The celebration of the (mis)adventures, the mundane, and the magical moments of my family. Join us as we gypsy around the world. It gets manic sometimes but we figure we can't go wrong as long as we stay close together and embrace every moment of every day ... Relax, take it easy!
We were hoping Sera would feel better to attend school for the last two days, and she did. She was still a bit weak but she was so happy to go back to see 'my children' (as in her friends) at school, Ms Trish and Ms Delma. So Wednesday was Treasure Hunt day, and the kids dressed up as either pirates or mermaids. I have to say, this mermaid dress of hers has definitely been money well spent. ha ha. And on Thursday, we brought cupcakes to school for her farewell party. As with all the schools she has attended so far, she has learned, shared and grown so much ... in so many ways, she has pleasantly surprised and made us very proud.
Mermaids and pirates pose for me
My little mermaid ... but this girl is a bit of a realist. She just can't accept the idea of a mermaid so now she calls this costume her 'fish dress'.
Last day of school. I left my camera with the teachers and they got some cute shots of the kids in action. Here they're working on their individual activity book
9.30am snack time
And they bid farewell to Sera with 3 candles on the cupcakes ... a pre-birthday celebration?
Sera definitely has had better days. My poor girl has been, for almost a week, tearfully fighting a viral infection that has caused multiple ulcers on her tongue and her red, swollen gums has rendered her very fearful to eat or drink these past few days. It has been a real emotional tussle just getting her to take a sip of water or take her medicine. So these days, we've lived up to the expression, 'cruel to be kind'. It has been painful for us to see her in so much pain. I truly wish I was the one suffering and not her. Sigh. But she's going to get better as long as she continues to struggle but heed our constant drill ... 'Drink lots of water, take your medicine and REST!'
Sera, mesmerized by the musical fountain at the Burj Dubai lake. Her spirit was definitely lifted up by Opa's visit last weekend.
When Sera showed signs of falling sick on Wednesday, I actually groaned inwardly (and mayble outwardly too!) because Sera's opa was visiting for the weekend. She couldn't be sick! However, this girl surprised me by waking up at 6.30am on a Friday morning, even did a drawing for him while waiting for him to wake up at a more reasonable weekend time. What can I say, Sera adores her opa. The entire weekend, was 'opa this, and opa that', but it was priceless seeing opa and Sera spending such a good time together. Despite her running a fever and the beginnings of an ulcerated mouth, she was a real trooper. On Saturday, we went across to the mall (ha ha, what else right?) to the Aquarium Tunnel and the Discovery Centre. This time, Yas was awake (and being a little older definitely helped) to appreciate the fish in the big tank and the collection of marine life at the Discover Centre. It was a relaxing weekend and it was such a pleasure having opa spent it with us.
Into the tunnel we went, to have the closest encounter with the marine life while staying dry ...
... and fearless
Harbour sealslooking very puffed up and surprisingly fast and agile
Yas getting very excited with the very pretty jellyfish
A bunch of happy people!
And finally the penguins ... they were the girls' favourite
So just across the road, from where we live, is the Dubai Mall (the biggest mall in the world), the Burj Dubai (the tallest building in the world) and now we also have the Dubai Fountain ... the biggest musical fountain in the world. I know, it all sounds very bizarre but for our amusement and benefit, it's been good and absolutely free entertainment for us and the girls. I managed to capture a very shaky video (on battery that was running on empty) of one of the sequences, though I reckon it's best seen from an aerial view. I just liked that I captured Sera enjoying the water fountain. Check out a better video I found from youtube. Enjoy!
So we're on our way to the ice rink at the mall and my ever-so-modest husband casually, with a smirk on his face, remarks, "Have you seen me skate?". This guy!!! Obviously he KNOWS I haven't seen him skate though I've heard from him, him and him alone that he can skate very well. Ha ha ha. Such a little boy sometimes. Anyway, we wanted to let Sera try it out, though we were a little apprehensive about her reaction. I mean, knowing her, she may just freak out when she realised how slippery and slidey it was going to be. But she excited, more so because her papa and her mama were going to go skating with her.
She was fitted with bob-skates. Basically, they're double blades that are tied to her shoes. They looked a little clumsy but she thought they were pretty cool. Johan and I were fitted with the most uncomfortable and most unattractive plastic boots. I was complaining about their fit and saying how they were going to make me unsteady on the ice and of course, Johan being so very encouraging says, "It's not about the boots you know ..." Arghh. Somebody please serve him some humble pie!
We enter the ice rink and Sera is just ALL OVER THE PLACE! I start to get a little nervous for her but to my utter delight, she starts to giggle and just lets Johan glide her around. She actually loves it, and watches in wonder as other kids and adults skate pass and around her. I eagerly take photos of Johan and her gliding around, even took two videos of them (while skating) and Johan asks me after we leave the rink, "I didn't see you skate?". This guy ...
So Johan doesn't believe I skated on the rink, which is fine with me!!! But I'm just glad that Sera had a wild time and wasn't at all undeterred by the slippery and slidey ice. In fact, she was asking for more the minute we left the rink. Cool!
She was so excited ... can you tell?
We changed her bob-skates to ones like ours. Very little change in her ability to even stand on the ice but she thought it was very cool that she had skates like her papa and mama
Playground time is getting more fun now that Yas is more independent and such an explorer. Today she went on the slide and she loved it! She was all chuckling and squealing with excitement. And lately, the minute she hears music and especially when Sera sings, she does this hilarious hip hop/rapper movement, where she bends her knee, does a stationary bounce, her left arm bent at her elbow and her hand at a fist, doing circular movements. She's proving to be quite a character.
This shot is cute, just because she has this excited, cheeky look on her face
She looks terrified but once she opened her eyes, she gave the biggest grin
If anything, being a parent has been a very humbling experience. Whether it's teaching Sera to trace the dots or to ride a bicycle, it's all the same because I've learned (yes, I've had some silly expectations) that I have to accept that it'd be a 'fresh slate' with her (and Yasmin) and that any unrealistic expectation will only take the fun out of learning and exploring together with the girls. But Sera gave us a some surprises this week. I've been telling her that she'd have to ride on her bicycle to her new school, come this September so that meant we had to get her on her bicycle and 'practice, practice and practice'. She's become a pro on her scooter but the bicycle just hasn't caught her interest. If anything, Sera loves the simplicity and the less intimidated look of the scooter. The bicycle may come across as being a little too daunting for her. However, the idea of cycling to school has gotten her excited thus she did go on it a few times this week and she did do us proud. Now, she's peddling on her own, putting in great effort, using her leg muscles, steering the handle bars ... ahhh, this girl does have some determination.
And the other surprise was when we were in the pool a few days ago. All of a sudden, she said she wanted to take off her floats. I was like, "Ok but stay on the steps." So I stayed close to her while she starting doing 'bunny hops' along the length of the steps which was chest high. Then she started to do a 'hop, hop and a head dunk' into the water. Huh??? I was so shocked and I could only laugh nervously with her when she came sputtering out, her eyes wet and wide, her nose red and her mouth full of chlorine water. Her expression was priceles, that of a little fear, surprised by her own courage and in the end, mostly glee. My heart was beating super fast but I was excited because for the longest time, I was never able to get her to put her head underwater.
I hugged her and told her how proud I was of her and encouraged her to go underwater if she felt like it. And she did ... ! Her 'hop, hop, head dunk' sequence went on for many times over and every time she emerged out of the water, I was ready to hug, laugh and celebrate with her. The people at the pool were probably wondering what all the commotion was about but we were having the best time ever. So yah, we were at the pool this afternoon again and she's getting braver each time ... now, I need to figure out how I'm going to teach her to float?
At 9 months, Yasmin is proving to a little bit too demanding. 'grin'. She decided a few weeks back that she thoroughly disliked sleeping in her beautiful white wooden cot. She'd cry and thrash around, kicking the cot ... thus we had no choice but to bring out Sera's old mattresses and let her sleep on the floor. Ahh, she's much happier now, with the extra room to move around and like her sister, she just hates the idea of being 'caged' in. 'groan'. But like her sister, she loves books. She is all ears and wide eyed, whenever I read to her.
She's now the happiest baby, in the adult bath. The same issue ... just hated the cosier baby tub. She refused to sit in it, screaming and kicking whenever I tried to put her in.
She doesn't like any baby chair, anything that makes her feel confined ... I suspect it's the safety strap that just drives her crazy. This HandySitt, which looks like a mini chair, may do the trick? Unfortunately, they're overpriced and I doubt Sera is going to give hers up just yet.
If she knew Sera had plastered those stickers on her face, she'd probably have made a big fuss! I must say, she carries them well.
Several things happened this past week. Firstly, I passed my UAE driving test. I have to say I was very, very disgruntled that I had to take yet another driving test especially when Johan had an automatic transfer using his Dutch licence. Totally unfair and honestly, what's up with my Singapore driving licence??? I had to sit for a whole week of lectures prior to the test and take a signal test which I failed on first attempt. Johan was apparently very embarrassed for me but I remained defensive, blaming my failure for the very badly written multiple choice question test. So anyway, I now have three driving licences to my name ... and though I've declared I will never ever take another driving test, I just know I'm doomed to when we're re-posted for Johan's next project. Hmmm ...
Sera was off from school this week and the coming week. So we've tried to keep her busy the whole day (it gets tricky sometimes) and so far, we've been having a pretty enjoyable week. We even went to the pool for a bit since none of the kids are currently sick. The weather seems to be warming up quite quickly these days so I foreseemany trips to the pool this week.
And finally, Yas is 9 months today. It feels like such a big deal because as much as she's still a baby, she's also growing and learning so fast. I'm so proud of her little milestones that she's acheived so far but at the same time, I get a little whimsical that she's already becoming so independent. Just nine months ago, she was so helpless and needy ... so bewildered by her new world. These 9 months with Yas has been moving and life changing for us, as it was (and still is) with Sera. We truly count ourselves so blessed.
Just goofing around with Yas, just because we still can ...
Sera, my fashionista, and her new cap
Yas loved her pool time ...
With Philippa and Zac at the pool
Sera had fun painting her t-shirt at the outdoor market at the marina
Yas has recently discovered the 'treasures' inside this toy chest. She'll crawl to it, pull herself up, open the cover and start pulling out the toys, delightedly
Sera had her second Easter Egg Hunt in our garden this year. This time we made sure everyone, even the fathers, involved. We had the egg hunt on the weekend, the kids made their own egg baskets using recycled yoghurt buckets, each mother prepared something for the tea party after the hunt, and the fathers got on their knees for the obstacle race. The kids certainly had a blast and the parents too had a chance to behave like kids all over again.
This year, Sera didn't need any assistance when it came to finding the eggs. Days before the hunt, we got her all hyped up about the hunt so she knew what to do the minute we opened the sliding doors to the garden.
Zac the oldest of the pack, was zipping through the garden collecting the eggs.
Etienne's first egg hunt and he was very calm, just like his father, collecting the coloured eggs
With the kids on their back, the fathers had to cross the garden as fast they could. Johan cheekily went into Clayton and Zac's path but that didn't stop them from emerging as the winners.
'Duck, duck, deuce'??? This was Zac's game. Basically you get tapped on your head and you chase the other person.
Tea time. The spread was the yummiest.
Everyone was chilling out in the garden
It was a long but happy day for the two girls ... off to bed now!
Mermaids and pirates pose for me
My little mermaid ... but this girl is a bit of a realist. She just can't accept the idea of a mermaid so now she calls this costume her 'fish dress'. 
Last day of school. I left my camera with the teachers and they got some cute shots of the kids in action. Here they're working on their individual activity book
9.30am snack time
And they bid farewell to Sera with 3 candles on the cupcakes ... a pre-birthday celebration?
Sera, mesmerized by the musical fountain at the Burj Dubai lake. Her spirit was definitely lifted up by Opa's visit last weekend. 
Into the tunnel we went, to have the closest encounter with the marine life while staying dry ...
... and fearless
Harbour seals looking very puffed up and surprisingly fast and agile
Yas getting very excited with the very pretty jellyfish
A bunch of happy people!
And finally the penguins ... they were the girls' favourite
She was so excited ... can you tell?
We changed her bob-skates to ones like ours. Very little change in her ability to even stand on the ice but she thought it was very cool that she had skates like her papa and mama
This shot is cute, just because she has this excited, cheeky look on her face
She looks terrified but once she opened her eyes, she gave the biggest grin
Practising her standing whenever she can
At 9 months, Yasmin is proving to a little bit too demanding. 'grin'. She decided a few weeks back that she thoroughly disliked sleeping in her beautiful white wooden cot. She'd cry and thrash around, kicking the cot ... thus we had no choice but to bring out Sera's old mattresses and let her sleep on the floor. Ahh, she's much happier now, with the extra room to move around and like her sister, she just hates the idea of being 'caged' in. 'groan'. But like her sister, she loves books. She is all ears and wide eyed, whenever I read to her. 
She's now the happiest baby, in the adult bath. The same issue ... just hated the cosier baby tub. She refused to sit in it, screaming and kicking whenever I tried to put her in.
She doesn't like any baby chair, anything that makes her feel confined ... I suspect it's the safety strap that just drives her crazy. This HandySitt, which looks like a mini chair, may do the trick? Unfortunately, they're overpriced and I doubt Sera is going to give hers up just yet. 
If she knew Sera had plastered those stickers on her face, she'd probably have made a big fuss! I must say, she carries them well.
No more purée food for this one. With four front teeth, she loves to chew her food. Such a big girl!
Just goofing around with Yas, just because we still can ...
Sera, my fashionista, and her new cap
Yas loved her pool time ... 
With Philippa and Zac at the pool
Sera had fun painting her t-shirt at the outdoor market at the marina
Yas has recently discovered the 'treasures' inside this toy chest. She'll crawl to it, pull herself up, open the cover and start pulling out the toys, delightedly
Flipping through her little block book
This year, Sera didn't need any assistance when it came to finding the eggs. Days before the hunt, we got her all hyped up about the hunt so she knew what to do the minute we opened the sliding doors to the garden. 
Zac the oldest of the pack, was zipping through the garden collecting the eggs. 
Etienne's first egg hunt and he was very calm, just like his father, collecting the coloured eggs
With the kids on their back, the fathers had to cross the garden as fast they could. Johan cheekily went into Clayton and Zac's path but that didn't stop them from emerging as the winners.
'Duck, duck, deuce'??? This was Zac's game. Basically you get tapped on your head and you chase the other person. 
Tea time. The spread was the yummiest. 
Everyone was chilling out in the garden
It was a long but happy day for the two girls ... off to bed now!
