Dubai Trip 2009

After a late visa process and a couple of flat tyres, we finally set off to Dubai for the Easter weekend. We stayed with friends, the Selmans, caught up with the old Apache crew at a beautiful scrumptious outdoor dinner, went skiing in the desert, saw huge aquariums, and went to a waterpark in the middle of the sea. At the end of our trip, we were grinning from ear to ear... the girls wore a chocolate grin, Brendan a PORK grin, and me, I wore an IKEA grin!

It is an 8-hour drive, which includes wait time at the Saudi Arabian and UAE borders. Half an hour in and the girls finally got to indulge in watching a DVD.

Even camels get to go on holiday in the Middle East!

Just for comparison... the Saudi Arabian desert.
It's cover up time for Mummy.
Once we arrived at Duane & Lisa's house, the Easter activities started. Here the girls go on an Easter egg hunt with Eloise.

The girls and their found treasures. It may look like a pose, but none of them want to take their hands off the basket of chocolate eggs! Note the white knuckles.

The White family Easter photo goes awry.

The Selmans are expert posers. Nice.
Isabelle and I hit Ski Dubai. Weird experience, but awesome nonetheless. Isabelle remembers exactly what to do. I'm impressed.
Brrrr... we're so cold... can... hardly... smile...

Driving out to Atlantis, on the Palm. You drive under the sea since it is situated on the crescent around the fronds.Entering Atlantis. We hit the water adventure park for the first four hours. Good fun, but sorry, no water proof camera, so no photos. I worked up the courage to go down the vertical leap of faith. Terrifying.
Once dry, we went into the Lost Chambers. We saw Horseshoe crabs... coolest thing I've seen in a while.

Daddy is bravest.

This is how our family photos go... c'mon, try to smile...

Daddy and his girls.

We found Nemo!
Sammy, the whale shark, gets fed.
This huge ugly fish was exiled from the giant aquarium after eating three sharks!

Watch out for the shark!

A full day at Atlantis takes its toll.

Last supper... Lisa rocks Brendan's world with a roast pork dinner.

Easter Egg Painting

It is day 6 of the school holidays, Wednesday morning, and we have no car, so we're busying ourselves getting into the Easter spirit! Eggs... look out!

The girls get their aprons on and equipment ready.

Smiley.

Concentration.
The wonderful egg-citing (sorry) results!

It is only 9.30 am... what shall we do now??

Cyclone in Oman, Rain in Doha, Camping indoors...

We unexpectedly experienced A LOT of rain here yesterday, so instead of heading out to the desert, we set up camp in the games room...

It is 6.20am and Matilda says, "I'm awake now!"

I guess, so are we!

My Second Medal

Congratulations to Isabelle for winning her second medal in gymnastics!

She has improved heaps and her scores went up from her last comp.

We're Driving to Dubai!

To accomplish this we need to get all sorts of paperwork done... and some new passport photos for our Saudi visas.

Gosh, the girls suddenly look all grown up even in my eyes...

When did this happen? And who consulted me?

Happy 7th Birthday Belle!

For those of you who don't know, it is a Swedish tradition to wake people up with fanfare (cake, presents, singing, balloons, etc.). Sooooo, here we are surprising Isabelle (well, not so much of a surprise since this is her 7th wake-up call!) this morning...

Banana cake?

All the pressies.

Yup, girls ARE best!

Cuddles with Daddy

So What... I'm Still a Rockstar!!

Welcome to Isabelle's Rockin' Party!

Wicked!!!! Soul sisters, Ruby and Isabelle.

(OK, Brendan and I are seriously worried that Isabelle looks more like she is turning 15, not 7!!!)

Miley & Hannah. (No, it's really Cloe and Carley, but I bet you couldn't tell.)

Ellen and Jamie on stage.

Ruby in Rockstar mode. Yeah baby!

Trying to catch Matilda on film while on the dancefloor is not an easy task...

Dance buddies, Alessandra and Isabelle L.

Isabelle and Brendan displaying their Air Guitar skills to "Sweet Child of Mine".

One of the favourite games... roll a 6, dress like a rockstar, cut and eat as much chocolate as you can with a knife and fork!

Go Jessica!

Cloe stuffing the chocolate in.

Sarah after she rolled a 6, "I... can't... eat... any... more... CHOCOLATE!"

Make-me-up. What do you get when you mix make-up kits and lots of eager girls? Well, here you can see the fabulous results... Brendan's team won this competition. Work it baby!
My obviously skilled team came a close second.

Hip Hip Hooray! Three cheers for Isabelle.
I'm lost for words...

The girls then split into four groups and had to choreograph a dance to their chosen song.

Here is Isabelle's group rockin' it to "S.O.S." (Jonas Brothers, not ABBA!)

Break dancing... I like it!

Stunning performance by Ruby and Isabella to "Hot n Cold".

A little side trip...

I was just in Perth for a very quick two weeks (purpose: complete a two-week school experience, teaching S&E at senior school). Managed to squeeze in some catch-ups, a hen's night, and a baby shower. Here are some photos from the times when I remembered to bring the camera!

Isabelle & Matilda's cousin Eleanor, who has just turned 2.

Eleanor and Aunty Julia (Brendan's sister)

Trying out some falsies with Azimuth.

Yep, we're 'still the best'. At what you're wondering? Hmmm, let me think about that.

Dinner with Martina & the boys. Here's Alec.

I tell funny jokes... see!

Tamsin & Ed's baby girl Molly. It's dinnertime!

I had a 9-hour wait at Changi Airport, so I popped out to celebrate Justine's 28th birthday with the rest of the Kirkham clan. Here are the sisters and me.

Ma & Pa Kirkham

Happy Birthday!