New Year's Eve Date

Aaron wanted to start a New Year's Tradition of snowshoeing, so he took me to Trillium Lake, about an hour from our house. It was a beautiful cold, sunny day. It's a popular place for Portlanders, so it was pretty busy. We took a side trail right away and had the place to ourselves for a little while.



We joined back up with the main trail, which loops around the lake with a nice view of Mt. Hood. There were a lot of people at this point and a man offered to take our picture. We started talking about camera settings and he helped me set my camera for the snow. After a few minutes he asked if we were headed back. He wanted to walk with us and mentioned that he didn't want to walk back alone. At this point Aaron quickly said we were going a different way and walked off. It was a bit awkward, but I followed him.


The view from the edge of the lake:


We walked on another side trail that ran along the lake. We stopped to eat and drink. I was just about to put my gloves back on and get ready to go when Aaron dropped to his knee in front of me and reached into his pocket. My mouth was still full of peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I think I said, "What are you doing?". He said, "Erin, I love you very much and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?". Of course I said, yes, yes!
Aaron knew that I didn't want an engagement ring, just a wedding band. So he found a jeweler/artist from New York whose work is sold in Hood River. Her name is Saundra Messinger. This ring was thinner than what I had envisioned, so when we got home we picked out a thicker band together. I can't wait for it to come in!! Two more weeks. I love the simple rustic look of her jewelry.


Aaron's snowy knee


I was hoping that we would see that guy again to tell him why we had run off, but we didn't. Aaron was worried his plan was going to be ruined!
We drove a few miles away and had a woman take our picture together.


Mt. Adams on the way home.


We went home to shower, picked out a ring and went out for sushi at Kaze's in Hood River. Aaron got the spicy tuna rolls.


We shared a bento box. It was all delicious.


We then went to Brian's Pour House to get cheesecake, but theirs has hazelnuts in the crust. So we ordered dutch apple pie to go instead. Aaron wanted to check out Full Sail, he got a Wassail and we split a marionberry creme brulee. We ate the pie the next day, everything we ordered was excellent. Hood River has some very nice places to eat.

Onto the wedding dilemma...I don't want one. If we went to the courthouse tomorrow, or eloped to Thailand, I would be ecstatic. I know, I'm not a normal girl, but the whole thought stresses me out. But Aaron wants to do something with friends and family, and I feel the guilt too. So dear readers, I don't ask you for much, but I need your help! If you could pass along your thoughts, ideas, previous experiences with non-traditional, and/or small weddings I would appreciate it. I keep running around in circles in my head and I can't find a solution that is inexpensive but not tacky. Dropping thousands of dollars on something I could do without does not appeal to me. What to do??

But I am excited to get married and thrilled for this next stage in our lives and for a honeymoon!