Shamrock Shakes

We aren't huge fans of "The Yellow M" around here. Louis doesn't even know that fast food spot's real name.
We make an exception once a year, however, and go on our annual quest for the Shamrock Shake.

The shamrocks have been hung on the front door with care, thanks to our boy, a roll of tape, and a bit of parental guidance. And St. Patrick's Day is Thursday. So tonight seemed like a good night for the Shake.

It isn't always easy to find, but I had a hot tip on a cold shake and it didn't take much to talk the family into taking a ride tonight. We pulled into the drive-thru, ordered three shakes, and handed over our pot of gold.

When Louis first came home from China, he didn't like milkshakes. We were desperate to get him to drink milk, but every time we ordered a milkshake, his father and I ended up drinking it.

That was nearly 15 months ago, way back when Louis was just a little boy--and only 2. Tonight our 3-year-old boy was perfectly delighted to drink a liquid version of the Emerald Isle.

I left them in the minivan to run into the grocery store for some corned beef and cabbage for Thursday's dinner. When I returned to the car, I heard a rousing chorus of "Milkshakes in the Car," sung to the tune of "Whiskey in a Jar." (Baba's repertoire of Irish songs is a bit different from Mama's.)

Back at home, we brought the shakes inside to finish and marveled at how green they were in the light.

They are a bit green--and not in some ecological way. Please don't ask about nutritional value either. Louis certainly didn't.

Gradually we got tired of them and the novelty of this bright green beverage started wearing off.

Luckily we had a friend--Louis's best buddy--just waiting for a taste.

Sure, he might have preferred to eat cake in a tub, or maybe some green eggs and ham. But--when he isn't sticking his tie in Louis's ear (or "he's just pretending to," as Louis assures me)--Cat in the Hat is a good sport who is happy to help in a pinch.

Both the Chinese and the Irish seem to have good senses of superstition and luck. In China, green is apparently an unlucky color, while in Ireland--or in Irish-American tradition, at least--it's a lucky one.

Whether we're talking green, red, purple, or blue, we feel pretty lucky around here.

And you can see how happy we are after drinking milkshakes.

And, while we're still figuring out the difference between celebrating Easter and the Year of the Rabbit, Louis is quickly piecing together what this new tradition is all about. Tonight we were talking about St. Patrick's Day and Louis stopped the conversation cold.

"St. Patrick means we can get Shamrock Shakes!" he said proudly.

Thank goodness for the Yellow M.