Late in the evening

Dinner for 18.  This room held ages 10 and up.

Welcomed into the fold, as was the unicorn.  Indeed, he proved to be something of an entry ticket.  No one needed an explanation, no one needed help understanding her.  Little girls all embraced her as-is, but interacted with her with an intuitive wisdom and grace that is not just uncommon, but uncanny in little children.

This is the girls' annex.  When their mamas, papas, aunties, uncles had helped them with their plates, they said their own version of grace ("thank-you's") unprompted, and with simple insight and sincerity.

After dinner Balderdash.  About 24 years ago, I sat at this same table, playing the same game, with his father.

Yikes.  These two together keep everyone vigilant.  Liam on left is insanely high in energy and fond of jokes of a practical nature.  Aidan on the right is intelligent, articulate and wickedly funny.

Just look at the pursed lips.  He is ramping up for some kind of editorial remark.

Mo is tattling on one of the littlest girls.  I noted to her parents that this little one, Bridget, is unusually insightful and incredibly sweet and sensitive.  Mo is sharing how Bridget had BEEN MAKING PRANK PHONE CALLS.  That's just how this family is...

One of my best friends EVER, but over the years, and spending as much time as I have with the various configurations of the family, my interactions with her are only slightly more intimate than they are with any of them. 

Patriarch, in a very familiar pose.  One of those annoying people who completes crosswords in pen.  I'm sure he realizes it's his legacy, this buoyant, authentic, wholly hospitable, supportive, articulate, energetic and dangerously witty clan.

I almost deleted this, as I felt the looks on both their faces were unnerving.

... but that made Chris laugh so hard that I kept it.