All the Deckers and one Pugh

Everyone is here! I wish my family was here as well but we are having a great time. Everyone arrived Friday night on Chris's birthday. Chris and I had planned on going to the mountains during the day near Ra's al Khaimah (North of Dubai) to celebrate but we drove the wrong way and ended up in Abu Dhabi! We had not been there yet either so it was fine. It was nice to be out on the clear roads (Friday's are like old school Sundays in the US) in our new car exploring out of the city. Things are especially quiet with the Christmas holiday looming along with the Muslim holiday Eid al Adha which remembers Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael and this holiday also coincides with the end of Hajj (the annual pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca). In honor of this holiday Muslims who are able sacrifice a domestic animal of which a portion will be given to less fortunate Muslims and the rest will be eaten with friends and family. I saw lots of sheep awaiting their unfortunate fate in the backs of trucks last week! After checking out Abu Dhabi (older, more organized but smaller) we headed back to Dubai to make the airport run. Since the arrival of our family we have been out for a traditional dinner of Arabic mezze and shiha (the pictures are coming) and a more formal dinner cruising down the Dubai creek (in Old Dubai) in a glass boat last night (see picture). Yesterday we hit the beach and enjoyed the sun, the waves and strolling in the sand. Today we went to the mall for a quick sight see and arrived home 5 hours later, somehow a quick trip in Dubai is never a quick trip! Now Pattie is sitting with me, everyone else is playing euchre and we are contemplating a local Indian meal. I just wanted to throw y'all a few words so that I don't lose my fan base. Faithful readership really keeps me going. We are all thinking of all our loved friends and family right now and wishing everyone a holiday filled with joy, peace and lots of love.