St Patty's Day

   I personally, hate this holiday. Anyone who knows me, knows that. I think it's pretty much the closest way we Americans come to Communism. You better wear a certain color or else other people are allowed to cause you bodily harm. Um. Yeah, no. Not to mention you're supposed to top the whole day off with a nasty dinner of Cornbeef and Cabbage. You may not be able to see me right now, but I'm over here gagging just thinking about it. 
   Of course, my own preferences flew out the window once the kids came into the picture. In an attempt to be a good mom, I try to make the holidays fun for the kids. While I REFUSE to make Cornbeef & Cabbage, I do dye all the food green for the day. Over the years I've learned what the kids will eat green: pancakes, mac'n'cheese, grapes and what they won't: scrambled eggs, bread and meat. Our all time favorite St. Patty's Day food and tradition over the last 4 or so years are our homemade Shamrock shakes. They also wake up to Leprechaun pee in the toliet and a treasure to find. Also, in case you're wondering, I AM a loving enough mother to dress my kids in green to protect them from lunatics who might find pleasure in pinching small children. I also try to keep my opinons on the day to two or so outburst in the day.

  See.

  I can make St. Patty's Day fun. 

 This year was kind of weird b/c St. Patty's was on a Saturday and Brian was home. He finds the green food less humorus. Since it was a Saturday and I love me some sleep, I ditched our normal baby powder, leprechaun footprints and used crepe paper to criss cross the top of the stairs back and forth, making a gate. I had a sign from the little guy himself, to the kids instructing them to wait for each other to go on the hunt. There was another note with a riddle. The riddles took the kids through out the house until they ended up in the toy room at the treasure.

Then, they got hopped up on chocolate coins until we woke up a hlaf hour or so later. Then we downed green pancakes and green milk, we got dressed, went shopping (pain free, I might add) and then met up with Grandma and Papa and Grandma M&M for lunch at Archibalds. It was pouring buckets, which is the kids favorite time to be outside. We came home and to be honest, I don't remember the rest. This is why you should blog regulary. Ahh.
  Anyway, I do remember dinner. We had Irish meatball Sliders and some rice I invented with a green cream sauce I mixed in. I remember dinner for 2 reasons: 1. Any recipe from Michelle's Dinner Bell is gold (and the sliders were no different) and 2. I took a photo of the green saucy rice with my phone's camera and sent it to my parent's phone with the text, "Don't you wish you took up our offer for dinner? You're missing a yummy St. Patty's day feast!" to which my dad replied, "It looks like you're eating Pixie's (their dog) throw up. I'm glad I stayed home.". Yep, that's my dad. In case you don't know my dad, he's not being malicious at all. He just super picky about food and has a total dad since of humor. I'm still laughing about it.

Got an idea from Pinterest (AGAIN!!) to use little feet prints on the toliet rim. The kids thought it was pretty great. PS- that's dye settled in the bottom of the toliet and not Leprechaun poo.  

  I hope you all had a great St. Patty's Day...and by that I mean, I hope you weren't pinch on the fatty side of the back of your upper arm. I pretty sure it's less painful to be shot than pinched there.