Rashad has 2 brothers (Razaq Bhai and Azgher Bhai) that live in Dallas, so we finally got an excuse to visit one of our favorite places on earth....Destination TEXAS!!!

We made our plan to leave early Saturday Morning around 4am...and based on Desi Standard Time (DST) we left right around 7am!  Actually, that's not bad if you ask me.  Here are some shots  from the road trip to Houston:

Here's an interesting Gas Station/Indian Reserve Antique Shop (only in Kentucky I tell ya) and we had some fun taking pictures.

  Q and Rashu thought it would be cute to get pictures next to these statues.

I thought I would just try and act cute   

As a matter of fact, Q and Rashu weren't all that enthusiastic about leaving       

Naturally on a trip of this distance one needs to stop to fill up gas, stop to fill up food, or stop to, well you know.  Here's one of our Food Stops....McDonald's...

                    God Bless the Filet-o'-Fish!                           

So Rashad was a havin' a little too much fun w/his fish 

         Rashu's first time pumping Gas, and his first Veggie Lovers Pizza!!!       

  FINALLY....TEXAS!!!!

Here are our amazing hosts and dear friends Rafat Aunty and Shabir Uncle!!!    They're family!

I was so blown away by the fact that it was bright, sunny, and nearly 80 degrees outside...one of my favorite combinations.

I think you can tell the sun was getting to my head:-)

Asim wuvs his mamma:-)  

Poolside!!!  Come join us!!! Q decided to join in...."Where's my man?" she says.   

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Rashad!!!

  Oops, a lil chilly for you eh bro-in-law???  LOL!!!

    Just take a look at the sun shining down on us!  We look way too happy!!! 

    Adil was driving while I was spinning the discs...okay poppin in the cds.      

There's Maryam chillin w/her Qudsia Baaji and Rashad Bhai.  They were showing us around town.

We were on our way to see the Water Wall...which was pretty nice.  And yes we took a bunch of pic's.              

  I managed to get everyone's attention in the park...however, nobody thought I would jump...Well, I would have but I left my jumping shoes back in MI, wink wink.

The point of these 2 pictures...just how cool their street signs are and light poles......I think Mayor KilPatrick should be taking notes!

I believe this building is now the 5th tallest in the US      

  Man, I love Jamba Juice...I wish we had one over here!

We had to go to Shabir Uncle's Denny's for breakfast one day!   

Everybody stuffed themselves, however I think poor Adil got Grand Slammed!

I was very happy to meet Moin Dadima...who is my Dadima's younger sister.  I'll never forget when Moin Dadima came to visit some 13 years ago, and they two sisters hung out just like ol' girlfriends.  It was so cute, Mashallah.  While Dada hung out w/me...you know, the men had to chill too:-)  A sweet memory I will forever remember.

Q first! Then I get to jump in! Then Rashu Everyone!

  This was my favorite pick of the whole trip...sibling rivalry!

Okay, here's a close second place!    Adil, give it up, she's taken!  But you can't blame the poor guy.

On the road again...we said our goodbye's to everyone in Houston, and made our way for Dallas, where earlier in the week Adil and I had dropped off the newlyweds.  Along the way, we made a new friend.  Mom, Dad, and I were joking around just being the Khalid Family, and I was taking pictures of the speedometer and stuff (which I'm not allowed to post...drats!!!) and it just so happened that the next picture I took was of dad and his new buddy, Officer Cootes.

"Okay Dad, now if you could put your arm around him...JK!!!"  As ridiculous as it may have seemed, I had to ask the officer for a picture.  Also, my dad was in a  great mood, and that's kinda rare for getting pulled over, so I seized the moment (Carpe Diem Baby!).  Thanks for cooperating Officer Cootes...we won't hold the ticket against you...you were just doing your job.  Thanks for keeping the roads safe.

We ate dinner and spent time w/the Khazi Syed families in Dallas and made our way for Chicago...Farzana Pupu invited us to Farah's Birthday party, so we decided to alter our trip a little.

  Q did a major chunk of the driving on the way back...meanwhile.....

Rashad did a major chunk of the sleeping...NO!!!  I'm kidding...bichara barely slept!  

  Finally, Illinois!  My birth state! 

Qudsi had to get her husband a new shirt, so we decided to stop off at Woodfield Mall...and guess who just happened to be there signing autographs promoting the launch of her clothing line....Michelle Branch!  I mean, she's not all that, but I dig some of her songs.  I think she has a lot of talent and will go far.

I guesss she doesn't really have it goin' on or whatever...No offense girl.