Playtime

Monkey Jumping on the Bed:Here is my monkey jumping in his bed. He loves to jump in his crib as long as I am there watching and cheering for him. Cute little guy loves an audience. :)

Golf Balls:
Adam love golf balls. Notice he needs one for each paw. He walks around the house with these and deposits them in all sorts of places. (Most recent is the tub) All balls are now called "gu baas". Thats Adam speak for golf balls :) Mike is training him early.

Our Fort:



I was drying a blanket on my rocker and Adam thought it would be fun to get under it. That sparked a great idea and before you know it we had a fort. Adam loved it! We played weebles in it and had a great time.

Gordon B. Hinckley

While we were celebrating my mom's birthday we learned about the passing of President Hinckley. Probably everyone is going to blog about this, but I just wanted to share some thoughts. I am not sad for his death. I feel like he is exactly where he wants to be. He can be with his beloved wife. I think of the passages in the Book of Mormon where they talk about not mourning for the righteous because they have been saved. How wonderful for President Hinckley, he has lived an examplar life and now he can rest from his labors. HE MADE IT! He is safe. He is with God.

President Hinckley's passing also makes me reflect on my own life. Where am I in my race? Will I cross the finish line with joy? Is there reason for me to rejoice when I die? It helps me to keep repenting and trying to be like Jesus. I love my Savior. I am grateful for President Hinckley's life which he served me to bring me my Savior's words. Congratulations President Hinckley, we love you and miss you.

We thank thee O God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel to lighten our minds with its rays. We thank thee for every blessing bestowed by thy bountiful hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve thee and love to obey thy command.

Adams Views on Bedtime

Snow!

We had a HUGE storm today. The snow came down constantly throughout the day. We went out about 4 to shovel and driveway and walks. I was waiting until Adam went down for his nap, but that never happened. So we decked Adam out in winter gear and headed outside. Watching him walk around in his boots was the cutest thing ever! He would go on all the parts I shoveled with a exaggerated step because he wasn't too sure about his boots. At one point he thought the snow looked fun so he plopped himself down in a big pile. After he realized it was cold, he started crying for me. I picked him up and he started walking around again. I am so lucky to be a mom.

On another note, I love blogging! I just heard from an old friend who found my blog. Hi Jen! Its so fun to read everyones blogs and see what is happening.

Top Signs Your Baby is Teething

5. His nose starts running all the time and he wakes up with boogies all over his face. A condition only a mama can love.

4. He requires Tylenol to remain the sweet, good-natured boy that doesn't scream during church and visiting teaching appointments.

3. He stops eating anything but bananas.

2. He becomes more cuddly and squirmy all at the same time.

The number one reason you know your baby is teething is...

1. He walks around the house biting a pair of socks.

Christmas!

Christmas slideshow

Adam's First Birthday

Here is a slide show of Adam's first year. We sure love him!

Finally on the Blog Scene

Thank goodness for New Years Resolutions. Thats why I am here today blogging about my family. :) Since this is my first post I will get you caught up on our last year.

January-Mike is working mad hours getting the accounting caught up with his job (much to his wife's dismay). Brooke is busy learning all the ins and outs of poopie diapers, midnight feedings, and spit up. Adam is perfecting his ability to be adorable. He is also working on his volume with crying. Practice makes perfect. :)

February- Mike is still working mad hours (spoiler...Mike always works mad hours) Brooke is loving her 2 month old Adam! Adam is blessed. Adam and Mike looked adorable in matching suits and ties! The idea for the tie business is born. Nana and Papa come out for the blessing and witness one of the best snow storms Utah has to offer.

March-
Mike is still bringing home the bacon. Adam enjoys his ability to be awake more often. Brooke is busy as ever with her precious 3 month old. Brooke decides she wants a house for her birthday. SURPRISE! We decide to buy a house. Brooke is swamped with her precious three month old and packing the house. :)

April-
We close on our house right after my birthday (talk about self fulfilling prophecy) Adam enjoys his first Easter! Mike cheerfully endures the hour long drive to work each way. Brooke loves her new house (especially the kitchen, you can open the fridge and the dishwasher at the same time!)

May- Being the wonderful father that he is, Mike takes Adam to pot a Mother's Day flower. Adam gets his first taste of dirt :). He also gets his first taste of real food this month! Squash. He tolerated it for about 3 seconds. Adam also went swimming for the first time. He also tolerated it. Giving no indication that soon he would absolutely love anything water. Brooke loves being a mother and a wife to the two cutest Dover boys around.

June-


Mike takes Adam on his first Fathers and Sons Camp Out. Even though it was just for a few hours Brooke cried when they drove away. Adam hit two big miles stones 6 months old and 20 pounds! That is a healthy eater :) Mike is still cheerfully driving to Park City everyday, but dreams about the day when he can move to Heber or Park City. Brooke is loving her house and her calling as a Primary Teacher. Mike and Brooke teach the rowdy Valiant 9 class.

July-
The Dover Family reunites with the other Dovers for the Dover Family Reunion. Mike, Brooke, and Adam fly out to Portland to be with the Dovers during the 4th of July. We have a bunch of fun, take family pictures, go to the lake, ride on the boat and jet ski, and Adam has a great time with all his cousins. We also head to Hawaii later on in the month, but more on that in August.

August-
We ring in August with Mikel's 26th birthday in Hawaii! We enjoy beautiful weather, great beaches, snorkeling, swimming with the sharks, Matsumotos, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii Temple session, pirates dice, Pearl Harbor, and everything else thats wonderful about Hawaii. We went with Brookes family and shared a beautiful house right on the beach! It was paradise. Adam has tan lines on his wrist. He is white inside his little rolls on his wrist. How cute is that.

September-

Adam learns how to do the dishes. Mike finds suppliers for the tie business. Mike is totally busy with work, the tie company, family, church and everything else. He handles it so well. Brooke is busy being a neighborhood mom to the kids who come to play in her awesome back yard. Adam decides he is ready to scoot around the house.

October-
We get to have the whole Dover clan (Minus Cameo, Ric, and Leann) out to beautiful Utah for conference. Cathy and Mike got everyone tickets and then took the kids to the Aviary in Salt Lake. What a sweet gift. We also enjoy Cornbelly's. Adam experienced his first Go-Cart ride, train ride, pumpkin patch, etc... We all have a great time! Adam also gets to be a monkey for the Utah Allen Family Halloween party. He is so cute! He is also a turtle for Halloween. Mike gets to take Adam out trick-or-treating. We also get the first snow of the season. Adam isnt sure he likes this cold white stuff. After a visit from Eddie, Adam decides to crawl.

November-

Adam enjoys mashed potatoes for his first Thanksgiving. Brooke has much to be thankful for. Like a husband who drives an hour to work each day just to let her stay at home and raise Adam. Or a sweet little 11 month old who has now begun to walk and is sweet as can be. Or a beautiful warm house and beautiful fall leaves outside. Mike is grateful for his beautiful dedicated wife who loves him very much :) Adam is grateful for toys, wrestling with daddy, reading books with mama, and loves and kisses from Grandma and Grandpa and all his Aunts and Uncles and cousins.

December-
Adam turns the big ONE. He takes a spoon in each paw(hand) and digs into his Birthday cake but doesn't eat a bite. Grandma, Aunt Brittani, Uncle Ryan, Aspen, Rex, Lindsay, Uncle Greg, Uncle Christian, Uncle Sterling, Uncle Michael, Uncle Matthew, and Aunt Christee are all there with Mike and Brooke to help him celebrate. We celebrate Christmas here in Utah. Adam loves Christmas lights and Christmas trees. Mike is braving the weather up the canyon to Park City every day for work. He also travels out to L.A. to meet with a tie manufacturer from Hong Kong. Brooke is busy keeping up with all the fun to-do's of the season.

Well there it is. Our year in review. I wish there were more spots for pictures. I could really do some damage :) Its fun to look back, but hopefully next post isnt a review of this year :)