thanks to me zach now believes in leprechauns

For years I have been wanting to have the kids make a leprechaun trap for St. Patrick's Day, and every year I remember on St. Patrick's Day when it is too late. Well, this year, despite the fog surrounding new baby and all, I pulled it together in time. They came home Wednesday afternoon to a note and a few shamrocks left by the leprechaun and didn't think much of it. Thursday morning they woke up to a mess left behind by a leprechaun visit during the night. There were chairs overturned, pillows, cushions, and shamrocks everywhere. He even left a note and a green treat. Sarah stood at the top of the stairs and just stared as she didn't quite know what to make of it. Yesterday afternoon we got busy. Sarah and I pulled out all kinds of craft supplies, and she started building. Zach even got into the action as he was determined to catch that sneaky leprechaun. They worked all afternoon long. Zach took a short break or two to play DS, but he added several preschooler touches to our trap as well. This is what they came up with...

First, the leprechaun will spot the shamrocks and follow them to the trap.

When he steps on the bubble wrap, it will pop

which will wake us up and alert us to his presence.

We can then rush downstairs and assist in catching him.

If that fails, the leprechaun will continue around to the far side of the trap.

Here he will encounter a ladder that has gold stuck to every rung.

That will surely entice him to climb to the top in search of more gold.

When he arrives at the top, he will see the path of gold

continuing to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, of course.

It is also lit by glow bracelets in case he needs assistance seeing in the dark.

Unbeknownst to him, however, the top is made of tissue paper

which will certainly fail when he attempts to cross it

leading him to crash down into the box

Trapped! Caught!

We thought of every eventuality and provided him with a goldfish snack inside the box

to keep him alive until we can come and get him in the morning.

Well, Zach did, anyway.

Unfortunately, the leprechaun didn't fall for our trap last night. According to his note, he made it nearly to the top before the sun came up and he had to run lest he be spotted. He did, however, leave a mess of crepe paper all over the living room and some snacks. We may have to make some modification to the trap this afternoon because surely we can catch him before St. Patrick's Day. Or he'll be gone for another year. Zach thinks cheetos are the answer. If we leave a trail of cheetos, he'll follow them and be ours. Sarah is certain that Lucky Charms will do the trick. We shall see...