California trip

Here are some pics of Darrell's trip to California for training. He was there for 2 weeks so he got to do a lot of site seeing around the bay area.

Darrell's trip to California

And here are the souvenirs he brought back for the boys:

Rejected from Alcatraz

Their shirts say "Property of Alcatraz, rejected, too cute!". We thought the behind bars shot was all too fitting.

Camping Pics

Here is my storybook post on our Labor Day Weekend camping trip at Cove Palisades State Park on Lake Billy Chinook.

Labor Day Camping Trip

The Leikams

Remember that teaser I left you with about a month ago?

Well, Lara and Charlie celebrated their one month anniversary (or as they say 'one month of bliss') a couple of days ago. I can't believe it's been that long since the gorgeous celebration and pictures are finally online!

Enjoy - http://charlieandlaraleikam.shutterfly.com/

Day 1 of year 3

Yesterday was Darrell's and my 2 year wedding anniversary!

I was thinking about it yesterday that maybe 2 should be our lucky number. There are 2 of us, we have 2 kids...what else - help me out here... no?

Last night I picked up the little Prochaskas from daycare or the nursery as my Dad likes to call it. Funny ol' man. We headed to Hillsboro, where Darrell works, and home to the only On the Border in the whole state of Oregon. Crying shame. The boys were amazingly well behaved while we celebrated with a bowl of queso and 2 (!) margaritas.

After dinner we met up with 2 (!) different Craig's List sellers to purchase 2 (!) Kelty kid carriers for the boys first camping trip this weekend. We were so impressed with ourselves for getting 2 (!) carriers for less than one new carrier.

Can you see why I have 2 on the brain? I guess I better switch gears seeing as today we officially enter into our 3rd year of marriage - hopefully year 3 doesn't bring along kid 3. That loud thud you just heard was Darrell fainting.

Tomorrow we're headed out to camp on Lake Billy Chinook. Wish me luck, outdoorsy is not usually my thing, but I'm looking forward to it. Have a great holiday weekend friends!

For a good cause

HipMonkey.com is where we (actually my mom's gracious friends pooled their money and) bought our car seats. Darrell did the research and they had the best pricing and selection and also support a great cause. I was oblivious to all this until I read Meghan's blog post on car seats. After clicking on the link not only did I phone Darrell immediately to let him that we were not going to be turning the boy's car seats around until they were at least 16 years old and driving themselves. But I also realized that - hey! - hip monkey is where we bought our car seats! I'm pretty sure Darrell rolled his eyes and muttered something about never giving him any credit for knowing what he was doing all along... Well here's your credit sweet heart - way to do your research! I'm impressed.

Today, I received an email from Hip Monkey asking me to vote for their charity. Anyway, I think it's a great cause and I feel like I have already benefited from their education efforts. Not to mention, their efforts to provide car seats to families who can not afford them.

See below:

Dear Valued Hip Monkey Customer,

Thank you so much for choosing to shop with Hip Monkey and support the Kyle David Miller Foundation with your purchase. Would you please now lend a moment of your time to vote for the Kyle David Miller Foundation? We are currently in 29th place. If we win, the prize $25,000! That would help a LOT of children get safe car seats! You can vote once per email address here: http://www.ilovechristiecookies.com/contest/form.asp

Select the Kyle David Miller Foundation from the drop down list.

Thank you so much!

Christine Miller
CEO, Hip Monkey, Inc
http://www.HipMonkey.com
President, Kyle David Miller Foundation
http://wwwkyledavidmiller.org

Birthday Recap

I think I have finally recovered enough from all the festivities to give you a little recap!

If you haven't figured it out by now, Darrell was in training for two weeks in San Jose and returned on Friday, the night of my actual birthday. While he was away my parents came in to help with the babies and ended up making a significant dent in our ever growing to-do list. We (when I say "we" I mean mostly "they"!) organized the garage, priced garage sell things, made baby food, baby proofed, replenished our Costco back stock of diapers, paper towels, formula (you know all the fun stuff..?!?) I also got to go birthday shopping with my mom (the best!) and got these fun Jessica Simpson boots for fall. I'm thinking about asking for a two week visit from my parents every birthday.

Which will go perfect with the trench coat that Darrell got me from the Coach outlet store in Carmel! These are exactly the sort of gifts that a girl needs to get excited about winter in Oregon! Keep 'em comin' people - I know you would hate for me to start feeling any S.A.D. effects right??

Friday night my mom made Mexican, I picked up Darrell from the airport and then I blew out my candles on my cupcakes from Beaverton Bakery, the marble cake is my favorite but everyone pretended that my dad messed up the order and got cupcakes instead because they were saving the marble cake for the next night!

Saturday morning my Dad and I went out to the Safeway Classic - he got to watch a little golf and I worked the WCVA information booth. Then we met up with Darrell, my mom, Julia and the babies for wine tasting at Elk Cove, Kramer and Patton Valley. Dinner stop at the Grand Lodge's Yardhouse and then Concert at Sake One - where my surprise party was being held and Keith Schreiner played me Happy Birthday on a didgeridoo! I was TRULY surprised! Thanks everyone for not blowing it ;) Julia has some mighty fine stealth planning skills and some serious patience as I changed plans a million times on her. The night was really fun, thanks everyone who came out & Glori for posting a picture that I could borrow off facebook!

Sunday morning was a bit of a lazy day. Darrell and my Dad mounted our TV to finish the baby proofing of the back room and then we left the babies with sitters to enjoy ourselves at Portland City Grill.

So far year #27 is shaping up pretty nicely! Thanks everyone for making my birthday weekend amazing.