Friday, we had a fun little neighborhood gathering. I needed to do a post for Unilever - which includes Breyers, Good Humor, Klondike, Popsicle, Magnum and other yummy ice cream treats. They sent me coupons for free ice cream and I had to taste them and then write a sponsored post.
I decided to enlist the help of the neighbors and I didn't have to twist any arms to get them to come eat ice cream with me.
Of course I to set up a cute little table and all the carnival stuff we still have lying around came in quite handy, including that ice cream cart. It is surprising how many times you need an ice cream cart.
I told the kids they could eat as much as they wanted! I also told the parents I wasn't responsible for any ruined appetites!!
I think the Magnum Bars, Reese Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Bars and the Birthday Bash ice cream were the most popular. But no one complained about not liking anything!!
Drew gave everything a thumbs up!
There was some double fisted eating going on too!
Since it was the night before Tessa's birthday we all sang happy birthday to her.
This was our second year celebrating the Winter Solstice with our friends the Watts. It is a fun and crazy celebration. One our expect none the less when Merrill Watts is involved.
We headed out of town at about 4:30. We went via the airport so we could drop a car off for Logan who was flying in at about 7:00. We then headed up to campground on Mt. Hood to join the Watts and some of their friends for the celebration.
Dec. 21st, the shortest day of the year is the Winter Solstice. Fortunately it was not the end of the world as many had predicted using the mayan calendar!!
Tradition from the Nordic is that a tree is burned to welcome back the sun. That tradition than became the burning of the traditional Christmas yule log.
Merrill takes the tradition back to it's roots though and part of the celebration involves the burning of an actual tree. They always dry out a tree in their basement in preparation.
First we had dinner which is a compilation of "pagan", medieval food. It always includes hot dogs which we roasted over the fire. This year we also had an elk, mushroom stew which was interesting. Jim liked it.
I took a rustic apple tart and there was other cheeses and meats and hot chocolate to keep us warm.
The girls had fun seeing their friends Lindsay and Kelsi Watts
There is always music involved with the Watts. Merrill taught us the song O Solstice Tree to the tune of O Christmas Tree. It was hilarious
Then we were ready for the burning of the Solstice Tree. Since it was supposedly the end of the world we all brought something to sacrifice. The items were placed in a box and burned. We also each placed an ornament (wadded up newspaper) into the tree and shared something we were thankful for.
It has been years since we have been down to the river to see the Christmas Ships but Cali had it on her list of things to do over the break so we headed down to the Wilamette River on Tuesday night. It was cold so we bundled up and took hot chocolate with us.
It wasn't as big or exciting as we remembered it being but it was fun to be down on the river and see all the pretty lights. Love Portland at night with all the bridge lights. We drove through downtown on the way home to check out the tree at Pioneer Courthouse Square.
