Leprechaun Tricks, 2013

Welcome to the 2013 version of Leprechaun mischief. By now, if you know us, you know we are big fans of St. Patrick’s Day. This is our fourth year of trying to catch the leprechauns that mess with us in the days leading to St. Patrick’s Day. The kids set traps at night and enjoy checking in the morning to see if there will be mischief, a mess to clean up, or a treat.

On March 1st, Isabella took things in her own hands. She searched the house for leprechaun tricks. Nothing. She went to the leprechaun garden, where the leprechauns set up shop last year. Nothing. She checked the chicken coop. Bingo!

The Arucauna eggs were oddly shaped and had a bluish ring around them. We have never seen anything like it. It MUST have been leprechaun mischief, as there is no way anyone could have scripted this!

This was all Isabella needed. The hunt was on.

1st trap:

Let me walk you through it. The Lego guys sat near a sign that said, “Free ride to the rope.”

Isabella intended for the leprechauns to ride over to this ladder and “climb up to the spa”

Once they climbed up this ladder, they would find another ladder. Note the green friends who help guide the way.

At the top they would find two areas. This one is the football watching area. Dollhouse sofas set in front of a tv. Isabella drew a football player. It says, Go Leps!”

The next area was the spa. She put out all kinds of little bottles and soaps. And a leprechaun rubber duckie.

The next morning, this is what she found. It looked as though the leprechaun did indeed take the free ride to the ladder.

The tv was turned upside down and there was a green and white soccer ball in front. Guess they play soccer, and/or do not like football!

The bathtub was filled with green water and there were tiny green footprints

on the bath mat!

First the egg mischief, now the green water. Apparently the leprechauns were indeed around. So another trap was set.

It began down on the floor with a sign that said, “Climb up to the ipad cover.”

Once up top, there were a few ladders and another note. “Climb up to the gold coin.”

Under the gold coin was a hole in the box, covered with tissue paper. Taped shut.

The next morning, the coin was gone and the box was still taped shut. But when she tore open the tissue, Isabella found a green leprechaun cane. AKA Jolly Rancher lip balm.

Luca set a trap like Isabella’s, and added gold and jewels as bait.

Isabella wrote a note asking for underwear mischief.

The next morning, no mischief but some goodies in the traps. Mountain Dew lip balm for Luca and a light-up shamrock ring for Isabella.

The following morning we found mischief in our car. Leprechaun glitter all over the seats and some St. Patrick’s Day headbands left on the headrests!

Isabella now knows that the leprechauns listen to us in the house. She wrote about gum ball machines in her homework one night, and the next morning there was a green, leprechaun-sized gum ball machine in the windowsill.

We did discover some mischief, too. The other day, Mom found Birthday Cake Oreos at Target and bought them. She rarely buys Oreos, but we had these in Michigan and LOVED them, so she could not resist. We enjoyed several that day.

The next day, however, when we went to taste a few more, guess what we discovered? GREEN OREOS!!! Birthday Cake Oreos are white inside, with flecks of sprinkles.

Luckily, they tasted pretty good, but not as good as the Birthday cake ones. Pesky leprechauns, eating our favorite treat.

The next morning, we discovered a bit more mischief. The gum ball machine now held rainbow colored gum balls. Hmmm.

Isabella checked to see if the Oreos changed back to white Birthday Cake ones yet. They did not. Hmmph.

The leprechauns might have it in for the Easter Bunny. They also must have heard us read Gulliver’s Travels.

But, they did leave a treat. Just in time for Free Dress Day at school, new St. Patrick’s Day t-shirts!

The leprechauns also left some tiny bowler hats and a tiny magnifying glass. A clue?

Isabella left a trail of shamrocks, leading to this trap and note that said, “Sit on the slide and remove cork.” She filled her trap with Thin Mints and gold glitter.

Unfortunately the leprechauns took all of the shamrocks from her cute trail before I could snap a photo. But I DID manage to snap a picture of the treats they left her:

GREEN iced animal crackers!

Monday morning, March 11th. The potty water was green. Finally.

But that was not all. There was a string of shamrock lights around the vanity mirror and a message written in green lipstick.

And, down in the leprechaun garden, a tire swing magically appeared …

The following day, the kids ran down to the leprechaun garden. They found evidence of a cookout. Looks like leprechauns like burgers and hot dogs!

!

The potty water continued to change. The kids would find it blue some times, green other times, sometimes even aqua. Once it was a combination of pink and purple.

Isabella thought they might be using the bath crayons.

When they flushed it, it turned red before their eyes!

Once they discovered mischief after school. The kids decided to have Cheerios for snack so they grabbed the new box. But wait!

Was that Lucky Charms in the unopened Cheerios bag? Yes! How did they get those in there? Upon further investigation, looks like it was a combination of Lucky Charms and Cheerios.

Isabella checked to see if the milk was green. Nope.

Less than a week to go and the mischief has been mild. Things like girl underwear in the boy drawer and boy underwear in the girl drawer.

And fun stuff like a leprechaun tennis match in the bathroom. (Current theory is that they live in the bathroom.)

And MORE chicken mischief. A tiny blue egg from one of our chickens.

The penultimate trap was a joint effort:

Gold and green coins inside as enticement.

Gold wrapped chocolate and a Chimay (!) top,

A pot of gold and some glasses surrounding the door.

And a note asking for tips, Peeps, and some mischief …

The next morning, this is what Luca found:

There were indeed tips. Little leprechaun dollars.

And there were indeed Peeps. Confetti Peeps, according to Isabella. They were hanging in a basket.

The doorway to the trap had been redecorated.

And there was indeed mischief. Silly String (aka leprechaun gum) all over the bathroom.

We found another surprise in the kitchen. Chickie Rebar was decorated and had a bag of green and orange goldfish for today’s snack at school.

Later, in the garden, we found more mischief. Or proof that the leprechauns have been listening. Daddy went on a weekend fishing trip with friends. So the leprechauns decided to fish in our pond.

Isabella found it. She saw little pinwheels first, then saw some tiny fish in a net.

The kids looked in the pond and saw the boat and fishing gear. The bobber really floated!

Luca tried the rod and reel. They really worked, too!

Isabella thought the leprechauns live in the rock wall behind the pond.

Isabella set one last trap. She invited the leprechaun to come sit “in Hawaii” with her leprechaun doll.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is what the kids woke up to. A cascade of shamrocks upon opening the door, and more hanging from balloons.

They each had a light-up cup containing goodies. Luca got a leprechaun pen and a green car. Isabella got a light-up tiara and bracelet and also a green car. They both got shamrock eyeglass drinking straws, green iced animal crackers, more leprechaun money and gold-covered chocolate coins.

The leprechauns left sprinkles for our next baking project. They also left all of the “bait” that had been used in traps. And they set our dolls up so they could watch the fun. They even had pool drinks!

Of course, there was mischief, too. The clean yet unfolded laundry was strewn about the room. A typical prank.

They must have know about our toilet leak, because they left this on top:

Mom found this near her camera. The leprechauns were kind enough to take photos of their mischief so Mom could sleep in rather than get up early to take pictures.

And finally, the kids found these in their wallets later on during the day. Spending money for our Spring Break trip to Seattle!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!