A lot of "Firsts"

Lincoln turned 21 months the past week, and he has experienced a lot of "firsts."

*He went to his first play. Four of my nephews were in "Princess and the Pea," and they put on a great performance. Lincoln actually enjoyed it: we only missed 5 minutes because Link just had to climb the stairs at the theater.

*Lincoln has enjoyed ice-cream before, but last week he got his own ice-cream cone. Why are little kids so cute when they have food all over their face? It never looks good on me! He felt like such a big boy holding his own cone. He did so well the first time, that he got another one the next night!

*The best "first" was going to the beach for the Shinsel family reunion. I was worried about how Link was going to like the beach, because Dave and I both LOVE it. My worries disappeared when we walked down to the ocean for the first time. Link seriously spazzed out! He thought it was the coolest thing to be in a huge sandbox with waves.

We had a great vacation. Lincoln had a blast flying kites, playing with cousins, running from the waves, playing pool, and eating lots of junk food. It was great to see family members we haven't seen for a while.

* I also had a first. I tried real, fresh crab meat. It was super tasty, and I even got to re-taste it as I got food poisoning that night. I don't want to blame the crab, because it was so yummy. I'm just thankful my stomach waited until we were done driving home from the coast.

A really crazy first is that my sweet niece Penny, who was born in March, is the first person in our family (that we know of) to have albinism. She was just diagnosed at her 3 month check-up, because she can't focus her eyes: they are always shifting. The good news is that there are surgeons who can operate as early as 6 months, and the exercises that her mom is doing with her are helping her. She was able to reach out and grab her brother's finger.

Road Trip

This past week, Dave, Lincoln, Mama Shinsel, Tyler and Devin (two of our nephews) went on a little road trip. Tyler is a rising senior and is a fantastic football player. Some college scouts invited him to a couple football camps, and his mom with 7 other kids to care for at home, asked Mama Shinsel to escort him to Idaho State and Weber State.

The 3 Shinsels tagged along, because Dave just really likes football, PLUS, we got to pick up Elder Williams from the Ogden Utah Mission Home. I hadn't seen Reed in 2 years, so Lincoln has never met his Uncle Reed. It was so great to see him and catch up on what he has been doing. I have been warned that missionaries can be a little weird after 2 years, but Reed surprised me: he still had a great sense of humor and was fun to talk to. He did however, throw in a scripture reference once. I am really proud of my lil brother for serving the Lord with full obedience and charity for the people of the Ogden mission.

When we got back from our road trip, Lincoln and his cousin Sydney had their reunion. She is only 6 months younger than Lincoln and they interact really well together. Lincoln is already attached and talks about "Syd" when she isn't around. I keep forgetting to write that Lincoln says his whole name..."Ikies Arder Shinshaw" Time really can just stop right now: I know I have said it before, but this is such a fun age!

We have another road trip planned in a couple weeks, and I hope it goes as well as this past one.

It is grand in LaGrande

I'm sorry about the title, but I couldn't resist. We made it out West, and we are enjoying a beautiful sunny Saturday. Who knows, we might even hit up Hog Wild Days later tonight! Lincoln was a fantastic traveler, but is still adjusting to the time change. He is up and ready to go at 5 am. I remember when I used to wake up at 5 am for early seminary in high-school, and it didn't seem as hard as it does now. Anyway, Dave has already put in a full day of work with Vic and he has had another phone interview, his 4th. I am thinking/hoping he will get a job before the end of July.

We packed in a ton before we left NC including Tweetsie Railroad, Hiddenite Mining, Science center, and Hickory Dickory Dock, but without my computer I just feel so lost to post pictures.