St. Patrick's Day 2013

Hey, would you look at that? I'm exactly one month late in talking about St. Patrick's Day. Happy April 17, everyone! Luck o' the Irish to you!

My Irish self always enjoys St. Patrick's Day, and I was especially excited this year as it was Ellie's last first holiday. I'm a sap and I get sentimental about stuff like that.

As you saw in my actually-on-time St. Patrick's Day post, Ellie was gifted a very festive outfit courtesy of my best Irish friend, Megan. She looked adorable.

Rocking the shamrocks

The Irish kids

I had some work to do that morning, so Eric entertained the wee lass and got our traditional crockpot Guinness beef stew going while I finished things up. I wrapped it up just as Ellie was waking up from her morning nap, which was perfect timing as we had places to go.

My dad was playing in a band concert with the Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band at MacDinton's Pub in downtown St. Pete, so we made our way down there to watch him perform. We kicked things off with a green beer (and our first time taking the baby to a bar, so that's exciting) and then watched the performance. Yay, Dad!

Eric looking handsomely festive

At least all the drunks liked Ellie's dress?

The Second Time Arounders Marching Band

Go, Dad!

Left: Ellie and me watching the performance; Right: Ellie needed a better view, and that's what daddies are for, right?

After the performance we met up with my dad and he spent some time playing Proud Papa and showing Ellie off to his band friends.

Ellie and her Papa

Don't look now, but this is as close as Eric has ever been to being in a band, I think.

Ellie still needs a little more time to grow into the uniform before she can join.

By that time we were getting pretty hungry, so we said good-bye to my dad (who had a little time to kill before heading off to another concert) and went to Ale House for some fish and chips. Hey, maybe Ale House isn't quite authentic Irish fare, but it wasn't crowded so, win. I also had the sliver-iest sliver of cheesecake ever.

The skinniest piece of cheesecake there ever was

We then went home and spent the rest of our St. Patrick's Day relaxing and eating beef stew. No drunken debauchery over here - just good old-fashioned family fun while wearing lots of green. It was quite nice!

Happy belated St. Patrick's Day, everyone!