Last night at dinner, Annabel interrupted us out of nowhere to say, “Mom! I believe in magic!” Her timing for this statement could not have been better: as you probably know, today is St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ve been planning some magic for her and her brother.
I’ve loved St. Patrick’s Day since I was a kid and my Grandma made a big deal out of it. It’s been so fun for me to carry on the traditions my Gram started. Just like in years past, our Leprechaun is bringing the kids shoes (plus green shirts and some other trinkets I…I mean he, couldn’t resist).
This year, however, is bringing a twist. A new person is coming to stay…Sean the Leprechaun. He’s left a note letting the kids know that he’s moved in:
Sean’s house is hidden in plain sight at the base of this double-trunked palm tree:
It looks completely normal, but when you get closer you realize it’s anything but.
Sean has a nice pathway up to his house, lined with fine pebbles and bushes:
He has a lovely chair to relax in when he wants to sun his tiny leprechaun bones:
And of course, he has a mailbox to help him correspond with his friends back in the old country.
I’m so excited for the kids to discover it tomorrow. I can’t wait to see Annabel’s face when she hears a Leprechaun is living in our yard. I know it’s going to make her imagination run wild.
I was inspired to do this by my friend Dana, who put a similar door in her yard for her sons to find. As soon as I heard about it, I immediately bought a door of my own (I got mine from this etsy shop). As Dana said, we only have so much time for our kids to believe magic and all of this fun stuff. Annabel wants to believe (and James wants to do whatever Annabel is doing), so I’m going to do everything I can to give them these little magic moments.
Have a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Day!
samatwitch says:
What a wonderful idea. They will love it, I”m sure. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all the Spohrs.
Aurora says:
We have a leprechaun too, but it’s like to play tricks. He turns the milk green and leaves green foot prints around the house. He will also, if he (I) can without waking them, leave green drawings on the kids faces.
MNmom says:
My mom used to give us all a green carnation to wear to school and a green shamrock. Dinner was always corned beef and cabbage. I used to buy the tackiest St Pats Day pins for my kids to wear as well as the carnations. Funny how we stick to what we knew as kids. I don’t make the dinner though, it stinks up the kitchen …..
Leiah says:
I love this! Heading to search the interwebs to see what I can find for the grandbebes. We live on 4 acres and the older ones (6 & 3) are always out discovering things on the property. I’m already imagining their faces when they find something like this. Thanks for passing this wonderful idea along!
Johanna says:
Such a wonderful idea. Reminds me of a little tiny door in a tree that is home to the tree elf that answers letters at a local MN lake:
http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/265050671.html
Kristen says:
Oh so much fun! You may already have done this research, but Fairy Gardens are HUGE!!! I have a couple of friends who have created them, and they are gorgeous. You can definitely go crazy, but since Annie loves to imagine things, and you love to craft, maybe checking out some of the gardens on Pinterest or other online places might give some inspiration to make new things to add to Sean’s house as he gets settled in to life in your yard. I just love this – hope Annie and James have so much fun with it.
Lisa F. says:
Oh my gosh, that’s adorable! Now I want to make a leprechaun home in my yard, and I don’t even have kids! :p
Erin says:
That is so fun! I want a leprechaun to live in my yard too.
Missy says:
Cutest. Thing. Ever!
Lauren says:
This is not entirely the same, but if you ever make your way to Ann Arbor, Michigan, look up the Fairy Doors… (same concept, except FAIRIES!). They’re located all over, including in the children’s hospital and in the Google offices there. Pretty neat stuff
rc says:
So cute! My now 16 year old daughter totally believed in fairies. We had many fairy houses and the fairy would leave her notes and sprinkle magic dust around the backyard. It really is a fleeting time. Before you know it, she won’t believe anymore. Enjoy!
Cheryl says:
I love this! We’re about to move to a new house…I think a fairy door will be the perfect thing for the kids to discover!
Kristen E says:
This is amazing! I love how creative you are with your kids!
Ashley says:
Oh my gosh – I am in love with this idea. We’re moving soon and I’m wishing for a gnome garden! I’m going to make my husband an Amazon Wish List for my b-day!! I mean… it’s all for Jax, of course. What 5 year old wouldn’t love this?!?!
Jeanie says:
What a cute idea, and a great poem!
Denise says:
Woah! I love the leprechaun pad! My youngest is a bit too young for this now, but next year I want to do this for her. Thanks for the idea.
GreenInOC says:
This is SO cute!
Have you planted Cheerios yet?! Plant them and about a week later they can sprout (round glazed donuts, with a straw skewered in them and “planted” in the ground). I bet you could have your Leprechaun help with the magic part of getting them to grow!
Katrina says:
No Leprechauns for us. They are scary little creatures. But I guess my mind is just warped from growing up in the 70’s with that Porky Pig episode “The Wearing of the Grin” playing 50’s a month. You know the one where he gets lost in the storm and wanders up to that spooky old castle and the spooky old inn keeper is really two leprechauns who are sitting on top of the shoulders of the other to make it seem they are a normal sized person. And then they make Porky put on those green shoes and he can’t stop dancing…and oh my gosh I still have nightmares about it. “Leprechauns, sir? Pot of gold, sir?” Eeeeek.
Nikkii says:
Laddie and lass(ie) are both Scottish. Boyo and colleen would be the closest Irish equivalents although are rarely actually spoken… unlike laddie and lassie which are widely used over here (in Scotland – by me – daily!). I hope I don’t sound picky, it’s just really weird to Scottish words in an Irish context
Heather says:
I needed something to rhyme with grass, so…*shrug*
Lexi says:
That’s really nitpicky, especially since Lad and Lass are of Middle English/Scandinavian origin. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lass