The Old Spaghetti Factory on the River

Entrance

On the sixth, we celebrated the three April birthdays, Cristin, Leah, and little Ben all celebrated their birthdays together. We were at a long table together and enjoyed a nice view of the river, as well as the lovely antiques, many from England.

Here we are! I'm the matriarch at the end, working on my iced tea.

Scott, son Tanner, and Ben, the birthday boy.

Ben, who is 10.
Willamette River in the background with Oregon Grape in full bloom.

Afterward, we were all enjoying the sunshine and the view of the river, and a man and a little boy walked by me and said, “How nice to see a family enjoying one another like yours is.” I told him we always celebrate all of the birthdays and holidays, so we see one another pretty often.

This is a marvelous bike/walking path which stretches for miles along the river.

The man's comment started me thinking of the word Family and some of the facets it covers.

relatives--by blood, by marriage, by adoption
nearest and dearest
extended family
informal folks.
• a person or people related to one and so to be treated with a special loyalty or intimacy

Isn’t Family really just a group of people brought together and bound by love?

I think it is.