Painting fun!

Isn't painting supposed to be relaxing?!  Well maybe it was, for everyone but me! Thank goodness for washable paints! Both Isandro and Lina had a blast. The pictures kind of speak for themselves lol!

Visiting Santa at Lullymore Heritage & Discovery Park

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park is a beautiful area in Rathangan, Ireland, about 25 minutes from our house in Straffan.  On any regular day, it would be a great place to take the kids.  There are walking trails, farm animals/petting farm, train ride, etc.  In December, they do a whole Winter Wonderland for the kids.  Thank goodness that part was all inside, because the day we chose to go, it was raining!  Lina and her buddy Isabelle enjoyed the fun of the friendly elves, snow on demand, play areas, getting to see where the elves sleep (the elves slumber quarters, haha so cute), and then wait with anticipation to see Santa.  This was an Irish Santa all the way with his true Irish accent.  I can't wait to go back again when the weather allows us to really enjoy the walking trails and all of the animals.

Inside the Winter Wonderland.  They made it snow for the kids, and Lina loved it!

Big deal!  Mailing her letter to Santa!

All is right with the world... her letter to Santa is on its way.

Heading into the fun!

They set it up beautifully!  Thank goodness the Winter Wonderland 

part was inside, since it was cold and rainy that day!

One of Santa's elves talking to the kids, right before they made it snow.

Lina and Isabelle were in awe.  They made it snow!

Look!!!  It's snowing!

They got covered!  

Here come the Santa pics.  Lina is talking 

quietly to Santa after waiting in anticipation.

Clearly Isandro was not interested. (He actually got sick that day, ended up with a fever.  Poor guy just wasn't himself.)

We still did some walking outside and saw some of 

the animals.  Can't wait to go back on a sunny day!

Our visit to Lullymore Christmas ended with a train ride.  

This was how Isandro was pretty much the entire day.  My sick little fella'.

Charlie the Elf 2013

As some of you know, Charlie is Lina's Elf on the Shelf. Some nights, Charlie is more creative than others. Some nights, she almost forgets to change her location!  Overall though, Charlie is having a lot of fun surprising Lina each morning. 

First morning she arrived, Charlie surprised Lina with a fun Christmas breakfast! 

She can be a little mischievous at times. ;)

Decorating the windows with snowflakes.

Mmmm sugar cookies!

Fun with the Christmas hair stuff. 

Tea time with the Barbies, although I think Blondie in the corner needs to put some pants on, or at least underwear! ;)

Setting out Lina's Christmas outfit for the last day of school before 2 weeks off.

Getting into Lina's Christmas cards that she was working on for the other kids in her class, and leaving Lina a sweet little note.  :)

Drawing mustaches on the family pictures with Expo marker.  Up to some mischief that Charlie!

This one was actually one of the hardest for Lina to figure out.  We had to play "I Spy" for her to find it.  I said, "I spy with my little eye, something red and green that needs water to grow."  She yells, "Charlie!"  haha