Lately

January started off crazy with our big weekend and it didn't really slow down much. Right after everyone left Brian started back to teaching and a week later he started another round of classes for his Master's Degree. Working full time and going to school almost full time has meant that he is gone a lot and Van and mom get a lot of quality (lonely) time. We've managed to fit in some fun though too!

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day we had a family outing! It was on MLK day last year that we came home from a similar family outing to find an e-mail from Van's birth parents telling us they picked us! Wow, can't believe it's been a whole year already! It was an awesome day last year but it was even better this year celebrating as an eternal family of three!

We went to two different parks that have fun walking paths and beautiful scenery. Van enjoyed the rid in his stroller but apparently all that sitting was tiring because by the time we put him in the car to go home he was exhausted.

**please note in this picture that his legs will soon be too long to fit with his car seat rear facing. I just hope it doesn't get too ridiculous before he turns one and we can turn him around. What happened to our tiny baby!**

The next weekend we were invited to go to Black Butte with Jared and Jennis and their three kids to play in the snow! Brian was really the only one that actually got to play though since us mom stayed in the car with the babies (their youngest Annika was only 6 weeks old at the time). Van did get all bundled up for a few minutes but it was really only for the photo op.

It was a really fun weekend and it went by too fast! Thanks again for inviting us Jared and Jennis, we always have fun with you guys!

When we got home our little house was FREEZING and our little boy was STARVING. Van got his bottle and his dad shared his sweater while we waited for the house to warm up. We thought he looked hilarious in his little cocoon!

Somehow, in all our work/school/fun Van continues to grow and change like crazy, he learns something new every day. He is now 8 months old! He is now scooting anywhere his little heart desires and thinks he should be allowed to have anything he can get to! He has become such a little ham and makes us laugh constantly.