Hiking

It was a beautiful day on Saturday, so we said yard and house work be damed, we are going hiking. So we set off for Silver Falls State Park. We went on a great 5 mile hike through a gorgeous old forest and saw a couple of amazing waterfalls. On camera battery died before we got to the waterfall, so you will have to use your imagination or follow the link in the last sentence. Calla had a great time riding on mom or dad's back and also chasing Aspen down the trail, see photos below!
We have also recently found some new energy lately, since we have now conviced Calla through dedicated training and brainwashing, to sleep into 7 o'clock! She actually has managed a few mornings to sleep into 7:30. This is a big improvement from 5:45 - 6:00 she was doing since we moved into the new house.
Now we get to get the house ready for our first house guests. Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Rex are coming to visit on Friday. Calla can not wait to get spoiled!

Run Calla!

Go get that doggie of yours!

CHEEZZZZEEEE!

Dad and Calla resting after a long day!

Christmas Pictures

Scott, Calla, and I had a wonderful trip to Ohio for Christmas. It was filled with lots and lots of family, great food, and lots of good times. Scott and I really enjoyed having grandma and grandpa around to play with Calla. Scott and I watched an afternoon movie, went on a date, and got some good R&R.

Calla and all her cousins. When baby Shaff #2 arrives in July my parents will have an even 12 grandchildren. I think we have all decided that is a very good number.

Calla loves her grandma. Grandma put her to bed everynight and they read lots and lots of books. We can't wait for them to see the new house in just a few weeks.
Calla has also begun to really enjoy looking at pictures of her self.

Calla and her cousin Jordan.

Calla and Uncle Tom taking a break from opening gifts.

Time to relax with a good story in grandpa's lap!

Grandpa teach me about building things. My parents are the nature types. Calla got to experience her first snow while we were in Ohio. We took her sleding and she loved it.

Calla loved imitating her cousin Abbey. She spent the whole day we were flying home saying Abbey's name over and over again.
Grandma got Calla a cell phone for Christmas. She looked right at home by the end of the day.

Before we left for Christmas in Ohio we opened presents in Oregon. Calla's Uncle Steve sent her a Dora the Explorer fort. She loves playing in it. Thanks Uncle Steve, you are the best!!

Calla likes to play with teh remote, lots of cool buttons. SHe has only managed to turn on the TV a few times.

Calla also got a Rodie from Grandma and Grandpa Shaff. She loves her horsie and makes yum yum for it.

All Moved In (kinda)

What a week we have had. Last Wednesday several wonderful friends (Troy, Andrew, and Jay) helped us unload the moving van and start a new adventure in our lives. We spent the rest of Wednesday cleaning and setting up Calla's room and the rest of the week and weekend tackling the rest of the boxes. It feels very over whelming at this point, but we will get it all done. The house is wonderful and we love having all the space. Calla has been exploring all the rooms and extra spaces and we think she approves. Aspen loves the big backyard and has been chasing the Starlings. Enjoy some of our pictures from our first weekend in the house. You will notice there are no outdoor pictures since it has been in the low 30's and high 20's recently. Very cold for us Oregonians.

Calla and Dad enjoying a moment at the kitchen table. Calla has lots to say now and we can even understand her half of the time.
Look at this empty space, Mom, what are you going to put here?

I have a great idea!

It can be a tunnel I can crawl through!

That was fun and the perfect size!

My best friend Leslie and her son Devin came down from Olympia to help us get settled. It was great the kids has lots of fun playing and it was nice to have an extra set of hands. We also made cut out cookies. Calla loved playing with the dough and got it all over herself.

Devin loved being the older kid and had fun pushing Calla around in one of the MANY boxes we now have in the house.

Calla loves big kids and wanted to do everything Devin was doing. Thanks for being a GREAT friend Devin!

Fun filled weekends

Here are a few pictures of our last few weeks. This will probably be out last post from 1832 SE Crystal Cir. A week from tonight we move out and then on Tuesday, December 1, we should get the keys to the new house. It will be a very busy and exciting Thanksgiving weekend. Scott, Calla, and I have so much to be thankful for this year. Our health, the health of our parents, two jobs we enjoy, and almost a new house. We hope all of you take time this week to be thankful for all you have.

Last weekend we went to visit a friend that just bought a house in Portland and then visited the Portland Zoo. It was a great day to be at the zoo. It was kinda chilly, but the animals were really active. We saw polar bears, lions, elephants, a sea lion, and three orangutans.

Calla walking along the curb.

Calla also loves to find "seats" that are just her height. She sits on almost every curb we see if we let her.

Calla has no fear, she just goes and goes and goes. When we are out at the Corvallis Market we have to watch her all the time, otherwise she will just wander off and make new friends. She says "hi" to everyone we pass.

Calla also loves to run, both towards us and away from us. She just loves to run.

Calla running away from mom before we are leaving downtown Corvallis, she wanted to stay and have more adventures.

Calla loves looking out at her "street". It is hard for us to believe that she used to not be able to look over the ledge, and now her shoulder are that tall. She only has one more week of looking out at this street. We move out of our house next Sunday. New address here we come!

Calla's newest game is to get any bag (but mom's purse is best) and the says "bye, bye" and walks around the house once, then comes back and says "hi".

Our friend from AZ, Steve Shelby, got this toy for Calla when we were visiting in October, she loves it. She is getting better and better at putting the shapes in the correct spot.

Calla loves books!! We read them to her all the time. Just recently she has also started "reading" them to herself.

Fall '09 Photos

Calla and Daddy enjoying a hug and a silly mement.
Calla has a silly side. She loves to laugh and be tossed around the house.
Calla also now loves to play with the phone and "pretend" to call people. I say pretend because we have had one 911 incident.

We only have a few more week of being able to walk to the park. Calla loves the slide. We will have to make trips back to the old neighborhood to visit the park and all of our wonderful neighbors!
Calla and Daddy watching football last Sunday while Mommy was napping.
Here is Calla in her short lived Halloween costume. I say short lived because she was really not a fan of it and this was the only time she wore it. There is always next year.
Playing at the park.
Heading off to the park. Calla now loves to take walks so our family walks as a long as they used to eb we just don't cover as much ground.