Get lucky!

Whatever your pedigree may be, i think we all agree that on St. Paddy's Day, everyone's Irish!  I'm an Italian mama who married an Irish papa.  Ever since our little leprechauns were wee ones, we've been celebrating St. Patrick's Day in a special way.  So, i thought i would share with you our family-friendly St. Pat's traditions so you can play along next Tuesday!  We always start our day with green milk (the leprechaun uses green food coloring...um, i mean magic) and breakfast is...what else?...Lucky Charms cereal! 

This year, G decided we should try to catch the leprechaun, so we made a little house for him that G and R are designing a booby trap for...in hopes that we might be able to meet him. 

G is working on painting some rocks gold.  He wants to lure the little elf inside the house with our homemade fool's gold.  I'll let you know if we succeed...that would certainly be some blog-worthy news!  If you'd like to make a leprechaun trap, start by recycling an old box, decorate it with lots of green, gold glitter and rainbows.  The trick is coming up with the "trap".  We'll be working on ours over the weekend and I will share the finished project with you on Monday.

I blogged about our annual Kid's Hunt for the Pot o' Gold last year, and thought i would make it super easy for you this year with a FREE download that you can print out and use to create your own clues.  Don't know what I'm talking about?  Read about it here, or just follow these easy directions:

• Purchase chocolate gold coins or another gold wrapped candy of your choice.  I got mine at World Market for $1.99 each.

• Purchase a small bag, box, or container to be your "pot"...or just recycle something from home.  I found these cute little boxes at JoAnn's last year.

• I fill the bottom of the "pot" with dry Lucky charms cereal and top it off with the gold coins.

• Print out the FREE 2009 St. Paddy's Clue Cards for your hunt here.                                                                                                     

• Decide where you want your little leprechauns to ultimately find their pot o' gold.  Then, begin writing out clues on the cards that lead your leprechauns throughout your house or yard from clue to clue, ultimately ending with their final destination.  Be creative, hide clues in the refrigerator, in the dryer, the mailbox...how many you write is up to you.  We usually make 30 clues that lead them all over the place...up and downstairs...in and outside(weather permitting)...they're usually exhausted when it's done! But they work together and have a blast!  Here's a sample of our clues...

• sometimes I will sprinkle a little gold glitter near a clue, too!

Let me know if you should give the hunt a try and send me a picture if you should make a leprechaun trap for your house, too!  I'd love to see your creative ideas...and that's no blarney! 

Comments

[april mccrumb]

This is so super cute! I might have to share your sweet ideas on my blog:)

[Missie]

I can't wait to do this with the kids. We have done something similar on Easter morning with the eggs and their gifts. I think we'll have to do it for St. Patty's Day too. Thanks.

[cathy]

SO darned cute. You are a great mom.

[Jen]

Great stuff Lori! Thanks for sharing : )