BabyOregonian, Oregon, Photography

Tree Traditions…with a Toddler

January 7, 2015


Mt. Hood from Lolo Pass Road

Remember last time?
[A Wild Christmas Tree Grows in Oregon: New Traditions for Our Little Family]

Well, here I am, reporting back. Another year, another Christmas tree, another holiday season…and this time, a babyOregonian who graduated to toddlerhood.

A year ago December:

…bundling up the 2.73 month old and venturing into Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest to cut down a wild Christmas tree…

And the final paragraph from that post:

I don’t want to be too confident, but I’d say we found the recipe for our new version of holiday cheer. Though, spoken as an ever-learning parent, I’d also say check in next year to see how it actually pans out…with a toddler.

 


So, how did it go?

A few sames:
-Pit stop at Ace Hardware in Sandy for the Christmas Tree Pass
-Warmly bundled in our favorite Icebreaker gear (see Lucie’s awesome baby base layers! I found them at the Icebreaker warehouse sale in November and couldn’t even wait until Christmas to give them to her)
-Trusty hand saw, emergency water, etc.
-A trip up Lolo Pass Road in Mt. Hood National Forest

A few differents:
-Lucie awake (and not screaming in the car seat)
-In lieu of hot cocoa: 73% Jabobsen Pinot Noir Salt chocolate bar by Portland’s Pitch Dark Chocolate
-Skipped borrowing a pickup and attempted the errand in our little Toyota Corolla (we looked pretty silly next to the pickups and Hummers…yes, you read that right…but we did alright on the muddy, icy roads and the trunk somehow accommodated the tree)
-A little less snow and a few more silly selfies
































Ta-da! The finished scene from our very special Christmas in our own home! We’d rented since marrying in 2006, and after spending 2012 hopping from hotel to hostel to guest-home on our adventure around the world, we returned to Oregon to work toward the goal of our own little house. Words can’t say how thankful we are for the blessings of 2014.

Bonus: A Peacock Lane Reprise.

Last year we took Lucie to walk up and down SE Portland’s cherished street of glowing lights then devoured Papa Haydn desserts while she slept quietly in her carrier below the table. This year, no restaurant (toddler bedtime called!), but plenty of gleeful smiles (and an unpictured run-in with a corgi convention).





There were no Christmas cards mailed from us this year, but this little picture went out to friends, and I share it here with you, too, as a friendly wave hello and a thanks for keeping in touch with our little life in this corner of the world.

It’s been very quiet on the digital front for the past season of life. Living in real-time and being fully present in the many moments here on the ground in Oregon has been an all-consuming effort, but I may have a few beautiful photo collections and updates up my sleeve, and the New Year smacks of promise.

xx
Bethany, Ted & Lucie


Footnotes:

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2 Comments

  • Reply Carmel M. January 18, 2015 at 5:35 pm

    How fun to start traditions of your own. I am so looking forward to doing that with our future children. Shawn and I have our own little traditions, but it’ll be so much more special to share them with a little one. I’m not normally so sappy…but I miss Christmas!

    • Reply Bethany ~ twoOregonians January 19, 2015 at 9:58 am

      Aw, so sweet to hear from you Carmel. I’m glad you’re sappy! Christmas is worth it!

      Yes — I think it’s going to be more fun to share traditions with Lucie as the years go by. Ted and I had seven Christmases together before her, and each time one would roll around I’d think, “We should start something new…” Honestly, though, having her in the mix finally inspires me to be more dedicated to the task of building family traditions. I think my challenge will be in keeping things do-able/enjoyable, especially during years of little ones. Cheers to holding on for the ride! ;)

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