Spring has turned to summer...real fast!

We have enjoyed an amazing few months in Dubai this year. Lovely weather; not too hot, not too cold. Just right. And a few sand storms as well. And a bit of rain. Almost like real weather. Thanks to Maryam our garden is blooming and we've had great weather for vegetables. The kids have certainly enjoyed watching everything grow, the pull it out and eat it. Talk about organic! Tomatoes, carrots, spring onion, chilies, potatoes, herbs and lettuce. We're just about to eat our very own corn on the cob as well! Imagine that, a corn field in your garden...not very big garden, either.
Work has been busy for both me and Jon and the girls have worked hard in school. We must all have grown at least 5 cm in the last 6 months :) And James loves his nursery, and his best friend Laura, who lives next door and is 6 months older than him, half Irish, half Scottish. There are so many James around here that our James is now referred to as 'little James' and Laura's brother is called 'big boy James'. Many a Saturdays have we met over a BBQ or the occasional Turkey dinner. This will be one of the things I miss, one day when we´re not here anymore. For sure.
Personally, I have been studying Shakespeare as never before since Christmas, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Although I am a Shakespeare buff and always has been, I have never been so surrounded by it 24/7, Romeo and Juliet with gr.9 and Macbeth with gr.10 (which I had never even read before). And wow how good he was, Shakespeare I mean, and wow how hard it has been for gr 9 to understand him.
One important event this year, has been a very special visit by a very special friend. Anna and Jarko and 4 children came to see us in March and it was sooo good to see them. Feel very sad that we are not going to be at their wedding in June. Hope we will get another chance to celebrate them...
Going home for Easter was fantastic. Fresh, crisp air and even sow! Isabelle had us all out by 8 in the morning to build a snowman and to do some sledding on the hill next to mum and dad's house. Even James really enjoyed it, dressed in a hand-me-down pink overall and hat. Bless him! Only the gloves started to bother him after a while. Look mum, it's salt! he shouted happily pointing at the snow...The best was probably seeing Hugo and the new little cousin, Oscar. We miss them so!
After a few more weeks of enjoyable weather in Dubai, some lovely trips to the beach and a few more BBQs, summer is finally here. OMG, here we go! is all I can think. 35 degrees at 7.30 in the morning...ok, you just put up with it and shower more than normal and pretend it's bearable. And, strangely enough, you do kind of get used to it after a while...I think..or no you don't...
Here are some spring photos to tickle your taste buds!

 Isabelle and James playing with 'salt' in Sweden

 Isabelle and Filippa (Anna's daughter) on the trampolin in Dubai

 Emma is a very proud big cousin to baby Oscar

 Hugo and James are being monkeys as usual...

 What can I say...I'm lost for words...are they really all mine....?!

 BFF Easter witches!

 Grandad and me...

 From the vegetable patch!

Hat day in school!!