Happy Thanksgiving!

I keep thinking of major holidays here in the UAE as whatever number it is for us to celebrate here.  This is our year of 5s!  Our fifth Thanksgiving.  Wow.

This year we hosted again but after a huge group last year, I was looking forward to a smaller one.  This year we invited dear friends, Sara and Saad over and their extended family as well as new friend Becky.

We've been so fortunate to get to know Sara and Saad and their family during our time here in the UAE.  Their daughter has been a dear, dear friend of Jane's since Jane's first week of school.  They have been in the same class ever since and Sara is my "go to" call if I need some generous soul to pick up all my kids from school if I am hung up somewhere.  Sara's brother used to be our neighbor and we've loved getting to know him and his new wife.  And last but not least, Sara's parents are able to visit often since they live so close in Karachi, Pakistan, and I feel we've adopted them a bit as grandparents here.  If there were ever a "Grandparents' Day" at school, we would definitely want them to attend with Jane and Ameera!

Sara and Saad joined us last year for Thanksgiving and Asim had lived in the US for many years so had experienced a traditional Thanksgiving there a few times (and I loved hearing about how Asim and Sara's uncle would host Thanksgiving in New York each year but would serve a traditional Pakistani meal first - the first time Asim attended, he had no idea more food was coming!).  But this was Sara's grandparents and sister-in-law's first Thanksgiving.

We loved having Becky and her daughter (Regan's age) join us as well.  Becky is new to Abu Dhabi but has lived in several places around the Middle East and is so interesting to be with.  Yay, for expat friends who make our time here so special!

On the day after Thanksgiving, we gathered at another friend's house for a dessert potluck.  It's lovely that in Abu Dhabi can you reliably sit outside on Thanksgiving and visit with friends - so much thankfulness.

The girls (including Regan's friend, Jane) made this pumpkin pound cake all on their own.  They even made the autumn leaves and Bob the Turkey out of fondant.   What a nice contribution to our meal!

The "spread"of the hot dishes - all the favorites - turkey, cornbread stuffing, brussels sprouts, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn.  Cold dishes including cranberry relish and a yummy autumn salad with pomegranates on another buffet.

The ladies of the evening.

The Hussein/ Qureshi clan with Jake and me

Laura, Becky and Sara

The kids