Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Top O' the mornin' to ya!

I had one of these lame conversations with Brian the other night...
He was teasing me about my love for blogging (he was insinuating that it was a big time suck)

I told him that it was a wonderful way to record my personal history, connect and be inspired by other people...I've loved every minute of this blogging journey so far...

Here is an example of one of the many great inspirations that I have gained through blogging--(Take THAT, Brian!--Let's hear some of YOUR festive ideas?!)
I was reading 2 clever blog yesterday afternoon and found some really cute ideas of some fun things to do for the kids for St. Patrick's day...


Dyeing the toilet water green! --check!


Make up a special green lunch--check!



Make up little green treat bags--check!


Wow the pants off of my kids by serving them Lucky Charms! (this is only a 1 day thing, guys--so enjoy it while it's here!)--check!

Rearrange the dining room furniture and blame it on those pesky leprechauns!-check!

Still left on the list is to short sheet the kids' beds--(I'm not sure if I have the energy or patience for this)

I did a "mini" version of a family night this morning...(I have my bookclub tonight, so I knew I would be pressed for time). We just talked about some of the history behind this day...

Here are a few things about St. Patrick's Day that I didn't know...

  • The bit of green is a reminder of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland. In fact, this island nation is so green it is often called the Emerald Isle.
  • Green is also the color of a shamrock, the national flower of Ireland. In Ireland, St. Patrick's day is both a holy day and a national holiday, in honor of Saint Patrick the patron saint of Ireland.

According to the story, Saint Patrick was born of wealthy parents, in England, about 385 years AD. Patrick was sixteen years old when he was kidnapped by Irish pirates and sold as a slave. He worked as a shepherd in Northern Ireland for several years and it was during this time that he decided to devote his life to Christ and teach the Irish about his faith. After much hardship Patrick escaped from his captors and fled to France. He soon returned to Ireland where he taught the Irish people to read and write and also about the Christian faith. It is believed that Patrick brought the shamrock plant to Ireland where he used the leaves of the shamrock to explain about God. This small green plant, which looks like clover, has three leaves on each stem. Saint Patrick told the people that the shamrock was like the idea of the Godhead--that in the one Godhead there are three different persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Today the shamrock is the national flower of Ireland.

**Do you have any St. Patrick's day traditions?
**Did you already know the story about how St. Patrick's day came to be?

18 comments:

  1. How darling! What a good mommy!

    (I am Dalene's sister)☺

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  2. You did a great job!

    I'm a bit disorganized this year. We got as far as the
    *lucky charms for breakfast (the only day of the year I buy them)
    *wearing green

    Anyway. Maybe I will be better prepared next year! It looks like you guys had a lot of fun with this. I love the green snack and the lunch ideas!

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  3. So,so, so much fun! I never can think far enough ahead to buy Lucky Charms before St. Patrick's Day, but I always have food coloring on hand. My boys were excited because they had green fingers, so they didn't have to wear green!

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  4. My mom used to make corned beef and cabbage every year, and it was horrible!!

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  5. It's very fun of you to do all these fun things that Kristi does each year for St. Patrick's Day. I never do anything fun. My kids have no expectations for it, so I'm happy to go along with that. Ha.

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  6. I did not have the nerve to take a picture of our "green" toilets and post them! You have guts girl!

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  7. Thanks for sharing the story. I never heard it before...I don't have any special traditions for St. Patty's day. My kids are so deprived! I truly dig the green toilet water. I thought maybe something yucky had gotten left in the toilet too long. °Ü°

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  8. Wow, lucky charms? Don't show my kids that box!As far as they're concered, the cereal with marshmallows in it is called Marshmallow Mateys and it comes in a giant bag : )

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  9. You are totally amazing! I never could quite get it all together when my children were little to celebrate any holidays but Christmas and Thanksgiving. Ooo bad mommy! I am inpressed and may even make green milk or water next year. I hear Josie drank green milk and ate green pancakes to celebrate St. Patrick's day along with her birthday. You guys have great traditions.

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  10. wow. what a great day.thanks for the shout out! and you did a way better job that I did with that lunch!

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  11. I try to approach the day with as much style as possible, but wearing green,of course! Not much more than that, I guess.

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  12. I DID THE GREEN LUNCH & LUCKY CHARMS TOO!!!

    I am really pleased with myself here...
    I usually do something very small for St.Patrick's day & over the years it has been really neglected by me- so I have been inspired by all these creative gals out there too!

    I'm glad you are a blogger- one of my favorites!!

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  13. I love how you make a snarky remark to brian right above the toilet picture. :)

    too funny!

    as usual, you have outdone yourself! what is left for next year? OH - YOU COULD DYE THE DUCKS GREEN!!!!

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  14. Great celebration! (i am working on my post, I was also inspired by those 2clever girls:)
    I loved your toilets...mine turned blue instead of green#@!?

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  15. I bought Lucky Charms for a bedtime snack--thanks for the idea. One great thing about General Mills cereals: they have no high fructose corn syrup! Even the yickly sweet ones. I'm glad that you had a great day--you are a fun mom!

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  16. holy wow! thankfully, my young one is still too young to realize his mommy is super lame in this area. :) next year, i think he's going to catch onto me. :)

    i did not know that story!!

    growing up, it was DRILLED into me that i am irish (you know, like 1/8 or something- but to my mother, that means we are basically 100%- especially with green eyes) so my mom took this whole holiday very seriously. ironically, i never learned any "real" st. patty's traditions- like corned beef and cabbage and what not. nor do i know any good irish drinking songs (i know- i don't drink..but still- i've heard them and they are quite catchy!). this year, i vowed to make irish soda bread (sans any fancy additions- like raisins). i must say- it was a hit.

    i'm mending my ways and embracing my irish-ness. both my boys will have strong irish names and i'm thinking that this may be our family holiday. :)

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  17. You were quite the leprechaun! Looks like a lot of fun was had. Over here the highlight was eating Lucky Charms and wearing green. My plan is to add a new thing every year so eventually we'll really celebrate. I'm slow.

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  18. Uh, no. I have no St. Patty's day traditions. I'm not a very fun mom, you know! Looks like a lot of fun was had at your house.

    Kristi told me when we were roommates at BYU that St. Patrick chased the snakes out of Ireland! Apparently they used to put rubber snakes all over their lawn when she was growing up...

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