It’s already 5:15 PM and I have yet to post today’s blog. Yikes! It’s going to have to be a fast one because someone trained the kids to believe dinner was an integral part of their daily existence. So, after thinking about what my list of thirteen would be about all day... here’s all I’ve got: Thirteen restaurants we regularly frequent -- or is it frequent regularly?

1. 1.McDonald’s: It’s funny to believe that Cris and I actually spoke the words, “We won’t take our kids to McDonald’s because we don’t want them to develop fast food habits.” That was a million years ago when we were blinded by newlywed love and couldn’t truly understand or appreciate the value of a Happy Meal!
   

2. 2.Genki Sushi: What a great concept to have food ride by you on a conveyer belt. AND, then color code the plates to correspond with the price of the dish. See, we expose the kids to real food too!
   

3. 3.Anna Miller’s: We live on the west side of O’ahu so Anna Miller’s is the best because they are fast, serve a great meal, are family friendly, and I like their coffee. Plus, you can sit there for hours when your with friends after church on Sunday nights.
   

4. 4.Bravo: The Italian-American restaurant below Anna Miller’s. Bravo bread! Need I say more. Well, I will say more because I love the calamari steak with lemon-caper sauce. I order that sauce over the pasta too.
   

5. 5.Auntie Pasto’s in Royal Kunia: A great choice for the family too because their children’s portions are perfect for the kids.
   

6. 6.Quizno’s: Is it just me or do all these restaurants have an apostrophe? Quizno’s is great because of the toasted bread. The kids don’t eat here with us... this is where Cris and I often end up for lunch if we are at Pearlridge Shopping Center.
   

7. 7.Ryan’s Grill: Well, I love the French Onion Soup and the kids enjoy ordering the pasta and playing with the children’s toys they keep in a basket up front in the waiting area. Cris goes for the Key Lime Pie.
   

8. 8.Champa Thai: Sometimes I get a craving for Thai food and if the kids are in a well-behaved mood we’ll enjoy a meal here. They’ll have pad thai noodles and calamari rings the kids will eat. Thai beer is great with the curry.
   

9. 9.Tony Roma’s: Cris and I started liking Tony Roma’s when we discovered how great ribs and a cold drink tastes after being at Disneyland all day. There’s a Tony Roma’s right outside the park entrance. We recently took Aiyana there where she enthusiastically embraced her love of eating ribs!
   

10. 10.Jade Garden: After church on Sunday we will often eat here with Cris’ parents. The food and service is fairly decent. It’s comfortable and Cris’ parents always pay.
    

11. 11.d.k. Steakhouse: This one is just for Cris and me. Yummy steak and romantic ambience.
    

12. 12.Bubba Gump: I think Isabel likes this place because she think it’s called “Bubble Gum” (which she is not allowed to have, yet always seems to find someone to get her some). Cortez loves to use the sign to get the wait help to stop at our table and Aiyana enjoys the little paper boats from the kids’ meal.
    

13. 13.Macaroni Grill: I think the food is a little over salted, but a pretty family-friendly place where the portions are large enough for the kids to all share one dish and leave full.
    

Wow, that really wasn’t all that difficult. Heard the rice pot beep so that’s ready and Cris’ char siu country-style pork ribs smells pretty great. Dinner’s on!