Two sides to Yasmin

Will the real Yasmin, please stand up! When I see this photo of her in this dress, I have to laugh because Yasmin in a pink, floral number ... who am I kidding?


This is definitely more like Yasmin ... with as big a mouth to match Mick Jagger's. 'wink'

Public transport

Last Thursday, on a whim, we decided to try the Dubai Metro. It had officially launched last year, on the very auspicious day of 09.09.09. So anyway, we figured it would be a thrill for the girls, and it was. Since we're not near the metro station, we actually had to drive there, park the car and hop on a shuttle bus (the nearest station for us, Ibn Battuta Station, isn't operating yet) to the next station and finally we were on our way to where else but another mall.

The Metro was clean, fast and comfortable ... everything that should be expected, especially on a new train. In fact, it was so enjoyable that I even considered using it more often, err, for 7 minute journey to our destination. Ha ha.

The girls in their very flowery coordinated dresses. What was I thinking? Ha ha

At Ibn Battuta mall ... about to board the bus

On the Metro

'Bird-to-buy'

I open the door and there is Yasmin, excitedly running to me, saying something that sounded like 'bird-to-buy'??? She hastily grabs my hand, nudges me toward the carpet and proudly points to her latest Lego creation. Ahhh, she had built the now (in)famous Burj Dubai, in our very own living room. Okay, so grandma taught her to say 'Burj Dubai' (almost) but to Yasmin, it's a tall Lego tower she gets to build up. Here are three mini models of her 'bird-to-buy'.

Model 1

Model 2

Model 3

Model 3 collapses ... opps!

All about Yassy

The many faces of our little Yasmin. And I'm not sure how it happened, but her name has lent itself to many, crazy variations - Yas, Yassy, Yassy-buzzy, Yasmini, Yasmini-kepinitje (that's from Sera), mostly courtesy of Johan who is absolutely terrible at rhyming. ha ha.

In Sera's boots

Wearing her socks ... and white headband courtesy of grandma

I have to say, she is loveliest, in the morning

Sitting sweetly (a rarity) while we shop

Waiting for our lunch to arrive

She loves to dig into my wardrobe and pull out whatever she can get her hands on. This time, my favourite shawl.

Trying a cartwheel

Away to Fujeirah

Another weekend, another adventure. This weekend, we drove north-east to Fujeirah, into the coastal town of Dibba. It is wonderful that only two hours out of hustle and bustle of Dubai, we get to experience a totally different landscape that satisfies all our needs - the mountains, the ocean and, uninterrupted clear blue skies and fresh, fresh air.

Our hotel, like all the other ones along the coast, was nestled between the sea coast and the mountain. Sera is always thrilled when we tell her we're taking a road trip. In the car, she will readily take on the role as our personal guide to comment on everything and anything. Ha ha. I'm sure it is not difficult to imagine. But I'm secretly pleased to see traits of mine and Johan's love of travel in her.

We arrived just in time to spend some good time at the pool before dinner. The cool weather, only meant the cold water in the pool. Arghhh. Sera jumped in fearlessly but the rest of us stayed dry, as long as possible. Yasmin, the more adventurous one, hates cold water. Exactly like Johan. She goes almost hysterical when she touches cold water. So she snuggled close to grandma all the time, on the deck chair, preferring to keep dry and warm.

The next day, after breakfast, we played at the beach and enjoyed the sunny weather. The girls and I strolled along the beach, picked up shells, saved a baby sea cucumber and buried a dead baby crab. What an exciting morning! Johan, Sera and I went on our first (and probably last) pedalo ride. Sera and I let Johan do all the pedalling, while we sat back and relaxed out in the sea. ha ha. Again, Yasmin stayed away from the cold water and stayed with grandma, burying each other with sand. We finally drove back in the afternoon, tired, contented and smelling of the sea and chlorine. Nice.

Weekends always go by so fast ... especially ones like this.

The girls exploring the hotel

The first ride down the slide. We screamed all the way down. ha ha

She went down by herself, over and over and over ....

Johan and Yasmin snuggling up and keeping warm

Playing on the beach the next morning

Sera 'saving' the sea cucumber

Yasmin was very contented playing with the sand all morning

A new year tradition

We welcomed the new year by visiting the same beach, last new year. We were missing our friends, the Cosse clan, but we have grandma with us this time so that made it very special. Twelve months ago, Yasmin was less than 6 months and still in my arms a lot. This morning, she and Sera were collecting shells, building sand castles ... such a pleasure to see them have such an easy time together.

And the other reason why we went to a beach was because Johan wanted to do something traditionally Dutch, so he says. Apparently, on New Year's, his countrymen have a penchant for taking a leap into the freezing waters. Hmm. So the water at Umm Suqeim isnt' freezing but it's cold. Uncomfortably cold. Sera was the first to jump in. I knew she wouldn't have been able to resist jumping in. Johan had no choice but to jump in because Sera's beach ball was drifting away and Sera was getting dramatically upset. He hesitated for a long time, which was a mistake because the ball drifted even further and he had an audience of sympathetic parents, who were watching and waiting for him to rescue the ball. ha ha. Yasmin avoided the water but in the end, accidentally slipped and fell into it. She cried loudly, complaining of the cold and ran to me for warmth. Needless to say, I chickened out ... but so did grandma.

Happy New Year everyone ... may your journey in 2010 be filled with good health, happiness, peace and love!

Of course I had to take a photo of the girls with the Burj Al Arab in the background

The weather was overcast with small pockets of sunshine and too much wind

Grandma took this shot ... a rather synchronised walk

Johan about to dive in to rescue Sera's ball

All ready for 2010