Birthday gathering

Last weekend the whole family got together for a birthday party for James' brother Bill and his wife Terre, who both turned 40 this year. Everyone met up for lunch on Sunday near where James and I lived when we first came to Ireland after getting married. After lunch we all drove to a nearby park for a walk in the woods bordering a lake and some of Maura's homemade chocolate cake (yum!) There was a really cool path all through the forest. I took this photo of the guys walking along: (brother Bill, James, Eamonn, and dad Simon)



When we got back to the head of the trail where the cars were, a couple of guys were feeding the swans that had been in the water but were now up on land begging for bits off them. Eamonn got himself plop in the middle of the swans, the guys gave him some bread to feed them. James was right there making sure none of them got aggressive, but surprisingly, they were very gentle about taking food from Eamonn's hand. His laugh was echoing through the whole forest, I swear, he was having such a good time. I wish I could say I took pics, but my hands were full at the time feeding Tomas. I know, try to contain your shock that that's what I was doing!