Back from the Dead :)

Hello everyone!! I bet you thought I dropped off the face of the world huh? Well not so much, I've been keeping up on facebook, but I have taken today to decide my blogg needed a much needed facelift and actually do something about it! :) Both Mike & I are alive and well as you can see. Dance started up again, and Mike is still staying busy, busy, busy with his Barbershop. I'm super embarrassed that I haven't posted anything since April..... wow.... but here is a (semi) quick update and some updated photos!

First, lets start with Gus! I can't believe how small he is in the last post. He is so much fun! He loves me and gets so excited everytime he sees me. It's kinda fun! He loves Mike too, but he is kind of a "mama's boy". He still loves to play. He makes a game out of almost everything! He's had 3 fur cuts, and been fixed since I last posted. He's growing up :) but he won't get any bigger then he is now. He reached 12 lbs last time he was at the vet. Here are some updated pics of him.

This is in May on a road trip to Utah over Memorial Day. He found a new favorite pirch in the car!

Gus has been such a fun addittion to our little family, and has brought us lots of smiles! He hangs out during the day at Mike's shop so that he doesn't have to stay at home in a cage and he loves it! He's kind of a people snob though Mike says. He will sometimes play with men, but he will usually always ignore all women that come in. He just likes to lay in the sunlight and watch out the window..... I've never seen him so lazy he always has lots of energy and excitement when I around him, but he loves going to work with Mike! He also loves to go to Mike's parents' house. Mike's sister and her husband have been living there while their house is being built and they have 2 dogs. So when we go to visit there are the 4 dogs that love to play with eachother. Spencer has gotten a lot better and will now be social with the others. No matter how many toys are around, they all want the same one ...... That is Gus guarding his bone from Baxter (the Yorkie) and Spencer (on the floor). Gus will "accidentally" drop the toy in front of the other dogs and then quickly pick it up when they go for it. HAHAHA not a trait that I would encourage in children...... but with Gus it's funny! He is SO smart and adorable!

Okay moving on. As I mentioned, Mike and I went to Utah for Memorial Day for my cousin KC's wedding. We ended up going to Utah 4 times this year.... 3 times for weddings (1 time was us driving to Utah, then flying to Florida for my brother's wedding) and 1 time to celebrate my Grandpa & Grandma Dove's 50th wedding anniversary.

JUNE 17th-23th: We met my family in Utah and all flew together to Orlando where my brother Ben got married. It was so fun!! My mom calls her kids's spouses her "bonus children" :) And it was so fun adding Stephany (officially) to the family!! The wedding was beautiful! They had a Luau for their reception to go a long with going to Hawaii for thier honeymoon.

Pretty cake right?! I loved it!

Her family was really accomodating. They even used sparkling cider for the toasts!

It was such a pretty wedding, and they are so happy!!!

We also made it to Disneyworld and Clearwater Beach while on our trip!! It was a BLAST!!!! Clearwater beach is on the Gulf of Mexico and was worth the almost 3 hour drive to get there from where we were staying! The water was so .... clear! :) and beautiful, and WARM! I had never been in the ocean when it has felt like bath water! It was such an enjoyable day!!

Ashley, Mom, & Me (check out our tan lines) :)

Our Disneyworld experience was also so fun!! I'm not sure if I'll ever go back.... esspecially in June, man we were all melting with the humidity, so not the most flattering pics, but you can still see how much fun we were having!

(our "classic disney pose")

Florida was so fun!! Thanks Ben & Steph for giving us all such a fun excuse to go and visit!

JULY 3rd-12th: Moving on to my Grandparents 50th! It had been an event in the works for almost 2 years. It took lots of planning and turned out great!! Mike and I went half way to Bosie the night of the 3rd and stayed with some friends! (Thanks again Travis and Roz!!) then we in Utah for the 4th of July! We had just missed Ben & Stephs garden reception in UT that turned out beautifully (except the freak rain storm that hit right before it started)! The Dove Reunion/50th anniversary started sunday night family pictures. An event that will probably never happen again...... but I got to see some cousins that I haven't seen in years! It was so great! We actually only had 4 people missing from the whole family!! 2 of my cousins and then one cousins 2 kids. Me missed them, but I was impressed at how many people we actually had there!! I guess that's what years of planning gets you :)

(all the grandkids & great-grandkids)

(Everyone who was there! Watching Grandpa & Grandma in the middle still happily in love after all those years!)

(My cute Grandparents)

(My family! Including all bonus children) :)

(Our "steps of life" family picture) :)

The reunion was 6th - 10th up at Brianhead canyon; Cedar Breaks. (Near Cedar City) It was so fun! Each day was a theme. The last day we were there the theme was "All because 2 people fell in love". It was so much fun! Unfortunately..... all the pictures from the cabins have some how disapeared from off my computer. I was going to wait to do this post till I found them again, but who knows given my recent history with blogging..... that could be a while. I'll do a separate post on that later!

Now moving to JULY 20, 2009. HAPPY 2 YEARS MIKE & AUBERY!! :)

We didn't do anything fancy since it's been an expensive traveling year, plus it fell on a monday this year, but we went to dinner at Michael's on the Lake here in Moses Lake. It was nice to get so spend the evening together, and dinner was so yummy!!

AUGUST (and june and july when not on vacation) was spent trying to get our florida trip scrapbooked, and catching up on the rest of my Fall 08 TV shows I had DVR'd. I went from having like 30% available to only using 8% :) I only had 2 episodes of Flashpoint left to watch when September hit and a new shows season started!! I didn't teach dance during the summer and enjoyed my extra bit of free time. I still worked at Basin full time, but felt like I had loads of time during the day when I got home at 4.

SEPTEMBER 14th started dance classes again for the year! I enjoyed my summer, but man was I ready to get back!! I have 4 classes that I teach this year. One class is completely new to me, and it was hard to establish that I'm their teacher and I have rules. They are only 7-8 and have danced before, but not with me. So like always, kids try to push the boundries to see how much they can get away with. I thought I was going to pull my hair out the first 2 weeks, but they are now one of my favorite classes! My other classes are mainly full of girls I have had before, so it was easier. The ground rules were already there, and we could skip straight to the dancing. :) September was also a birthday fest! Jana (Mike's sis) Sept 19, my Mom Sept 21, my Dad Sept 28th, and Marsha (Mike's Mom) Sept. 30th!! We went to dinner to celebrate Jana & Marsha's.

(Mike's parents at Jana's b-day dinner)

SEPTEMBER also = the Othello Rodeo (that Mike looks forward to every year) !! It was fun, although it is a crapy picture (my camera has been freaking out lately, time for a new one) but here is us in the cold and crazy wind getting ready for the Rodeo to start!

OCTOBER is always a fun month for me! It's my birthday month, I love when the weather gets colder, and I LOVE Halloween! I just happened to end up going to Utah over my birthday again this year. (Last year I was "home" over my birthday too. It was our Dan Dove Family Reunion) My birthday this year was spent driving home from Utah. 12 hour road trip isn't the most ideal way to spend a birthday, but it was great!

(Gus again being a champion traveler!!)

(hahaha I know.... super cheezy picture. Gus does better in the car if he has a bed to sleep in. We stopped and got him a pet bet in tricities. While we were there we found this little ditty in the clearence bin for $1! Matching hat and scarf! hahaha yes, we are THOSE people who love to dress up their dog! Gus has never since worn it, but thought this pic was priceless!! Ah Gus, you are a good sport!)

My best friend Amber and almost 2 year her son Lincoln got to come back with us for a visit! Plus we met up in Boise with some good friends, the Beus family, and went to lunch at PF Changs! It was a quick visit but so fun! Amber hung out unitl sunday when she flew home and it was so good to see her. I haven't got to spend more then like an hour with her since I moved up to Moses Lake. Plus Linc got to know is "aunt Aubrey" a little better. :)

Anyway, it's been a really good 6 months since my last posting! And hopefully it was a good update for everyone! Have a Happy Halloween! I know I will!!!

~Aubrey

Ah Gus, I just can't stay mad at you!

So remember how we are crate training my dog Gus? Well I came home at lunch on Wednesday to find the crate locked but no Gus inside.... He had been running all over the house that day. After having to clean up a few messes... I decided to put Gus back in the crate & see how he performed this little magic trick. When I put him back in he just cried for a little while (he didn't want to give his secret away) but when he realized I wasn't going to let him out, this is what I found ..................

Low & behold, my dog is part cat, or too smart for his own good. Now he has to stay in the bathroom with the door closed, and nothing but his food, & dog bed for company.

He's so cute though, and I just can't stay mad at him! He's been so much fun, and although he won't yet admit it out loud, Mike loves him too! :) Here are more pictures and video to showcase Gus's little personality!

Sometimes when we are at Mike's parents' house, all Gus wants is to play/attention from Spencer. Spencer won't have it though :) This is usually how it goes

Gus can't get up on the chair yet, so that is Spencer's "home" when we visit

(I used to be one of Spencer's favorite people.... now he just gives me this! Where did the love go Spencer?)

GUS LOVES TO PLAY!! I swear that's all he ever wants to do! He's so cute though, I give in as much as I can! This stick is seriously his favorite toy! (now these are action shots and my camera isn't the best, so they are a little blury too)

Sometimes after being outside and he is wound up he will come in the house and do "NASCAR" and he just runs and runs and runs in circles all over the house. It only lasts like 2 min, but it's so funny. I have been trying to get a video of that, but all the ones I have you can't really see what's going on.

Gus also thinks that when he sees himself in the mirror that it's another dog on his turff... :) I did catch a video of that!

Anyway, it's safe to say that I think I have the funnest puppy in the whole world. Even though he is a pain sometimes, I find myself not able to stay mad at the little guy! I wouldn't trade him for anything!!!

I think Mike feels the same way too! Don't you think?

We got a puppy!!! His name is Gus!

Meet the newest addition to our family :)

His name is Gus. He's a ShihPoo (Shih- Tzu & Poodle mix) and is soooo adorable, a little bundle of fur :) He is 3 months old today & I fell in love with him at first sight! We got him monday night about 7:30 pm and I have been loving him ever since! We are in the process of house training him, and so during the day when I'm at work I take him over to Mike's parents' house. They have a Shih-Tzu named Spencer who is a bit anti-social, so we're trying to make them friends! Since Gus isn't quite house trianed he has to stay in a crate unitl I can go home at lunch and let him out. It breaks my heart though and he hates it... but hopefully he gets used to it soon.

Gus loves to play! He is so smart too! You better believe that I'll be blogging about him lots more, but I thought I would put his first photos on here for you all to see! He makes me happy!

Mike hates his "albino complection" :) (his words) but I think he's the most adorable thing!

Mike says he's growing on him :)

That's Mike's Mom; Doesn't Gus just have the cutest face?!

He was so funny, everytime I went to take a picture he would Pose by sitting down :)

Easy Killer :) He loves to play, it's so much fun!

Wow I hate this picture of me... I look like a cancer patient, but thought it was cute of Mike & Gus! Our 1st "family photo" :) hahaha

Anyway, we are in the process of puppy proffing our house and awarding good behavior. Our landlord said that he didn't care if we had a small dog as long as it was house trained and didn't bark, and has to be approved by him, so we're working on that! Right now Gus only barks when he thinks someone is coming to the house (or if someone is upstairs/downstairs and he's opposite them). His little growl is so cute. He will make a good gaurd dog :) We have to leave him at Mike's parents a lot unitl he can pass the test with our landlord, but hopefully that won't take long! Yay for puppies!! I've been wanting one for a long time now, and Gus is perfect!

Weekend of Performing Arts

This past weekend was a dance competition that the Studio was competing in and I was able to attend! I have been separated from Jazz Club (our advanced competing group) this year, so I was really excited to get to see their routines! On Friday, I hitched a ride with David Earl and his suburban packed group which consisted of David, Whitney (the other dance teacher) 3 foreign exchange students; and 2 little boys. It was fun! We got there, found the hotel then I went with the dance directors to the competition site. Our oldest group of dancers (the Elite Jazz Club) all performed on friday! They did so good! They also performed their production number which is made up of all Jazz Club teams. It was so cute! These are some pictures of us waiting for the awards to start on friday night ... about 10:30 pm ish.
Our dance group is in the red & black

To the right is Whitney and the 3 foreign exchange students. This group was so fun and who I got to hang out with most while up there. (L-R: Whitney, Bolen (from mexico?), Trisha (from Taiwan), & Nikki (also from Taiwan). They were so fun!! Trisha is one of my dance students this year and gets to compete in Spokane in may!

Trisha & I. When Whitney took this picture, she called it my missionary picture cause it looks like I have a name tag on. :) Funny!

We went and found some Wendy's to eat before bed then all went to sleep! I wish I got a picture of our sleeping arrangements, hahaha it was fun. Whitney & I shared a bed while Bolen, Trisha, & Nikki all shared! heehee, They are little though, it worked! Whitney & I woke up at 6 the next morning and had to be ready to leave for saturday competition schedule by 7:15. We ate a yummy continental breakfast (and stole some fruit for the competition) and were watching & helping dancers by 7:30 am. Today was our Pee-Wee Jazz Club; Boys Club; Mini Jazz; Jr Jazz Club & Sr Jazz Club turn to compete. I only had time to help with & watch Pee-Wees & Boys Club cause then my friends Lynette and Michelle picked me up for lunch and to go see the Lion King!!
We decided to go get lunch at The Olive Garden. We had to hurry cause the play started at 2pm. It was so yummy! I ordered this new dessert they had that was homemade doughnuts (in the shape of a rectangle) rolled in powdered sugar. You then can dip them in this chocolate sauce..... heaven on a plate. If you are going to The Olive Garden soon.... I suggest you try them!!

We planned the trip perfect and made it to down town Seattle & PARKED by 1:30! Michelle & I didn't wear the best walking shoes, but we still made it w/plenty of time!

I was so excited! I love Disney... and so to see a Disney movie as a broadway play.... how much more happy does life get :)

It was so fun getting to spend this time with my friends!! I have missed you guys! I wish the circumstances were better. I was given my friend Emily's ticket cause she couldn't go anymore. She had a funeral to go to. I wish all my friends could have been there, cause it was soooooo AMAZING!! The colors, the costumes, the actors! Everything was beautiful!

As we were walking back to our car, I had to laugh at this picture of little Lynette next to Michelle in the parking garage! This picture doesn't do it justice, but I kept crossing my fingers that Michelle wouldn't hit her head on the ceiling of the garage!

I love spending time with my friends!! I hope they all know how much they mean to me & what a wonderful part of my life they all are!! Miss you!!

~Aubrey

Top it all off w/Sing Star

(okay, i've been in the process of this blog for a few days now, sorry it's taken me so long)



It was my friend Michelle's birthday a few weeks ago. I took her for lunch on the 7th of March. We got to hang out all day with our friends Emily & Lynette (Angie was in Utah). Michelle picked Inca for lunch. She picked me up and we met our friends there! It was delicious!! (mike said he could still smell Inca on me unitl sunday night though... and yes I did shower, that's the only thing I hate about eating there....anyway)

After lunch we went browsing at Fashion Bug, then decided to watch Little Shop of Horors at my place. I know, a little random, but I had never seen it before and Michelle had the music from it playing in her car when she picked me up for lunch. I had heard about it, but had never actually seen it. It was fun watching/listening to my friends sing along and it made me wish I knew the words :) My favorite part was the 3 ladies that were all dressed up fancy & sang about what was happening. A few hours after the movie we all went over to some friends of ours (mike and I) the Stutsmans (Matt & Rochelle) and had our own little sing star party! I would say wish you were there.... but I'll let you judge for yourselves, haha, some of the songs were a little rough! But so awesome! :)

(Lynette, Rochelle, Matt, Mike)

(Michelle, Emily; I think this is their "we're sad cause we couldn't find a song Michelle wanted to sing" picture....)

apparently Lynette and I get super into & serious about our sing star....

hahaha, this picture made me laugh; I'm guessing this is their "don't show us eating cheetos?? picture??

(Em Wizzle everybody!)

okay, okay; I had to put these on.... this is what I'm talking about... some of the songs were a little rough .... But sooo funny!! I had so much fun!!! I couldn't resist... don't be mad friends!! This is what sing star is all about :)

"Zombie" - Cranberries

"Boy Named Sue" - Johnny Cash

"Broken Wing" - Martina McBride (Matt tries to "help" Mike hit the high notes)

"Broken Wing" part II

Anyway I had so much fun so I had to share the fun I had with everyone else!! Hope the videos made you smile or laugh! :)

~Aubrey

Hearts Desire Dinner

VALENTINE'S DAY was a lot of fun this year, we went to dinner & watched movies w/friends! It also made me miss my mom though! That probably sounds strange, V-day is not usually a holiday in where one misses their parents.... but I did! My mom has a tradition that she does for her kids every Valentine's Day that she calls our Hearts Desire Dinner! Each person in the family gets to choose ANYTHING from a restaraunt that they want for dinner that night. She started this tradition after I left home (we used to have a silly supper for V-day, but she moved that tradition to April Fools Day) but still every year I wish I was home for it :) . She is so awesome and I love that she puts in an effort to make holidays special & memerable for us kids!

This year I know that little sis Ashley wanted lettuce wraps from PF Changs; brother Adam wanted a chicken cordon bleu sandwich from Arbys; and his fiance Ally wanted chicken alfredo from The Pizza Factory. I didn't ever find out what my other 2 brothers wanted. My mom had plans on running to all these different places until she couldn't find the time. She then changed the rules (for this year) that they could pick any restaraunt inside the American Fork (Utah) city limits :) I hope they all had fun eating thier take out boxes together around the table! I sure wish I could have been there. It got me thinking though what I would have chosen..... hhhmmm...... in the AF city limits, I probably would have chosen the margarita grilled chicken (minus all the extras that come with it like the beans and all that) from Chili's or the braised beef and tortoloni from The Olive Garden. Both are DELICIOUS!!! If I had to choose something from inside the ML city limits (hahaha lots to choose from there) it would definately have to be the chicken & beef fajitas from El Rodeo. YUM!

So let's have some fun! If we had our own Hearts Desire Dinner... what would everyone choose?

DANG!.... NOW I'M STARVING AND IT'S ONLY 9:27AM .....