beautiful ningbo...

i am in ningbo, china for 3 days for work...and let me tell
you- it is NOT much to write home about. VERY industrial and
aside from our fancy hotel and the $12 foot massages....it's nowhere
anyone should visit if not on a work trip...check out the view from
my hotel window....yes people- that is pure, grade a, chinese SMOG...
worse than LA!!!! yikes!
we are off to hong kong tomorrow and i can't wait!!!!
yay for the big city!!!!

on the road again....

a couple cute pics we took down at drake park before
i left on my asia world tour...so sad to leave thad & the
pups yet AGAIN...i feel like we haven't had much of a summer
yet so far with all our trips and work???
excited to get back and try out our new canoe, do some camping and
maybe get a new blow up boat to FLOAT the river?!!!

lucky number 7

happy birthday mister!!!!! officially 7 years old today!!!
we had a birthday bbq for the man last nite,
and a good time was had by all.
despite getting a little burnt by his birthday candle,
mister had a good time and even
frankie joined in on the party action!!!
happy birthday mitty!!!! we love you!!!!

happy birthday mister!!!

dog bone cookies for everyone! (inspired by auntie ldawg)

uncle jv- the winner of the "mister quiz"....
he got 13 out of 20 questions right!!! woo hoo!

carol & colleen like to party...

frankie joined the party....SHOCKING!!!!!

thad, mitty & ben have moments

dee-lish!!

proud parents

frankie helps mister finish his b-day cupcake

christine, mitty & jv

fufu gets festive

benny rides burro!

oh boy!

ziggy is officially a boy!!!! we saw LOTS of proof at our ultrasound
yesterday and could not be more excited!!!!!!
he was flipping around, kicking like crazy,
karate punching and giving us the thumbs up.
super active, and i think he has his dad's shapely legs?!!
he is CUTE. and talented....DEFINITELY our kid! ha.

ben's bday party!

ben is turning 1 this week!!!! we cannot believe how has just flown by?!!!
we had tons of fun celebrating with the schmid gang and lots of friends...
happy birthday benny!!!!!


chewy, birthday ben & uncle kyle

amy & thad

the lairds

la familia de valdez

mike & makena

corey, thad & ben (all matching in blue....cute!!!)

B-E-N cookie favors-
(made by me...i've been a baking FOOL lately?! nesting anyone?!!)

the beach

it is officially summer here in bend....it's been SO hot and nice
it's crazy to think that just a month or so ago
we were freezing our booties off?!
we headed up to "the beach" on sunday for a little sunshine and relaxation...
not quite the same sort of beach you would find in hawaii, but still pretty
darn nice- with a gorgeous view of the lake and south sister!


enjoying the sunshine

mitty & me

we had to use my dress to make mister a little sun bonnet....

the pet parade

we went downtown this morning to spectate
the annual bend pet parade...so much fun and so festive!
next year we're all going to be IN the parade...for sure!

happy 4th mister!

me & mitty

ben (soon to be birthday boy) & lola

lola, shanda, chewy & benny

ben was LOVING the parade

amy & colleen

someone brought their fish....

a girlfriend for mister?!

chickens!!!!