Celebrating St. Patrick's Day

This year for St. Patrick's Day Sophia and Olivia didn't make a Leprechaun Trap. It's been a few years now since they made them.

Back in 2012, they had book theme for the trap:

In 2011, they used jewelry as bait:

In 2010, they used a variety of items from their dollhouse and doll toys:

It was important to leave their shoes out so the leprechaun could put some gold coins and gold flakes to show where he'd been:

In 2009, the girls painted and decorated a trap. They used coins to bait the leprechaun to their trap:

 

They enjoyed putting food out for the leprechaun to eat (notice the tiny plate and cup in front of Olivia):

Of course, the shoes were placed out to be repaired since the leprechaun is a cobbler.

The next day, the girls would see what the leprechaun did and if they trapped him. Although they never caught the leprechaun, they enjoyed seeing the messages and special gold coins that were left for them.

This year we had just finished with the 4-H Wildlife Project Bowl - weekly practices since January capped off with a regional competition in mid-March. 

Needless to say, much of our time was spent during the past 2 1/2 months preparing for that. We didn't have much time to focus on preparing for St. Patrick's Day. 

We did, however, spend Friday, March 11th, at the nursing home. Sophia and Olivia made mint shakes for the seniors; and I facilitated a Skype call with one of the seniors and his son (and family) in Australia. During the call, I brought John one of shakes which he enjoyed. 

I took a look at the St. Patrick's Day board that I have on Pinterest. Out of the ideas I pinned, I chose a healthy treat for the day which led to Michelle Paige. That website, in turn, led to Fit, Crafty, Stylish, and Happy for a fruit kabob that used green and white fruit.

Sophia with the fruit kabobs.

Aspen is in the background seeing if 

any fruit fell on the floor for her.

To make the fruit kabobs, I used:

1 green apple, quartered and cut into chunks
2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
1 banana, sliced
Green grapes
Wooden skewers
8 oz Cool Whip (though not the full container)

Each of the skewers was slightly different and gave each person a choice in how much fruit of a particular type that s/he wanted.

Our meal was simple that evening and not very Irish. However, we did have a table runner with leprechauns on it and napkins with four-leaf clovers that I sewed many years ago. Dinner was a herb-roasted chicken, salad, corn, and fruit kabobs.

For dessert, we had Green Velvet Cupcakes that Sophia made. She frosted them with vanilla icing and put green sprinkles on them.

The hedgehog salt and pepper shakers are perched on the edge of the plate.

As I looked back on pictures from past St. Patrick's Days, I know that I'm missing some of the decorations. Perhaps they are in another bin in the hobby shed.

  

Window decorations I made a few years ago.

The darker areas are paper designs that I cut out, and

the dark and light green papers are kite paper.

Next year, I'd like to get back to putting more effort into celebrating the holidays. When I look back at photos, it's nice to remember these special moments in our lives.