Park time!

There are (too) many malls here in Dubai but thank goodness (for Johan especially), there are as many spacious parks where we can escape to. This weekend, we went to yet another park, Zabeel park and discovered a little green escape right in the bustling and chaotic business centre.

Yasmin on her park mat, always enjoying the outdoors

Yup, Johan and I are playing badminton together. Those who know Johan, will know he is super competitive. But, ahem, I think I showed him who's the ace when it came to the game of badminton. ha ha ha. Don't listen to him if he tells you he was playing against the wind. And Sera was my very enthusiastic cheerleader.

Goaaaaaaaal! Johan and Sera playing football.

Recycled Halloween

Remember the mermaid costume I chose for Sera to wear last year? She hated it! You can see from this photo how she was trying to take it off while posing for the photo. The costume was a complete disaster. Sigh.

She ended up 'trick of treating' in her GI Sera outfit

Guess what she wore this year? Hee hee. Her mermaid costume, once again! Yipee ... I'm always for recycling and reusing. I accessorised her costume with some necklaces and bracelets and she was very thrilled. She doesn't really get the concept of a mermaid, so I just explained that she was going as 'Rainbow Fish', you know that story about the fish that shared his shiny scales with his friends.

From what I heard, she had a blast at school. They had a fun day, full of games and too much candies. Cute!

And remember this eeyore outfit that Sera had when she was just about Yasmin's age ... RECYCLED, but of course. Just like her sister, Yasmin wasn't so keen about wearing a costume, especially that crazy Eeyore hat, err ... head.

She did like his detachable tail ...

One more try ... ahh ... Yasmin, as little eeyore!

Splish splash, splish splash

Yasmin has TWO loves at the moment - milk and ... bath time! I remember Sera used to get really wild during bath times, back when she was little but Yasmin is a COMPLETE maniac. Ha ha. I'm usually soaked and exhausted after bathing her. And sometimes, like today, she gets some company from Sera, who loves to squish in and share her bath.

There's always room for another

Sera takes over with bathing Yasmin

Ok Sera, she's all yours!

Like father, like daughter

What do you think? The resemblance is uncanny huh. Yasmin is like a 'She-version' of Johan, or Johan a 'He-version' of Yasmin. Ha ha.

Happy Birthday Chloe!

Dear Chloe, on this special day, we wish you a very Happy 2nd Birthday! Hope you had lots of fun with your friends at school and the biggest slice of your birthday cake. Here is a little birthday song from your dear friend Sera to you. She's not feeling super so that's why she is a little grumpy but she really got excited about wishing you Happy Birthday, especially when it came to blowing the candle. Enjoy!


Sera sings for Chloe from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.

A black tie event

We were cordially invited to 'The Netherlands Trade and Investment Gala', dress code 'black tie', thus the reason why we are looking the way we do in this photo. Well, actually we were standing in for Johan's boss so it was a 'no way out' scenario. Anyway, I had to shop for a black suit for Johan since he didn't own one. It resulted into a painful errand because I had to go back to the boutique 3 times till I got the right fit for him! Hmm.

All I remember is how I had like, 10 minutes to get ready and how incredibly chaotic it was ...

Johan: "Desiree, we were supposed to leave 30 minutes ago!" (Johan, all dressed up and walking around in his shoes!!!!)

Me: "Yah baby ... and I had to first bathe Sera and Yasmin!"

Me: "Ma, my dress won't zip up!!!!!!"

(Ma to the rescue, carrying Yasmin in one arm and Sera is tugging her other arm, wanting something.)

Ma: "Wax ... wax, we need some wax ... where are your candles?"

Me: "Candles? We should have some in the candle holders right?"

Sera: "Mama ... mama ... I need to pee!!!!!!"

Me: "Baby, can you attend to Sera and why are you walking around in your shoes!!!!"

Johan: "I can't take them off ... they're too tight!"

So the zip on the dress finally worked. Sera did her pee. Yasmin was still in grandma's arm. Johan was waiting by the front door. I grabbed my shoes and realised I didn't brush my hair (ahh, I'll just go with the messy look). We had to pose for Grandma, who insisted on taking this photo (I think I look awfully old, by the way, and what's with Johan's serious expression???) .

Honestly, we don't have time (or the energy) for these things!

Reading together

It's a rough start to a day when Yasmin doesn't take her usual morning nap. It's an even rougher day when both girls don't take their afternoon naps. That means, by evening time (just about the time Johan is back ... hee hee, what good timing) I'm a little more tired, a little grumpy, and a little less patient.

But then I reflect on my day and remembered a very sweet moment between the two girls. I had asked Sera to read to Yasmin while I went to the living room for a bit, and she did, very happily. And Yasmin ... oh, she was listening so very attentively.

I've become my mother

Sunday morning. It's Scarecrow Day at school and I didn't prepare any fancy dress for Sera. What to do ... what to do? Accessorise that's what I'll do!

"Sera, today is Scarecrow day at school. So you'll have to wear something special yah." (I've learned to pre-empt her nowadays)

"Yah!" (She was fairly curious and excited. She was more interested in her breakfast)

"So ... you'll wear your straw hat and a scarf ok?" (I thought those two accessories would do the trick of looking a little bit like a scarecrow)

"Ok!" (Still only interested in her breakfast)

So we're about to dress up and she spots the scarf on the floor. She eyes it suspiciously.

"Here Sera, it goes around neck."

"Nooooooooooo .... it's too big!"

"It's not too big, it looks really nice!" (Oh no, there's going to be a tussle over this silly scarf, I just know it)

"Nooooooooooo ... I don't want it, I don't like it!"

"Sera, please ... " (Yes, I'm pleading with my two year old to wear this stupid scarf so that she'd look a little like a scarecrow!!!)

"Noooooooooooooooooooo!"

"Sera, do you want to go to school?"

"Yes."

"Then, you have to wear this scarf ... or else, no school."

Oh gosh, did I just say that? I just did a typical mother-child 'blackmail' right? And it so happened that my own mama was in the bathroom then (she was bathing Yasmin). I looked at her and knowingly commented, "You did that to me too right?"

"Yah." (with a sheepish grin)

I've become my mother.

Sera did wear the scarf and the straw hat, with a major pout. Her teacher did exclaim that she looked like a scarecrow (points for this mama). Sera, however, refused to let me take a photo, thus I have none to show. Oh well, you win some ... and you lose some. 'grin'.

Weekend means together outdoors

Our Friday morning started still dark and very early. Friday mornings, the only time Johan gets to sleep in, but also the only morning that Sera gets to see papa when she wakes. So jump into our bed she does (with a box of Mother Goose nursery rhyme books), together with Yasmin who was awake way before. What a LOVELY start to our weekend. And this weekend, we ventured out of our village to Dubai Marina and the Safa Park.

A still sleepy Johan trying to embrace the cosy setting ... haha!

Yasmin was entertained by Sera's rendition of the nursery rhymes

Little Miss Sunshine ... bright eyed and always so lovely to be with

At Dubai Marina. We had to take a rest even before we could walk the boulevard. The journey there got us all frazzled up. Well, actually, Yasmin was the culprit. She still hates her car seat so it was a really pain in the ear, screaming journey of about 30 minutes.

Sera, sleepy thus grumpy

We finally set off and soak up the marina's atmosphere ... stalls selling all sorts line the walkway. Sera eventually got over her tiredness and was buzzing around. Yasmin was very sweet throughout and was a happy camper in her carrier. Phew! And how nice that grandma is around to snap away.

Saturday morning with two serious looking girls

Close up on Yasmin who's already 3 months ... she has filled up huh.

At Safa Park, relaxing together just before the sunset.

Silly me forgot to bring toys for Yasmin, so it was my mobile phone (which ended up dripping with saliva) and this plastic mat she was lying on (she was amused by the scratching sound that she made with her fingernails)

Awww so sweet ... grandma and Yasmin

We had this whole patch of green to ourselves ...

Yasmin discovered her toes and reached for them immediately. We've been wrapping them with socks since day one. Goodness!!!

And now she just can't let them go!


Eeeeeeek! This little friend emerged from the soil ... caterpillar?

Dalmatian Day!

"This Sunday, 12 October, is Dalmatian Day for the Nursery class at Kangaroo Kids. Please dress your child as a Dalmatian for school. Thank you!"

This was the sms Johan received on Thursday evening. A tad demanding don't you think? Ha ha. Anyway, I didn't really think about it until I remembered 'Dalmatian Day' on Saturday late afternoon.

Really, did they have to choose this time, while we're so busy packing, to create a costume for Sera???

Hmmm. We managed somehow ... with black duct tape, a white t-shirt, a pair of white socks and my black eye liner pencil.

Sera was a little amused but mostly puzzled at her outfit this morning. Her black snout wasn't well received though. She was horrified that her snout, I mean, nose had a black khol on it. She kept putting her head down, not wanting to look at the mirror. And when we arrived at school, she didn't want to look up at anyone ... she was totally self conscious and very embarassed. Oh dear!

But I think she relaxed a little when she entered her classroom and saw other strange looking polka dotted friends of hers. Dalmatian day ... come on??!!!????

Just arrived at school. I wanted to take a shot of her in her Dalmatian outfit ...

But this puppy wasn't happy at all!


"Hey sis, you think you have it bad? Look what Grandma dressed me in this morning ... she thinks it's so funny!"

However, the forlorn Dalmatian puppy was a boisterous puppy by the time I picked her up from school. I was just in time to see the pack of 'Dalmatians' coming down the stairs, all spotted, with tails and a pair of ears. ha ha. Sera felt right at home with her friends. She even excitedly proclaimed to me when she saw me, "Mama, I'm a dog ... woof, woof!". And she was woofing all the way to the car, in the car and woofed to grandma and even frightened Yasmin with her excessive woofing.

Hmm, guess what ... the next special day is 'Scarecrow Day'!!! Groan.

Leading the pack, with Ms Trish

The little Dalmatians

She does looks like a puppy huh? Ha ha

She was very happy with her tail and showing it off to me

She insisted on crawling up, on all fours, all the way up to the where I parked my car. Fine ... whatever you want sweetie.


Woofing to grandma and Yasmin. She got a little too carried away with her barking, so much so that Yasmin had a scare ...


Sera quickly hugs and apologises to Yasmin

Sera was very hungry and wolfed down her lunch. Must be from crawling up that flight of stairs after school.

Around our village

The weekend was spent clearing up the last of the 51 boxes. Big sigh of relief from all of us. It was hard work but together we did it! We took some breaks in between and spent it outside with the girls, in our little 'village'.

Hmm, lately Sera has gotten a bit fed up posing for photos. She gives this far away daze look if she's not in the mood.

That is the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. It is still under construction and the final height or rather storey is yet to be revealed. Yup, we live really close to it ... right at our backyard.

Sera loves this climbing wall thing ... just watch her go!

And the treat is the slide down ... weee

Yasmin enjoys being outdoors lately. And thank goodness this carrier is to her liking too. Phew! Still have to work on her car seat.

This photo came out strange but here's Johan with his two little girls

Out of the carrier and into Johan's arms ... check out that cheeky look on Yasmin


The girls in the morning, wide and bright eyed


Morning stroll ... and a sure way to get Yasmin to fall asleep


On her playmat. Everything within 25cm. ha ha.

Dip in the pool before dinner time