Happy Birthday Bill...

Declan & his Dad... both January birthdays.....

A few weeks ago we celebrated Bill's 80th birthday... Declan's family love to celebrate and with ten children, nine spouses and 16 grandchildren Declan's parents Rose & Bill always have good reason and always many opportunities to celebrate... This year January 1st saw Bill turning 80 and on the 9th January we all got together to mark the occasion... Declan's birthday was the following day so he got to 'intrude' a little on Bill's moment of glory....

This is the family I am fortunate enough to call my in-laws... There is never a dull moment and they are all, each and every one of them without exception great people... not to mention the 6 Colleran wives married to the 6 Colleran brothers..... !!!!! Maybe it is a large family thing but they are all very close and that is testament to the two people who brought them up and whom I admire very much.... 10 CHILDREN!!!..!!! As a mother to 3 I am tired just thinking about it....!!!! How did they do it??


The outlaws - 'minus 1'...
. With 10 children, 6 daughter-in-laws and 3 son-in-laws we always have a great reunion and get-to-gether when we meet and I know it is hard to believe but we do all genuinely get along.....

Bill & Rose with 10 of their 16 (so far!?) grandchildren...
Alex had discovered, a very nice barman who kept refilling his glass so he is minus his pants!!! These guys range in age from 15 down to 8 months and LOVE to meet up... They nearly take it as their right that if there is a special occasion that they get to go and can be quite indignant anytime they are told 'Sorry, adults only!'!!!

This photo, given to me by a sister-in-law is a real favourite of mine... Bill is a real sociable, laidback, funloving 'kind of guy'. He loves to go out and socialise with his family and gets on with old and young alike... Declan says when they were young he had to work real hard and when they got older he, I guess had a little time to sit back, (although he is still working away) and enjoy spending time with his children. Their house is always busy, with people coming and going. This picture shows another of Bill's great loves (No, not me!!!) Music. He is always ready to play a few tunes when asked..

I just wonder how many of us will still have his energy and 'zest for life' when we reach 80... If living and enjoying life keep you young we are set to be celebrating with Bill for many years to come!!!:)Please God!