Leprechaun Catcher

Do you have a leprechaun catcher????? Every household should have one.....
Thanks to Grandma Cher....we have a custom, moss covered catcher. You might be thinking to yourself.....

"what do you do with a leprechaun catcher?"

Well you catch a leprechaun of course so you can find out where he hid his pot of gold!!! You might also be wondering...how do you get the leprechaun in the catcher??
you lure him in with gold

Simple really when you think about it

I think I see the wee beastie now...trying to get the gold

More gold inside the catcher...think he can fit in the hole?

Pot of Gold
This is what the leprechaun desires most of all.

My mother provided all the decorations, chocolate coins, gold chocolate rollos and the wee beastie. She even had the idea of green food coloring in the toilet. Merci Mother!

Late this evening my husband and I set the stage for Finn to wake up to on St Patricks Day. We told the leprechaun story to Finn before bed. He even called Grandma Cher to find out when the leprechaun would be arriving. I can't wait to see his face.

Part Two (from this morning)
Finn was up at 7am....I could hear his little feet on the hardwood floor and then they stopped......I looked around the hall corner and there he was......still as a statue, looking at the grass trail left by the leprechaun.

He said very quietly, "mommy the leprechaun was here"

we didn't catch him, he was quick but not quick enough

we captured his wee hat

The leprechaun left Finn a little gift on top of his pot of gold. A little statue of himself, in case Finn is ever in search of a living leprechaun, he will know what to look for.

May we all find our pot of gold today!

St Patricks Dinner

Every year my father is kind enough to get us a table at the annual St Patrick's Parish St. Patricks Day Dinner & Dancing Event!!! The proceeds go to the private school affiliated with the parish. So not only do we partake of homemade Irish soda bread, corned beef & cabbage.....all the guiness you want...but it goes to a good cause.

Table Centerpiece

shhhhhhhh......

I slipped this photo in from last years party at St. Pat's,

it is my favorite photo with my father and I couldn't resist including it...

I love this photo of Tiago
(think he is Irish)

Irish Dancers

Tiffiney & Finn

Uncle Mark, Baby Chloe & Aunt Kara

All of Us

(can you tell who has been sipping the Guiness?)

Dad....thank you so much for always getting us a table, for rounding us all up, we look forward to it every year!

For Finn and Tiago its all about the live Irish band and Irish dancers!!

ERIN GO BRAGH

My Little Boy Turns 3

My little boy turns 3 today.

My little boy loves to dance to any beat.
My little boy dreams of firetrucks.
My little boy finds absolute joy in books.
My little boy holds my heart forever in his.
My little boy likes to roll in the mud.
My little boy gives the best hugs and kisses.
My little boy is not so little anymore.
My little boy turns 3 today.

Happy Birthday little Rob!

Tomorrow is my little brothers birthday....yes, for all of you with increased brain power, my son and my brother share the same birthday, March 13th

My brother......

Robert Theodore Richardson

In the Flesh

Wish we could be together to celebrate your special day little Rob. Finn can even sing you "happy birthday cha cha cha"!

They've started rolling on in......

The first birthday present arrived yesterday from Uncle Rob, Aunt Allie, Teddy, Brie and Baby Todd......you can only imagine how excited Finn was. He has told everybody and I mean everybody that his birthday is Friday and the big brown box is his present.

This is the box!

I will keep you posted on the contents of the box....we are making him wait till the big day.....March 13th my little one turns 3.

SATURDAY 11:30AM SOFTBALL GAME

Softball.....sigh.....is growing on us!!!!!! I guess it would help if we understood the rules better or knew why the umpire was jumping up and down with arms flailing about.

Don't get me wrong....I know 3 strikes you're out, 4 balls you walk. See, not bad.

Kayla #4

In the dugout

FANS

(Edna & Jimmy)

Midnight Rockers
(Kayla's Team)

Kayla Next at Bat
More Fans
They look familiar....

Strike
(I love the pink helmet, can you find the ball)

Kayla in the Outfield

Are you impressed with my softball vocabulary? I am learning. All joking aside, Kayla is improving with every practice. Now, even Kirra now wants to tryout for next season.

Licking the Spoon

Does this bring you back......last night we made brownie's. It was a long Monday......really long. We needed chocolate. Finn wanted to help and pushed the kitchen chair over to the mixing bowl. He helped break the eggs...no shells in the mix (I promise), he stirred and even helped me grease the pan.

But an even bigger suprise was awaiting.....

After the brownies went in the oven, I handed him the mixing spatula. He looked at me, then at the brownie covered spatula and said "for me mommie?" This was the first time I had offered him the spoon.

And so....another tradition passed on. I remember when my mother handed Kara and I spoons covered in cake batter, cookie dough....pudding...anything sweet worked, and now I get to pass the spoon to Finn. Sorry Samson and Todd, your time is over!

Finn and Spatula

Roosevelt Middle School Soccer Tryouts!!! Go KIRRA!!!

Kirra this is for you.....

I am posting this tonight to send out all the postive energy I can towards the judges for the Roosevelt Middle School Soccer Team. My niece Kirra tried out today for a spot on the team.......first round picks are tomorrow. GO KIRRA!!!! We are always so proud of you. To all who read this....please send positive energy her way.

Kirra (center in mid-motion) during Mesa Championships.

Kayla, Kirra, Heather & Finn

Future Players of US Olmypic Soccer Team

VIOLATED!

What is worse than waking up on a Sunday morning knowing you lost an hour of sleep due to Daylight Savings Time???? Can't think of anything...well I can. My husband woke up early to let the dog out and came back in saying someone had smashed in our car window....I instantly felt violated, angry, sadness, vengeful, deja vu....I can't even begin to express the emotions flying through my mind....even now looking at the pictures....I feel it all rising back to the surface. Whoever did this, watch out I am packing heat, GLOCK heat!!!! No joke.

Side Note: My husband called the Carlsbad Police Dept who showed up within 10 minutes of the call, when we went back outside to wait we noticed that a fellow neighbors Lexus SUV had their window broken out as well. Upon further scrutiny of the neighborhood there were ransacked purses on other neighbors lawns....we were all hit! All I can say: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH NEWEST CHAPTER IS INITIATED!!! Take heed everyone, don't leave anything in your car.

Only bright spot....Finn was thrilled to have a live, breathing, gun toting Police Officer in our very own driveway!

Those of you paying attention, may have caught that I mentioned deja-vu...reason why...picture below shows our rental car in France outside the Abbey Montmajour.

Mother of Mine!!

Happy Birthday Mother of Mine!!

March 5th belongs to you!

This is my Mother with her Father back in Newport, Indiana. If i'm not mistaken she is just a year old. I love this photo, it is in my front entry display and it always catches my eye as I walk by.

It makes me realize how precious time is.

Enjoy every moment!

RECOMMENDATION

For my fellow bibliophiles.....I am always on the quest for the next great read. Found it "The Hunger Games" This is an Awesome book! A MUST READ! My niece Kirra did it again...not only did she start us all on the Twilight Saga....but now The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Finished in two sittings!

In light of our current economy and the direction our government is heading...this book made me stop and think this could be us next.

HAPPY READING

SLEEP OVERS

Saturday Kayla came over to spend the night.

On the agenda: killer fun, games, homemade pizza's, act crazy and to stay up as late as you can!!

(some of you may notice Kirra is missing -Backpacking Club to the Laguna Mountains, we missed you)

We started the evening off with creating homemade pizza's, then moved on to Fish Game and Rootbeer Floats!

Kayla created her own specialty pizza

(Fontina Cheese, Mozarella, Cheddar, Parmessian and Genoa Salami)

Kayla checking on her pizza

Todd slicing the pizza's

Grandma Violet came over to experience Kayla's pizza first hand. She brought with her the ingredients for Rootbeer Floats, Hello Kitty Pajamas for Kayla and a Fish Game for Finn (very Mary Poppinish). It reminded me so much of many sleep overs from my childhood. Giggling, ice cream, games.

Fish Game (Finn caught the first fish)

Rootbeer Floats and Sundaes

Pajama Time
As the night grew closer to midnight the crazy hairstyles started emerging.

Finn could only hang in so long, off to bed for him at 10:30....Kayla and I bundled up under blankets and watched Pippi Longstalking. Kayla's suggestion, but a personal favorite of mine from childhood. Finn woke us up at 7:30am Sunday morning, he knew waffles were on the menu.

How Many Gustafson's Does It Take to Measure a Cup of Milk?

Kayla's Masterpiece
Wholewheat Cheesey Waffles
Bacon

I-POD TOUCH

TRIBUTE TO MY I-TOUCH..............

I LOVE MY I-TOUCH
I AM ADDICTED TO MY I-TOUCH
I DO NOT GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY I-TOUCH

HERE IT IS

love my case? Gift from Todd

playing a James Blunt video

I drive everyone crazy with my I-Touch, I love that I can use Safari to surf the net, I have an automatic link to youtube, anywhere there is wi-fi it automatically downloads my gmail and work email to my I-Touch. I use it for absolutely everything. It was a birthday gift from Todd and I must say, best gift ever. You have probably figured this out by now.....I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE I-POD TOUCH!!!!

BATHTUB ROCK - TORREY PINES RESERVE

On a bright and beautiful day in December, before Gus's departure back to Singapore we decided to walk the beach to Bathtub Rock. Bathtub rock was created from un-natural causes.....Netherland gent mined a certain mineral from the middle of the rock.....and I had always thought it was from thousands of years of tidal flow.

Torrey Pines State Beach

Finn and Seaweed

Me

Pappa giving a lesson on local seaweed
Finn is the perfect student, totally engrossed!

We arrived at Bathtub Rock just before the tide came in!

Ariel view of Bathtub Rock

Puzzles and Grandpa

Sunday afternoons.....we usually are preparing for the new week, fininshing laundry, getting lunches together...laying low.....but last Sunday afternoon we opened the doors and there was Grandpa with wooden puzzles, four of them just for Finn.

Which to try first, letters, animals, numbers....puppies

Finn and Grandpa in deep concentration

ahhhhhhh....it fits perfect!

I know, I know...I have a thing for hands, I love this photo.

Finn's little hand with Grandpa's hand guiding him along.

Thank you DAD & GRANDPA!