So there was a time she let me have full control over accessories….look how big that flower is on her ‘just born this morning’ head!
This girl really likes tutus. I can’t think of the last time she went an entire day without wearing one at least for a minute or two.
If you are going to play with your brothers cars, you better sport a tutu in the process.
She is a funny combination of girly-girl/tomboy.
This is her “Oh Wow!” face…I really, really like to hear her say that.
A little bit later I pulled her hair back and convinced her to keep a bow in it. She smiled in the mirror at the sight of her bow…then ran to her room and came back with shades & pearls. Sister likes her accessories.
Some have questioned my posts with her dressing up…hinting at the idea that I dress her and pretend that she does it herself. If you knew my girl, you’d know that is not the case. She’s got some crazy strong opinions about clothes. I let her dress up at home, just like I let her brothers dress up however they want. The only difference is the outfits she comes up with are much cuter.
While she was swinging in cuteness, this was happening on the other side of the yard.
Shin guards, the front covering of an adult Darth Vader costume, soccer shorts, no shirt – really skinny boy.
Black pajama pants, Black turtleneck – in case you didn’t know Luke Skywalker wore all black as a Jedi. Therefore, my son only wants to wear black 24/7
Skinny boys with fake wood swords – its not a tutu, shades & pearls, but cute in a different way. I assure you they are playing with soft gentle fake wood swords because naturally I would never let my boys play with sticks they found at a beaver dam. Nope, that would be dangerous. They are fake
by AshleyAnn
show hide 39 comments
Brittaney - I’d have to say, you definitely have a fashionista there! She knows how to work it too!
Sadie - This just cracked me up. I love how they each have their own style. Perfect!
Susanne - The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize!
Allison - i have a tutu and accessories loving little girl myself. and i LOVE it!
amanda torres - I hear you on the girlie ‘I have my own opinion’ dressing. We have it over here too. Right now Addie is sporting her pink elephant pj’s with a cinderella costume over it, braids (which she requested), and pink cowgirl boots. This should be fun getting her out of it in time for the library storytime.
Courtney - i have a girl like that, too! since the beginning, she’s had SUCH a flair in clothing. and if i ever TRY to put a “cool” or “cute” outfit together for her, it doesn’t look NEARLY as cute as the outfits she puts together! i don’t know how she does it!
Ruth Abel - Firecracker is amazing. And I love the tutus that she favorites. Do you make them yourself or do you have a favorite tutu maker/seller? My toddler has been wearing a sad little number that was my first attempt at sewing one, and I think she needs an upgrade.
Jessica - I just love a tomboy in pearls. My daughter is very much the same
Sarah - haha. I love you and your posts. Thank you for being “real” it’s a sigh of relief in this “I have to make everything look perfect” world.
Tracy O - Firecracker reminds me so much of my daughter at that age (she is now 11 and jeans, UGGs & hoodies are the normal attire). Your boys on the other hand…your pictures could be taken in my home with my 9 year old. I love the combinations of dress up clothes he chooses and the imagination…sometimes, I just shake my head, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Keep them young and loving life…they are only little once.
Natalie Allen - I love reading your blog posts from the diy to the kiddos. Your photography is beautiful. I don’t know why some people have to give their opinion where it’s not even asked. I guess they never learned when to shut their mouth. I think it’s great that they’re in love with accessories and dressing up. My 2 year old boy has accessories all the time. He doesn’t need to be frumpy just cuz he got a boy gene. That being said I let him also pick out his clothes too. People these days!
Robyn Farmer - and to think I knew nothing of Star Wars before reading your blog.
Heather D - Such cute pictures.. and whoever “hinted” at you dressing her yourself #1 has never had a 2 year old and #2 who cares they are adorable photos that capture the joy of being a carefree kid!!! You always inspire me to take more interesting photos of everyday life and I love it!!
MichelleD - I have a four year old and she is very much the same way! She loves to dress up and she changes her clothes about six times a day, then she goes in her dress up clothes and sword fights with her six y/o brother. Love reading your blog- I can totally relate!!
emmybrown -
Molly @ mixedmolly - My kids love “fake” swords too
This post made me laugh out loud.
Seriously Sassy Mama - My three daughters all dress up. I have always given my girls free range over what they wear. They are 8,6, and 3, so it is fun to see what they put together. We have a huge bucket of old Halloween costumes and dress up clothes that they love to play in. If I had boys, they no doubt would be playing with real sticks and climbing real trees.
becky - we have the same thing going on in our house – star wars action figures and tutus…and sometimes a combo of both. my daughter has learned to swing herself just recently and spends most of her day in skinny jeans, tutus, snow boots, tiaras and big puffy jackets. that or she wears the “southern belle” costume i bought at walmart after halloween. when she disappears into her room, i never know what she’s going to look like when she comes out. this week has been a lot of misses – but sometimes it’s pure genius. either way, i laugh a lot.
Emily - She is seriously one of the cutest, most adorable little girls I’ve ever seen – even if she has strong opinions.
Also, I love how you always have pictures of their legs/the floor….you remind me to take pictures from different angles!
Mallory - I was just like your little girl when I was about her age – no matter what my mom wanted me to wear, I was going to wear what I wanted to wear. End. Of. Story. Love your blog and your awesome pictures! My nephew was here for Thanksgiving and I was trying to take pictures of him like crazy – I kept thinking “What would Ashley do?” haha!
Emily - I love letting my toddler dress himself. It’s always remarkably hilarious.
And sticks are the BEST toys. (Just be careful not to compromise the structure of the beaver dam!)
Jen @ RamblingRenovators - Your kids are all adorable but Firecracker has some serious style. She is so so cute.
Lisa J - Ashley – I just adore your posts – you are so funny! Reading this blog is pure sunshine. Happy days x
the inadvertent farmer - Ha! They are about as fake as the rocks my littlest boy loves to throw at the side of the house, or the snakes he picks up and carries around. God bless the mama of a passel of boys.
As for your sweet bit of a daughter…her fashion sense rocks! Kim
April - My 4 year old boy is rarely in “regular” clothes at home. He LOVES to dress up and is also currently into the all black look. (So he can be a Ninja.) My one year old boy is already getting on the bandwagon, too. Life is more fun with awesome costumes, anyway.
Flor @ Life in Progress - Gosh, Firecracker reminds me so much of my little 3 yr old. They are sassy, aren’t they?
I found my little on using a pretend flat iron on her hair the other day. And the hair.. I don’t know what to do with it anymore {for my daughter}.. it’s just a big hot mess 
Loved your post!
Jodi - I have been photographing the girls choices for school outfits for the past 2 months. I have a whole post drafted on this very subject and letting kids be kids!!! I have no doubt that your little one has a very strong opinion on her outfit choices, she looks determined…..just like her mommy!!!
heather - people crack me up! in our wildest adult imaginations, we could not come up with the awesomeness that are the outfit kids choose for themselves.
Ashley - You know why I believe that your daughter dresses herself? Because no amount of prompting or begging can convince a toddler to wear something they don’t want to. I would love to see my little girl running around in a tutu, but she won’t have it! I’m working on her though
.
Your kiddos always look like they are having so much fun. Have a great day!
Alice H - The way she wears her headband is so cute. My older son, now 11 years old, used to wear shorts, cowboy boots, and a buzz lightyear shirt EVERYDAY for about 5 months when he was a toddler.
Love the all black clothes and the shirtless Darth Vadar. Such fun!!
mosey - hahaha, I have two boys always in all black and a girl in a tutu all the time as well… My big boys have outgrown the dress up phase except the occasional knighthood journey.
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - LOL ~ Nate just saw the swords over my shoulder and would like to come over and play
brooke - my little girl is constantly dressing up just like your daughter! some girls are drawn to that, and they look pretty darn cute doing it.
Gale - LOL.. I laughed at the idea of people thinking you dress her up and then pass it off as her! I have one girl and three boys, too, and every one of them has their own style and flaunts it
She was the worst and I enjoy Firecracker because she reminds me so much of my daughter – who is now 27 and STILL rockin’ it – she wore a tutu for a Halloween party and said, “Why didn’t they have these when I was little?!” 
I love love love FC’s look with the accessories – ugogirl!
twirlin g betty - You can so tell those swords are totes fake. You make me giggle.
kiley - sometimes when i read your blog posts, i feel like i’m looking into a mirror at my own life…minus the fabulous photography skills. our kids would *love* each other – same games and weapons, same skinny eldest, same love for all things girly yet imitating the big brothers. ha!
Emily - Those pearls kill me!
But I love the ideals of little heroes too!!
Stephanie - She is so adorable with the shades, pearls & tutus. Such a girly girl!
Honey Bee Mama - hey, my littlest bee ate dinner in a skeliton costume last night! it took some convincing to inform him it would be easier to eat his hamburger if he took the puffy skeliton hand gloves off!