Sadness

Last night, Brian and I were grieving a loss. On occasion, we like to take the trip into quaint, downtown Tomball for a cup of Blizzard-y goodness. Upon arriving into Tomball last night, we were questioning whether or not we accidentally passed our stop. We kept driving, because I hadn't seen that German sounding street sign. Then we saw it...

THEY SHUT DOWN THE DAIRY QUEEN!!!!!

Our beloved DQ has been put up for rent. We had to settle for Sonic Blasts, but they just weren't the same. Not enough chunks of candy junk. Brian's Snicker's Blast tasted like maple syrup (::shudder::).

Now, the nearest DQ goodness is in Conroe. BOOOO.

Tomball Dairy Queen, may you rest in peace. You were a good Dairy Queen; a bit slow (ok a LOT slow), but still a good Dairy Queen. If you decide to awaken in Tomball, please, let us know!

'Boardin'

There's one thing I definitely believe in: you must go through life with a sense of humor. That said, you MUST watch the video from the link below. I laugh just thinking about it.

Sound is required (note that there is some foul language, but it's only one word). You won't regret it.

http://www.todaysbigfail.com/view/20080703

They See Me Rollin'...

..."They hatin'"...

Ok, enough offensive rap songs; this is a family environment. We have a little log roller. Kaylynn has discovered a new mode of transportation. You will all be happy to know that it has low emissions, great gas mileage, and is very easy to clean.

So, uh, I guess I'm spending my weekend getting everything away and making sure the floor area is "Kaylynn Friendly". That'll be interesting, considering that Gus leaves his ball where ever he pleases (balls, hearts, rings, ropes -whatever - in Gus's world, they are all balls.) That and dog hair is a HUGE pain. I, also, need to combine blankets to make one long pallet, or get out the larger quilt.

Did you catch the part in the video where she pushes up really far? She'll be crawling before we know it. That is fine with me, because I can start buying those cute "baby legs" things. Remember the leg warmers picture?

On the other hand, it means my baby is growing up and I frankly don't care for that. :)

Oh, and the quality of this video is cruddy because we didn't have much light on in the living room. We think we need to get higher wattage bulbs.

Finally, Proof

Proof that I had something to do with her coming into this world. Her lips and chin are Brian's, but the nose and eyes...she gets that from me.

I think it is fair to say that Kaylynn looks exactly like Kaylynn and not exactly like anyone else. Not just like me, not just like Brian, not just like any grandparent, or aunt, or uncle, or friend...just like Kaylynn.

And I think she's pretty darn perfect that way. :)

(ps, I was a pretty cute little kid...if I say so myself...)

Random...

Homemade clothes. (diaper cover included!)

Practicing our "sitting up like a big girl." She was tired, she's usually a lot more upright than this.

An interesting part of Brian's Income Tax Class. If they have to include an "Income Tax Map", then I think he's going to do just fine in this class.

The contents of our bathroom in the backyard.

Brian being handy...despite all the ridicule he receives.

Lastly, a video.

Sleepy-head

"Mommy and Daddy's bed is the best place to take a nap. I can't wait until this summer when I can snuggle with Mommy in the mornings." - Kaylynn

"Though Grandma Frink is pretty comfy too." - Kaylynn

"But nothing beats the comfort of my own bed." - Kaylynn

This is how we find her most mornings.

Five Years

I hate getting this question:

"Where do you see yourself in five years?"

My answer is always: "Hopefully alive."

Five years seems like such a long time out. But it's really not. I was reminded the other day just how short five years really is. I was sitting on the bus (imagine that, I was sitting on the bus doing some thinking), listening to my iPod when a song came on. It was a song that I had first heard abroad five years earlier when London first began flirting with me.

:: Flashback ::

I had just finished my workout at the YMCA at Barbican. It was my routine. I'd get up "early" to exercise (6:30 AM - that was early since the workday didn't start until 9:30. It gave me enough time to workout, shower, and still get to work on time. Oh how I miss those seven hour days). Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays was weightlifting at the YMCA. Barbican was only a few stops away on the Metropolitan or Circle lines from our flat at Aldgate. Tuesdays and Thursdays were my running days. It was a treat getting run down along the Thames, passing the Tower of London, St. Paul's, and finally reaching London Bridge before turning around and heading back.

The weightlifting days were always my favorite. It generally wasn't crowded, but there was a gym rat that always argued with one of the YMCA employees about who was better - Arsenal or Chelsea. I, of course, kept my mouth shut because I was a Man U fan. But whenever Arsenal and Chelsea played, the stakes were high. The workday after the game, the fan of the losing team had to wear the other team's jersey. Classic humiliation.

Anyway, back to the story. I just got on the Circle Line train to get to work. It was quite a long ride - nine stops to get to Temple. I was at the front of the train because it was less crowded. I almost always got a seat. I was sitting there listening to my old school discman trying not to fall asleep (I almost always fell asleep. Like I said, I got up early. It was just a wonder that I managed to wake up in time to get off at my stop).

The beginning of the song didn't help me stay awake. In fact, it pushed me closer to a state of unconsciousness (with my mouth open and the drool dripping down my shirt...). But after listening to the first few lines of the song, I perked up because I realized this song could be applicable to my life.

And it instantaneously became one of "those" songs. It was one of those songs that I started over even before it had ended because I didn't really listen to the words. I had heard the words, but I hadn't listened to them. With these songs I feel it is imperative to listen to the words before moving on to the next song. That really just means that I listen to part of the song over and over and over and over and over until I reach my destination. Yep, it was one of those songs. And it became my favorite song.

:: Back to the now ::

Five years. Hard to believe. Would I have guessed that I would have gone back to the city I fell in love with and moved back to Houston? No. Would I have guessed that we would visit 28 countries during that time? No. Would I have guessed that I would have been married. Well, yeah. That was a given (assuming a certain special someone gave the right answer). Would I have guessed that I'd have made it through the largest hurricane on record relatively unscathed? Not really. I mean, a hurricane, yes. A huge hurricane, no. And would I have guessed I would have a kid? No. Hell, I'm still a kid. But I digress.

So here's what I got to thinking. With everything that I have done in the past five years, where will I be after the next five? Who knows, but I have a feeling my threadbare gypsy soul will have something to do with it.

5 Months!

Dear Sweet Girl Kaylynn,

My goodness, you are 5 months old - such a big girl! Your daddy and I have really gotten to see just how fast you are growing and how smart you are.

The most exciting news is that you are no longer wrapped in your straight jacket at night. One Friday, I decided to get a little crazy and laid you down without wrapping you up (I was crazy because you could have very easily kept us up all night.) You fell asleep in about 5 minutes, without crying at all. You woke up a few times, but never cried and would just go right back to sleep. You haven't been wrapped up since.

Not being wrapped up means you can move all around the bed. We put you down, going long ways at the top of the bed and by morning you are turned sideways in the bed...and at the other end. I kind of wish we had a video camera on you so we could actually see how you do it. Sneaky girl. :)You are so very close to sitting up by yourself. Sometimes you can sit for a few seconds before going sideways or forwards. That said, your ab muscles have been getting a workout, as you try so hard to life yourself back up.

You still have no desire to be on your belly. We give you tummy time, showing you how to rollover, but you just don't care to do it. However, if we put you on your back, you will roll on to your side, so close to flipping over to your belly.

Blowing raspberries is your favorite pastime...that or chewing on Mr. Elephant's nose. I think you like chewing, because you have a little tooth just waiting to pop through. I just know I saw a white spot on your bottom gum, and Abby said to expect that before a tooth is to pop up. We'll see what happens.

You have been laughing for a while, but they are starting to sound like "real people" laughs...like they are coming from deep down in your belly. Daddy was jumping out from behind the wall the other day (while you were swinging...yet another favorite of yours) and at first you'd jump, but then you started laughing. It makes us laugh to hear your laugh.

And the latest news is...you've officially started eating rice cereal. I think we'll just let the pictures and videos below speak. It's hilarious to watch you! I just want to scoop you up and give you the biggest hugs!

We're onto month 6 now, sweet girl. Mummy and Daddy have to start "baby proofing" as you'll be mobile before we know it.

Love,Your Mum(yes, you can call me Mum, like the English...hehe)

(seriously, how many times did your Daddy say, "Mommy, I don't like it." :)

Her eyes are so blue!!!

Diaper Conundrum

Well, I'm stuck. Don't know what to do. We've loved using our NatureBabyCare diapers (made in Sweden...I do love Scandinavia!) since she was old enough to fit in them. The size 1's fit her perfectly! They were nice and wide. All of a sudden, when you buy size 2's, they get skinnier and taller. I can see why they get taller, but not skinnier. Isn't your little one supposed to get that cute baby fat as they get older?

Problem #1: Because they are skinnier, there isn't very much of that flap of diaper that the fasteners are attached to, so nothing covers her legs and the straps dig into her legs.

Problem #2: I don't know what kind of diapers to use instead. Seriously, we were really happy to find these diapers. They were affordable, they didn't have the gel absorbent junk that all the others have, they were made out of mostly biodegradable materials, and they were cute (no cartoon characters, just cute little leaves).

So, what I'm looking for is this:

1. A remotely eco-friendly diaper (yes, I know cloth would be better on the landfills, but until June 9th, that's not really an option for me, seeing as she's in daycare).
2. A diaper that does not have the gel in it.
3. A diaper that is made up of mostly biodegradable materials
4. A diaper I can actually buy in the United States (there are others, but they are European and I can't afford to pay $30 for 40 diapers)

And before you tell me, yes, I have heard of the new Huggies ones, but their wording annoys me. I don't think they are eco-friendly at all, their press release just sounds shady to me, but I'm not going there. At least it's a step in the right direction.

Help me!!!



(yes, I realize that I probably have umpteen jillion punctuation errors in this post, but I'm tired, I've had a productive day, and I'm beyond caring right now. A horrible LA teacher, indeed.)

A Pretty Nice Little Saturday

No, I didn't visit the Home Depot (yet) or Bed Bath and Beyond, but it's looking like a pretty nice little Saturday in the house of vonFrinkenhagen.

Kaylynn has a clean bathroom and organized dresser drawers (I put away all the winter and 0-3 month clothes). She's wearing a cute little green dress and is having the time of her life playing with her blue elephant friend. She's also my little baking buddy, as we have blueberry muffins in the oven as we speak.

Here's some updated photoes of my teenie weenie greenie!)

One Down...

Ok, let’s face it. It was an empty threat. Was I really going to stop posting? No. I just wanted to emphasize that I do take your suggestions into account and enjoy hearing from you. Nothing a little guilt couldn’t accomplish.

Anyway, final numero uno is complete. How do I feel? See the video below.



Everything was going fine until I flipped the page and read the first essay question.

“O conveys Whiteacre to A and his heirs, but if all of A’s children graduate from high school, to A’s firstborn child for life, then to A’s firstborn child’s children, but if A’s firstborn child’s children stop using the land as a farm, to O’s heirs. Assume A has no children.”

While I had studied the possessory estate and future interest stuff, I had never seen anything like this and was vastly unprepared. The only thing that kept going through my head was a quote from Mallrats: “What the hell was that? What is going on here?” In addition to that thought, I had to continuously hold back the urge to puke at the thought of trying to figure this crap out. (Any lawyers out there able to sort this out? Ultimately I came to the conclusion that A got fee simple because the other conveyances were void due to the rule against perpetuities.)

So while I’m glad that the final is over, I’m feeling pretty sore from the shot to the groin that I just took. But fortunately for me, this was a good trial run since I get to do it three more times next week. Woohoo!!!