And finally, here are the WILD WADI, Dubai, photos!

Matilda

This last week has been a bit traumatic for poor little Tilly. She has a mouth full of ulcers caused by a virus, and at the other end, she has contracted Giardiasis! Poor love has been out of sorts, but we're hopefully over the worst of it and heading towards recovery (I only had to change bedsheets twice today). Needless to say she can now say "doctor"!

As you can see, she is still a happy little kid.

Singing Sand Dunes

Isabelle & Brendan took Grandma to the Singing Sand Dunes (they hum as you walk along them making vabrations). It was 42 degrees out, and the sand was HOT!

Al Khor beach picnic

We picked Brendan up from work and headed north to Al Khor beach. We saw lots of camels, goats/sheep (not sure!) and crazy crabs.

Showing Grandma Isabelle & Matilda's schools

Grandma visits Doha College Primary School with Isabelle. She is in Reception Red, and starts year one in September.

Matilda goes to Tots Corner Nursery three mornings a week.

Grandma is here!

Here are photos from Grandma's first couple of days in Doha... more to follow! Boat trip out to Zaflia Island...

Dubai

We had a fun trip to Dubai. Quick, but definitely fun. We stayed with friends from Perth, Duane & Lisa, who are expecting their own bundle of joy in just a few weeks. It was wonderful to be in their home, and hang out with them.

Isabelle took the big boys to Wild Wadi, where they spent the day slipping and sliding up and down the rides. Apparently there is no need to walk up stairs to start the ride, instead water jets propel you up and then down. Lisa, Matilda & I went shopping at instead.

Brendan and I explored Mall of the Emirates, with indoor ski slope attached. 6000 tonnes of snow and a 400m ski run, it looked impressive, and I was itching to have a go! However, I decided to spend my time shopping some more... just as good exercise, I reckon!

Jumeirah beach was a sight for sore eyes coming from Doha. If you put blinkers on and squinted to blur your vision, you could almost imagine you were standing on North Cottesloe beach! Somehow though, the Surf Club does not really compare to the Burj Al Arab! Everyone took the opportunity for a quick dip & body surf.

Photos will follow shortly (once we found the camera that Matilda seems to have misplaced; it's only been 24 hours, I'm not panicking yet!!).

So, now we're back in Doha, and so looking forward to Grandma arriving next week.

Easter Sunday was a huge day of parties and endless chocolate! Alert: hyperactive kids!!

Easter Egg Hunt at Tots Corner Nursery

Matilda and her nursery friends had an Easter Egg Hunt today. Sparkly eggs were hidden throughout the garden - how egg-citing!

Here she is with her friend Silje (whose mum works with Brendan), and then mucking around in the softplay area.

Matilda's New Words

Matilda is really talking so much now... today her new words were "apple", "love you", "me", "pippi" (as in Longstocking), "shoes", which sounds very similar to her "cheese". It is so fun!