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. :-)

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.

Well, after many years, lots of trial and error, hard work by the whole family, we have transformed our back yard into something we actually want to look at and spend time in.

I just love before and after pictures ;-)

A Trip to the Tulip Field and Down Memory Lane

This is Lester blogging today. It has been awhile since we have blogged, so I thought I would do a short blog about our trip to the Tulip Festival in Woodburn.

Dimit Family 2009

It is a family tradition to go to the Tulip Festival each year, and each year it gets bigger and better. Although it was cold and cloudy today, we didn't get rained on. The tulips are in full bloom and were spectacular. The kids got to take a ride on an old steam powered tractor, which was the highlight of their visit. I was able to shoot dozens of pictures of Elizabeth, the kids, and the beautiful flowers. My favorite part of the visit each year is taking the kids' picture in the wooden shoe. I take their picture every year in the wooden shoe and it brings back a lot of great memories each year as I see them grow up.

Below are the wooden shoe pictures for this year. As an added bonus, I have also included a picture of the 1st year Alexis and Brandon came to the Tulip Festival (they were about 4 months old).

Alexis 2002 (4 months old)

Alexis 2009 (7 yrs old)

Brandon 2005 (4 months old)

Brandon 2009 (4 yrs old)

How Do I Love Thee...Let Me Count the 40 Ways

Yes, that's right...my man is turning 40 tomorrow! Since 40 is such a LARGE number, I won't list 40 reasons that I adore my husband, but I'll do the top 10.

10- He's the son of a plumber. If there's a leak or a clog anywhere in this house, I can rely on him to fix it!

9-His financial conservatism. In an economic downturn, I'm so grateful that we have money saved, no unnecessary debt, and a man who knows how spend our money wisely.

8- How hard he works. Whether it's on the job or around the house, he gets the job done.

7- His thoughtfulness. He rarely asks me what I want for gifts...he just "observes," as he puts it, and gets me the things that I really want or need: a kitty, an iPod, framing the first (and only) article I ever published, a down comforter to keep me warm. (Just don't mention the piano).

6- He is a loving son and brother. He is always calling on his parents' birthdays and on other holidays and praying for them.

5- I can depend on him. When I was so sick, he was father, mother, husband, nurse, chauffeur, employee, and everything in between.

4- He's a splendid father. He takes the kids on special "trips" like the circus, fishing, and the Children's Museum. He also knows how to make them laugh, and I love their little jokes.

3- He's funny and makes me laugh. For instance, he knows my aversions to snakes, mint, and Tabasco sauce and uses every opportunity to tease me (in a loving way).

2- His faithfulness. Ever since I've known him, he does his home teaching and fulfilled every calling he's ever received. The quiet, faithful acts he does day after day are a consistent example of Christlike service.

1- He loves me for me. Whether I am up or down or a little whacked out, he is the consistent rock in my life.

I love you, honey, and am so grateful to know that you will be mine forever!

Happy Birthday, sweetie.

My Son is Nick Arrojo

For those of you who don't know, Nick Arrojo is the stylist on TLC's What Not to Wear. This morning, I was laying in bed like a slug (as I usually do on Sunday mornings), when Brandon crawls onto the bed armed with a comb or two and the announcement: "I'm going to comb your hair to make you/it beautiful."

He actually did a good job...no hair pulling or anything! It also brought back fond memories of when I would lay on my mom's bed and play with her hair.

Then, I took a bubble bath this morning, and Brandon kept smooshing bubbles on his hair and asking me to smell his hair. He also put mousse in his hair and asked me to smell that, too.

Being a stylist may not be my first occupational choice for my son, but hey, Nick charges $500 a haircut. As long as he doesn't compromise his manhood, I'm okay with it.

Although later today he took my temperature, gave me a shot, took my blood pressure, and listened to my heart with Alexis' doctor set. He has said on more than one occasion that he would like to be a doctor. Hmm, maybe that's my preferred career choice for him, after all.

Okay, Maybe I'm Feeling Better Now

I hate to whine, I really do, but I need to vent. I've been sick for two weeks now with an endless stream of maladies, including strep, a bronchial infection, etc. After two trips to urgent care, a trip to my regular doctor, two visits to an ear, nose, and throat specialist, and a trip to the ER to be re-hydrated, I am finally on the mend.

Unfortunately, I am not allowed to hug or kiss my children for the next four-and-a-half days to make sure that I don't infect them. It's amazing how much I miss their little love and affection. So be sure to give extra loves to your babies tonight.

However, I am so grateful to my most divine visiting teachers for their dinners and ceaseless babysitting vigils. I'm also grateful to my parents for helping me out so I could have someone come and keep the house from falling down around our ears.

I'm also grateful to my fabulous hubby who has been playing nurse, babysitter, maid, and chauffeur. Bless that boy.

My only goal now is to get well enough to post Halloween pictures before Christmas. :-)

Thanks for listening.

The upside of being sick

Okay, you must think we have spent the past six weeks standing wistfully on the porch watching the Masons drive on to a new life in New Mexico. Well, we have felt sad and do miss them, but as you can tell, they are well and happy and enjoying that which we Oregonians have very little of this time of year...sunshine.

(Although, I admit it was so nice to hear a diesel engine roaring at the back of the neighborhood this past week and realize that could be Mitch's truck since he was in town for a training meeting. It was also nice to have him borrow cleaning supplies and for he and Lester to go see Quantum of the Menace, or Solace of the Quantam or whatever the new James Bond movie is called.)

But when we finally pried ourselves from the porch, we enjoyed the most excellent October weather EVER, including Halloween. Pictures on that later, probably around Christmas time, hee, hee.

But lately, we have been sick. Not just sick, but super sick. The kids with strep and myself with strep and a bronchial infection. I will not describe the gory details, but seriously, there is a certain level of sickenss one sort of enjoys, you know, the kind that you can curl up on the couch in your plaid pajama bottoms and an old sweatshirt and sip hot soup and watch old romantic comedies. I was not at that level. But I am feeling better enough to tell you the positives from this experience:

1- My husband. It was the beginning of his weeklong Thanksgiving vacation. I'm sure he wished it wasn't. But he cheerfully did laundry and dishes, straightened the house, fed and cared for the kids, made beds, took us the doctor multiple times, became best friends with the Rite-Aid pharmacist, soothed my fevered brow, and otherwise rocked. You can't pay for loving service like that.

2- Alexis falling asleep under the piano and muttering in her sleep, "Go, Ducks, go." I think she was referring to the food drive at school between Ducks fans and Beavers fans. This, from the daughter of Cougar fans? Still, in the case of hunger, we can all be winners.

3- I lost EIGHT pounds in FIVE days. I know when I inhale Thanksgiving dinner, however, all those pounds will return....each bringing a friend, I am sure. Sigh.

4- Darilyn who called to see if I was going to our ward's monthly potluck for mothers with noisy kids. When she discovered I was sick, she asked if I need anything. I asked if she could pick up some OJ. She cheerfully arrived with two huge things of FRESHLY SQUEEZED ORANGE JUICE. She even wouldn't let me pay her back. Darilyn, you rock!

4- Visiting teachers who have already over-served me. But, at one pathetic phone call from me, delicious dinners arrived at our doorstep last night and tonight, with HOMEMADE BREAD. Bless you, Sarah and Diana.

5- Two worthy priesthood brothers coming last night to give blessings to our entire family. When they entered and during my blessing I could feel the Spirit so strongly. Thank you, Julie and Brenda, for lending your wonderful husbands to us on a Monday! I am sooo thankful for my membership in the Lord's true church.

6- Finally, I am thankful I am feeling well enough to feel thankful that I am getting better, if that makes any sense.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my dear friends and their families!