikka Boom Boom is my best friend."

Sean had just woken up too and he looked at Luke for a minute - concerned - and said, "But, Luke, it doesn't have a face. It only has coconuts!"

We're getting closer...

2009-02-09T18:03:00.000-08:00

No More Bedtime Seuss

2009-02-03T21:23:00.000-08:00

The boys read books to themselves in bed while Cliff and I read and sit in our rocking chairs. Tonight I brought up "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" for Luke. It's full of Seussian nonsense characters.
Luke (whispering and half sitting up to peer at me through the crib bars): "Mommy! Mommy! Whats that?"
So I haul my petard out of the chair and reluctantly indulge him in his postponement of slumber, "What?"
"That!" He whispers, pointing at a crazy Seuss character who looks sad.
"It's a...creature."
*pause*
"Yeah. What kind of creature, Mommy?"
"It's a...yellow creature."
*pause*
"Yeah. What that yellow creature called, Mommy?"
He could see my shoulders shaking and he grinned a little from behind his pakpak.

Grass hats!

2009-02-02T23:41:00.000-08:00

We made strips of green and drew things on them that are in the grass: bugs, dirt, poop. Then we cut grass fringe and made hats. Super cool. We wore them all morning.

Sean's worms are orange and go sideways. Luke's worms go vertically and have heads and eyes. The markers were scented, which explains Sean's face...

I suggested a ladybug and Luke drew his first one! What a boy!

Different styles...

2009-02-02T23:35:00.000-08:00

Luke drew these all by himself - nobody was even in the room!

Sean is too cool to be impressed.

Fingerpainting!

2009-02-02T23:18:00.001-08:00

Ready...! (Cheers!)

Set...!

GO!

Sean REALLY got into it!

This is going to take longer than I thought...

2009-02-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

The plan: Buy super cool irresistable underpants to entice the boys to start using the "teapot." The reality: Walk in on this little scenario:

Buckaroos.

2009-02-02T22:39:00.001-08:00

Wonderful Leslie put together the world's greatest cowboy outfits for the boys' birthday. Genuine Santa Fe red felt hats, vintage cowboy shirts, beaded belts and hand sewn vests with sheriff badges. The first hats were too small due to their GIANT HEADS, but she exchanged them for Size L's and the boys became dudes.

Sean back
Sean front

Luke front

Luke back

Christmas Dinner At Gill and Chris and William' House

2009-02-01T22:50:00.001-08:00

What it takes to get two 3-year old boys ready to leave the house on Christmas night.

Edna and her Snow Friend greeted us.

Merry Christmas!

Nothing says Happy Holidays like lobbing stuff at your dog with a catapult.

Clint and Jenn bring the Cool to Christmas.

Mrs. Fun.

Christmas Morning 2008

2009-01-25T10:16:00.000-08:00

(Better late than never...)

Luke asked for "a el-o-phant!" from Santa!

Super cool track from Dad.

Sean asked for the special red "chakka chakka choo choo train" from Santa.

Daddy got wine from Clint, who always knows what to get...

Clint brought awesome tractors for his brothers.

and they helped him open his present from us.

Merry Christmas!

The Storm of the Century!

2009-01-18T23:07:00.000-08:00

Our backyard before...

and after the invasion.

Bye Mommy! Watch your step.

Grandma and Grandpa Christmas '08

2009-01-18T22:59:00.000-08:00

Oh well. At least Grandma and Grandpa are smiling...

I still don't know where he heard that word...

2009-01-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we were walking through Fred Meyer, past the women's underwear section. Luke pulled away from me and made a beeline for the bra rack, pulled out a leopard print bra, and declared loud and clear for all the other women (and good mothers) to hear,

"Mommy! Jaguar boobs!"

Snowed in with Grandpa Rokke!

2009-01-14T15:36:00.001-08:00

Sparkley Pantalonays

2009-01-12T09:35:00.000-08:00

The other day, the boys and I spent a rainy lunchtime shopping in Target and eating peanut butter sandwiches and snack cups. The boys got a little rambunctious and wouldn't mind me. Finally, they took off and ran about 20 feet away - playing in the clothing racks - where I couldn't see them. I stormed after them and grabbed two little elbows, marched them back to the cart, and said in my most serious low voice, "Mommy is mad, MAD, MAD. You need to stay by the cart and be very quiet and very good!" Sean stuck around and kept looking up and asking, "Are you HAPPY, Mommy?" I strung him a long a little, and then heard Luke coming towards us.

He was displaying his most winning, convincing smile and carefully holding a hanger way up over his head so as not to step on the fanciest, most beautiful peace offering he could find for me. "Here, Mommy! Maybe you like these sparkley pantalonays!"

Shiny, metallic, gold stretch pants, size XL. These are pants Donna Summer would have turned down for her 1978 World Tour as "way too over the top."

I'm going to save them in my closet to pull out and remember the good times the first time the boys swear at me, or slam the door on me, or tell me they want to go to art school, or some other awful day to come in the future.

First Snowman!

2009-01-07T22:28:00.001-08:00

Thanks to help from Adriana's son, Manny the Great!

Family Birthday Night!

2009-01-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

Lots of fun opening presents...

...followed by hours of cutting plastic boxes open...

...followed by Clint's expert instruction on the new video games...

...while Daddy watched.

Then roast chicken dinner,

and blue cake with sprinkles,

and orange cake with sprinkles.

(Lucky 3-year old boys.)

Happy Birthday Party!

2009-01-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

The Guests:

In order top to botttom:

Lewis (with Akila hot on his trail, as usual...!)
Akila rides the Rocking Chicken
Luke and Lillian pretend they're not fascinated with eachother.
William blows the whistle.

Sean spent the first hour of his birthday party in the corner with Brown Bear and his trains and that expression on his face. (the "too everybody" kid.)

But then he snapped on his party hat and came to life!

The "Adults" (again: My blog, I can post what I want.)

Akila's mom, Paige.

Lewis' mom, Karen.

William's dad, Chris.

(I'm sorry, William.)

Lillian's Tim. (Father Christmas.)

Lovely Leslie flew in from Albuquerque!

Sean had orange cake with sprinkles and Luke had dark blue cake with sprinkles.

Happy 3rd birthday, guys!

After the Train...

2008-12-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

We wandered around Oaks Park - closed for the season.

The Christmas Train!

2008-12-10T17:43:00.001-08:00

First candy canes ever!

First time meeting Santa!

Thanksgiving '08 at Our House

2008-12-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

Thankful for eachother.

Please pass the brussels...ummm...never mind...

Handsome host.

Clint brought a celebrity - Sean. He's a famous actor.

The Freney/McCrackens and Gill's necklace.

The kids' table!

The grown-ups' table.

Luke Drawings

2008-12-10T17:05:00.000-08:00

Portrait of Daddy with glasses.

A cat.

What a 2-year old dreams...

2008-12-02T16:44:00.000-08:00

A couple mornings ago, Luke was sleeping in our bed. I was reading and Sean and Daddy were downstairs eating waffles. Luke stirred and sat up -- all pink, puffy-eyed and messy-haired. I said, "Good morning." and he said, "I have a ladybug on my eye and it flew in my ear!" (Poking at his eye.) So I said, "Wow! No wonder you woke up!" And Luke replied, "Yeah, and Max and Ruby are here!" "Max and Ruby are here? In our HOUSE?!" I said. "No, on the sidewalk! And we finding bugs!" He held out his little palm and showed it to me, "I had loooots and loooots of bugs!"

I told him that's what a dream is and he had a really nice one. He flumped back down on the pillow and whispered, all dreamy-eyed, "Yeah, Mommy."

Now, if I could find out what dogs dream, I'd know the secret to Life.

Lick it and suck it!

2008-11-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

I like the view from our dining room window in the Fall

2008-11-12T16:46:00.000-08:00

We love Adriana!

2008-11-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

Adriana and Luke May 2006

Adriana and Sean, May 2006

Adriana and Luke and Sean, November 2008
(The boys look older, Adriana looks younger.)

The following photos were taken by the best thing that ever happened to the Belt Family as a whole: Adriana. (or "Diwanna" as the boys say) She has been a member of the family since Luke and Sean were 3 months old and they are better boys because of it.

We love you, Adriana!

Making awesomely tall towers..

and super cool paths.

Lining up the dinosaurs to put in place on...

the dinosaur puzzle.

Sean loooooves his trains!

He can usually be found clutching as many as he can carry to his tummy.

Pamela Perry the Great

2008-11-02T15:39:00.001-08:00

Ode to the World's Greatest Friend, Fastest Seamstress, Best Merchandiser, Most Hilarious Conversationalist, Rudest Restaurant Hostess, Cutest Dresser, 2nd Best Remodler, and now Best Blogger Ever:
Thank you! We love you!

And a shout out to your faithful sidekick: Sparky!

Just kidding, Niko!
(for more Pamela fun, visit: http://mspamelaperry.blogspot.com/ )

Elvis Sightings (I can't do justice to Pamela's narrative of the Trick-or-Treating. You have to visit her blog.)

2008-11-02T15:20:00.001-08:00

Say, "HOUND DOG!"
Luke's bell bottoms are blue, Sean's are purple.

The beautiful sequined backs.

See Pamela's blog for hilarious comparison to Siegfried and Roy.

Special treats from Vicky

Posing with Akila and Lewis on our front porch. (Not a great picture of Lewis and Akila, but, whatever. It's our blog.)

TRICK...

or TREAT!

Weaselplump

2008-10-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

Another Sunday with Lilliam, Gew and Cwis

2008-10-27T23:27:00.000-07:00

le Tart
A possibly very scary -- but maybe just funny -- animated, talking headless bride. Three of us kept a wary eye on her.

The gang with Mr Pig's man.

New Toy Catalogues

2008-10-27T23:23:00.000-07:00

Relaxing on the couch in their underwear and jammies, poring over the new toy catalogues...

What happens in Vegas...

2008-10-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

Jumping on the beds in our cool hotel room!

We had dinner at The Rainforest Cafe, because I figured the boys would love the moving animals and jungle theme. Well...after the first fake thunder and lightning storm and the elephants lifting their trunks, Luke asked to me to put his hood up and he kept it that way all through dinner. I think he felt safer and possibly, "drier." Every time the jaguar over the kitchen door swished his tail, turned his head and looked at Luke, he would climb into my lap and watch until it looked away again. Poor kid barely noticed his $10.00 hot dog.
Sean was interested, but wary.
Yikes -- that weirdo from the plane again.
Daddy and the boys on the Strip.
Back in the room for some late night reading...and pastries in bed the next morning! Deluxe!

Luke's farewell arrangement at the Vegas airport.

Utah Part 4:

2008-10-19T22:53:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, and Becky and Rick!!

WE LOVE YOU!

We're not in Portland anymore!

2008-10-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Utah Part 3:

2008-10-19T22:40:00.000-07:00

We went to the world's coolest playground and had fun with TJ and Clint.

And we found an awesome lizard!

Utah Part 2:

2008-10-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

Sean, Luke and all their 2nd cousins. Wow.

Or, in Sean's words, "Mommy. Too everybody."

Sean and Luke were lucky to spend time with so many great kids. They were fascinated and they had tons of fun.

Utah Part 1:

2008-10-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

One day Aunt Becky took us to her friend, Maggie's house who raises miniature horses. It was so exciting! We petted the tiny little guys - except for the cranky one.

Then, after much jittery anticipation and chatter, Luke got to RIDE on the little pony! Oh joy! We set him on the saddle, showed him how to hold the pommel, and he said, "Too scary Mommy! I want to get off!"

Of course.

We talked him into staying on long enough for a tension-filled 20 yard walk up and back, with Mommy gripping tightly to his arm.

Once he witnessed that terrifying little scenario, Sean was content to pat the little guy on the neck and call it good...

We landed in Las Vegas

2008-10-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Did our plane crash? Are we in Heaven?

Too bad you can't pick your seatmates...

2008-10-16T23:00:00.001-07:00

Utah-bound!

2008-10-16T22:49:00.000-07:00

PDX and treats on the plane...

Meet my sons...

2008-10-16T22:44:00.000-07:00

a.k.a. Run DMC.

New backpacks!

2008-10-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

We chose them from the catalogue for our trip to Utah. Brown bear for Luke and blue raccoon for Sean and pink bunnies for Mommy and Daddy. (Those didn't come for some reason.)

Sean investigated his raccoon and carried it around with him on all of his activities of the evening.

Luke put his on his back, didn't take it off all night...and put it on first thing the next morning.

The Last Warm Sunday

2008-10-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

Four guys, shootin' the breeze. (one wearing a baby hat...)
Cheers!
Luke consumes $15 worth of stinky, runny French cheese in ten minutes.

Chris correctly identifies his headgear as a "chapeau."
Awesome boy with an awesome lock collection.

Grandma!

2008-10-16T22:08:00.001-07:00

Grandma spins a yarn.

Joe Cool and Mommy Cool

We LOOOVE Grandma!

Sean

2008-09-19T14:32:00.004-07:00

I've been a little worried about Sean because he doesn't really like to socialize with kids his own age. He'll say "hi" if I tell him to, but he's sort of shy and tense when they approach on the playground. Not a big deal, but it's been on my mind.
On Monday, we went to the post office to mail a box and there was a boy there who was Sean and Luke's age. He came over to us and the three of them sized eachother up and Luke said, "Mommy, he have Sean's shoes!" Sure enough -- blue crocs. They continued to stare at eachother and their shoes. Then Luke launched into an elaborate display of "drop the hippo to show off to the new kid" and I told Sean to say hello.
He very calmly said, "I'm Sean. This is Luke. And this is Mommy." Then he touched his head and lifted off a pretend hat and said, "Pleased to meet you!" with a very inviting smile. The kid was too fascinated with Luke's display to notice, but I noticed and I think I'll find something else to worry about.

A day on the river

2008-09-19T14:32:00.003-07:00

The Haircut Ritual

2008-09-19T14:32:00.002-07:00

Before

During

After (Cheese.)

A Good Day

2008-09-19T14:32:00.001-07:00

Luke's Family Portraits

2008-09-12T22:37:00.001-07:00

"Mommy"

I was watching him draw, so he did this one from life. The first appearance of ears. (next to the eyes) Hair - starts at the top and goes around, because I have long hair. (duh) Teeth - because I was smiling such a huge smile watching him draw my portrait. Also the first appearance of nostrils - which is what he saw when he looked up at me.

As for the extra ear on my cheek -- I asked him what that was for and he said, "I don't know." So there you go.

"Daddy"

Daddy gets the first appearance of ears on the side of the head. (It took 2 drawings for him to figure that out.) Daddy has a coat and a hat and a balloon.

"Sean"

Sean's giant smile looks just like him. Sean gets hands, feet and a "bus" to play with.

"Luke"

The second portrait he drew, and the ears are next to the eyes, like Mommy's. Luke's hair goes all the way around his head, because he totally needs a haircut. "Daddy? Hello?"

"Clint"

I don't know what to say, Clint. You get a hat, hair, nostrils, and fingers that start on the right hand and just keep going, which is Luke's signature move. Still, I get the feeling he knows something the rest of us only suspect...

Luke:

2008-09-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

We've been eating a lot of blueberries this summer and Luke likes to sort through the carton and pick out the ones he wants. He kept telling me he wanted a "drinking blueberry" and I had no idea what he meant, but I would pull out various specimens and offer them to him, to no avail. Yesterday, he came over to me and said, "Look, Mommy! A drinking blueberry!"
He was holding a blueberry -- with a tiny little curved blueberry stem still attached -- up to his mouth and pretending to drink through the stem like a straw.
Another mystery solved!

Sean:

2008-09-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Sean has been looking for his "Mail Car" for a few days now. I wasn't sure which one that was, but figured it was a matchbox car that looked like the mailman's truck to him. Finally, today, he triumphantly announced "My Mail Car, Mommy! My Mail Car!' It was the awesome Alpha Romeo Matchbox I bought him a couple weeks ago. I guess he was really listening!

Guess Who strikes again...

2008-09-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sean's Lair

2008-09-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

(Or: Why we don't have dinner parties anymore...)

Summertime and the livin' is easy...

2008-09-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

New Crocs! (size 8/9)

New Purple Crocs! (size 10/11)

Danglin' crocs...

Fun with Clint

2008-08-26T22:19:00.000-07:00

Clint came over for dinner and a tricycle romp.

Punk Invasion

2008-08-26T22:12:00.000-07:00

Mysterious cameo

2008-08-24T16:35:00.001-07:00

The cast of our new video "Charlotte's Web" made a recent appearance on the toy room floor. The Artful Arranger strickes again.

After sushi -- the playground

2008-08-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

A good birthday for Mommy.

Mommy's Birthday -- Out for Sushi!

2008-08-24T16:19:00.000-07:00

First order of business:

A TOAST!

Slurpin' udon noodles and crunching tempura...
Eating ice cream out of a sake cup.

Summer Sunday Night

2008-08-18T15:22:00.001-07:00

"Suuuuck." "CHEESE!" "Liiiiick."
Luke telling them how to properly eat it. (William and Sean politely listening.)
"Seriously? This guy is STILL talking? Does he ever stop? Please stop pouring him wine."

More Art

2008-08-18T15:14:00.001-07:00

Luke's family portrait. (left to right: Mommy, Daddy, Sean, Luke) He got a kick out of drawing the legs, so he added more, put some fish on the bottom and declared that we were "hotopusses."
Sean's invention of the Pizza Drawing. (A favorite genre, since we LOOVE to draw dots in this house)
Luke's obsessive, highly organized adaptation of the Pizza Drawing. (front)
(back)

Luke's drawing of Mommy.

2008-08-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Mommy (right) has lots of toes. Once you start drawing toes, there's really no reason to stop until you run out of room. This is the first and only drawing of a person Luke has ever done with such a long nose. It's an excellent portrait. Mommy also has a hat on and a coat. (double line around Mommy's head/body) Luke is on the left. He's upside down because his legs fit better that way.

The Magic Slide

2008-08-10T22:17:00.000-07:00

Walk on the Beach

2008-08-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

Luke peeled off towards the water without a backwards glance. (Probably looking for dophins.) Sean took a little more time warming up tho the environment...

First Ever Beach Trip and Ice Cream Cones

2008-08-05T09:37:00.000-07:00

Can't get them in a decent shot together.

2008-08-04T22:15:00.001-07:00

This is Luke.

This is Sean.

The Title

2008-08-04T21:53:00.000-07:00

"Oompa, Loompa, doompa-di-do. I've got another puzzle for you. You can live in happiness, too -- if you live like the Oom. Pa. Loom. Pa. Doompadi -DOO!"

"Mommy? What's 'happy nest?' Birds have a nest!"

So, we have a happy nest. I suppose we live like the oompa loompa doompadi do.
The start of my blog. 2 1/2 year old twin boys. More than a couple unused paper diaries. Lots of priceless memories I forget within 24 hours. I'm going to try this out and see how it flies.