Last Nights Home Invasion...

of little green men.  We all have strange family traditions.  Anybody else do this?  My mom was great at making us believe in magic.  She did this for my sisters and I.  Every St. Patrick's eve we would put out a note, a little bowl and a glass of milk and honey for the leprechauns. Then we'd go to bed anticipating their visit.  We'd wake up like it was Christmas, run to the kitchen and be in utter amazement of all their tiny green footprints they left behind.  They'd also fill the little bowl with coins from their pot under the rainbow. 

It was magical, and it got me in alot of trouble too.  First off I believed in everything!  My only visit to the principals office was because of the fist fight I got in over their existence in 3rd grade.  "But they are real, they leave footprints!"  Obviously the other kid's mom didn't spend hours cutting tiny construction paper feet.  Now it is my turn to carry out the tradition for my 2 and 4 year old.  Today also happens to be my husband's birthday.  He had no idea when he married me that he'd be waking up to this on his big day.  Here is a survey of lasts night's visit...  Yes, my leprechauns do have feet like Barney Rubble.

I'm not alone though.  My sister emailed me pictures of the leprechaun's visit to her house.  Seems the Philly leprechauns have a much narrower feet...

If you have children, another great trick I learned from my son's preschool is to put a few drops of green food coloring in the tank of your toilet.  Have the camera ready when they flush and the water changes to  green.  Oh those leprechauns love to play tricks. 

So, anyone else have any stories of bizarre family traditions?  I'd love to know I'm not alone.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!