Porter is THREE!

Happy Birthday to Porter! He's three and he's potty trained. Yay! I just can't be any happier about it! For quite a few months now Porter has been obsessed with "WORKERS". While driving in the car it is almost all he can talk about. When he grows up he is going to be a "big, strong worker". We have to roll down the windows to wave and say hi as we pass. We have to walk over and watch while the "workers" are doing there construction work. And then we have to watch a little longer, and then a little longer, until I can't stand there looking stupified anymore! He just loves everything and anything about "workers", especially the big trucks and tractors! So there really wasn't anything else I could choose for a birthday theme. "Construction" just fit perfect! Here is our front door, greeting our party guests!Everyone got their very own hard hat and got to play in the sand! This was a big hit, and an even bigger mess! But overall it was worth it!Porters dump truck birthday cake. This was so easy and fun! I just cut the cake to fit and then layered it a bit, covered it with frosting and crushed up oreos to give it the look of dirt. FUN!!Porter, and everyone else, opening his birthday presents! The kids were so excited they just couldn't keep from helping! It was so cute! Porter really didn't mind much at all. What a good sport. He got lots of fun things, from tractors, puzzles, lightening mcqueen, a vacuum, and so much more. We are grateful to all of our friends for coming! It was a full house (maybe a little too full depending on how you look at it), but I just wanted everyone we care about to be there.The "workers" way of opening that pinata! I bought it and later realized that I really had no place to hang it, so I improvised. It worked just fine, as long as the kids got their candy!

Kalin

I just wanted to get a few things in here about Kalin. In primary this Sunday, Kalin had the "me in a bag". The idea is to take this bag home and fill it with things that describe you and what you like. Well, I was a bit nervous that she would be too shy to say a thing, so we had rehearsed a couple of times before chuch. I know, silly! But I just wanted to help her be confident and ready. During preparation she would say a sentence, sometimes two, about each object in the bag. Like, "I like horses and want my very own someday. I like to ride them" or "I like to go to the beach and collect seashells". On Sunday she shorened it to, "I like horses" or "I like seashells". Okay, I might have been dissapointed, but just for a sec, because I was so pleased and happy that my little shy Kalin smiled and spoke into the microphone. She even looked out at everyone and told about every single thing in her bag. I didn't have to say a word! Wow, high five for Kalin! I think we may have both been beaming behind that little podium!


I haven't been very good at writing down the cute things the kids say, which is sad because now I can't remember them. So, here is one that Kalin says all the time! When she wants us to watch her do something or she wants to tell us about something, she'll say, "mom look, you'll never know!" or sometimes even, "you'll never guess!, you'll never believe!" She gets this look, that Ohhh, Myyy, Goshhh look! Her excitment and attitude over such a small thing (obviously they aren't small things to her!) just blows me away and I can't help but giggle!

How about an update...

Still a happy mom here! Porter is doing great with the no-diaper-deal! He just jumped right in, would go all by himself without me having to remind him. This is very good, until you forget about it and its been a couple hours when you walk into the kitchen finding him wiping up his own poop with poopy undies! Oh, isn't that just the funnest thing! But what a little helper, right?! I love my son and I'm thankful (insert a little sarcastic laugh) for how often he reminds me that being a mom takes so much work! At least he likes to help clean up after himself. I don't know if it really is to help or to hide what he did! Guess it doesn't matter either way. We were at a friends (Heather Harmon) house today and Porter had an accident in the bathroom. He had taken her hand towel and wiped it up all by himself before coming to find me. I'm just glad there was no poop involved this time! Thanks Heather for being so sweet about it!

"I'm a Big Boy now!"

Remember that little ditty? I think it's from some diaper/pull-ups commercial, not really sure. The origin isn't that important anyway! It's what I think of Porter when I realize how easy-breazy it's been to potty-train him this past week. He really has been a breath-of-fresh-air to me! He began it all with just two accidents the first day (wasn't really sure if this was simply luck because he wanted to sit on the potty all the time, or if he was understanding the sensation of needing to go). Actually, I'm pretty sure it was luck for the first couple of days! And don't get me wrong, I definitely had my moments of impatience and frustration and did even throw away one pair of undies (I wasn't gonna even touch that one!). One of the toughest parts of the whole thing, was not calling them panties! Because I have Kalin who is potty trained I kept catching myself saying, "now pull up your panties" or "go get some clean panties"! Poor kid wasn't quite sure what to call them! I think I even heard Alan tell Kalin to put her undies back on! Oh, the confusion! It really has been a blessing to me and I am so pleased with how grown up Porter has been with this. On the other hand, I miss my baby boy (just a bit). I feel like the whole thing gives me a calm feeling that parenting is going to be okay. As hard as it is for me, and in spite of my weakness, it is going to be okay. (Deep breath)...

Fun with Friends!

Kalin and Alyssa

Alan has been out of town for work and my cute friend Jenny invited us to the park with her family.

Eli, Alyssa, Emmy (our rockin' babysitter), Megan, Kalin and Porter. The kids, Emmy excluded, built this fire - how creative!

BEACH

Our first trip to Lake Acworth this summer. We love this beach, it is only 10 minutes away and just perfect for the kids to play.

Kalin, Boston, Porter, Grace, Gabe, and Porter

I helped them build this cool castle and mote, they were all so excited! Or maybe

that was just me! ha ha

Some of my friends...

Stephanie with Bradley










Cami and Brittney



Ali and me









Heather and I





Lisa, myself, and Jenny


Thanks for such a fun time everyone!

Fun Visit!

My sister Kari came to visit a couple weeks ago for a few days. It was nice to spend some time with her, especially so the kids could get to know Aunt Kari a bit more. I was happy she wanted to come and that she took time to come see us! Kari's "Abstract Poppies" painting. Mine is very similar. We did this at a place called 'Sips n Strokes'. They instruct you step by step how to paint and then you get to take yours home! We had so much fun and felt so pleased with our work!

Kari and Nickolas

Daddy with Porter and Kalin. I had to get a picture with Dad because he isn't with us very often!

Chattanooga, TN. We visited Tennesee for a day with a trip to the zoo - it was small, but we only paid $8 for all 5 of us. We also went to a little park with some water fountains for the kids to play in and walked the 2nd longest pedestrian bridge in the nation. FUN and HOT!!

Great picture of the "Monster", looks even better when it is turned the right way! Cant figure out why it flipped like this.

Cute Kar! And cute Nick!

We found this awesome park downtown Kennesaw that just has an open field-like area. It was peaceful and quiet - perfect for our little picnic!

Simple Pleasures

I just love my children! Tonight we had a late night and stopped by Walmart to return a redbox flick. As we turned the corner onto the main road Kalin ooh'd and aah'd and with such sweetness exclaimed, "it's beautiful". She was talking about all the night lights from buildings and such. Wow, does this girl ever get out?! Really, I guess it is kinda beautiful when you think about it. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside when she can find beauty in just about everything.

And to make things even better...as we were walking into walmart (me carrying porter because he didn't have any shoes and Kalin holding onto my pocket because Porter is just too darn heavy to carry with one hand anymore, sad) they saw a motorcycle and began waving excitedly at him from one end of the parking lot until he drove right past. He waved back and I heard at the same time from both of them, "he waved at me"! Oh, those sweet moments of innocence and pleasure. I am so very blessed and so happy! And if that's what it takes to feel happiness, then I should be set for life!

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa Tubbs

Alans mom and dad decided to come visit this month, kinda last minute. The entire week they were here was great! They left Tuesday and I miss them already, and so do the kids! Kalin keeps telling me that she didn't want them to stay "only" 7 days. It was nice to have the company and actually get a vacation away from home.

Savannah, GA
Kalin and Porter trying to be entertained on the 4 hour drive. It wasn't all that bad, but just seemed to last forever!

That afternoon (late afternoon) we played at the beach. It was wonderful....the sand was soft, there were so many little seashells, the water wasn't too cold, we found sea creatures, built sand castles, jumped waves, and got knocked under a few times! There really isn't anything better than swollowing sea water and it stinging your nose and mouth! So much fun!!

The next morning we visited the Roundhouse Railroad Museum. I think I can say we all had a good time. The grounds as well as the old architecture behind the roundhouse really were beautiful.

Porter may have just been fine with having something to climb on!

Riding the train on the Roundhouse and then a couple short trips on the track. After the museum we walked for miles (literally) to the Pirates House for lunch. It was pretty yummy compared to lunch the day before which was at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Our anticipation was high because we got to sit on an old passenger train car to eat. Oh well, it was fun to eat somewhere unique anyway. We probably were just so happy to have stopped walking it wouldn't matter what we ate!

Aargh! Kalin was a little bit scared and wasn't sure what to think of the pirate and his sword. He didn't even ask or warm up to her first, he just put that huge blade around her neck and expected us to know what he was doing!

Porter didn't really want anything to do with him! But I guess it does make for a fun picture! After eating we walked along the River Walk and then visited a Maritime museum. The drive home didn't last near as long as the one there! I think the kids falling asleep after 10 minutes of driving helped!

Atlanta Braves

The next night we took mom and dad to a Braves game. They played the Diamond Backs and were losing 0-5 until the 8th or 9th inning when the Braves got a home run to win it! We were actually on row 4 from the field, it was a great feeling and a little scary when those balls went right above you and you had no idea if it would land on your head or not!

The next day, while Alan and his dad went to watch the Nascar drag racing, the rest of us made bird feeders, blew bubbles, made cake and went shopping for dad's birthday.

Nice shot of you mom!

Kalin trying to pop bubble with her tongue!

GA Aquarium

It felt so good to have family come visit and know that you are missed and loved! Heavenly Father really has blessed me with the greatest in-laws (parents and siblings) as well as my own side of the family. Being away from home isn't easy and it hurts knowing the things you're missing out on. But with the growth and the experiences that come with it, I wouldn't want it any other way! I love Georgia and I love everyone I know here!