Skype is the best!

If you have relatives or friends that live too far away, you should really look into Skype. It is a free program you can download from the Internet, all you need to have is a web cam and you can SEE and talk to your loved ones.

I fell in love with skype when my nephew Carson was born over 3 years ago. My brother lived in California at the time, so it was a perfect way to watch my nephew grow. It was also a way I could cement my title as "Favorite Aunt!"

I have been able to visit Carson face-to-face: here we are when I went to Cali for Cleve's graduation.

Now that Link is around, I appreciate skype even more. Link gets to see his some of his cousins that live in Oregon and Idaho.

Link's cousin Sydney is only 6 months younger. Aren't they going to love this picture when they turn 16! I love having blackmail photos!

I have to appreciate another woman who is trying to become "Favorite Aunt." We try to skype Dave's brother Barry and his wife Amy, who live in Utah, a couple times a month. Lincoln now carries a picture of them around the house like it's a teddy bear. ( I know I have a pic with them and Link, but I can't find it right now!)

You don't always have to skype family. It was hilarious to see Will and Link give each other head-buts over the computer. They just kept going back and forth, giving each other head-buts until they found cars and trains to show off. My favorite part was when they both made airplane and train noises together. I know the Young family and Shinsel family are trying hard to make these 2 boys future BYU roommates, and skype will help!


If you want to skype us, let me know. We'd love to SEE your face!

Lincoln said it...

Lincoln always cracks me up, but he has said a couple funny things lately. I totally realize that my sense of humor has changed dramatically since being a mom, so I understand if not everyone thinks he is hilarious!

I have some picture flashcards that Link loves to look/play with. He was doing so well saying what the pictures were and the sounds that go along with them, ex. car (vrooom), duck (quack), cat (meow). Then I showed him the picture of the cookie and he said, "Papaw." My dad's favorite thing to do is to give Link treats. The weekend before, he gave Link 2 WHOLE pieces of licorice while he has babysitting. So, Link knows where the yummy stuff comes from!

Dave has been teaching Link to give five's, then pound it, then headbut. Yesterday Dave was joking with my parent's dog Maggie and told her to give him five. When she did, Link said FIVE. Then, Dave continued the joke and said, "Maggie pound it." When she didn't do it, Lincoln said, "I pound it." It's just so funny when kids say things they never have before. They know a lot more than what we think!!

An "interesting" month...

February has been an "interesting" month...I'm going to try really hard not to complain, because who really wants to read a bunch of complaints? So, here are some things I have loved and not loved about this month so far.

I have not loved: forgetting to bring my fancy red clogging shoes to my recital, our car breaking down, waiting 30 minutes for the tow truck to come, Lincoln cutting multiple teeth, Lincoln with a double ear infection (I still love Lincoln just not the teething or infections), looking for a lost wallet, going to work with snow covering the roads, the movie Dave picked for date night, our HUGE gas bill, forgetting to pay rent, and sending the wrong amount for rent.

I have loved: my clogging recital, our car only costing $300 to fix, baby Motrin, antibiotics, finding a lost wallet, playing in the snow, date night with Dave, a 24 pack of Diet Coke on sale, forgiving landlords, flowers Dave gave me for our anniversary, nursery at Church, catching up with an old high-school friend, and story-time at the library.

Phew, this was good for me! I have much more on the love list than I do on the not love list. I just need to remind myself of this list for the rest of the month!

I'm never cutting it...

It took Lincoln a long time to get some hair, and now that it is here, I'm never going to cut it! I love how it is so wispy and soft. Other than the hair, there's not a whole lot of baby left, so I'm going to keep what I have.

(That's Mr. Noodle in the background)

Lincoln finds new ways to crack us up! Dave the Ninja demonstrated how to kick and say, "Waa-chaaa." He prefers to lift up his knee and say, "chaaaa." Today, he unexpectedly gave Dave a kiss, then he just kept kissing him. Dave turned to give him his cheek, but Lincoln turned his head so that he could give his daddy real kisses. Lincoln loves talking on the phone, especially with his Grandma and Papa in Oregon. He will run away with the phone up to his ear, so that we can't take it away from him.

I'm so excited about my first clogging performance tomorrow. There is a fundraiser for the school, and all the classes get to show off a little of what they have learned so far. Rachel and I are the only adults that aren't scared or embarrassed to get in front of people. We gladly volunteered to be in the front row: I guess I just don't have any shame, now that I am closer to 30 than I am to 20 (yikes!).

Dave is still part of the family, even though we don't see him a ton. He has had a lot come up with school, but should be searching for jobs pretty soon. He finally got to use his Christmas present, a wood lathe. He made a shaving brush in about 5 minutes, where it used to take a day to do it by hand. I'm looking forward to learning how to use it too. I have lots of "girly" things in mind I can make (bowls, bracelets, napkin holders, etc...). If you have any ideas or requests, let me know!

One of my favorite Holidays

Happy Groundhog day everyone! This is one of my favorite holidays because of this...


It is crazy how fast these four years have gone, but I feel like I have been with Dave forever (in a good way)! Sorry, I have to get a little cheesy...some people say we are so different and that we don't have much in common, but the most important thing we have in common is our unconditional love for each other. I'm thrilled to have all of eternity with Mr. David Shinsel!