St.Patty's Day Fun!!

Many of you know I celebrate a holiday a month but one of my favorite holidays has always been St.Patrick's Day (St.Patty's Day).  I mean the legends, stories, colors and everything are so much fun! We didn't always celebrate this day as a child, however once I had my first child we celebrated it every year. At first we just wore and had everything green, the second year I read a folk story about how the saint ran the snakes out of Ireland and tossed a big black one in a box into the sea and all the leprechauns were thankful and always left tokens in empty boxes they found on St.Patty's Day. So after this we made (craft boxes) our own leprechaun boxes every year, leave them outside the night before and on St.Patty's Day the kids go outside and search for them. The leprechaun always leaves a small trinket inside.

The boxes above are the ones the kids worked on today, obviously not completely done.

How many of you love the magic and color of St.Patty's Day?  Did you know the Chicago River is colored an emerald green every year for St.Patty's Day? Take a peek at it here:  Chicago River Goes Green However they do it, no one knows and the ones that may know are keeping their lips sealed.

Ready to cook for St.Patty's Day? Woman's Day has 9 St. Patty's Day recipes for you to follow along and make for the big day, the mashed potatoes, shephard's pie skillet and beer bread sound like something I want to try out this year. Or you can try your hand at making a Shamrock Shake, it may turn some away but sounds delious. For those that want a wine for their meal check out Natalie Maclean's Top 10 wines and food for St.Patty's Day.

While the adults are cooking up a storm, why not keep your kids busy with some of these crafts for kids that Karen W of "Little Fun; Little Learning" found in FamilyFun Magazine. We like the Wee Leprechaun best.  Linette over at Kids Fun Reviewed recently had a St.Patrick's Day Blog Carnival and has a wonderful list full of St.Patrick's Day Crafts and desserts, head over and check them out. The Cupcake photos look good enough to eat.There are also St.Patty's day card, finger puppet, leprechaun hat cupcakes and the hat craft, etc.

Here's a quick snapshot or two of the kids at the St.Patty's Day Parade and one of the floats.

What will you be doing for St. Patrick's Day? If you got to see a St.Patrick's Day parade tell us which floats did you like the best. My kids each had their own favorites but something tells me they enjoyed the loot even more.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, don't forget to wear your green!