Family Gathering

Usually when we are in Ireland we either are attending something big (wedding, baptisms, anniversaries, birthdays,etc.)  But this summer there was no “real event”…it was literally just vacation. It makes things so nice…we didn’t have to plan outfits, etc. BUT it also means we could possibly not ALL get together either. I have some cousins that live a few hours away and some that work a lot. So…my awesome cousin Alan made “an event”.  We had a “family gathering”.  We do it because we love each other BUT also so that Nanny can have all of us in one place at the same time.

This is my cousin Alan…we are 2 months apart by age, I’m 2 inches taller (haha), we both love trying to stay fit (he’s way better at it then me!) and he’s the closest thing I have to a brother…hence why we had him walk my mom down the aisle at our wedding! He’s an upstanding guy that I love oh so much!!

But the day is for hanging out, watching football, having a few drinks…and then the eats! Yum.

And look…all together! I love them! And Colin and Jayden adore their littlest cousin.

And Owen totally bonded with his cuz Cian…he’s the oldest of the great-grandkids and both those boys love their video games. They talked and talked ALLLL DAY! It was nuts!

 

And when we get together I have try and get “good pictures” of all the families! Here are some of the better ones I got.

Nanny with her grandchildren (only missing Jason who is in Australia, and Paul in heaven)

Nanny’s 4 daughters and their children (the grandchildren)

Added in Nanny’s GREAT Grandkids…all our babies…

And the whole family…including the spouses!! Well missing a few…those listed above and my wonderful husband who was at a football match with John Brogan.  And my dad wasn’t amused about taking a picture…so the lighting is horrible, toys in the way BUT we didn’t have time to mess with anything.

And took a few of each family with Nanny!

The McDonnell crew with Nanny!

The Gallagher Crew…yes my aunt also married a Gallagher…and no, no relation to my Dad’s family. Its just a kinda common name over there. haha

My Souza fam with Nanny too!!

My cousin-in-laws are more like my real cousins! These girls are married to my cousins but take such good care of me and my family! I love them oh so much too!

Caoimhe and I are the only girl cousins…and I’m 18 years older than her! Shes a quiet well mannered young lady who also has such an amazing relationship with Nanny. She cares for her, has sleep overs sometimes and keeps Nanny company a lot! I adore this young lady! BUT neither of us are as perfect as Denise! hahaha Yeah I could do with a good hair cut…huh nanny!

And my little Gallagher Family. We don’t bug dad for pictures…he doesn’t like them. So I took a few before he got too angry! haha

All the ladies…and why we didn’t get one with Denise and Carmel is beyond me. I’m so mad at myself!

My mom and her crazy sisters and mama. I love them. They are the funniest group of ladies to EVER be around! I don’t have sisters but if I did I would want a situation like them!

Then after the food…the fun begins!! Put on some music and it gets good!!!

It was really cute…my cousin Alan knew that Yosh was turning 40 later that month…so he went and got a cake, balloon, birthday boy pin and we all sang happy early birthday to Yosh. It was so cute and thoughtful!

Like Grandmother like granddaughter…total THUG LIFE! lol

haha.

And I have some pretty amazing videos from later that evening. All the olders headed home with the littles and us middle aged folk got to stay up late. Lots of drink and then another round of food! …and someone brought out a guitar. Oh it was hilarious! haha