Today, while I was blissfully snoozing the morning away, the kids went to town. Brandon has a stuffed kitty named Yoggi, after our dearly departed cat.
He and Alexis were playing animal rescue. Yoggi had fallen into the garbage can and needed a bath. He had been searching for food, thought he smelled it in a trash bin, only it was dirty diapers he smelled. Hence, the need for a bath.
The kids put him in water in their bathroom sink. When they lifted him up, his fur was all "spiky." They wanted to put soap on him, but Daddy interfered and said he needed to go to the dryer. Both kids pulled up a chair and watched Yoggi do flips in the dryer.
Poor, poor kitty.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
How to "Boo" Your Friends, the Dimit Way
In our ward, we have an annual tradition of leaving anonymous treats on each other's doorsteps, along with a picture of a ghost and instructions for passing the love along.
We were "boo"ed the other night, and received delicious tuxedo popcorn and Chex candies...so beautiful, so delicious, so gone! :-)
Anyway, the kids and I made copies of the ghost and instructions and bought candy at Albertson's. (No gourmet treats, but lots of love).
We decided to "boo" one of Brandon's friends first. Here is how it went:
1- Casual drive-by to case the joint. Mommy whistles casually, as if we were sauntering along. Alexis almost suffocates on her laughter. However, we rein ourselves in to note that said residence has not been "boo"ed.
2- We park around the corner, and Brandon approaches the house, candy in hand, ready to make the drop. Mom and Alexis hover at the corner, waiting, waiting.
3- Brandon runs back, and we think...success! But, no!
4- We forgot the papers! Brandon dashes back with the papers, sees said friend and his mom at the door, unsure if he was spotted or not.
5- Mommy, Alexis, and Brandon collapse with laughter.
House number 2:
1- We drive by several residences, Mommy's whistling getting a little more tiring and a lot less funny.
2- We decide on some good friends, park down the street from them.
3- This time it's Alexis who sneaks around the corner. "Got the papers, Alexis? Good."
4- She runs up the sidewalk, when the goody bag bursts open and WHAMMO! Our homemade Peanut M &Ms and Crunch bars scatter across the sidewalk.
5- "Stop, Alexis! We'll put them in a new goody bag." Because, really, how pathetic is a broken good-bag at your doorstep?
6- But Alexis is on a mission. She scoops up the candy, and makes for the front door, broken goody bag and all. She rings the doorbell, runs, and we flee.
7- A couple of drive-bys, just to make sure the front porch is "blank," as Alexis puts it. It is.
Success!
Other funnies of the day:
1- At the cart return at Albertson's, Alexis stands on the side rails and treats the parking lot to a few spontaneous cheers (for Aloha football).
2- I put a plate of gourmet scrambled eggs in front of Alexis for dinner. She looks at the steam, and waves her hands across is, back and forth, back and forth. "I'm sending smoke signals."
Seriously, that kid is going to star in one of my novels these days.
We were "boo"ed the other night, and received delicious tuxedo popcorn and Chex candies...so beautiful, so delicious, so gone! :-)
Anyway, the kids and I made copies of the ghost and instructions and bought candy at Albertson's. (No gourmet treats, but lots of love).
We decided to "boo" one of Brandon's friends first. Here is how it went:
1- Casual drive-by to case the joint. Mommy whistles casually, as if we were sauntering along. Alexis almost suffocates on her laughter. However, we rein ourselves in to note that said residence has not been "boo"ed.
2- We park around the corner, and Brandon approaches the house, candy in hand, ready to make the drop. Mom and Alexis hover at the corner, waiting, waiting.
3- Brandon runs back, and we think...success! But, no!
4- We forgot the papers! Brandon dashes back with the papers, sees said friend and his mom at the door, unsure if he was spotted or not.
5- Mommy, Alexis, and Brandon collapse with laughter.
House number 2:
1- We drive by several residences, Mommy's whistling getting a little more tiring and a lot less funny.
2- We decide on some good friends, park down the street from them.
3- This time it's Alexis who sneaks around the corner. "Got the papers, Alexis? Good."
4- She runs up the sidewalk, when the goody bag bursts open and WHAMMO! Our homemade Peanut M &Ms and Crunch bars scatter across the sidewalk.
5- "Stop, Alexis! We'll put them in a new goody bag." Because, really, how pathetic is a broken good-bag at your doorstep?
6- But Alexis is on a mission. She scoops up the candy, and makes for the front door, broken goody bag and all. She rings the doorbell, runs, and we flee.
7- A couple of drive-bys, just to make sure the front porch is "blank," as Alexis puts it. It is.
Success!
Other funnies of the day:
1- At the cart return at Albertson's, Alexis stands on the side rails and treats the parking lot to a few spontaneous cheers (for Aloha football).
2- I put a plate of gourmet scrambled eggs in front of Alexis for dinner. She looks at the steam, and waves her hands across is, back and forth, back and forth. "I'm sending smoke signals."
Seriously, that kid is going to star in one of my novels these days.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Words of wisdom from a 5-year-old
I really want to keep better track of the important (and just cute) events in the lives of my oh-so-sweet children and fabulous spouse. Brandon was just on one today with his mouth...so funny!
1- Swimming lessons this morning, learning the "look before you leap" rule. Swim teacher: What should you look for before you jump into the pool?" Brandon: "Sharks with open mouths."
2- Driving to swimming lessons: I think I see some houses that are being re-built.
3- After he spilled some milk on the floor: Me: "BRANDON!" Brandon: "I don't like it when people yell at me." Me: "Can I have a hug?" Brandon: "I don't hug people who yell at me until after one bed (night). Me, later: "I'm sorry, Brandon. Can I have a hug?" Result: Hug!
4- Prayers from a Star-Wars-obsessed little boy: "Please help for my family birthday I get all the light sabers, for my friend birthday party I get the Legos Star Wars AT-AT (or something like that)." And then to make sure he didn't leave out anything, he said something about getting all the AT-ATs and the Battle of Endor (both LEGOs Star Wars toys).
I love you, Bubs!
1- Swimming lessons this morning, learning the "look before you leap" rule. Swim teacher: What should you look for before you jump into the pool?" Brandon: "Sharks with open mouths."
2- Driving to swimming lessons: I think I see some houses that are being re-built.
3- After he spilled some milk on the floor: Me: "BRANDON!" Brandon: "I don't like it when people yell at me." Me: "Can I have a hug?" Brandon: "I don't hug people who yell at me until after one bed (night). Me, later: "I'm sorry, Brandon. Can I have a hug?" Result: Hug!
4- Prayers from a Star-Wars-obsessed little boy: "Please help for my family birthday I get all the light sabers, for my friend birthday party I get the Legos Star Wars AT-AT (or something like that)." And then to make sure he didn't leave out anything, he said something about getting all the AT-ATs and the Battle of Endor (both LEGOs Star Wars toys).
I love you, Bubs!
Friday, April 9, 2010
The End of an Era
This is Lester posting tonight and it is with a bit of sadness and nostalgia that I announce the end of an era. After 15 years of driving fun, the time has come to bid a fond farwell to my Eagle Talon. This event gives me an opportunity to reflect on the many changes in my life during the last 15 years and to pay tribute to my reliable Eagle Talon.
Goodbye, old friend!!!
Lester and his brand new 1995 Eagle Talon (May 1995)
Lester and very used Talon (Apr 2010)
Since I am a numbers guy, I would like to share a few fun #'s:
124,880: # of miles driven in the Eagle Talon
15: # of years I have owned the Talon AND years worked at Intel
9: # of positions I have had at work since purchasing the Talon (all at Intel)
7: # of places I have lived since buying the Talon
12: # of years I have been married to my sweet, wonderful wife, Elizabeth
2: # of beautiful children I have been blessed with (Alexis, 8 & Brandon, 5)
1: One reliable, fun to drive car
Goodbye, old friend!!!
Now, a new era begins with my 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. What experiences and adventures await in the next 15 years?
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
The Vacation of a Lifetime
There are times when it is good to have a husband who travels frequently for his work. This was one of those times, as I was able to join him on a long-held dream of visiting the Middle East.
On my first day there, I toured Jerusalem while Lester finished his meetings in Tel Aviv. Jerusalem is about 45 or 50 miles up in the hills from Tel Aviv. It’s one thing to hear or see pictures of famous sites, but to actually see them in person is the experience of a lifetime. Seeing the golden Dome of the Rock, where Abraham supposedly took Isaac to be sacrificed, was such a place.
We also visited the Garden of Gethsemane. Like many a site, there was a church on or near it. The garden, however, was open and well-cared for with a small grove of amazingly old olive trees. Their trunks were huge! What was amazing was watching young branches growing out of the old twiny trunks. There was one there that Lester said dated back to the time of Christ.
Then we went to the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, where Jesus supposedly walked on his way to the crucifixion. We saw the Wailing Wall/Western Wall, a massive brick wall made of pale gold Jerusalem stone. Written prayers were stuck in cracks in the wall. I made sure to touch the wall.
The Mount of Olives was nothing like I thought it would be; it’s one huge graveyard. The entire side of the hill is crammed with graves, until it looks like the hill is covered with cement slabs.
Later that day we visited Bethlehem. At the Church of the Nativity situated in Manger Square, you get to stick your hand through a hole and touch the rock that marks the birthplace of Jesus.
The next day Lester was done with work, so we rented a car and headed south to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea that borders Egypt and Jordan, and from which you can also see Saudi Arabia. On the way there we stopped at Masada, an ancient ruin on top of a mesa-like cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. It was the site of the last Jewish stronghold against the Romans, although the Romans ultimately prevailed.
We finished our drive down to Eilat. It has a beautiful Mediterranean climate, with palm trees and balmy air. The next morning we crossed into Jordan to visit Petra, the ancient ruins made famous by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. When we got to Petra, we saw, of course, an Indiana Jones souvenir shop.
Ali, our guide, took us on an amazing hike down a slotted canyon, where the stones changed from yellowish brown to the most amazing pinks and reds and dark browns, just like the colors of Zion’s National Park. Petra was built by the Nabataeans as their capital city about 100 B.C. What was amazing was the rock-cut architecture, with little stands for idols etched into the rock. Also amazing was their water system of old sluiceways and pipes running along the base of the cliff walls parallel to the path.
The Treasury at Petra, as seen in Indiana Jones, staggered my mind. It was huge! It looked as if it had been stamped into rock from a mold. It was cut back into the rock in a place the Nabataeans knew was safe from wind erosion. The ruins included far more than the Treasury, which was actually a tomb. The ruins were massive, marble-like sandstone that had been carved into a theater, including “skyboxes” (Lester’s term); tombs, living quarters, and more.
The next day we took a tour bus from Eilat across the Sinai Peninsula to Cairo. It took about six hours. On our tour was a Canadian couple who had been on our Petra tour.
Cairo is a huge, smoggy city of 18 million people. Traffic was a nightmare, and traffic laws were mere suggestions. We met up with our guide, Mohammed.
We went to a mosque, which was the oldest in Africa. The women had to put on these kelly-green rayon/polyester robes with hoods to cover our heads. We looked like overgrown elves. Built around a courtyard, the mosque is open to the air. The carpet is patterned in these squares so that the worshippers would face in straight lines toward, I think, Mecca or Medina. Fascinating!
We also visited a Christian (Catholic?) church that was traditionally the spot where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed when fleeing King Herod’s edict to kill babies under the age of 2.
We went to a synagogue. I thought it was interesting that we had to go to a Muslim country to visit a synagogue. There are only 12,000 Jews in all of Egypt.
We also visited the Cairo Egyptian Museum and saw amazing mummies and treasures, such as King Tut’s funerary mask and coffins that fit inside each other like nesting tables. The inner coffin is solid gold and weight 100 kg.
That night we took a dinner cruise on the Nile River, complete with a belly dancer and a whirling dervish. After dinner we sat outside on the deck with Michael and Alisha. We saw a mosque, a TGI Friday’s, and a gym.
The next morning we visited the pyramids of Giza. The stone blocks were tall, about shoulder height to Lester. And they were huge, perfectly flat and joined together without cement or other kind of compound. The four of us took a camel ride around the back side of the pyramids. The camels are so high up; it’s intimidating to climb on their backs and trust that you won’t be propelled off. We took a back-jolting ride through the sand dunes, with a beautiful perspective with the city in the smog-shrouded distance and just us and the sand and the blue sky. After a twenty-minute ride in the desert, we got to see all nine pyramids lined up.
Lester kept petting the head of my camel and let one “kiss” him. Yuck.
And, then of course, we went shopping in the old part of Cairo at a bazaar. We then started our six-hour journey back to Eilat.
The next morning we waded in the Red Sea. Some day I’d like to return and go snorkeling. It’s supposed to be pretty incredible, and it was warm enough to do that in December. I really love the warm climate there!
After returning to Jerusalem, we visited the Garden Tomb. It was peaceful and amazing to think that was where Christ was resurrected.
We especially want to thank all of our friends who watched our kids and our house while we were gone. We couldn’t have done it without you!
On my first day there, I toured Jerusalem while Lester finished his meetings in Tel Aviv. Jerusalem is about 45 or 50 miles up in the hills from Tel Aviv. It’s one thing to hear or see pictures of famous sites, but to actually see them in person is the experience of a lifetime. Seeing the golden Dome of the Rock, where Abraham supposedly took Isaac to be sacrificed, was such a place.
We also visited the Garden of Gethsemane. Like many a site, there was a church on or near it. The garden, however, was open and well-cared for with a small grove of amazingly old olive trees. Their trunks were huge! What was amazing was watching young branches growing out of the old twiny trunks. There was one there that Lester said dated back to the time of Christ.
Then we went to the Via Dolorosa in the Old City, where Jesus supposedly walked on his way to the crucifixion. We saw the Wailing Wall/Western Wall, a massive brick wall made of pale gold Jerusalem stone. Written prayers were stuck in cracks in the wall. I made sure to touch the wall.
The Mount of Olives was nothing like I thought it would be; it’s one huge graveyard. The entire side of the hill is crammed with graves, until it looks like the hill is covered with cement slabs.
Later that day we visited Bethlehem. At the Church of the Nativity situated in Manger Square, you get to stick your hand through a hole and touch the rock that marks the birthplace of Jesus.
The next day Lester was done with work, so we rented a car and headed south to Eilat, an Israeli resort on the Red Sea that borders Egypt and Jordan, and from which you can also see Saudi Arabia. On the way there we stopped at Masada, an ancient ruin on top of a mesa-like cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. It was the site of the last Jewish stronghold against the Romans, although the Romans ultimately prevailed.
We also visited the Dead Sea. We saw huge crystal chunks of salt on the sea bottom. Instead of a strip of sand on the bottom, we walked on a bed of salt crystals. And no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t sink. It was like floating on an inflatable mattress without the mattress. It was very relaxing, but eventually the sulfurous smell drove us to shore.
We finished our drive down to Eilat. It has a beautiful Mediterranean climate, with palm trees and balmy air. The next morning we crossed into Jordan to visit Petra, the ancient ruins made famous by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. When we got to Petra, we saw, of course, an Indiana Jones souvenir shop.
Ali, our guide, took us on an amazing hike down a slotted canyon, where the stones changed from yellowish brown to the most amazing pinks and reds and dark browns, just like the colors of Zion’s National Park. Petra was built by the Nabataeans as their capital city about 100 B.C. What was amazing was the rock-cut architecture, with little stands for idols etched into the rock. Also amazing was their water system of old sluiceways and pipes running along the base of the cliff walls parallel to the path.
The Treasury at Petra, as seen in Indiana Jones, staggered my mind. It was huge! It looked as if it had been stamped into rock from a mold. It was cut back into the rock in a place the Nabataeans knew was safe from wind erosion. The ruins included far more than the Treasury, which was actually a tomb. The ruins were massive, marble-like sandstone that had been carved into a theater, including “skyboxes” (Lester’s term); tombs, living quarters, and more.
The next day we took a tour bus from Eilat across the Sinai Peninsula to Cairo. It took about six hours. On our tour was a Canadian couple who had been on our Petra tour.
Cairo is a huge, smoggy city of 18 million people. Traffic was a nightmare, and traffic laws were mere suggestions. We met up with our guide, Mohammed.
We went to a mosque, which was the oldest in Africa. The women had to put on these kelly-green rayon/polyester robes with hoods to cover our heads. We looked like overgrown elves. Built around a courtyard, the mosque is open to the air. The carpet is patterned in these squares so that the worshippers would face in straight lines toward, I think, Mecca or Medina. Fascinating!
We also visited a Christian (Catholic?) church that was traditionally the spot where Joseph, Mary, and Jesus stayed when fleeing King Herod’s edict to kill babies under the age of 2.
We went to a synagogue. I thought it was interesting that we had to go to a Muslim country to visit a synagogue. There are only 12,000 Jews in all of Egypt.
We also visited the Cairo Egyptian Museum and saw amazing mummies and treasures, such as King Tut’s funerary mask and coffins that fit inside each other like nesting tables. The inner coffin is solid gold and weight 100 kg.
That night we took a dinner cruise on the Nile River, complete with a belly dancer and a whirling dervish. After dinner we sat outside on the deck with Michael and Alisha. We saw a mosque, a TGI Friday’s, and a gym.
The next morning we visited the pyramids of Giza. The stone blocks were tall, about shoulder height to Lester. And they were huge, perfectly flat and joined together without cement or other kind of compound. The four of us took a camel ride around the back side of the pyramids. The camels are so high up; it’s intimidating to climb on their backs and trust that you won’t be propelled off. We took a back-jolting ride through the sand dunes, with a beautiful perspective with the city in the smog-shrouded distance and just us and the sand and the blue sky. After a twenty-minute ride in the desert, we got to see all nine pyramids lined up.
Lester kept petting the head of my camel and let one “kiss” him. Yuck.
Afterward, we went to see the Sphinx, which was smaller than we expected, but still amazing.
And, then of course, we went shopping in the old part of Cairo at a bazaar. We then started our six-hour journey back to Eilat.
The next morning we waded in the Red Sea. Some day I’d like to return and go snorkeling. It’s supposed to be pretty incredible, and it was warm enough to do that in December. I really love the warm climate there!
After returning to Jerusalem, we visited the Garden Tomb. It was peaceful and amazing to think that was where Christ was resurrected.
We drove back to Tel Aviv, turned in our car, and settled in for a 28-hour trip home. It was a long flight back (three flights, actually), but we had a wonderful time!
To see more photos of the trip, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimitfamily/.
To see more photos of the trip, go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/dimitfamily/.
We especially want to thank all of our friends who watched our kids and our house while we were gone. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
My Daughter, Junie B. Jones
For those of you who don't know who Junie B. Jones is, she's this extremely creative, free-thinking character in children's literature. My friend likened Alexis to Junie B. Jones. After much reflection I have to agree. Here's why:
- One day at Brandon's swimming class, I discovered Alexis in the lobby holding the front of the vending machine open for the guy to stock it with drinks.
- In the same day, I had to return a book to someone who wasn't home. After leaving a note, I found that Alexis had been talking to a construction worker who was doing some roadwork nearby.
- And after all that, we went to Hazeldale Elementary School for the free lunch. The THPRD rec mobile was there. Alexis took some jump ropes, hula hoops, Frisbees, and balls and set up an obstacle course for everyone. As we left, she said, "Wait just a second. I have to talk to the counselor" (ostensibly so she could explain the obstacle course to them).
- We stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in Utah during our recent vacation that has an indoor pool. Alexis wrote up an invitation inviting everyone in the hotel to a pool party from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. (the pool hours). She said we had to be there at 8:59 a.m. to make sure everything was okay.
- The kids were going swimming with Grandpa Engstrom (my dad) last week. I asked the kids to change into their swimming suits. When I went to check on them, Alexis was standing stark naked in front of the fan taking an "air shower."
Life, whatever else it may be, is not boring with my adorable Alexis.
I love you, Junie B. Jones Dimit. :-)
Friday, June 19, 2009
It Took Me 5 Years
I realized it has been awhile since Elizabeth or I have blogged. So, I thought I would do a quick blog about the long 5 year journey to re-landscape our back yard. When we bought our house in June 2004, the yard hadn't been taken care of in quite some time (since the previous owners had died 4 months earlier. Hence, it was in shambles and I didn't think I would ever resurect it. Here are some pictures of the sorry state we found our back yard.
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