Leprechaun Tricks, 2014

March, 2014. Our 5th year trying to catch the leprechauns. Actually, we’re kind of over the whole trap thing.

We knew they were back when we found a new colorful arbor and flowers in the leprechaun garden.

Isabella knew, from previous experience, that you catch  more flies with honey. Instead of a leprechaun trap, she built them a tire swing near their garden. 

The next morning the kids found this curious clue near their toothbrushes.

Game on. Isabella built a leprechaun truck out of Legos. She made a leprechaun hat, too. Then added a little patio area, with seats and a grill. She made green hot dogs and added a sign.

The next morning the hot dogs were gone. And the truck carried a surprise.

Green mints! Isabella’s favorite!

Later that day we noticed the leprechauns had made a picnic under their new arbor. There were the green hot dogs, and some bottle drinks!

Isabella made a disturbing discovery. The leprechauns had changed the money from her wallet into green leprechaun bills. Not funny.

She showed Luca,

who promptly went to his wallet…

and found the same thing. His money had been turned into leprechaun money.

This prompted some note writing.

The next morning, no money in sight. And our juice was green!

That night, when Luca was getting ready for bed, he found his note and the green leprechaun dollars crumpled up, under his pillow.

When he pulled his covers back, he found a giant pile of coins!

He is pretty sure is it worth more than the original $13.

When the kids got home from school that day, they realized the puppies were missing.

Their cage had been decorated with green shamrock lights …

green dog toys,

and the food had been replaced with Lucky Charms. The puppies’ water was green, as was their pee and poop.

Green SPARKLY poop!

There were even some green dog biscuits.

We found the puppies in the bathtub.

They were wearing green shamrocks!

The potty water was green …

 … but it changed to blue once it was flushed!

The puppies were not the only ones affected …

Luca decided to go for it.

He enticed the leprechauns with free gems.

He set a piece of gold out on a string that was attached to a hat – when the leprechauns took the gold, they would release the hat which would fall on them and trap them.

He also glued gold down into the trash can and gently propped the lid open. Thinking that they would wiggle to trap trying to get the gold out and the lid would trap them inside.

Isabella joined in, making a bowling alley for the leprechauns to enjoy.

She made a treat station with coins and shamrock shakes.

She asked for Peeps …

then added a trap with gold inside.

Ready!

The next morning, it appeared they turned the traps into a disco party!

Complete with bottles and boots tossed about.

The trash can held Lego people instead of gold.

No Peeps, but Lucky Charms instead.

The night before St Patrick’s Day, Isabella again made a play area for the leprechauns. She put a leprechaun movie on tv and offered snacks.

The sign said “irish Party.”

She made the Lego people dance under the disco light.

She made games with tickets …

… that could be turned in for prizes. Prized included leprechaun slippers and a hat.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day indeed. Seems we DID get a leprechaun this time!

The leprechauns returned all of the things they took the past week.

They changed the leprechaun movie to a St. Patrick’s Day greeting.

They did cut the tickets, just like Isabella expected.

And they left lots of green goodies for the kids, including GREEN iced animal crackers.