Grandma is on a plane and 'zoomed' to Singapore!

Ok, this is NOT going to be a sad post ...

Even though, I heard from Johan that Sera screamed and wailed when grandma went through the departure gate. She was in total shock that grandma didn't come running back when she cried out her name. She went to bed last night, asking to sleep with grandma ... and she had a very sleepless night, whining in her sleep. Never mind that she has made me read the little note, a dozen times today, that grandma had written to her. Hmm, I did say that this wasn't going to be a sad one, didn't I? But honestly, it's difficult for a 2-year old to understand the nature of farewells.

Sera's going to be ok, I'm sure, in a couple of days. She's a resilient little cookie and she's going to be on the phone with grandma often, no doubt.

However, I do want to remember all the precious and wonderful times we had, when grandma was staying with us. I mean, what a privilege and luxury for us all. Yah, it's heartbreakingly sad, especially for Sera and Yasmin, but we'll always have the memories. Thank you mama for being so much a part of this family. We love you ... and we'll see you very soon!

Gosh, Sera has sure grown these past months. That's us in Singapore, having dinner with Evan and Chloe. You can tell I'm still heavily pregnant.

Along came Yasmin ...

One of our many park visits, in Dubai.

Finally, just taken 2 days ago, the girls in matching tees given by grandma. Bye Grandma ... we love you!

No sleep this night

'Poinky ... poing ... poing ... '

It's 11.55pm. I'm sitting on my gym ball with Yasmin, bouncing away. It doesn't lull her to sleep, so I walk around the apartment with her.

'Poinky ... poing ... poing ... '

It's 12.45am. Second attempt on gym ball. No success, just gets her more excited now.

Oh dear. What to do ... what to do? I bring her to the window and we gaze out at the skyscrapers. Maybe she'll sleep? Or should I go to the swing in the garden? But the mosquitoes are going to be merciless!

'Poinky ... poing ... poing ...'

1.30am ... ! Back onto the gym ball again.

She sleeps ... she finally sleeps at around 2am. I crawl into bed ... wondering how Johan managed to sleep through all that?

4.00am ... Wakes for milk

5.30am ... Knocks her head into the side of the cot

6.45am ... Little Miss Sunshine is awake. 'Groan'.


Another night ... another sleepless night.

Can't tell she had a bad nights' sleep huh?

Turban-ed Yasmin ... hee hee! My sweet revenge for keeping me up last night.

She's too heavy!

I was just capturing this moment randomly, not even knowing what Sera was trying to do. It was a hilarious few minutes for me (you can hear me giggling all the way) and grandma, who refused to help Sera just because she was still in her pyjamas and thus didn't want to be in the video. Poor Sera didn't understand why grandma didn't want to help her with Yasmin? Check out her dishevelled hair from all the pulling and shoving!!! Ha ha ha.

Cookies anyone?

Sera doesn't sleep in on the weekends. I know, she doesn't know what she's missing!!! So anyway, I try to keep her occupied and refuse the temptation of simply plonking her in front of the TV. Hee hee. So this Friday morning, we baked cookies together. She had a good time though (surprisingly) the cookie jar is still full? And you're so lucky ... I have photos!!!

1. Make the cookie dough

2. Roll it out and press cookie cutters into the dough

3. Decorate cookies with chocolate chips ...

Did you say chocolate chips? Nah, you've got to be kidding? Why waste them on the cookies when I can eat them straight from the packet? And she happily did ...

4. Wait impatiently for the cookies to bake

5. And finally, the taste test. Errr, what's with that face Sera? The verdict was that she preferred the chocolate chips without the cookie.

Mama paparazzi

Sera is kind of fed up with my incessant and excessive photo taking. To her, I'm like the 'serial mama paparazzi' trailing her every move. Nowadays when I whip up my camera, she drops her head, looks sideways or give her infamous 'spaced out' look. It's that automatic. But that's not going to stop me. Ha ha!

Spaced out

Ok, Sera' s smiling but what a totally plastic smile. Yasmin is already getting fed up.

'Yasmin, you're blocking the TV' pose

A solo shot ... what's with the mismatched sock?

Yasmin, oh Yasmin ...

'They' said the second one would be easier ...

'They' said by 3 months, things will get easier ...

Honestly, who are 'these people'??? All I know is, it's easy to love this one despite all her un-easy ways.

In Dubai, size matters

Living in Dubai, we simply cannot run away from malls. And just across the road from where we live, The Dubai Mall has officially opened, though I reckon it shouldn't be opened for another 6 months. Anyway, for those who aren't familiar with this mall, it's apparently the biggest in the world. 'Yippee-dooo for Dubai!" They must feel so proud!!!??? So the family popped into the mall for a peek, to check out all the hullabaloo. Yah, it's big but it also houses an aquarium of enormous proportions. I think most of the shoppers really went to the mall to check it out. There has been much controversy about the aquarium, populated by more than 33,000 aquatic animals, but it is to be expected. The aquarium is truly impressive and the marine life within the enclosure is breathtakingly beautiful but at what, and whose costs?

Here's a photo of just a small part of the viewing panel (which also happens to be the largest on earth) ... check out the (amateurish) video I took.



Dubai Aquarium from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.

The sound of loveliness

So much to say! from Que Sera Sera on Vimeo.

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?