The Wearing of the Green Shake

Around here, it's a given. You have to have turkey for Thanksgiving, pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, and, as St. Patrick's Day approaches, you simply have to drink a Shamrock Shake.

After a weekend of household sickness, tonight seemed to be the night. So Baba and Louis went out to pick up an antibiotic and three Shamrock Shakes. As it turned out, Baba--who doesn't let his Irish heritage dictate his shake choice--ordered a chocolate one instead. On the way out of McDonald's, Louis turned to Baba and said, "Baba, you're a chocolate shake guy. I'm a Shamrock Shake guy."

That he is.

And--as we discovered this evening--so is his younger brother.

It's not a given that everyone will enjoy drinking bright green milkshakes.


 
But we'll have to keep looking for a dessert Michael isn't wild about.

Besides, what's not to love about something you can slurp with a straw? (And I wish I could remember why Louis is waving his arms here. I'm sure he was explaining something to me--like, perhaps, why I shouldn't be taking another picture.)

We just love straws here--though Michael refuses to leave his in his cup.

I don't know where he got that idea.

As the household cold has gone through the house this weekend, we've had some crankiness. But there's not much that a Shamrock Shake (and, we hope, the antibiotic our little guy started today) can't cure.

How could a boy with a smile this big ever be unhappy?

No doubt about it. We have a couple leprechauns in this family.

Tonight Baba asked Louis whether he wanted to march in the St. Patrick's Day parade this year. "I think I will want to dance," Louis said.

I'm pretty sure Michael will want to be dancing too.

And as we continue the St. Patrick's Day celebrations, we'll be trading the Santa SpongeBob shirts for some green.

Of course, by the time the shakes were finished, there was plenty of green on the table, the chairs, the floor, and the boys' clothes.

And, at this point, there may even be a green ring around the bathtub.

Bring on the corned beef and cabbage. These boys are ready for some dining and dancing.