Atlanta Zoo

When Kim was here we all went to the zoo. Kalin seemed to have a great time seeing all of the animals. She said that her favorite was the giraffe.


Doesn't she make a cute Lion?
Playing "see if you can catch me" at the zoo with Porter! We only let him out of the stroller a couple times because he just takes off running like a wild child!


The petting zoo was great! The animals just laid there and didn't even move when you touched them. So tame! Maybe drugged? Kalin loved brushing the hair.
Cheers to the PANDA!

I thought I'd grown out of the panda stage, but when I turned the corner and the pandas were in sight my heart jumped out of my chest and I felt perhaps a little giddy! :) Oh, I still love the panda bear! It is a beautiful creature with gentle playfulness which to me creates a childlike charm.

Just a little panda humor by Donna Word Chapell:

A big old pudgy panda bear walked into McDonald's one day.
Ordered a Big Mac, fries and a Coke, and ate it all right away.
He paid his bill at the counter, then with a great big grin
He pulled out a big water pistol and shot the cashier in the chin.
He sauntered out to the sidewalk; the cashier followed him there.
Drying his face he said, "Why'd you do that? It wasn't really fair."
"In the encyclopedia, friend, the answer can be found."
The panda said, and then he left, saying, "Well, I'll see ya around."
The cashier looked it up that night. What he saw he couldn't believe.
The encyclopedia said, "Panda -- eats shoots and leaves."

Carnival and Circus

In April we got to spend a couple weeks with Aunt Kim. She is so fun and makes us laugh! Cousin Taryn stayed a couple nights when Kim was here. She was going home to South Africa after being a nanny in Atlanta for almost two years. I am so very very happy that we were able to spend time with Taryn and get to know her while she was here. It was hard taking her to the airport not knowing when we'll see her again. Same with Kim! I miss them both!! They are just gorgeous and ridiculously fun!

Sorry girls - these were the only pictures I took of you. I'm terrible and should have taken more. Gotta love the face kim!


While they were with us we decided last minute to go to the circus one night. We were quite surprised how fun it was.


Suckers, Cotton candy, funnel cake - just some of the yummy stuff Kalin and Jonas got to eat. We also tried some boiled peanuts for the first time. Its a southern thing and Ive heard that they are so scrumptious! Beth bought them for us and unfortunately I did not like them. Beth with Jonas below

Kalin and Mommy!

After we left the circus we decided to let the kids try a ride. They had to go by themselves and Beth and I were freakin out! Well, not quite to that extent, I exaggerate just a little. We were real nervous and thought they for sure would be screaming to get out. To our surprise and delight they were thrilled and laughing! Oh, how fun it was to watch my child just so content and happy. I could have stayed there all night long!!!

Snow Day!!! Or is it Ice Day?

Here is Kalin and Porter freezing! This was our one and only real snow day in Georgia so we had to take the kids out. We don't even have that much snow gear, so we only stayed out for a few minutes! I know you really can't say it's much of a snow day compared to Utah!



Kalin was excited to be able to play in the snow. Even though it stuck on the ground, it was more like ice or slush so we couldn't really play with it. I tried, but my hands were so cold I had to do the freezing dance!

Food Storage

A couple months ago Alan and I decided that we needed to start our food storage. It was the perfect goal for the new year. First of all we had to make the space and decided it would be perfect under our stairs. Alan wired and put in two lights and a switch, then built the shelves. I was just in awe as he progressed and he would just say it was nothing. Well the finished product was amazing, but he still didn't think it was as great as I thought! As we started to fill it with a little food at a time, Alan asked why I hadn't taken pictures and put them on the blog. So I think that proved that he was at least a little proud of his work! I surprised him with a roll of carpet that I found for $15, I was happy about that deal!! We have both really enjoyed it and feel happy to be doing something right.

This door is inside our coat closet downstairs. I wanted to make this into a little hideout/fort for the kids because they abosolutely love it, but whats more important right? Following the prophet or the kids entertainment? It's a pretty darn close line if you ask me!

We do have quite a bit of storage and just can't wait to fill it up! Too bad we can only spend so much each month on food storage. It makes us happy and we love this little space!

Kalin and Porter photoshoot

Just some random pics!

Kalin showing her pillow that mommy made! Yes, I made the pillow and it was actually quite fun. I just used old clothes for the fabric and then hand stitched the flower on.



Kalin's two stitches (well, one actually - the other one broke before we got a picture). She fell in the bathroom and split her chin open. It was tiny, but I was worried that my little girl would get a scar! This was at the same time, Porter was feeling left out and wanted his picture taken too!

New Year's Eve! Or new Year's day! I can't remember which one, but anyway Kalin just loves sparklers and Porter just wanted to run free outside! That was our extent for our New Years celebrations this year. maybe next year we'll have a little more exciting one!

Finally Christmas is here!!!

Yes, finally I'm blogging again! Sorry Lisa! Anyway, we had a nice Christmas at home in Georgia. Christmas Eve we went to our Bishop's house for dinner. Valerie, his wife, is a wonderful, sweet woman. We had a great time and even better food! Christmas day was very nice and slow and quiet (well, as quiet as you can get with a 3 year old and an 18 month old)! We just took it easy and enjoyed being together. I did miss Utah and family though.
Some of the things Kalin got from SANTA were a bunch of dress up clothes and dance outfits. She loved them and wore them all day. We even go to the store in them!! Below is a video of her dancing, well spinning. She really loves to dance!



Kalin also got a doll house, which of course now gets spread throughout the house. It's all those little pieces that we love so much in the Tubbs home! Porter is still putting things in his mouth and chewing on everything. Paul and Lisa, maybe when Porter is Bradens age he'll be out of the chewing stage and we could get a puppy too! Two chewers just doesn't sound fun!
Porters big present was a tool table from SANTA. It was a great deal, I hear, but he loves it - so does Kalin! That was her favorite present out of everything she said! Funny how that works isn't it?

Here's us takin it easy!


Alan and I bought us a new digital camera for Christmas. I haven't spent time getting to know all the settings yet and below you can get a little look at me not knowing what I'm doing! I was trying to take a picture and just couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work! The kids were actually holding still - this doesn't usually happen!



Kalin really wants to make snow angels so she started doing them on the floor and we caught her doing a snow angel with the blocks. We had to get that on video, here it is: