Birthday!

Today is Southern Man's birthday!

He was going to haul a box of grading in to the office and work until mid-afternoon at which time he was to pick up a friend at the airport but Teen Daughter was adamant that celebration was in order so instead of cooking breakfast at home we went to IHOP for steak and eggs and chocolate pancakes, during which time Southern Man got a call that his friend had kind of forgotten about the time change and had missed her flight and would be in at ten instead of four. This actually made Southern Man's schedule much more relaxed so he didn't mind at all. Then we went to the mall where Teen Daughter steered him into Express where she bought him two very nice dress shirts and a tie and then we came back home.

Then we went to the Ancestral Manor for the usual Sunday evening festivities.

Southern Sister and Eldest Southern Nephew in the kitchen. Why, yes, that is a red barn in the back yard.

Dinner was, as usual, home-made pizza and salad.

Teen Daughter, Southern Father, and Southern Mother.

There were birthday brownies!

Southern Brother and Eldest Southern Nephew play with fire.

The game of the evening was dominos.

Eldest Southern Nephew and Southern Daughter plot their next moves.

Youngest Southern Nephew and Southern Sister's SO mug for the camera.

Southern Man had to leave mid-game to head for the airport to pick up his friend, a former co-worker that is going to do a little consulting at Southern Man's university employer over the next few days. But after a long day of travel she was content to retire to her hotel instead of our previously planned birthday dinner and drinks. And now he is home staring wistfully at the liquor cabinet but settling for popcorn and a beer. He picks her up at 7:30 in the morning for breakfast; first appointment with the deans is at nine.

What is Southern Man most thankful for on this birthday? Family! Lord, thank you for blessing me with such a wonderful family. Bless us and keep us, always. Amen.