St. Patricks Day Fun

Today was a fun day for the boys!

This afternoon, we will be reading the story of St. Patrick. I remember celebrating St. Patrick's Day for my whole childhood and not knowing the meaning of it. It wasn't until I was an adult and a Christian that I found out the meaning of this man and his holiday. It was not about leprechauns and pots of gold, like I had been raised believing.

Instead, it was about a man named Patrick. When he was a boy, he lived in England, as a Roman Citizen. One day he was captured and taken prisoner and made a slave of the Celts, in Ireland. For six years he was a slave. He began having dreams. Dreams that he would leave Ireland.

One day, this dream came true and he took a boat back to England. He was happy there, but one day he had another dream. The people of Ireland were asking him to return and walk with them always.

He knew if he was to go back to Ireland it was to be a priest and to bring Jesus Christ to the Irish. So he went to school, and one day returned to Ireland as a Bishop. Patrick got to spend time with people and he told them about Jesus. He told the Druids about Jesus, too. These Druids had wanted to kill Patrick. Over time, Patrick preached his God and many people chose to follow Christ.

Patrick showed them the three leaf clover and told them that the clover had three leaves, but is one. This is the mystery of the Holy Trinity - Three in One, One in Three. Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. And that is why people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day.

As soon as we got up this morning, we began baking cupcakes for St. Patricks Day! I love spontaneous days! I much prefer to do things on the spur of the moment, rather than planning. When I plan something I always feel this pressure cause it has to get done. I am the type of person who would spontaneously make a trip to California tomorrow! Seriously, I love adventure!

So first thing, I had Cassidy get himself the cake mix - yup, no healthy, made from scratch cake mix here today! A simple recipe that did not need me involved.

Waiting For Their Turns to Help

Austin then the thrill of trying to untangle some decorations from a box that has been sitting stored for so long! He was unsuccessful, so my helpful, creative son, Cassidy, took charge. He took the mobile apart and created three individual hanging decorations.

Untangling the Tangles

Mr. Creative Himself

He then commenced to cutting out some construction paper in the shape of a shamrock and then sewed it with thread to create a stuffed shamrock!

Green Art

After this, Cassidy made the little ones green paint in a variety of shades. They then painted their hands and made designs. Briton had fun and only made one picture before he was done. Cooper had lots of fun painting his hand over and over and over and kept on printing his hand over the previous ones, until there was no evidence of hand prints!

Cassidy is a really great helper when it comes to the little ones and preschool. He is a creative boy and gets his schoolwork done quickly and easily, so he is the obvious one to call on for being my helper. He is going to have lots of fun when the other children come home and we have enough for a small classroom in the 9 and under catagory!

Face Painting

Once the boys were finished their arts and crafts and baking they went digging for green shirts. Cassidy tried to get away with green underwear, but I told him I couldn't see that in the picture! Besides, I don't think he even owns green underwear?! laugh. We then had fun painting up their faces. Cooper wanted a little shamrock on his nose and Austin wanted one on his forehead.

St. Patrick's Day Lunch

Lunch was mint green banana milkshakes, honey sandwiches, and green cupcakes with green icing. Oh, and of course, it was served on green plates.

Cleaning up the Kitchen

After the lunch was over Cassidy was commandeered to clean up the kitchen. He could have had Austin's help, but knew that he could lick the icing bowl if he did the job completely alone! Sometimes the easiest way to get a job done quickly and completely and well is to have a child work alone - and I like to add an incentive sometimes!

Note: Before Cassidy got his icing bowl, the rest of his brothers got a spoonful, of course!