What a good feeling.

It was sometime last week when I was overwhelmed and actually had the thought "maybe six kids IS too many!" I remember thinking how odd I had never thought that before, but I was truly overwhelmed and feeling like I was not giving everyone my best.

So today was quite the nice reassurance that I am doing good things. I don't mean to brag but I want to remember this day. So feel free to skip this post.

I got the kids to school, more or less on time. I have been driving them to school to make sure that happens. Yes I realize it is 6 houses away but still it can make all the difference. Especially when 5 of the seven (that includes me) don't have to be dressed with their hair done. This morning Haylie and Hannah had their 4 year well check. I had enough time to get all dressed but they all were styling the Medusa hair style.

So I made them get in the car. We dropped off the older two and headed out to the doctor appointment. We got their early enough that I styled their hair in the car so when I arrived to visit our fabulous pediatrician, on time mind you, we looked like a pretty together family. I had 4 of the 6 kiddos, and I still got the "Wow, you have your hands full!" Haylie and Hannah are growing well. Then they got shots. It was a little tricky holding the human pin cushion and making sure the other didn't watch her counterpart get poked with a needle, while keeping Lauren out of the refrigerator that contains all the vaccinations. Jackson was a peach staring at the boring white wall, not complaining a bit. Phew that was over. Now I had the chance to feed Jackson in the car (not while driving like some crazy lady). We stopped by Jeremy's work so he could give the girls a hug for receiving four shots, they were pretty tough little cookies. Then I headed home and whipped up 24 miniature chocolate cream pies so we could surprise Grandma Bev and her class with a birthday treat. Then I picked up Jeremy and headed off to deliver said goodies. It was fun to be in her classroom. I think all kids involved enjoyed it. I then returned Jeremy to work. I like borrowing him when I can, haha! Off to the park, even though most people are already gone from our scheduled playdate. Luckily I caught two friends still there for a little bit. When they left I called my mom. It is a rare occurance. I figured I would make use of the quiet while the kids were playing and Jackson was eating. The conversation ended abruptly when Lauren started getting too adventurous and meandering towards the busy road across the park from me. Time to go get Miranda. So I headed home to pick up Jeremy's suit coat, he is heading to the temple tonight with the youth and wouldn't have a chance to stop by the house before meeting up with them. We pick up Miranda and head to Jeremy's work AGAIN to deliver the coat and have all the potty trained kids go potty before I head to Costco. Off to Costco where we shop and hit a few sample tables. I should probably be way embarrased when I take 5 samples but I am only slightly embarrased, who doesn't like free food? For dinner I splurged $6 to feed us. We ate our hot dogs and drank at least half our drinks before Haylie was doing the pee-pee dance. Most days I would be near tears at this point. Things were working out today. Miranda took Haylie and Hannah to the bathroom while I hopped in a...can you believe it...super short line, and ordered some soft serve frozen yogurt for all of us. Then I met the girls at the bathroom. As I was leaving the bathroom (this is the beginning of the good part) a gentleman complimented me on my "beautiful family". He chatted while walking us over to the food court to pick up our treat. We sat down and I divied up the ice cream and the kids ate up. We cleaned up and were heading out the door. As we got our smiley face on our receipt, the same gentleman came up to me and said he was watching me my kids and said "There's not a C.E.O. that could handle a company as well as I handled my kids." While I know that is not true I am still on cloud nine! My kids have been raised in a loving environment, I take a third of the credit for that. But each of our kids gets to make the choice to be good and make things easier for me. They make me look like a great mom.

So the part that I want to remember most is that even though I feel I am not doing my best on some days, it is the marathon that counts not the sprint. Overall I am doing great even if some days are hard. I love being a mom, even with the hard days!