Autumn in Dubai

We have had such a busy few months, I've not even had time to come on and update my blog. I still love my new school. I have made lots of new friends and settled really well. Mummy and Daddy had their Parent Teacher meeting last week and concluded that I only do what I want, not what I am told to do at school. I am mostly well behaved, but if an activity doesn't interest me, I'll tell my teachers that I can't do it. It means I get to move on to playing or a more fun activity so who can blame me...

School does mean that our days start very early. Mummy is up around 5:30am every day and gets Mikey and I up at 6am for breakfast. Then we have a mad rush to be out of the house on time but it's worth it! We are planning on moving in the new year so that we can be a little closer to school and Daddies office. Plus we need more space as Mummy constantly moans about our toys taking over the apartment!

Mummy has been spending some mornings at baby classes with my brother which he mostly enjoys but apparently cries when he goes into Boogie Babies which was always my favourite class. Our afternoons are often spent at classes for Michael or for me, visiting friends or running around the parks. The weather has cooled down a lot now so we can get back outside and enjoy running around a lot more!

In two weeks we are flying back to the UK for a week without Daddy. Mummy says she is nervous but Michael and I plan to be very good on the plane for her. I'm so looking forward to visiting my Grandparents and seeing my Aunties, Uncles and Cousins. I hope we also have time to visit friends while we are back but have left that to Mummy to organise!

It's a long weekend here for us so Daddy is home an extra day. We spent yesterday buying new clothes for Michael and I as we both keep growing! Daddy played golf as he doesn't like the malls much so when we had finished we met him at the golf club for lunch. My parents went to evening brunches on Thursday and Friday evening so our babysitter has spent lots of time with us which we love! Daddy is currently still in bed feeling slightly unwell! I hope he isn't catching Michael's cold...

Today we are spending the morning at the pool and then are off to my friends birthday party. Tomorrow daddy will be playing golf again so we get to spend more time at the club which I love! Then it'll be back to school as normal come Monday.

I hope you are all enjoying the weekend too. I'm hoping it's getting really really cold as I have winter woolies to wear when we are visiting! I can't wait!

Lots of love

Ella xx

Auntie C's Visit

My Auntie Charlotte stayed with us in September for a week. It had been just over 2 years since her last visit and a year since we were all together in the UK. I loved having her here. We started the visit with a Dubai Friday Brunch which all of us really enjoyed. There was a great play area set up for me to keep busy and mischievous while my Mummy and Auntie talked, a lot. After brunch my parents took Auntie Charlotte to a friends house for a BBQ. I'm not sure how they managed to eat so much food that day!

Over the next week we spent time at the pool, in the park, visiting the souks and the malls. Auntie Charlotte took me to Build a Bear and I chose a lovely one that I call Bubbles. Mummy took Auntie Charlotte out in the evenings too. I think we all spent far too much time that week eating! The week flew by and before we knew it, it was time to take Auntie Charlotte to the airport so she could fly home to Uncle Jason.

I'm hoping that Auntie C can come and visit again before next summer but she has to bring Uncle Jason next time too!

A Mini Trip

It was my nannies birthday last Thursday and we had a wonderful present lined up for her. We got on an aeroplane and flew over to surprise her! It was very late when we arrived but she was so happy to see us, she cried a lot! Michael and I were very excited to spend some time with her and grandad but Mummy and Daddy insisted we get straight to bed as it was very late and we were very much on Dubai time.

On Friday Nanny and Grandad took me out for the morning and I loved spending time with them. Michael was clearly exhausted from the trip as he slept for most of the morning! We had arranged for my Auntie Becci, Uncle Tommy and cousins to come over for dinner in the afternoon. I had so much fun with them all and wished we didn't have to leave the next day. We all had breakfast and lunch together on Saturday though so we had a few more hours together.

We had to drive to my other grandparents on Saturday and arrived in time for dinner. My two cousins from Daddies side of our family were there too. We played for a little while before it was bedtime. Rose kept trying to get into bed with me but it was keeping me awake so we had to be separated! The following day we were all up very early and had to go to church for my uncles blessing. We had a party afterwards and I got to wear one of my pretty dresses which got lots of lovely comments! I felt like Princess Sofia! It all got a bit much though and after dinner I fell asleep so Mummy took Michael and I back to the hotel. We had to be up at 5am for our flight home!

I loved being on the plane and Mummy said I was mostly a very good girl! I've not been able to go to school though today as I have a bug and don't feel very well. I hope I can get back in soon and see my friends! It was such a short trip back but I loved seeing my family and hope it isn't too long before I get to spend time with them again.

I have even more excitement this weekend though, my Auntie Charlotte is coming to spend a week with us! I can't wait!

Hope you are all keeping warm back there (we were very chilly!)

Lots of love

Ella xxxx

4 Day Weekend

I wish every weekend would last 4 days! It was so much fun having Daddy at home (and not on his laptop!) for so long. We had a lazy start on Thursday morning and spent lots of time in our pyjamas playing with Daddy. I showed him how Mummy and I are practicing my reading too. In the afternoon we went to Ibn Batutta Mall as Daddy needed more things for golf and Michael is already growing out of his clothes! Mummy and I have also started Christmas shopping and added a few things to the pile while we were out!

On Friday we went out early and decided to head to Mirdif and spend an hour at Little Explorers. It was lots of fun but I found it slightly overwhelming as there was so much to do. We had to leave when a dancing competition started as the music was so loud it made my brother scream! I didn't mind too much though as we were going to Carluccio's for lunch.

Michael and I spent all of Saturday morning with Daddy and left Mummy in peace to do whatever Mummies get up to when they are child free. We had lots of fun reading, playing and even watched a film together before we both fell asleep! In the afternoon we went for a short walk (it's still very hot here) and I took my bike out to show Daddy how I can ride by myself- well that was the idea but I got too hot so I made him push me...

Sunday, Daddy dragged us around the Dubai Mall as he needed more things for golf (he is really getting into this). It got boring very quickly so Mummy, Michael and I wandered around until it was lunch time. After lunch I went to Waitrose with Mummy as I have to be sure that she buys everything I want, and Michael spent time in more sports shops with Daddy.

There is no summer camp this week so Mummy is finding lots of ways to keep us busy. I spent this afternoon at fletcher and Willow's house and had so much fun that I came home and went straight to bed! I've arranged to see a few other friends this week too and Mummy has said we can do lots of crafty activities as that's what I love most at the moment.

Next week my Auntie Charlotte is coming to stay for 5 days. Michael and I are so excited! We have lots of plans, just cannot wait to see her. Mummy has bought us a boat for the swimming pool and has promised Auntie Charlotte will take me out in it! We are counting down the days!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend back there.

Lots of love

Ella xxx

Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan has come to an end and today we are starting our four day weekend for Eid. I'm so pleased that Daddy will get to spend so much time with us! Mummy seems more pleased about being able to go to a coffee shop and drink coffee... Unfortunately our weekend will be much quieter than we had planned as poor Mikey Moo is not very well. He keeps being sick (on Mummy haha) and is very upset. I'm the only one that seems to make him happy again but it doesn't last very long.

Poorly Mikey Moo

I spent another week at summer camp last week but was sad not to be able to see any friends on the days we had arranged play dates because of Michael. I was also sad to say goodbye to my wonderful teacher after 18 months. It was her last day yesterday but hopefully we made it very special with our little party. I only have a few weeks left at nursery too, I start big school in September! Mummy is taking me shopping this weekend for my uniform.

I am also hoping Mummy will take us swimming tomorrow morning when Daddy is playing golf. Hopefully the weather will be better, it has been a strange August so far with rain, clouds and relatively low temperatures! I've even been able to ride my bike outside which I am getting very good at! Michael shouts at me to let him have a go too, I'm not keen on that idea at all though.

It's raining!!

I hope everyone is having a lovely week. We have visitors lined up- Auntie Charlotte is flying over in 10 days and my Grandad (and hopefully Nanny) are coming in September! I can't wait to show them my new school!

Lots of love

Ella xxx 

I am 3!

On Monday, I turned 3. I'd had a big party the weekend before with lots of my friends (sadly some of my closest friends weren't there though so I've asked mummy for another party when they get back! She said no...) On the Sunday I went into Summer Camp at nursery and my teacher and teaching assistant had decorated the room and we had cakes, played party games, danced and played with balloons! I had a wonderful time and loved celebrating with my nursery friends.

I was very excited to come into the living room to find a carpet of pink balloons and lots of presents for me on Monday morning. I had a lovely fairy garden and fairies from Mummy and Daddy and Michael bought me books, sunglasses, Barbies and accessories and so much more. Aoife had also given my Mummy some presents that I could open when it was my actual birthday and I loved my princess dressing up set, hair clips and space hopper. I was very lucky. After breakfast I went to soft play with Daddy and Michael. The lady there painted flowers on my arms and we had a lot of fun.

Mummy had booked afternoon tea for us at the Ritz Carlton which we all really enjoyed. I was so pleased when the staff came out singing Happy Birthday with a big cheesecake for me. It had an enormous sparkler on top that I couldn't blow out! The rest or the restaurant diners sang along and clapped for me. I loved every minute of it! I was so tired by the end of it that I had an early night ready for summer camp fun the next day!

I cannot wait to turn 4 next year now!

Ella x

The Heat is On

We don't much like summer time in Dubai. The only time we can get outside is either whilst darting between air conditioned cars to air conditioned buildings or by spending time in the pool- the latter being my favourite. Mummy and Daddy agreed that I could do a few days each week in summer camp at nursery again this year. It's only 4 hours a day but it keeps me busy, it's a lot of fun and I get to spend a bit more time with my friends before I have to move to big school in September.

When I'm not in summer camp or swimming, we tend to spend our time at friends houses making a lot of mess or at soft play which can be pretty pricey here. Mummy also got into an argument last week when a place we visited tried to charge Michael. All he did was sit and try to eat toys as my Mummy pointed out. I could tell she was quickly getting cross and she's not one to back down when she gets like that. Needless to say Mummy won, and we left without paying for Michael. I'm not sure we can go back again for a while though...

Weekends have been very busy too. After my party last Friday, I went to Jack and Charlie's on Saturday morning with Michael while Mummy and Daddy went to see the doctor. We went car shopping once they picked us up which I loved! I suggested Daddy should buy a pick up truck but he didn't seem keen! Michael and I had dinner at Toby and Elodie's new house later that day- always great fun as we get to eat in our pants- and spent the evening playing with toys before saying goodbye as they are leaving Dubai for a few weeks to escape the worst of the heat.

Quite a lot of our friends have escaped back to the UK, Australia and Lebanon for the summer but unfortunately we have not been able to make the same plans this year and will be making a very short visit in September, just as it should start to cool down here and will no doubt be snowing back there! Mummy is starting to find it difficult to keep me entertained when we are stuck indoors so has started trying to teach me things like how to write and read. She makes it sound like it's going to be lots of fun but I'm not stupid. It's boring...

This evening Mummy and Daddy are going on one of their 'date nights' (basically they escape Michael and I and spend time together in peace, I'm not keen on it at all) which means our babysitter is coming over and I love her! She lets me eat cereal, play on the iPad, watch Disney Junior and go to bed when I say so. A great night ahead for me!

I hope everyone back home is well and hope the lovely weather has continued for you. I was jealous of all the paddling pools in the garden photos on Facebook! I cannot wait for the weather to cool down enough that we can spend time out doors again!

Lots of love

Ella xxx