Tonight was the Ultimate team party… or so I thought… turns out the team decided to have a surprise baby shower for Kat and me. I was completely and totally caught by surprise — to the point that when they said there were gifts, I just thought the gift was that they were all there and celebrating it. (Really!)

But the kids had gotten tons of gifts… from mobiles to books to gyminis to really funky baby clothes to a sideline chair for him and more. Kat and I were blown away. I really was speechless. It was one of those moments that you don’t expect as a teacher that are the ones that, I suspect, you will take with you for the rest of your life.

So… because I knew I would never get through saying this without completely losing it and because I was really speechless and amazed, I didn’t quite have the words, but here is what I was thinking… (and Jeremy, you can tell the gang what it says…)

If I am very lucky and a very good parent, I will have a son as amazing — as honest, hard-working, kind, intelligent… as good — as that group of boys (and Ashley!) And it makes me happier than I can express that my son will grow up with role models like them in his life, as I know that exposure to that group of kids can only be a positive force in his life.

Thanks gang… you made Kat and me happier than I can express — certainly happier than I could say in the moment. I hope my smile said enough. Thank you.