Give me all the rainbows!

Noah's always been into rainbows.  And who can blame him, rainbows are so pretty!  While we've made our fair share of St. Patrick's Day and rainbow crafts (Fruit Loops Rainbow, Rainbow Pot of Gold, Rainbow Clouds), we couldn't resist making another one this year.  Last week, we grabbed our scissors, glue, and sheets of card stock in all the colors of the rainbow and got to work!  

Back in December, my mom showed Noah how to make those paper chains and he absolutely loved it.  I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to make another paper chain... this time as a rainbow of sorts.  I measured out 2 inch strips onto each color paper and Noah did all the cutting.  As long as Noah takes his time, his cutting skills are top notch.  I then helped him glue each of the strips into rings, connecting them all in rainbow order.  Noah is a pro with the rainbow colors (partly because of Mickey Mouse Club), but this would be a great activity to help your child learn the colors and the order.  Then just to make sure they were secure, I also added a piece of scotch tape.  

Finally, we added a little pot of gold to the end of our rainbow chain.  I freehanded the pot and then used the cap from a bottle of water to trace the gold (yellow) coins.  Noah glued the coins to the pot and then added some gold glitter glue for some extra sparkle.  I cut out a short strip of black card stock in order to attach the pot of gold to the rainbow chain.  

We debated quite a bit on where to hang this chain.  I wanted to hang it in front of our kitchen window, but Noah was adamant that it's in a place that people had to walk through and see.  Since I didn't want taller people running into it, we compromised and hung it in the doorway leading from our living room to the kitchen, but put it towards the side.  I was getting a little frustrated at how particular and stubborn Noah was getting about this.   My mom however was cracking up at the whole situation, saying that Noah is exactly how I was as a child (and even today) lol.  

And speaking of rainbow crafts.  While I'm usually the one to do crafts with Noah, I'm always surprised and impressed with the things Chris and Noah sometimes come up with.  While I got the construction paper for them, they came up with the plan for this rainbow all on their own.  And just as Noah doesn't always agree with my artistic visions, he was also debating with Chris on how to execute this rainbow.  He didn't understand Chris' idea to make the red the largest semi circle and keep adding smaller semi circles in the remaining colors.  But once he understood, he was on board and they made this really cool rainbow!  So simple to make and really great for your child to practice cutting and gluing.  

And just like in 2015, we had a Rainbow Pancake Breakfast.  Since our last pancake breakfast, I've been making quite a few pancakes.  It's one of Noah's favorite breakfasts and requests them to either be in the shape of Mickey Mouse or to be a certain color.  While we stick with one color on a regular day, we enjoy making all the rainbow colors for St. Patrick's Day.  I use the Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake mix (I get the big bag from Costco) and simply add some gel food coloring.  It really could not be any easier!  My only issue is figuring out how to keep them warm while I make them all.  Should I put them in the oven??  I would love some suggestions!

I mixed the batter together, which is really just adding water, and then Noah helped mix all the food coloring in.  Chris and Noah then showed my mom all of their new "games" while I made the pancakes.  Currently I'm just using a large frying pan, but now that I'm making pancakes more often, I really think I need to upgrade to a large skillet.  I just can't decide whether to get the kind that sits on the stove or one that plugs into the wall.  Any recommendations???

 ^^^ Noah was showing off everything he got at the parade ;)

And we obviously had to wear our matching Flinn shirts!  Chris' parents got us these back in 2013 for Noah's first St. Patrick's Day.  This was the first year that Noah's actually fit!!!

What will you be doing this St. Patrick's Day??

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Kiss Me I'm Irish | A St. Patrick's Day Parade

I am a fan of holidays.  Some we make bigger deals out of than others, but at the very least I like to acknowledge and celebrate them with some festive food or outfit.  Friday is St. Patrick's Day, and since we are actually Irish, I figure we should do something for it.  I personally am not a fan of corned beef and cabbage, but I do like leprechauns, rainbows, and the color green... so we do what we can ;)  

This past weekend, we went back to our old town for the Morristown St. Patrick's Day parade.  I had been searching for a while for something green to wear.  While I love all shades of green, I usually think of a bright kelly green when it comes to St. Patrick's Day.  In the past I've always bought Noah one of those cute St. Patty's Day shirts, but he really only gets to wear them once or twice, and they are always short sleeve (so not good for this area in March!).  But this year I found him a green sweatshirt at Hanna Andersson and knew it was perfect not only for the holiday, but could also be worn any other day of the year!  As for me, I was having trouble finding much in kelly green... I guess it's not a hot color this year.  So when I saw this green sweater in JCrew, I knew I had to have it!  I love light weight sweaters that don't add extra bulk, and the ties on the side are a nice addition to make it something special and different.  (I also love the royal blue color... I was very tempted to get both!)

 green sweater (now on sale!) |  jeans | riding boots (similar)

While I plan to wear this outfit again on actual St. Patrick's Day, I knew that it would most likely be cold at the parade and I would end up covering this sweater with my winter coat.  So I grabbed my green tote that Chris got me a few years ago so that I'd have something green that would actually be seen ;).  While I don't use this bag a ton, I always grab it on St. Patrick's Day as well as occasionally throughout the summer.  I love the pop of color it adds and it's the perfect size to hold my essentials as well as my DSLR.  

 bag (old Tommy Hilfiger, but this is a cute green option!) | watch (similar)

But I wasn't the only one who wore some green for the parade!  It's a shame that it wasn't warmer, cause no one really knew that we were even wearing green once we added our winter coats, hats, and gloves!  But underneath it all we were showing our Irish pride!

Noah's sweatshirt 

We met our good friends for breakfast before going to the parade.  It's funny cause we met these friends back when we both lived in Morristown and our boys were just 6 months and a year old.  We became fast friends and then both moved to our new town within six months of each other.  The kids always have so much fun together and it was fun going back to our old stomping ground together.    

 ^^^ matching camo coats (Hanna Andersson, no longer online)

Boy was it cold this year.  We went to our first Morristown St. Patty's Day parade back in 2013 when Noah was only 4 months old.  It was so nice out that Chris and I wore long sleeve shirts and I just added a hoodie and hat for Noah.  The following year (2014) it was just as nice, wearing just a light windbreaker.  In 2015, we didn't end up going because it was raining, and last year we were away in Turks and Caicos.  We were so excited to finally go back this year.  Despite it being 26 degrees (felt colder with the wind), we bundled up and decided to let Noah decide how long we stay.  I honestly think I would have given up sooner, but he was really enjoying the whole thing.  I really don't think kids feel the cold like we do.   I hope next year is warmer, otherwise I'll be tempted to get a coat like this, so I can be festive AND warm!

 ^^^ this cart came by SO MANY TIMES!  I was shocked and relieved that Noah didn't ask to buy any of that crap!  

 ^^^ boy did I feel bad for anyone in a kilt!

Noah told us that his favorite parts of the parade were seeing all the instruments... and of course getting all the candy ;)  Chris told him how he used to play drums in his middle school marching band.  Noah said that when he gets bigger, he wants to play the trumpet.  I loved seeing all the bands, everything from bagpipes and drums, to traditional marching bands, to some country bands.  

 ^^^ Noah did not want his photo taken with this leprechaun... and I can't say I blame him.  

 ^^^ Noah told us that their costumes looked like half Joker/half the Riddler.  We are definitely in the Superhero stage over here!

^^^ seeing eye dogs are trained in Morristown and they had a bunch of them walk in the parade.  When we lived in Morristown, I would take Noah on many walks around town and I always loved seeing the dogs out.  Most of the time we would see them being trained and occasionally we would see them with someone who was vision impaired.  These seeing eye dogs are the most calm and loving animals, and it's amazing the service they are providing.  

Despite the cold, we had a really great time!  And for fun, I thought it would be funny to share this gem of a photo from St. Patrick's Day 2011.  Oh how different our Morristown St. Patty's Days are now.  Here I am having my first ever jager bomb...

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Fruit Loops Rainbow | St. Patrick's Day Craft

When it comes to St. Patrick's Day crafts, I tend to gravitate toward the rainbow variety.  Not only do I just find them pretty, but I love doing crafts with Noah that helps him with a toddler skill.  He really is an expert at his colors at this point and is getting a lot better with his rainbow order.  I have to say that this song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse really helped... we sing it overtime we see or try to color a rainbow :)  Anyway, back to the craft.  So not only is it great for color practice, but it also helps with fine motor skills.  Placing each fruit loop on the line of glue requires a more precise touch. Depending on your child's age, you can help as little or as much as you'd like.  

FRUIT LOOPS RAINBOW CRAFT

MATERIALS:

Fruit Loops (if you don't like to actually eat them, I recommend getting an individual size.  We got the regular size box because man are they a delicious treat that reminded me of childhood!)

Cotton Balls

Glue (I find liquid works best)

White piece of construction paper or card stock

DIRECTIONS:

You simply make a rainbow with the fruit loops.  While ours was a little flatter than a typical rainbow, you can make it however you like.  Put a thin line of glue for each layer of the rainbow, I recommend doing this one layer at a time so it doesn't dry out or smear as they work. Let your child pick out the correct color fruit loop and place along the line of glue.   Once they are done with the rainbow, squirt a bunch of glue at the end of the rainbow to stick the cotton balls (clouds) to the paper.  Let it dry overnight to make sure everything is secure... and that's it!

^^^ Noah had just as much fun eating the Fruit Loops as he did gluing them onto the paper :)

Happy Crafting!