Nora & Her Family: Celebrating Two Men in the Family ~ Jan. 6-7th

Yes, that's right. There are now two men in my family and three boys. James turned 19 on the 7th, so at least technically he is an adult. I'm still adjusting to that concept in my mind, as of course he'll always be the beautiful little boy who taught me how to be a mother as we did everything first together. I feared this day with trepidation as well as with relief. He is now accountable for himself with the reality that I don't have to tolerate certain behaviour anymore. Not that anything is going on right now, which I am immensely glad for, and life presently seems peaceful. So I breathe deeply with gratitude. We may never have our act together as a mother and son, but there is some comfort that we've lived 19 years together which I hope James will appreciate as he matures. I certainly always will, and thank God for His gift of James...a technologically brilliant, sweet-hearted servant-natured, hard-working, motivated, forever loyal friend, and cherished family member. Another day, another reminder...

We celebrated with our family at Northview Golf Course for brunch, and were especially pleased to have Kelsey join us. The smiles we see from James when she is in the vicinity are so heartwarming to us.

James also can't avoid pictures when Kelsey is near as he has to be nice to us. :)

Mom and Dad K. are always looking good!

Uncle Stewart keeps the boys laughing.

Collegiate-looking Charles... he only dresses the part. :)

Nora visits the dessert buffet for the jellybeans.

The other birthday "Man" of the day. Thankfully he has
been a responsible adult his entire life. :)

Nora loves it when Kelsey is around, too.

In her Sunday-best.

See what I mean about the smiles? Kelsey makes them all behave!
(The civilizing effect of women...)

The generations we are thankful to be between.

Happy Birthday, Scott!

Later on, the boys shared their cards with "Dad'. You never quite know what they're going to make.

This creation from Thomas was slightly creepy...

...which would be half the point when you're 14.
Also notice the Obama card, as Scott is such a fan. (Not!)

So here's to Scott celebrating the last year of his forties.

Instant party, we decided not to cancel home-group after all.
Thanks for a fun evening, everyone.

Scott's not 2119, we just didn't have a 4. :)

And just because I feel a birthday must be celebrated on it's actual day as well, James had his own cake and recognition the following evening. (Scott was working.) The boys are pretty low key about birthdays now, but Nora is right into it. (I was already anticipating Jan. 10th, when Nora would be at preschool and I could finally start my "vacation" after working the 8th, and taking CPR on the 9th. Christmas, working so much for everyone else, and then double birthdays just wiped me out!)