The Kielys in Dubai: Christmas and New Year

Before Christmas (forgot to post it):
So it's that wonderful time of the year again. And we are trying to get into the christmas spirit, even here. We've had some heavy rain and some cold days (16 degrees in morning...) so it feels a little bit more like winter this year. More than anything we are looking forward to going home this year. Home to a white christmas, we hope. Isabelle's supercalifragelistic excited and can't stop asking about what we will do in Sweden, who will come for christmas and what she will get from santa. If she is a good girl, I comment. Which she isn't always. We've had a few bad moments these last two weeks and I'm never entirely sure what triggers her bad tempers: hunger, tiredness, sugar, who knows...It could just be the fact that we are travelling soon, making chnages in her life. Today, she had her winter concert at school, looking like an angel on stage in gold and black glitter, so pretty we almost cried. Wow, it's hard to be a parent sometimes. That's why we are having another one...we like a good challenge Jon and me...Seriously, I think it will be good for Isabelle not to be the middle child anymore.
Emma is really into school this year and have some great new friends. She is happy and content most of the time. Her dancing skills are improving enormously and the musical theatre classes are definitely helping her confidence. First audition she cried of nervousness and I was the hate object. Last class before xmas she was doing her second audition in front of class and teacher and seemed to have no problems with it. (who said parents live through their children...)
James is still very happy at nursery and never stops growing. He is tall and very slim. Has an abundance of energy but never eats. Well of course he does, but not as well as his mummy would like him to. End

Christmas in Sweden was amazing, with lots of snow and darkness...I had a hard time walking outside though, which was annoying. But the kids had fun and went sledding, built snow castles and snow men with their uncles and cousins. James enjoyed the snow for a few days, then he kind of had enough. Think he missed going out in his shorts whenever he feels like it. He did enjoy Junibacken though, very much. And so did Isabelle, even though she has been there like 10 times before. She tried to teach James about all the Swedish characters that he doesn't know so well. His favourite is Findus and Pettsson, and Pippi Langstrump. I have noticed that his Swedish really needs some work, so I try to show him Swedish films and read him Swedish books all the time now. I have to face it, his first language is not Swedish...
JAmes is now officially a BIG BOY, since he threw his dummies (pacifiers) in the bin this weekend. The bribe was a pirate costume and so far it works! He even takes his sward to bed at night - as a substitute, bless him.

It was great to come back from Sweden and have vistiors waiting for us! The Sohlberg family from Täby stayed with us for 3 days (and 3 in a hotel) and we had a great time. Emma was so happy to have oldest friend Hanna here and we hardly saw them at all. Talk about pre-teenagers...dancing, makeup, clothes, shopping, youtube, Twilight, etc....what is a mother to do...On Thurday Emma is turning the big 10!!! She is having a movie/pizza night with some girlfriends, which is great. The problem will come when they have to choose the film to watch... it certainly will not be Cinderella. And of course, all she wants for her birthday is a phone...