Paddle Parade - December 14, 2018

A local watersports shop sponsors a paddle parade each Christmastime. Folks decorate their kayaks / canoes / paddle boards / rafts / etc with lights and Christmas decor. Then, near sunset, they paddle along the Deschutes.  We stood on a bridge called the "flag bridge" - a pedestrian bridge in the Old Mill District lined with flags - and waved at the boats.  At least one Santa Claus waved back. We only stayed about 20 minutes because it was windy and rainy and cold.  Lucky for us, Auntie Beth is game for lots of adventures.

Turkish Soaking Pool - December 12, 2018

Bend has a Soaking Pool at the Old St. Francis School McMenamins Hotel. We spent around an hour in the warm water. Lincoln had his life jacket and Meta brought a floatie penguin. The tile murals and stained glass were neat to look at. The kids loved the lion fountains. Auntie Beth came too.

Christmas Tree 🌲 hunting

From leaving the truck to returning with a tree, it took about an hour and a half. It snowed lightly the entire time and it got dark while we sawed down the tree. Lincoln and Meta loved playing in the snow and took turns helping James with the saw. Sierra was snuggled up in her fuzzy pink bear suit and she slept through most of the excitement.

We would have had more time to play in the snow, but it took too long to get ready to go after church. I packed enough food for a three day weekend rather than a half-an-hour drive. We parked just off the highway (toward Mt. Bachelor) on a forest service road that is currently closed to motorized vehicles.  Then we tromped around in the woods looking at potential trees.  Thank goodness for our tracks in the snow and the highway noise. In the darkness, I was pretty disoriented.  Meta was tired of walking through the snow by the time we got back to the truck.  There was some suncrust underneath fresh snow and it was tiring for short little legs.

We enjoyed peppermint hot chocolate and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while James secured the tree in the back of the truck.  All the rest of the "emergency" food just drove back down the mountain with us again.  Better prepared than not!