WARNING: Some content may be inappropriate for some audiences. View discretion is advised.
I just got done mowing/trimming the lawn and wanted to make sure I posted this extremely important handyman tip. For anyone out there that is, or may be, looking to purchase a new trimmer, let me make a suggestion about the Ryobi SS30 straight-shaft trimmer.
I, Brian von Frinkenhagen, certify that it is a piece of shit. Do not buy it. Do not consider buying it. Don't even look at it. You will be disappointed (unless you enjoy purchasing pieces of shit).
Now, if anyone made the same mistake I did, I do know how to fix it. Move to the backyard where no one can see you making a scene. Make sure the piece of shit is off and then take said piece of shit and kick it. When you kick it, make sure you kick it in the middle of the shaft. That way you are kicking something that isn't very solid. Given the weight on both sides of the trimmer, the shaft will flex. It won't hurt.
After you've kicked the piece of shit, pick it up, examine it, and then throw it as high and as far as you possibly can. When it lands, give a little chuckle, run over to it, and kick it again. Then turn the piece of shit over, make sure it has gas, and turn it on.
Voila. You have just extended the life of your piece of shit trimmer. You're welcome.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
My New Dress!
Finally, I was successful in creating a dress that actually fit Kaylynn. I am pretty proud of myself and think she looks so cute!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
A Day in the Life
Here is a quite lengthy video that depicts what the first 30 minutes after Brian gets home is like. It is Brian asking Kaylynn (non-stop) if she can say "Daddy." I decided to confuse her royally, by asking if she could say "Gus." I watch it and laugh. You might get bored. :)
The second video is Kaylynn showing off her tricks. "High 5" is a new one. Her grandma's must have had ESP or something because they both have been working on it with her, but neither one knew it. She and I had a grand time at HEB yesterday high-5-ing throughout the store. She would just laugh and laugh and laugh. So fun!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
The Joy of Animals
Tonight I asked Kaylynn if she could say "Gus." Her response was, "sssss." She's getting sounds - so smart! I haven't heard her make the "g" sound yet, so that's still coming. Actually, a fellow teacher told me there was a book or something that had all the research about language and sound acquisition in babies/children. I'd be interested to see what the order of sounds is. That's off topic.
My point in telling you how Kaylynn says Gus, is that she LOVES him! Zoe too, but that's really hard to say. If he noses her or sits close enough where she can grab his tail, she starts laughing and squealing! We're going to have to work on being nice and gentle, because she will grab his eye. She had a hold of his mouth, you know that floppy part, his lips maybe? Very funny. And then she had a bath, because, well, that's gross. Here are 3 badly taken photos of her playing with Sweet Boy tonight (if we ever have a son, I'm going to have to come up with something else for Gus...)
Ah, Zoe. Sweet kitty, Zoe. How she wanted to get that lizard...chameleon, whatev.
My point in telling you how Kaylynn says Gus, is that she LOVES him! Zoe too, but that's really hard to say. If he noses her or sits close enough where she can grab his tail, she starts laughing and squealing! We're going to have to work on being nice and gentle, because she will grab his eye. She had a hold of his mouth, you know that floppy part, his lips maybe? Very funny. And then she had a bath, because, well, that's gross. Here are 3 badly taken photos of her playing with Sweet Boy tonight (if we ever have a son, I'm going to have to come up with something else for Gus...)
Ah, Zoe. Sweet kitty, Zoe. How she wanted to get that lizard...chameleon, whatev.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Almost Forgot...
I'm sure many of you know that Beaverton, Oregon is the home of Nike. I'm also sure many of you know about Brian's not-so-secret obsession with all things Nike (and blue for that matter.) What you don't know is that Kyle & Jessi live just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Beaverton (like 6 miles close.)
We visited a Nike outlet while in Oregon so Brian could get some new golf shoes to wear on his Father's Day/Birthday golf outing with Kyle at Camas Meadows Golf Club. Check out the views of this course. I'm told it was hard and that Brian lost his Mojo many times on this course. :)
The outlet had good prices, so we just couldn't pass up getting Kaylynn her very first pair of Nike tennis shoes (or real tennis shoes for that matter...) They are silver and red and so very cute! She won't be able to wear them until she's over a year old (and walking everywhere), but that's ok. We don't really wear shoes right now anyways. :)
We visited a Nike outlet while in Oregon so Brian could get some new golf shoes to wear on his Father's Day/Birthday golf outing with Kyle at Camas Meadows Golf Club. Check out the views of this course. I'm told it was hard and that Brian lost his Mojo many times on this course. :)
The outlet had good prices, so we just couldn't pass up getting Kaylynn her very first pair of Nike tennis shoes (or real tennis shoes for that matter...) They are silver and red and so very cute! She won't be able to wear them until she's over a year old (and walking everywhere), but that's ok. We don't really wear shoes right now anyways. :)
Thursday, August 13, 2009
8 Months!
Dearest Sweet Girl,
You have now hit 8 months old. I can't get my head around that fact. I remember reading other people's blogs seeing what their 8 month old looked like, and I still see you as my teeny baby girl (well, you are still our teeny baby girl.)
This has been a very exciting month for you. It's like everything is clicking all at once. Your new tricks include:
1. The double hand wave. I call this one the "Lane Frost". If anyone out there has seen 8 Seconds, then they know what I'm talking about. When we ask you if you can wave, you will wave at us. If we say "bye-bye", you will wave. If we say "hello", you will wave. If you see Zoe walking by, you will squeal, then wave. SO cute!
2. Clapping. I think I mentioned it earlier, but you are a huge fan of clapping. I think because I'd always clap when you were getting fussy (which rarely happens), you picked up on clapping very quick. Usually you clap when you are happy or when we say "yay!"
3. My absolute favorite - kisses! I love that you now give me (and sometimes daddy) the sweetest kisses! Your kiss is an open mouth on the cheek, then a lick. It might be why you and I are sharing a snotty nose right now, but I don't care - I love it!
4. Kiss the baby. Since you've learned how to give kisses, we can show you a mirror and tell you to "kiss the baby" and you will lean in and open your mouth on the mirror. This is something that I did when I was a baby and your Grams took a cute picture of me doing it. When you started picking up on things, I knew we had to teach you to do that too!
5. Sounds that sound like actual words. When Uncle Mike & Aunt Donna were going out for the night a few weekends ago, they were waving and we were all saying bye and you waved and said "bye-bye". I like to think that you were actually saying bye-bye, even though it was probably coincidence. Also, you were sitting with your Daddy in Oregon and said "Dad-ee." Whether you were associating it to him or not, we don't know, but all I know is that we both heard it and your Daddy has been trying to get you to repeat it every since! You've also been saying sounds that sound like "mama". Like I said, you may not associate it, but we love it.
6. Copy-cat. You try to mimic anything you can. Blowing raspberries back and forth, making the mmm sound. We have fun when you are in the high chair, making the mmm sound. You shrug your shoulders at the same time.
7. Crossing your legs. Your favorite way of sitting now consists of crossing your legs at the ankles. It's so cute and prissy!
You have now hit 8 months old. I can't get my head around that fact. I remember reading other people's blogs seeing what their 8 month old looked like, and I still see you as my teeny baby girl (well, you are still our teeny baby girl.)
This has been a very exciting month for you. It's like everything is clicking all at once. Your new tricks include:
1. The double hand wave. I call this one the "Lane Frost". If anyone out there has seen 8 Seconds, then they know what I'm talking about. When we ask you if you can wave, you will wave at us. If we say "bye-bye", you will wave. If we say "hello", you will wave. If you see Zoe walking by, you will squeal, then wave. SO cute!
2. Clapping. I think I mentioned it earlier, but you are a huge fan of clapping. I think because I'd always clap when you were getting fussy (which rarely happens), you picked up on clapping very quick. Usually you clap when you are happy or when we say "yay!"
3. My absolute favorite - kisses! I love that you now give me (and sometimes daddy) the sweetest kisses! Your kiss is an open mouth on the cheek, then a lick. It might be why you and I are sharing a snotty nose right now, but I don't care - I love it!
4. Kiss the baby. Since you've learned how to give kisses, we can show you a mirror and tell you to "kiss the baby" and you will lean in and open your mouth on the mirror. This is something that I did when I was a baby and your Grams took a cute picture of me doing it. When you started picking up on things, I knew we had to teach you to do that too!
5. Sounds that sound like actual words. When Uncle Mike & Aunt Donna were going out for the night a few weekends ago, they were waving and we were all saying bye and you waved and said "bye-bye". I like to think that you were actually saying bye-bye, even though it was probably coincidence. Also, you were sitting with your Daddy in Oregon and said "Dad-ee." Whether you were associating it to him or not, we don't know, but all I know is that we both heard it and your Daddy has been trying to get you to repeat it every since! You've also been saying sounds that sound like "mama". Like I said, you may not associate it, but we love it.
6. Copy-cat. You try to mimic anything you can. Blowing raspberries back and forth, making the mmm sound. We have fun when you are in the high chair, making the mmm sound. You shrug your shoulders at the same time.
7. Crossing your legs. Your favorite way of sitting now consists of crossing your legs at the ankles. It's so cute and prissy!
8. Playing! You play so well. You are very precise in what you do. Like picking things up, moving those wooden pegs on the toy above. I think it has become your new favorite toy.
9. Teeth! Your first little tooth has poked through and his neighbor is almost out (both bottom teeth.) You coped with the first one swimmingly - the second - not as much, but still not the terrible, horror stories that I've heard so many others tell. I've only had to give you tylenol once. I ordered one of those amber necklaces for you to wear, since "they say" that the oils help. It might just be hippy voodoo stuff, but its cute and worth a shot. It's funny to watch your faces as your play with your tooth with your tongue, it's like "what's that in there?!"
So many things. I'm afraid that any day you will learn how to crawl and it scares me. I'm not near prepared for this, even though I've been talking about getting ready for it all summer. It will be a lifestyle change for your daddy and I, because we can't be so messy.
I've enjoyed having the summer off playing with you and I'm sad that it is back to work on Monday. We will have to make the most of our weekends together!
We love you so much! Never, ever forget that, sweet girl!
Love,
Mommy
Our Frink Family Vacation
Aug. 4th, the Frinks took off to Portland, Oregon for a few days to visit some of our favorite people, Kyle & Jessi. We got to meet their new main squeeze, Carter (more affectionately known as CTP.) We always have a great time with the Podds and question why we aren't living up in the green city. Seriously, trees - everything is green! And the icing on the cake? We enjoyed temperatures of no higher than 75 degrees the entire time!!
Here is Carter! I know that I took more pictures of him, but apparently I didn't. :( He was enjoying a nap at the Chinese Gardens.
Kaylynn hanging out in a courtyard at the Chinese Gardens.
Very excited about being there.
Her onesie says "Naturally Curious." That she is. She had a great time feeling the rocks of the floor.
Case in point. "Oooh, a leaf!"
Kaylynn is practicing her Kung Fu on Daddy. He looks thrilled!
Kaylynn - "Mommy, no more pictures, ok? I want to go see the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I heard you get free samples."
Here is Carter! I know that I took more pictures of him, but apparently I didn't. :( He was enjoying a nap at the Chinese Gardens.
Kaylynn hanging out in a courtyard at the Chinese Gardens.
Very excited about being there.
Her onesie says "Naturally Curious." That she is. She had a great time feeling the rocks of the floor.
Case in point. "Oooh, a leaf!"
Kaylynn is practicing her Kung Fu on Daddy. He looks thrilled!
Kaylynn - "Mommy, no more pictures, ok? I want to go see the Tillamook Cheese Factory. I heard you get free samples."Mommy - "We sure do, Kaylynn, except you can't have that yet!"
MOOOOOOO
Her latest trick. Kissing the baby!!!
Kaylynn has a new face.
Funny story. So when Brian and I got back from our trip, we opened up the fridge and found a package of Tillamook cheese. We were confused, because we were just opening the fridge to put our purchased cheese in. Apparently you can buy Tillamook down here! Who knew?!
So outside Blue Heron Cheese & Wine there were tractors and an old London bus.
MOOOOOOO
Her latest trick. Kissing the baby!!!
Kaylynn has a new face.
Funny story. So when Brian and I got back from our trip, we opened up the fridge and found a package of Tillamook cheese. We were confused, because we were just opening the fridge to put our purchased cheese in. Apparently you can buy Tillamook down here! Who knew?!
So outside Blue Heron Cheese & Wine there were tractors and an old London bus.
The Podds have some more fun pictures on their camera. Jessi and I continued our tradition of getting our picture taken sitting/riding on things. Last year it was the swine at Pike Place Market in Seattle. This year, it was a rusty old tractor at Blue Heron.
We were sad to leave on Monday, especially since it meant back to the real world. Thanks for an awesome time guys! We miss you already!
Kaylynn's Baptism Weekend
Lots of pictures, not a lot of words. You'll like this post.
Kaylynn with her Great-Honey & PawPaw
GiGi and all her "grands".
Kaylynn with her "grands" & Dr. H.
So, funny story. We're waiting for the next picture and we look down to see that Kaylynn spit up. Neat. Dr. H. just laughed.
Dr. H and Kaylynn's godparents. Jenno the godmother and Eric The godfather. Chances are you know them, but I really just wanted to call Eric, The godfather.
We really need to work on Kaylynn's sharing skills. You can see her reaching for Anthony's toys in both pictures.
Having fun with Daddy.
Kaylynn with her Great-Honey & PawPaw
GiGi and all her "grands". 
Kaylynn with her "grands" & Dr. H.
So, funny story. We're waiting for the next picture and we look down to see that Kaylynn spit up. Neat. Dr. H. just laughed. 
Dr. H and Kaylynn's godparents. Jenno the godmother and Eric The godfather. Chances are you know them, but I really just wanted to call Eric, The godfather. 
We really need to work on Kaylynn's sharing skills. You can see her reaching for Anthony's toys in both pictures. 
Having fun with Daddy.
Lost Mojo
In true Brian fashion, I managed to embarrass myself in the simplest of situations. This is my story.
We were on vacation in Portland (Oregon) to visit some great friends, to meet their new little one, and to introduce our own sweet little girl. While in Portland, I was going to get the chance to play a round of golf for the first time in over a year. Don't ask how it went.
Anyway, I was in the market for some new golf shoes. The ones I had were worn out and had seen better days. Jessi dropped me off at the local Dick's Sporting Goods so I could have a look at what they were offering. Sadly, they did not have many golf shoes. The ones they did have were not in my size.
Initially, I thought the trip was a waste. But then I saw the golf ball section. Dicks was selling a 24 pack of Nike Mojo golf balls for $20. Now, if you know my golf game, you know I lose a lot of balls. As such, I need to be economical when it comes to purchasing golf balls. And paying less than a dollar per golf ball is a great deal. Plus, if I got them, I could say "Oh no! I lost my Mojo" everytime I lost one of them.
I bought two boxes (48 balls). And yes, I got to say that I lost my Mojo several times during the round.
Anyway, when I went to check out, the cashier asked if I had a rewards card. I said no. She then asked if I wanted to get one. Without thinking about what I was about to say, I said "No thanks. There are no Dicks in Texas".
Smooth, huh? I thought about explaining that I meant that there were no Dicks Sporting Goods stores in Texas, but I declined. It was time for damage control and that called for me to shut my mouth, buy my Mojo, and get the hell out of there.
Just another example of Brian being Brian.
We were on vacation in Portland (Oregon) to visit some great friends, to meet their new little one, and to introduce our own sweet little girl. While in Portland, I was going to get the chance to play a round of golf for the first time in over a year. Don't ask how it went.
Anyway, I was in the market for some new golf shoes. The ones I had were worn out and had seen better days. Jessi dropped me off at the local Dick's Sporting Goods so I could have a look at what they were offering. Sadly, they did not have many golf shoes. The ones they did have were not in my size.
Initially, I thought the trip was a waste. But then I saw the golf ball section. Dicks was selling a 24 pack of Nike Mojo golf balls for $20. Now, if you know my golf game, you know I lose a lot of balls. As such, I need to be economical when it comes to purchasing golf balls. And paying less than a dollar per golf ball is a great deal. Plus, if I got them, I could say "Oh no! I lost my Mojo" everytime I lost one of them.
I bought two boxes (48 balls). And yes, I got to say that I lost my Mojo several times during the round.
Anyway, when I went to check out, the cashier asked if I had a rewards card. I said no. She then asked if I wanted to get one. Without thinking about what I was about to say, I said "No thanks. There are no Dicks in Texas".
Smooth, huh? I thought about explaining that I meant that there were no Dicks Sporting Goods stores in Texas, but I declined. It was time for damage control and that called for me to shut my mouth, buy my Mojo, and get the hell out of there.
Just another example of Brian being Brian.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Updates
Lots of updates to come. We got back from our first official Frink Family Vacation tonight. I've got pictures from that, and pictures from Kaylynn's Baptism /visit with Anthony a few weeks back.
Also, today is sweet girl's 8 month birthday! I'll have her "latest and greatest" soon. She's up to all kinds of new tricks and I think we'll have a very big trick right around the corner!
But for now, it is time for bed. I have a classroom to get back in order this week.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Caught!
Kaylynn rolled her way over to the laptop. She is so excited to go to Portland on Tuesday - she was trying to print an email from Jessi to prepare. She did something and the print screen opened. All she had to do was hit enter. Actually, I better go check the printer, she might have!
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