Brianna got a "dishdash", a Kurdish housedress for a birthday present.

Brianna's 9th Birthday!

Recognize this pretty little girl in her new Kurdish dress?

Springtime is gorgeous and green in K-stan! This is an almond tree that we caught at peek a few weeks ago.

This sweet little girl kept hanging out at our picnic spot to practice the few English words that she knew. She is pretty as a picture!

The Kurdish family that we joined the second day made a Kurdish dish called, "bree-onie". It's mainly rice with a special mixture of spices. It has a little chicken, almonds, currants, peas, potatoes and onions in it. Of course it's not a meal in the Middle East without tomatoes, cucumbers and green peppers. Lettuce and parsely was also served. A few weeks ago while visiting a village where there are many olive orchards Tim and his friend were given gifts. Olives! I still haven't acquired the taste for them. They gave us so many that we gave bowls full away to neighbors, shared a bucket with ex-pats, and still have them running out our ears.

This is a very popular picnic sight in which we found ourselves the second day of Nawroz. Everybody brings their dushak cushions, sits on the ground and enjoys a day with family and friends. Their was Kurdish dancing going on all over the mountainside. There is something traditional about building a fire just to make chai. We brought chai in a thermos, but we were told it was better over the fire.