We had such a hard time getting Ava to play with toys initially.  Now that she LOVES play time, we have a hard time saying “no” to new toys.  She has more tug toys, frisbees, balls, and squeakers than she knows what to do with!

Q: What would Ava look like if she had floppy ears?

A: 

Ava is enjoying the summer weather in North Carolina and loves to hang out on the porch of our temporary home here! It’s the perfect spot to plop down and watch the neighbor dogs, squirrels, deer, and birds.

Before we left for North Carolina, we made one last trip to Amanda’s family farm with Ava.  We were especially excited to be visiting because we’re in the heart of morel season and Mike had never been mushroom hunting!

Ava wasn’t very interested in morels, but she loved traipsing around in the woods and “hunting” for creatures in the fields.  She flushed out a pheasant, found herself a delectable mouse, and decided to pamper herself with eau-de-poop when she found a nice, fresh pile that a cow had left behind.

We were pretty successful hunters and came home with bags of mushrooms. Yum! Even Ava thought they were tasty.

Ava has such a great Auntie. She sent her this adorable outfit!

We’re excited to announce that a new job is taking us to North Carolina.  Ava is going home!  We’re looking forward to this change for countless reasons, and we think Ava will like the warmer weather, a bigger house, and a yard to run around in just as much as we will.

We’ve been going on lots of walks in Water Works Park.  Ava likes to get out and smell the dandelions, go for the occasional dip in the ponds, and watch the geese.

It’s finally starting to get warm in Iowa, and that means dogs are out in full force.  With everyone out walking their dogs, Ava has a new-found love of looking out the window for furry friends as they walk by.  When she spots someone, she can’t help but bark hello!

After a few days, we decided to put up barriers (aka empty moving boxes) in front of our windows to encourage her to find something else to do.  She does have a big box of toys and an at-home human friend, after all.

Ava got to spend the afternoon at work with Mike.

Unlike her hard-working owner, Ava liked to stare out the window and day dream.  Probably about running through fields filled with peanut butter rabbits at temperatures above 60°.

But even day dreaming can become tiresome.  Ava soon settled in for an afternoon nap.