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!

Mad Month of March

Well, it all began with Matilda stuffing cereal up her nose! Organic puffed wheat to be exact. A trip to the hospital plus a screaming fit blew those puppies right out of her nasal cavity. I'm actually quite impressed with how many she managed to get up there...

To up the ante on her little sister, Isabelle then tripped at school splitting her chin open! So, back to the hospital we go. The brave girl that she is, didn't shed a single tear nor flinch when the surgeon injected local anaesthetic and added three stitches to her beautiful chin. The whole ordeal wore her poor mother out, and I can vaguely remember the nurse saying, "Would you like to wait outside?"

Thankfully, the girls are both in tip top shape now. It is really starting to heat up again, so the airconditioners are gradually waking from their hibernation. It hit 36 degrees celcius today, which still seems a long way from 50!

We have just had our first visitor for 2007, Sean, Brendan's highschool classmate from Perth. It was a quick stopover for him, but we managed to fill it to the brim with sun, sea, and sand (of course) - oh yeah, and some table top dancing & karaoke! (Photos from 4WD trip to Inland Sea)

We are looking forward to Isabelle's 5th birthday celebrations this weekend. We're taking 12 girls and boys to a bowling alley! Should be a super day. Still can't believe she is turning the grand old age of five!! On her wishlist are the dreaded Bratz dollz - how do I avoid it??

Lots to look forward to in April - weekend trip for all of us to Dubai (bring on the bacon!!), Isabelle starting a new school (Doha College), and Grandma Gail visiting from Perth! Yay!

Lots of love, Samantha Brendan Isabelle & Matilda

Mountain Biking in Fuwairit

Brendan and mates from work "mountain" biking in the cool of the evening.

Birthday party in Green Village

Matilda checking out the new toys, and Isabelle with her best friend, Ruby.

Procrastination leads to updated blog!

Hello!!

Just thought I'd let you know that since I am now studying, I am also procrastinating, and "tada" the blog has been updated with some new features!!

For example, a slideshow of the girls' time together so far... one photo a month since Matilda was born (scroll over to see which month)! Wow, they've grown so much!

Plus, we're experiencing a sandstorm here right now so can't do much, the girls are in bed, and Brendan is out watching the semi-finals in Qatar Total Open (tennis). It's fantastic really, we get to see top-seed players for free! Just saw Justine Henin beat Alicia Molik yesterday.

Hope you like the blog!
Samantha xxx

Sandstorm outside, choc chip cookie baking inside!

There is an awesome Shamal (Middle Eastern dust/sand storm) outside. You can't see more than 50 meters infront of you. I'm hoping these windows are sealed properly...

Anyway, Brendan and girls are baking choc chip cookies while I pound away at my calculus textbook...

Isabelle lost another tooth!

It's raining teeth here in Doha. All the kids on our street are toothless wonders right now. Isabelle has well and truly joined them!

First swim for the year!

Brendan and the girls braved the cold pool water for the first swim of the year today. Here is a photo of Matilda in her Christmas towel at the front steps of our house.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

Hello!

Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year! It is the start of the year of the pig. We hope you have a prosperous, happy & healthy year!

Since returning to Doha, I have been busily adding more personal touches to our home. It has been super fun! Each room has a splash of colour, and we've got a comfy bench and sandpit for Matilda outside. I am about to embark on another semester at university, this time taking on the maximum number of units. Should be interesting (aaah!)... no, really, I am looking forward to it. Brendan is relieved, since the "home improvements" will finally cease! He has started on his fitness regime in preparation for the gruelling hills of Tour de France 2007. He is meeting his parents and some friends in France for this awesome experience in July. He is offshore on an unmanned platform at the moment, enjoying his time out of the office, getting his hands dirty. The bugger skipped town just in time to avoid Valentine's Day! (Thanks for the surprise gift, Bren!)

Isabelle got her birthday present from Grandma & Grandpa early - a bright yellow pair of Roces rollerblades! It took her all of 5 minutes to master the art of gliding, and zoooms up and down the streets of the compound with her buddies. She got her first report card from school, and of course aced it. She is reading well, and starting to write herself. We're very proud. She is on the verge of losing her second tooth, which is barely hanging on.

Matilda just started nursery two mornings a week at Little Angels. She is still struggling a little with the separation from Mummy, but has a great time once I've left the room. Still only saying a handful of words, but loves to sing and dance. She is now out on the street with the big kids, either scooting along on a pedal-less trike or pushing her doll around in it's pram. Fascinated by cats, and miaows loudly every time she catches a glimpse of one. She has a photo of Amber (Uncle Rob & Aunty Gem's cat) in her room, and she is always talking to it!

The cold weather is gone, and it is starting to heat up again. Days right now are gorgeous, lovely for being out and about. Perfect time to visit Doha (hint hint).

Take care,
Samantha Brendan Isabelle Matilda xxxx

PS. Great to see more friends on Skype! Look forward to chatting with more of you this year!

Playground along the Corniche

While Brendan is away on an unmanned platform out in the gulf somewhere, we spend our time visiting new playgrounds, eating takeaway, and watching movies! (Plus, I am quickly getting two more rooms painted!!)

Isabelle speeding past on her new rollerblades. She's amazing - it only took her 5 mins to get the hang of it! That's my girl!!

Here is Matilda trying out Tristan's like-a-bike. It's the latest thing for 2-6 year olds!

Sand, sea & ... camels!

A group of us drove out to the Inland Sea.















It is the middle of winter here, and the weather is perfect. Water is still a bit cold for a swim, but the kids didn't mind!

Matilda couldn't take her eyes off the camels! She's not quite sure about them...