Our Irish eyes were smilin'...

Yesterday the boys were up at dawn, looking for clues that a leprechaun may have visited in the night. Mama stayed buried in the covers until each boy had found his pot of gold...

Only after they'd had a fair bit of chocolate did I manage to serve up green smoothies and the bread pudding Eldest made the day before...

Then the Irish music and dancing began...

Have I mentioned how very lucky (blessed!) we are to have homeschooling friends who live right across the street? We love our neighborhood -- where March 17 is a homeschool holiday -- but someone got a wee bit nutty with the green hairspray...

After the requisite photo shoot, we were off on our parade to the bakery down the street. (Bakeries love holidays almost as much as homeschoolers do!)

Remember the story of how St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland? I was very tempted to get some Green Snake Bread...

We always get our share of queer looks and curious questions when we take the kids out on a weekday. Every day is Educate the Public Day! (No, I cannot explain why I let Middlest out of the house with his hair looking like that.)

When we got back, we discovered that our naughty neighborhood leprechaun had made a mess in our friends' house, turning over chairs and scattering green crepe paper and cereal everywhere! I think he was looking for Lucky Charms.

This wee one was satisfied with cheerios...

Back at home, I made up a batch of green playdough for the little boys while the big ones practiced their Irish jig.

Then we headed to park day while my Irish stew simmered. My parents were married on St. Patrick's Day, so we like to help them celebrate!  My mother always sets the most beautiful table...

I hope your St. Patty's Day was full of fun, and not too much blarney!