Carol Brady is my hero

Last night I kept my best friend Brandi's girls while she was out of town. She too has three beautiful and amazing little girls, whom I love as much as my own. Her oldest two are the same ages as my oldest two and her youngest is almost 3. So, I had 2 8 year olds, 2 5 year olds a three year old and baby Jules. Whew! Last night went well, they all got along great, we had pizza, they did their homework, were bathed and in bed by 8:30. Mission Accomplished, pat on the back for Momma Kell. I'm feeling pretty good about this, thinking that wasn't so bad, even bragging to Momma B (Brandi) about how well I did.

Then this morning hit. Oh My, that's what I get for being boastful. It started well, I got up early and started getting ready and they all got up before 7 on their own, with no prodding from me. Clothes were picked out, breakfast was prepared, and then it all went downhill. It is very difficult to keep 5 girls motivated to get themselves ready when there are so many other fun things to do. I had to ask many times to get shoes on, to brush their hair, quit playing around and get ready. Now, they are not bad kids, they behave really well, they just get distracted easily, and I get stressed easily when I'm running behind. The poor babies probably think that the devil possessed me this morning with all the yelling and threatening to spank their little butts. Much to my surprise we made it out the door on time, only to look in my rear view mirror to see Roz (Brandi's oldest) sitting in the back seat, hair all a mess. I calmly ask, Roz, did you comb your hair this morning, uh, no, I forgot. And I think how do you forget to brush your hair when you have this crazy woman screaming at you through gritted teeth every 5 minutes, GIRLS, BRush your HAIR , put your SHOES on NOW! I pulled back up to the house, ran into the bathroom, grabbed a brush and tossed it to Roz in the backseat, luckily I didn't hit one of them in the head with it as it flew through the car. Off to school as she brushed her hair. Within a few moments, they were laughing and talking, so I'm hoping that I didn't scar them for life and praying for forgiveness for all the not nice words I used this morning.

I drop the oldest 4 at school. Take Jules to Miss Lois's, who tells me in engrish, Yessaday, I pway Pano, baby yayayayaya. And laugh all the way to Ellie's daycare. When I take Ellie (Brandi's baby) in, she kisses me and tells me I luv you Kewwi. Awww.... and that made it all better. I drive to work, laughing about my adventures from the morning and think to myself, I'm glad I'm not Carol Brady, 6 is too many for me.