So many kids!!!

We took our annual trip to the beach today with a group of my teacher friends. One of my good friends who I used to teach with moved to Boston a few years ago, but comes home every summer for a chunk of time and always invites us to her folks' place at the beach. I taught elementary school for 10 years before I decided to quit to stay home with the kiddos. Well, I taught with a wonderful group of gals who became great friends. My staff was a young staff, and the running joke was "don't drink the water" unless you want to get pregnant. One year there were 22 babies born at our school! 2 years later, the year Jacob was born... he was one of 11 babies born that year. I've lost count as to how many kids have been born over the years, but there have also been 7 kiddos added to our school family through adoption.... so it was a very blessed place to work. :) I miss it sometimes, but I do substitute teach there throughout the year, so I'm able to stay connected. :)

Here's a picture of just of "few" of the kids. :)
**And I need to add..... Mike's been gloating about this all weekend! Grace has really started using her signs to communicate with us. Everything is please and then something like please more, please food, please up, please binkie, please down, etc..... it's too cute. Well, on Friday, Mike was keeping Grace occupied while I was finishing up with last minute packing things for our camping trip. Well, when I was done, I went to find him. I thought they were outside, but then I found them in Mike's office. I guess Grace had been playing on the floor and then walked over to Mike, signed "please up" and he picked her up and she put her head on his shoulder and fell fast asleep. When I walked in the office, Mike had a HUGE smile on his face! It was too cute... and throughout the weekend he kept reminding me that I do all the work and he gets all the benefits!! NICE!! Yes, Mike got the first word, the first spontaneous blow of a kiss, etc...... This little girl loves her daddy!!