Daisy and Zach's Party!

This photo should have been at the end but it didn't load, oh well. The cake was a sweetie, chocolate and sprinkle covered three tiered, two turreted castle flying flags with photos of Daisy and Zach on them.

That's Sophie, the Cheeky Monkey party entertainer up the front. Glad it wasn't me.

Work it Sophie. She did a fantastic job.

Limbo action.

It's not that low Daisy.

Parachute fun.

Pizza, sausage, chips, carrots, cucumber and cherry tomatoes were on the menu.

Zach starts off with his turn in the Happy Birthday spotlight.

Followed by Daisy who got uncharacteristically shy.

But still managed to blow her candles out.

Daisy and Zach had their big joint birthday bash last weekend. We woke up to a perfect Dubai day, blue sunny skies all the way, good weather forecast, nothing to worry about, phew! However...an hour and a half before forty two (yes, that's forty two) children and their parents were descending on our garden a GINORMOUS unexpected sandstorm came flying in. Goodbye all the helium balloons Andy had just put out, hello absolute carnage. It was a bit like tornado hitting, trees were down all over town, fully grown palm tees snapped and (get this) light posts bent. It absolutely howled for about an hour then at five minute to 3pm (kick off) the wind settled, the skies cleared and the sun was shining again. A frantic clean up got in ready just in time for the first guests, hurrah! All the kids had a great time and we got a party entertainer in who kept them all busy for two hours, playing games and dancing so we got to talk to the parents and enjoy the afternoon too.

Bx

Happy Birthday Daisy!

Five!

Opening presents.


More presents.

Cheese!

Presents galore.

Prawn curry, again.

Mmm.

Photographing the cake.

Our big 5 year old.

Our beautiful Daisy is a big 5 year old, wow! It was a school day so Daisy took in cupcakes for her class and they sung her happy birthday in english, french and arabic, what clever children. We spent the afternoon in the garden and Andy came home for Daisy's special request dinner, prawn curry (deja vu) then High School Musical singstar.

Daisy has really grown up this year and we are so proud of her. She's doing really well at school and is wonderful at reading and writing. She loves to read and write and amazed me yesterday by writing a 5 sentence note to one of her friends with no help. She's a wonderful big sister and really helps me with Sebastian who adores her. She's great and singing and dancing and has become a really good little swimmer. She has a great sense of humour and often makes me laugh. Her favourite colour is gold and her favourite thing to do at the weekend is go to the underwater zoo. She loves dancing to Britney's Do Something (what is it with my kids and Britney???) and she loves singing High School Musical songs. Her favourite food is prawn curry. We love you Daisy!

Happy Birthday Zach!

Three!

New bike.

New ball.

Just in case you didn't get it first time, three!

A read with breakfast.

Cupcakes at playgroup. Zach was very excited about taking cupcakes for his friends.

Zach's eyelashes cannot be ignored.

Bubbles!

Daisy and Zach have a chat while Bastie patiently hangs around.

Prawn curry, rice and poppadoms by special request.

Cake! A big cake and big party are next weekend.

Singstar.

Zach looks good on the dancefloor. Breaking it down to N.E.R.D.

Our gorgeous boy is 3 today! Zach is very excited to be be a big three year old. He had playgroup this morning then we spent the afternoon at home with Andy making it back for a birthday dinner, which was prawn curry at Zach's request, followed by ABBA Singstar.

It's been another wonderful year with Zach. He's beautiful and funny and very sweet. He tells us all he loves us and we are beautiful many times a day, awww. He's always full of cuddles and kisses and is very helpful. He still loves singing and dancing and his current favourite song to sing is Britney's version of I love Rock and Roll. His favourite colours are blue and orange and his favourite food is potatoes. He's really into Spiderman. Crocodiles and dinosaurs are his favourite animals and he loves going to the zoo. We love you Zach!

Bx

Kite festival

You can't actually see them in this photo but there were lots of little kites flying. Honest.

Pre flight picnic.

This was about as high as Andy got the kite. I did no better.

Perfect rolling hill.

Pizza!

Being a family event, thumping Indian club tunes were a must.

More pizza

Daisy and Zach nearly outdo the efforts of Andy and I.

Wing girl.

Last weekend we went to a kite festival in Creek Park. It was fun although Andy and I discovered that flying kites is not our forte. In fantastic Dubai form, they were giving out free kites.....but you had to buy the string. Ha!

Bx

My birthday

This photo should have been last. Senility sets in already. The eagle eyed reader might also notice I've put the cakes around the wrong way making me 43. Muppet.

Bastie and I take a rest on a poolside bed.

We have lift off!

Another kick back spot, this time beachside.


The beach bar with handy parking spots for boats.

Looking at the hotel from the beach.

The pool. Nice.

Proof that no matter how much the car cost, two tone paintwork still looks crap.

Cake decorating.

Finished. Good work kids.

I turned 34 yesterday, woo! Had a really nice day. Andy took the day off work and with Daisy and Zach packed off to school and playgroup we went with Bastie for breakfast at the new One and Only resort on Palm Jumeirah. The hotel was absolutely stunning. Check out the views! Not the best breakfast I've ever had though, pull your socks up One and Only. We spent the afternoon relaxing at home. Daisy and Zach were very keen to decorate a cake for me so they got one each to do. Lotsa cake. Our friends Kath and Gav came around for dinner and a few drinks in the evening which was also really nice.

Bx