One glorious vacation and why we dare to go away with 11 kids

This past week has been glorious. We have spent the week on Block Island in Rhode Island with all of our siblings and their families. That means we have been surrounded by 8 opinionated (including ourselves :):) but funny adults and 11, yes that is eleven, crazy kiddies all week who are between the ages of 15 and 2.  YUP - CRAZY...but a glorious time.  We have cooked out, clammed for yummy dinners, went black berry picking all over the island, visited both beautiful lighthouses, went for hikes and bike rides, went to the BI maritime institute and the kids dissected and learned about squid, went for "ham and beans" aka ice cream on Block Island (a little joke our father started years ago with our kids to try to "trick" the parents into thinking that they weren't going for ice cream with grandpa AGAIN), boogie boarded side by side (adults and kiddies alike) and even dared to go out for dinner with all 11 kids (yes, we made all the other customers cringe).

We have laughed, fought, commisserated over the trials (and joys) of parenthood and in the end have reconnected in so many wonderful ways.  Plus, this yearly vacation has created such incredible bonds between all of our kids (the "couseez" as they refer to each other) and those connections and memories have been worth every crazy moment, frustrating situation and sibling spat (kids and adults  lol).  It has been a  blast.  One more glorious day and then we are back to reality but we will be back next year BIRI to make more memories for a lifetime.