Thanksgiving

After searching three grocery stores, I finally found a 6.5 kg turkey (smallest I think that I have ever cooked). I have learned 2 things about turkey buying- #1 only available Thanksgiving and Christmas. #2 only buy an 11 pound turkey or less- there are no rosters or turkey bags big enough to roast them in.
Audrey helped me cook and stuff "the bird". Sullivan pointed to the turkey and said "oh my gosh- what is that?" I almost couldn't tell him as the night before we made a crazy Thanksgiving Jib-Jab and the turkey ends up- well you know, with his head chopped off... Sullivan spent the next 1/2 hour crying for the poor bird.
Sullivan is quite the animal expert/lover - notice all the zoo trips.

Anyhow we cooked the turkey, made an apple crisp and drove to the Crandall's home in Khalifa City. We had a Thanksgiving Feast with about 7 other American families. Good conversations, piano, crafts and games for the kids. We had a great time. When we got home we talked a bit about what we are thankful for as a family. Each child said things like- "family, friends, the USA, god's creations, the beach, their beds, the house, animals, bugs, music etc." It is always good to hear what your kids are greatful for.

This year I would have to say I am thankful for friends and family- old and new. It has been exciting to come here to The UAE and meet new people and go new places, see the world- but it has been dear old friends and family members that have kept me sane and kept me going with emails and phone calls etc. There is not a day that goes by where I don't think of someone back home. And what is home? For me I used to always think of home as Canada. Even last year. But now- I think of all three places, Canada, Utah and now Abu Dhabi. Even Cairo seems like home in some ways:)
I am so greatful for a friend's early diagnosis and rapid treatment for Cancer. Emily has been an inspiration. It has been miraculous to watch her be so positive and greatful as she is battling breast cancer. I am thankful for miracles like this.

I am thankful that for some crazy reason I was born in Canada. That I was given amazing oportunities and education and religion that many in the world never ever know. I am amazed at how my life has been blessed and feel unworthy of a lot of things. There is so much poverty, racisim and hardships in this world that I and my kids will never know of- except to witness it. One thing I hope my kids take home with them from Abu Dhabi is that they have been blessed beyone belief. That a bad day of getting up early to go to school, too much homework, dishes, making beds, taking out the trash, helping with Hazel etc. is really not too bad at all. They will never know what it is like to be a toothless 80 year old woman from Sudan going house to house looking for extra houseleaning work. Or, a 50 year old Bangladeshian man working 13 hour shifts at the car wash. And those are not the bad jobs either. I am just saying...
I vow not to complain about car pool again this year!

I am greatful for Christmas- I walked into the big grocery store downtown and they had a huge "normal" christmas tree display. There was a sign that said "Merry Christmas". I mean that is remarkable! That here in the heart of Abu Dhabi that Christ is being recognized and celebrated. This is a majorly devout muslim country- and although some don't really believe in Christ as the Savior, they still believe in his miracles and healings and that he was a prophet. Just the fact that the "presence" of christmas is here- that is huge! I am excited to get a tree up and celebrate Christ's birth with my family.

I am thankful for amazing parents and siblings. I love them so much! And the list goes on....

Al Bahya

Some days we wake up, have cold cereal, shuttle the girls to school, eventually get dressed and spend the rest of the day doing household chores...other days we go on an adventure.

We decided to go check out a "Family Park" in a neighboring town - Al Bahya. I feel like I am getting pretty good at navigating ourselves around - I even threw away my city map. We drove about 15 minutes out into the desert, followed a few signs and ended up at the zoo. For about 8 dollars Hazel, Sully and I were admitted to the park. Picture a small zoo, but with large cats and camels- and an exotic kids petting zoo. The zoo keeper told me to come back on Saturday or Sunday and they have a lot more animals roaming the grounds- the grounds where you walk. You can even pet a baby cougar. We saw zebras, horses, goats, lions, bears, mountain lions, monkeys, ostrich and more.
The kids fed the monkeys some dates, the camels and tortise some grass, and Sully was able to hold a falcon. It was a great place for the kids to be really up close to some animals without the crowds of a huge zoo.
A great day.


A local boys' school was on a field trip that day at the zoo. A really rowdy bunch. Sully pointed and said "I want to go to that school". Sure, I thought, one with zero rules. I guess this is pretty common here - the boys and lack of rules. I think I would have to add lack of parenting.
At one time I was considering hiring a full time nanny/housekeeper, but after watching these women (nannies) with the kids I feel like they're doing the job I should be doing. I mean, it sounds so nice - someone helping 24/7, lunches, breakfasts, ironing, shopping, babysitting, cleaning, cooking etc. But I see the families all together at the park - Mom, Dad, children and nanny, but who is pushing the kids on the swing? Who is blowing the kids nose? Who is taking them to the bathroom? Who is running to the kids when they fall down? The nanny. And then one lady said to me "I change nannies a lot because I don't like my kids to get too close to them. It's not like she's their mother." And I'm thinking - but the nanny does all the "motherly" things...
At the park a little girl fell down after accidentally walking too close to the swings. The nanny walked over and demanded her to stop crying. The child kept crying - she was hurt. If I had to guess she just wanted her mother's arms around her. I do not think nannies are all bad - nor mothers who need help from hired nannies. I'd be afraid of getting stuck with someone who really isn't a caregiver. And maybe I wouldn't be around much to notice if she was or wasn't. With someone doing all my things - maybe I'd just stay at the gym all day long...

Endless Summer

It sure does not feel like the end of November. I know I've said this before but somewhere out there are snowstorms, hot chocolate, spiced pumpkin cookies, fireplaces burning, and homes all decorated for the Christmas holidays. It all seems like worlds away. Here, I keep finding myself at the ocean, in the water, building drip sand castles with the kids.

We were invited by our friends Daniel and Julia for a BBQ on the beach last Saturday night. We drove out to Yas Island and just parked in the sand, pulled out the portable BBQ and grilled up some beef kabobs. The kids had fun shell seeking at sunset. The gulf water is still very warm and we could walk to the mangroves at low tide. Quin and Audrey found a little crab they adopted as their pet for the night.

Here are a few pics of the night.








I know this one of Hazel is out of focus - but it is rare to have a pic of her without her goofing off...

Eid

Grace, Quin and Hazel on the beach



Sullivan at the beach in Dubai



Audrey and Grace - Burj Al Arab



Grace's 8th Birthday Party



Thank goodness for holidays! And religious celebrations! We are at the end of Eid and it couldn't have fallen at a better time for us. Since we arrived back in September we have been on the go - running from school to wrestling, grocery shopping, plant shopping, ordering curtains, rental cars, residency papers, medical, church, swimming lessons, rugby etc... it is all stuff that needs to be done, but runs you down, too. So we have just enjoyed a week of sleeping in, beaches, eating out, and time with friends. I can't complain...

Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort

Well, that is a fancy name for the zoo. And a quite remarkable one, too.
We finally had the kids residency visas go through and they needed to be stamped at the border. So we all headed out for a day in Al Ain to cross the Oman border and then re-enter into the UAE. With that done we headed out to enjoy the rest of the day at the zoo.

The Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort began as a private collection of exotic animals. It is now a world class exhibit of reptiles, birds, and mammals from all over the world. The kids had fun spotting an Arabian leopard, watching the white lions eat lunch, hanging out with the monkeys and especially seeing Grace be part of the bird show and hold a falcon. Here are some pics of the day -

Enjoy-

Oh yeah - the price is right, too - only 45 AED for the whole family. About 13 US dollars.