Lotte's 9th Birthday

Lotte turned 9 on the 14 of May!

The night before her birthday party we test lung capacity (and cake-eating skills) at a special Birthday BBQ in Alvorada 1

The big day arrives and Rosanna is collared to help with cake-making

Actually it's quite fun!

Meanwhile Lotte indulges in some shameless brand promotion

And at long last I can rid myself of the Rolfe monobrow!

The party girls try to look interested in the briefing for Laser-Tag (they've heard it before)

The (eventually victorious) Blue Team are pumped & ready for action. Especially Phoebe.

Then time for a celebratory lunch to restore energy levels

Daddy tries to eat up all the spare food without anyone noticing

The burgers are yummy!

The Mummy/Rosanna Haribo cake is an interesting design

Make a wish...

Hair in rollers

Inexplicably, we woke up today and decided to do our with Mummy's Carmen rollers

All glammed up and nowhere to go

Spa and hairdresser indoctrination at an early age...

Alicia and Darcy stopover

On their way back to Australia, Alicia & Darcy drop in for the day

Lotte ecstatic that she gets to eat at Gourmet Burger Kitchen

Rosanna poses artily at the DIFC (where Daddy works)

Her favourite hiding place in the soft play area at Repton

Naughty Mummy smoking a shisha pipe!

Uncle Tim, Wendy, Christy, Jenna, Pops, Trish & Megsy!

A welcome influx of relatives over the Easter Holidays

Rosanna waits to frighten the guests as soon as they get into bed

Lotte is pleased to see everyone









Must be a full moon as us girls enjoy a crazy romp on the beach after dinner at Shimmers






Free flying ice-cream from the Cold Stone Creamery!







The end of a lovely day at Aquaventure waterpark in the shadow of The Atlantis Hotel








Lotte poses for the camera







Rosanna fooling no-one in the old town

Moments before getting on a 1 dirham dhow to cross the creek

Setting sail (well, outboard motor)

The now infamous road sign (you had to be there)

Getting comfy for the fountain extravaganza

Amazing toys in Hamleys

Monkey For The Weekend (again)

Monkey comes to stay for another weekend. With his friend Molly this time.

Getting home late on Thursday, straight to bed!

Up and bathed bright and early on Friday morning

Then off to Cinestar at Emirates Mall to check out a 3-D movie, "How To Train Your Dragon"

Monkey wasn't scared - the dragons turned out to be friendly

Saturday is spent topping up the tan by the pool

And Rosanna teaches them how to act like Ismail the lifeguard

Cheeeeese!

They were too small to get involved in gymnastics but loved watching Rosanna do her stuff

Vicky was there too and looked after Monkey

What an action-packed weekend - definitely time for bed

Grandma comes for a holiday

Grandma comes for a fortnight of childcare, er, winter sun...

Rosanna shows off her skills at 'Ele-Fun'

Counting her haul of butterflies

Lotte's extra height seems to pay dividends

Rosanna's class show off their Mother's Day paintings

Looking very pleased with her work

But even more pleased with the mid-morning cup cake

And this is what Mummy looks like...

Waiting for food at The Noodle Factory in Dubai Mall

Night falls at The Address Hotel as we wait for the fountains to start

There they go

Lotte ready for home time

The world's biggest 22 ct gold ring in the Gold Souk

Looking regal in The Atlantis Hotel foyer