Posted in Making Memories

Said to be originated with the adoption of the new Gregorian calendar in place of the old Julian calendar in 1582, April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day, was once used to be celebrated as the New Year's Day.  There are rules to April Fooling. Your trick must be harmless, your victim must believe you, and your trickery must make your victim at least smile (or better yet, laugh) when you shout "April Fool's!" Otherwise, it does not qualify as an April Fool's Day trick.

Around the world http://holidays.mrdonn.org/aprilfools.html

Fools mock at sin,
      But among the upright there is favor.

Proverbs 14:9

PRANKS

sew pant legs together

short sheet the bed

styrofoam peanuts to fall when open door

glue money to the ground

sneak into each of bedroom and gently carry and place each child into the bed of another

paint toenails while sleeping - remember I live with all boys

lightly rub food coloring on inside of milk jug or on sink spigot so liquid comes out colored

MENU:  Serve dessert firsts that look like the meal and the meal looks like dessert.  I like the kids to take their first bite and then proclaim that, "this can't be right this tastes like dessert & maybe we should eat our dessert first" which is of course the actual meal.

Note:  All of these meals need pre-preparation and to keep a secret you will need to be quite the sneak.

For Breakfast-

toast:  Angelfood Cake cooked in a loaf pan & lightly toasted

fried eggs:  apricots in a puddle of vanilla yogurt, sprinkled with a touch of cinnamon

hash browns:  peeled and shreaded apples

bacon:  fruit roll up strips

milk:  whipped cream spooned into clear glass 

cinnamon rolls:  cresent ham and cheese rollups frosted with cream cheese

For LUNCH-

Lemonade:  lemon jello made in clear glass, add lemon candy slices to glass before set 

Fish sticks:  Take the separate long pieces of the Kit Kat bar and coat them with cooking spray and crushed graham crackers to make them look like fish sticks.

Peas:  green Skittles or M&M's 

mashed potatoes:  vanilla ice cream with carmel sauce

Dessert:  Sandwich cake http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/18/Super_Sandwich_Cake59029.shtml

or cupcakes:  (use recipe below for meatloaf cake but prepare in foil cups)

For DINNER-

Drink:  Jello prepared in clear glasses with straws (orange to look like iced tea; raspberry, or strawberry to resemble fruit punch)

Cheese Burgers:  http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/375/Cheese_Burger_Cake59055.shtml

or  Spaghetti: Put a slice of pound cake on a plate. Spoon some softened ice cream in a pastry bag with a thin round tip. Pipe the ice cream over the pound cake in a swirly motion to resemble spaghetti noodles. Freeze for about 15-20 minutes to allow the ice cream to harden back up. Top with strawberry jam as tomato sauce and a few coconut flakes to resemble Parmesan cheese.  For the meatballs, use a butter knife to rough up the surface of two or three chocolate covered malt balls. Place them on top of the "sauce."

garlic bread:  Spread the melted white chocolate on toasted lady fingers. Top with the toasted coconut and green sprinkles for parsley.

Dessert - Chocolate cake with white frosting:  meatloaf baked in 8in rounds frosted with mashed potatoes, http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/256/Meatloaf_Cake58580.shtml

or Pie:  http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50523

The other ideas include missing and mixing up everything like serving cake in ice-cream cones, pizza with silly face toppings, pancakes for lunch, and eating everything with chopsticks. Make everyone wear bibs like babies or innovate by tying their hands behind their backs and then make them eat using only their mouths.

BOOKS:

The Emperor's New Clothes By Hans Christian Andersen

Aesops Fables The Ass in the Lion's Skin - moral:  Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool