St. Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patricks Day!!! If you haven't already noticed, I kind of like holidays...any holiday. I love any excuse to celebrate or to be creative and holidays seem to combine those two. I love being able to think of ways to surprise the kids (and even Jeff) or creative food ideas to commemorate the day, and today was no different. Early this morning Lucky the Leprechaun came to visit the kids. He left his Lucky Charms cereal and little gifts for each of the kids. All the kids received gold chocolate coins and a St. Patrick's Day wrist band. The girls got some fun socks and the boys got small shamrock beach balls.

 

 

That evening we invited Grandma & Grandpa Southwick and Great-grandma and Grandpa Thompson over for dinner. Prior to their arrival, the kids pitched in to help me make some rainbow cupcakes for dessert. They really enjoyed creating the colors then slowly piping them into the cupcake liners. I simply enjoyed being with them as we worked together.

 

After we made the cupcakes, Jeff pulled out the parachute and we went flying...literally! Jeff bought this chute awhile back from an army surplus store. Today was really windy so we decided to grab the kids and see how far it would drag us. I got a total upper and lower body workout as I desperately tried to stay upright as the chute threw the kids around like rag dolls. We had so much fun and once again I simply enjoyed being involved in the laughter. (We pulled the chute out after dinner too and Grandpa Southwick got involved in the action. These are pics I snapped of round two.)

 

 

For dinner that evening we had mini shepherds pies, rolls, rainbow fruit skewers, an Irish flag veggies tray and rainbow punch.

 

I've always considered St. Patrick's Day to be the day when we celebrate luck and good fortune (even though I realize that is not the real reason for the holiday). I feel extremely lucky to have found a caring, thoughtful, faithful, worthy man who took me to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. I am grateful that I not only have my eternal family of origin but that I am now part of my own eternal family. I am grateful for 4 beautiful and amazing children who have opened their hearts and have had the courage enough to embark on this new jouney. I am fortunate to be blessed with good friends and good healthy. I feel blessed to have the true gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I am thankful for the counsel and principles from its leaders (ancient and modern) that have shaped and molded me into the person I am.