Out for early birthday dinner

James and I. (aka, my mom struggling with the digital camera)


Ok lovelies, I've been asked recently, and not so recently for sharing personal pics and now is the time. Of course, after tonight's almost mishap of our old digital camera not quite working, we're probably going to buy a new one soon so there will be more under way. My mother has been visiting from the Netherlands for the last 2 months helping me out, and next wednesday she's scheduled to return. She wanted to take my husband James and I out for an early birthday dinner (mine is january 14th)so we tried this restaurent Ararak. It ended up being one of those places near the University (UT) that had a BYOB policy. Of course, I associated that with only alcoholic beverages, turns out, that includes softdrinks/pop (whatever you'd call it depending on where you live) so hey, next time, bring your own cooler! lol
The food was ok, but I am spoiled having had arabic food in really authentic restaurants run and cooked by people from the native countries plus my saudi experience as well. BUT..it looked good, presentation was nice, it was a chilled out place (had to be being in studentville), and the service was good and the food was plenty as well.
shish kebab (I know, not original)
my mom, determined NOT to have her picture taken ("my hair looks awful!" "mom, no one knows you")

James, being a pill and not very sociable so we gave him a hard time and took a picture to make a point and while I'm at it...

my son Dirk (who'll be 9 this saturday) loves building with zooms and he made this big construction using a few hundred pieces (correction, he just informed me it's made out of 123 pieces)
..I think he's really a 'builder'

and last but not least, my little 'whench', Rebecca, 3 1/2 yrs. She's a little girl with such fun and fun-ny personality, her and my son both have a great sense of humour which of course, you guys know, they get from me.

After our dinner, we went to an italian icecream place for dessert which was really good and then home to pick up the kids from our neighbours'. Hmm..I'm getting hungry again..sigh..well, at least I don't have to worry about fasting (had to have my blood drawn this morning and wasn't allowed to eat my midnight last night). I'll probably get up in the night when I have the munchies..I really ought to go to bed.
I'll let you know later what I've been up to so far Zee!