That's a lot of kids.

Sometimes I don't realize we have a lot of kids.

I mean... most of the time I guess it just feels normal?

But, there are other times.

Like, for instance, yesterday 

when I took these kids to the doctor for one child's appointment:

And suddenly, I looked around and discovered that the entire room was full of kids.

There were none hanging from the ceiling... thankfully...

but there were SIX kids in the room.

I mean, 2 years ago I had 4 kids at home and we fit in a normal-sized vehicle.

Crazy.

Add to that the stares, dropped jaws, and comments like

"boy, you have YOUR hands full!"

and

"Are they ALL siblings?"

and

"are you the mother? of all of them?"

and I think...

"uhm... what kind of psychotic babysitter 

takes 6 kids to the doctor?!? I'd fire her."

It happened again the other night.

We had this sudden rain storm come through

and my husband was home and decided

it was a great time for a game of soccer.

In the street.

In the rain.

So, I went out to take a picture and thought

"wow... looks like LOTS of kids came out to join the game!"

And then realized they were ALL mine. 

Nine kids playing in the rain.

Okay, so I had a moment of panic that went like this:

"it's all fun and games till Mom has mildewed clothes

at the bottom of the laundry basket! 

Crap, that's going to be a lot of dirty, wet, stinky clothes!"

Another time it seemed like a lot of kids...

Lunch...minus 1 of the crew.

And again...

Dishing up dinner and laying plates out down the counter.

"Oh wait, someone is missing their chicken leg..."

It's funny when these moments of 

"woah, that's a lot of kids!" strike.

I never know exactly what's going to cause that head-count inducing confusion...

or at what point it's going to just ALL seem normal! ha ha!

In other news...

Today was the last day of school.

I'm a little apprehensive about this summer.

This is a LOT of kids to keep track of.

I did buy these cool bracelets:

from TigTagz.com to wear to the pool, the zoo, wherever.

It makes me feel a little daycare-y,

but I guess if it keeps me off the front page of the newspaper,

it's worth it.

Speaking of the last day...

why do they bring home so much STUFF!??

They came in the house and dumped piles of papers, 

folders, notebooks, report cards, 

art work, graded papers, and who knows what else...

right onto the kitchen counter.

Gee, thanks.

Then they ran outside to play,

get hurt, need bandaids, drip sweat,

eat cheap popsicles from plastic tubes,

and come in later wearing enough dirt to create

a small mudslide in the bathtub.

I guess summer is officially here!