"May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. And may trouble avoid you wherever you go." -- Irish Blessing
Many years ago, I created a monster without even knowing it. I had a good friend at the time who would tell me about all the fun things she did for her daughter on all the different holidays - boot prints made from baby powder at Christmas, glitter under the pillow when the tooth fairy came, all kinds of messes and mischiefs on St. Patrick's Day. (If Elf on the Shelf had been a thing when her daughter was little, she would have been the queen of that.) Anyway, I can't remember if she gave me the idea or I came up with it myself - inspired by all her stories. So one year, I got a little black pot and I filled it with gold mardi gras necklaces, fake gold coins, and gold foil-covered chocolates. I put it in the front garden on my way to pick up my youngest from the bus and there it was waiting when we got home. They were amazed that a leprechaun was sneaky enough to hide it in that short amount of time. And they never forgot that. Because the next year, and every year since, they talk about when the leprechaun is going to hide the pot of gold. So I am doomed to repeat this every year. Don't get me wrong, I will never pass up an opportunity that involves chocolate!
But I wanted to make it more interesting this year. The kids are getting older after all. And I happened to find a St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt by The Dating Divas. It comes with downloadable clues and games.
And it was so much fun! For example, my leprechaun name is Goldie O'Blarney, and we also have Greenie McMuffin and Cunning McGrump in the family (both appropriately named I might add).
The only change I made was getting the $1.00 gold presidential coins instead of the paper ones you can download.
This scavenger hunt was a HUGE success! The boys raced around the house (and neighborhood - to get to the mailbox) in order to find all the clues. And their "pot of gold" was waiting for them at the last clue. I will definitely hold onto this one to reprise it another year!
From my board "When Irish Eyes are Smiling"
