St Patrick's Day Parade

It is just so thrilling and exciting to watch Abigail in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.



A little Irish breakfast table before we left that morning.



The weather was just so beautiful. My favorite (except for a whopper of a snow storm and for brisk fall days) is 65 and sunny. I don't like being hot so July and August are not my favorite humid weather months. I couldn't have ordered up a more perfect day.



Before her group started there is a lot of waiting.  But the waiting (in such beautiful weather) is fun!





A quick practice.





Spending the whole afternoon with my little girl was the absolute best!





When it was time to line up the teachers were trying to just keep the waiting girls happy so they played this song and had the girls follow along!  So much fun!



Then it's time to really go!





We follow this car and huge speaker.





I march behind all of the girls.  It's a long route.  She starts off strong but by the end, boy is she ever tired!



They walk for a bit, smiling and waving to the crowd and then she stop and dance a bit.  Over and over and over.  By the end she can barely move her feet.  But she loves it.





The best is when you spot your number one fans in the crowd! Daddy, Anna, Grandma, Uncle Tommy (my brother), Auntie Jackie (my sister in law), toddler cousin Kye, and cousin Elia!!!



Let's get a close up on that awesome crowd!!!



This little clip is from the end of the parade... almost done.



That's one excited crowd!

It really is so much fun!

2015 (it snowed so it was cancelled)
2014 is here
2013 is here

Saint Patricks Day

When I walked into my school today it was a sea of green and it made me smile.  I remembered today how much fun it is to be a teacher in a school on a little holiday that everyone celebrates!  The energy is happy and delightful.

And delightful was our Saint Patrick's Day in our little home morning to night.

It started with this... a table set.  Except... wait... I actually have to start with Sunday morning when Daddy made shamrock green pancakes.



So that we would have them for THIS morning.



Tea for every occasion, that's where I always start.







I surprised the girls with a green corsage.





And there was green milk



But Anna liked the tea better. (note to myself... no green milk next year)



After Abigail woke up they went to check their Leprechaun trap that they set in the playroom.



He wasn't there... thank goodness! But he left them a little green!



Anna, if you're reading this years from now... please know that I live for that joy on your face.





And then Anna is off to Middle School and Abigail ate her shamrocks.





After school snack



Off to viola and orchestra



She looked so cute playing with her corsage on!



And after dinner we ended our night with these!



It was a fun day!



But I'm off to sleep... right about... NOW!

Saint Patrick's Day Parade

Sometimes you just capture that smile and think, "I got it!"  




Music (not the parade we were in of course)

When you hear the bagpipes you get the chills.  Really.



It's so cool to be in this parade for Abigail.  And I get to walk right alone with her!



She's a fun little girl who likes me in her sight but is social too.





It was windy and bit chilly.



But she had so much fun.



Oh man that smile... it's worth every time I drove her to Irish Dance on cold winter days.



Most of the crowd consists of families until you take the corner to the Irish Pub when the crowd changes a a bit.  :)  But oh can they cheer for these little girls.



For my little Irish Stepper it's all about taking it in.  Each little part.  Oh how she loves the music.  And the fun day.

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Abigail's Irish Step Class Singing


(Kindergarten project)

It was such a family weekend for the four of us... and so it was just wonderful.

On Sunday after Anna and I got home from Church School we made these cute little leprechauns.  I'd forgotten how good it feels to get out the paint and glue with my girls. 







Our schedules with them are oh so busy that we don't make enough time for little projects that mean so much to them.




And deep down I know it's not the projects but the time spent all together. 





So I vowed to do more hands on projects with them while they still adore it. 

There were fun to make and I found them on line!



They ended up playing with them in their imaginary worlds for the rest of the day.  I think from the other room I heard a wedding with their little Leprechaun girl and boy. 



We read all of our Saint Patrick's Day books and it felt so good to unwind.



And we made little shamrock cookies.



Off to my parents for an Irish Feast.  It was so festive and oh so good. 




(I always forget to get my Mom in the picture... she's always busy serving and getting it all on the table)

Yes, family time is the best time. And although it goes by too quickly we cherish each silly moment.