Kids' Paradise

Isabelle is on school holidays (mid-term break), so we're checking out all the indoor facilities in Doha since the thermometer has hit 47 degrees C.

Yesterday, Caroline and I took our kids to Cafe Ceramique, a new place where you get to paint a piece of pottery and have lunch. Isabelle and her best friends, Ruby, Elsie & Felix (well, Felix is the younger brother, and they have a love-hate relationship going on, very competitive) created amazing pieces (I'll post photos next week once I've picked them up). Caroline and I tried our best to match the creativeness of the kids with our platters... we'll see how they turn out (may not put photos of those on the blog!).

Today, Isabelle, Matilda and I went to FunCity - in other words, kids' paradise. Climbing, jumping, sliding, balancing, rolling, throwing balls at their mother... fun fun fun. Here are some photos...

Let's see what we do tomorrow... I think Brendan is on duty then!

PS. Nice of Isabelle to show her appreciation with this drawing she just did for me... she knows how to guarantee ice cream for dessert!

WELL DONE GIRLS!!

After only a few weeks at her new school, Doha College Primary, Isabelle was awarded with a merit certificate at assembly today! She had earned 25 house points already. When she talked about it, she mentioned that she thought it was fun to shake the principal's hand.

Not to be outdone, Matilda came home with this lovely box that she made at nursery.

We're so proud of our girls!

kisses, Mummy & Daddy

Well, that was traumatic...

As Brendan and I marked our 6 year wedding anniversary on the calendar, I was caring for Matilda in hospital. She had such bad sores in her mouth and throat from hand, foot & mouth disease, that she hadn't eaten or drunk ANYTHING for 48 hours... so was badly dehydrated. The doctor put her on an IV drip for a day and a half, but she was still averse to putting anything in her mouth fearing that it would hurt. Great friends of mine, Caroline and Kelcey, came to the rescue on our second day in hospital... with mini porcelain tea cups and a McDonalds chocolate thickshake, we tempted her to start eating again!

Now, there is no stopping her! There has been a huge improvement, and we're finally back home!

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I was woken up with a card from the girls, written so beautifully... thanking me for all that I do! It brightened my whole day!

Our month continues with more illness in this family. After recovering from her bout of Giardiasis, Matilda has hand, foot & mouth disease - the worst case the hospital has ever seen! Poor thing, she is suffering a lot with a painful mouth, and is not willing to eat or drink anything but sips of water and scoops of vanilla ice cream! We all hope she gets back to the cheerful little kid soon! (I need some sleep!!)

Summer is on our doorstep... the thermometer has reached 45 degrees Celcius, and we're spending more and more time indoors. Still cooling down a little in the late evening, so it is possible to sit out then. Brendan is cycling earlier and earlier on the weekends to stay cool... getting out at 4am! He's preparing to meet up with good friends from Perth in Alpe D'Huez to cycle the Tour de France mountains in July.

The girls and I have booked our tickets to Perth... we'll be home on the 12th July! The next two months are going to fly by for me, with final assignments and exams around the corner. There's nothing like high stress levels to remind you that you're alive!!

Until next month...
Love, Samantha