The best things in life are always worth the wait. For those interested in “The Incubator Project” (that needs a new name because now it is more about sponsoring babies,) you can find the pertinent posts here: original post here (this is the one with the prints and how to be involved) Updated post (this…
Category Archives: personal
My second son turned 6. For months all he wanted for his birthday was to have some close friend over…all night…with light sabers. The thing about my second son is he melts me. I cave easy to things he asks. I get blinded by his grin and hugs. I agreed to the sleepover. Thankfully, we…
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Looks like they had an amamzing time,such cute kids! Can’t wait to have my own someday!
Congratulations to your six year old!
I cannot wait to host my daughter’s first sleepover! How much fun was this?! So cute!
I love that boys are so easy and fun! I love seeing dirty-from-playing-outside kids. My motto is dirty-from-playing-outside kids are happy kids 
Boys a bit stinky? How about a lotta stinky? They smell like wet dog when they come inside. That was the worst part of teaching…kids coming in from the playground. Steven used to say my classroom smelled of an opened bag of Cheetos mixed wiht raisins in the afternoon. I’m not sure why he chose those scents, but he was kinda right!
I love love love having sleepovers. You get to learn so much about your own child and their friends by how they interact. It is a lot of work though and boys are a lot easier than the drama that most girl sleepovers have. But I agree that THEY do STINK! Really bad. I go in with lysol spray when Z and his friends start taking their shoes off. Yuck! And he also has a Scentsy always going in his room.
Sooo much fun!!! I can’t wait to have all 5 of my boys outside as soon as my weather breaks, it’s hard getting only a small tease of warmth! p.s., the wood bench in one of your photos, Can’t wait to see you transform that! LOVE IT!
I love this! Boys are so easy. So simple to entertain and facinating to watch:)
I can see why he melts you. What better gift than time with good friends?
I so enjoyed this post! As a mom with three boys and a little girl, I loved seeing these photos of boys being boys and of little sister hanging right there in the middle of them!
great party!
So fun! I can’t wait for my girls to be old enough for their first sleepover!
Love the party. Pure and Simple. No hours and hours of planning, spends lots of cash, stressing out! Way to go! Love your style-in everything you do!!
Very wise letting them run around outside! I bet they had a blast!
I never comment but just have to say this post is my 3 boys in a nutshell!! Your oldest reminds me so much of my oldest as well. My boys spend most every waking moment playing with their Legos, star wars, and bug catching. Last night they spent 3 hours catching 10 butterflies and a toad and finally came in satisfied and tired. Love these crazy loud boys and I love so much your latest project for your daughter’s orphanage! I know it must be soooo hard to wait for her to join your family. I’ll be praying for all of you.
What a fun party! I wish girls were that easy!
Just had our first true sleepover as well. I had 4 10 years old come join our crowd. It was LOUD and easy too. I took a few to the air show the next day. There was nothing special or crafty either.
Boys are awesome! I love the dirt mound. I’m sure to them, it’s twice as big as it is to us. So fun!!
I’m sure you get a thousand comments a day, and have little time to read them all and take care of children. I just wanted to thank you. I don’t know how I first came upon your blog. My husband chuckles when I log into reader to catch up on my many followings, but yours is a favorite. You see, I’m a mom. A young mom. Three small kids: 6 months, 2 and 4. And you inspire me. I KNOW blogs tend to put our best foot forward and comparison is nie to death, but I love how “YOU” this spot is. Thanks for sharing. Thanks for sharing your love of Christ. I love that. Thanks for sharing your joys you find in being a mom. Thanks for inspiring me to do better, to live more in the moment, and to be kind, gracious, and always thankful. I think you are marvelous. I hope you know that. Have a great day- because you sure do deserve it. From, another mom.
as of mom of four kiddos under age seven and three of those being boys….i can so relate…:-) love this.
looks like such a fun party!!! these are the memories that kiddos will remember long after they’ve moved out of the house and even after they’ve had their own kids. you did a fabulous job! =)
oh you brave soul!! 
i’ve got a star wars themed party coming up for my boys (both may babies that will be 4 & 7) in just a few short weeks.
i saw that same idea for pool noodle light sabers on pinterest and i look forward to setting the boys loose in the park for epic battles in the wild and we can return to a peaceful home.
totally awesome mom points for you for sleep over status!!
<3,
H
For sure! With boys, they are not “rain boots” but “mud boots”. Playing outside and getting full of dirt and mud beats video games and watching TV any day!
My kids totally do the butterfly-net-on-the-head thing too!! Looks like fun! This is all my boys ever want to do! Wish we had summer birthdays since we live in the Pacific Northwest! Oh well!! Happy Birthday cute #2 boy!
You my dear are an AWESOME mom! You inspire me in every way! It looks like those boys had a wonderful time and it’s such a riot to see Firecracker in the middle of it all You do know that one day down the road one of those boys will try to woo her???
Up by 6:15?! Goodness! Looks like they had a blast, though
Okay, I’m totally hoping the boys at our party battle for an hour with the pool-sabers! Awesome. And my son TOTALLY wants that explorer’s vest. He got the matching canteen in his Easter basket and is all about it. And of course loves binoculars of any sort. Looks like it was a perfect time.
My son is three and I look forward to when he is older enough for birthday sleepovers! Love the photos! xx
Your kids always seem to be playing in dirt/mud how do you get it out of their clothes? A magic washing machine? My kiddos are love putting their butterfly nets over their heads too! Funny I just posted about it here:
http://www.ramblingsfromutopia.com/2012/04/my-little-flutterby.html
The call came early in the morning. I bolted out of bed, jumped into the truck and headed down the highway. First stop, coffee to wake me up. Second stop, my little sister’s hospital room. My giddiness erased the sleepiness. My sister was having a baby! I would get to capture my newest niece or…
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Congratulations to all! What a beautiful baby girl! I LOVE Firecracker and all her little faces and ways and……..our matching cowlicks!
Hihi, that was what I was thinking too – the boys are outnumbered! And you got me at the “big-sister” text and picture. Tears popped up! I am so glad for your sister that it is a healthy girl! Again congratulations!
P.S … for I am a little sister myself.
P.P.S … and last but certainly not least – your niece is gorgeous!
This post brings tears to my eyes. The photos, your words, everything. My little sister is expecting her first child, a little girl, any day now. She’s in Texas and I’m in North Carolina and won’t be able to be there for her. Congratulations to all your family.
She obviously was worth missing Craft Weekend for.
Congratulations to your sister and brother in law!
kimberlee stole my words!
birthing babies trump craft weekend.
no matter what.
Congrats, Auntie Ashley! I can’t wait til my little brother has children…I’m excited to be an Aunt!
Congrats!!! It’s wonderful to see your family grow!
simply beautiful!!!
the picture of firecracker meeting her cousin is so cute!
i love the competition! made me smile:)
Such precious pictures. I love Firecracker’s face when looking at the newest addition. Priceless.
I found out I was having my second child shortly after I had my first. Thinking about my little girl getting to see her new sister for the first time was so awesome! Once it came time to deliver however my daughter had to go to the ER too due to high fever. I was sooo bummed! She was stuck on a different floor than us, we were all released at the same time. I had waited 2 days for her to see her new sister! It was precious, she wasn’t sure what to make of her
Yay for girls!!! We are so happy for the Z family over here. Beautiful photos Ash, you did an amazing job as usual. It is hard to capture such great photos in the midst of all of that emotion and joy but you nailed it. Love, Love, Love!!!!
This is so sweet – such cuties! And I’m pretty impressed with that tiny red bow in that little girl’s hair. My little sister is having a baby in June (the first in our family!). Even though I’ve never had a baby myself, I’m hoping I can be a supportive big sister anyway.
Congrats to all of you. I can’t wait to “meet” your little girl too!
Oh these are beautiful. I’m a bit weepy now, and so glad that I have 3 girls to look after one another…but it does make me sad that I don’t have a sister of my own Congrats!
The B/W of Firecracker meeting her cousin is precious. And I don’t think Firecracker would be such a firecracker without that cowlick.
congrats to you all! just lovely.
I love how most of them are capturing a moment and are not posed. What a blessing to share that with your family.
I thank God for your blog, sharing your heart, photos….it’s awesome. congrats!
What a precious little girl. Beautiful photos as well.
Oh my word! Could this pictures get any sweeter?? Such amazing captures. The little girl’s reactions couldn’t be more precious. Sisters are such a gift.
Congratulations for antoher precious life! Couldn’t agree more that being a big sister is an amazing role.
So exciting! Sweet baby girl. I love the photo of your brother-in-law walking down to introduce his daughters…so precious! Congratulations
Wondering if you would mind sharing the settings for your photos – indoor, hospital photos seem impossible!
I am a big sister to a twin brother and sister, whose 29th birthday is today – I am 4 years older and no matter how old we get I still take care of my little sister. I completely understand how you feel about Lesley and Sweet P and Firecracker will have a good role model for becoming great big sisters and all the responsibility that entails! Congrats on your new niece!
So precious. Made me cry… again. Man, I’m such a cry baby! Made me want a baby, and miss my big sister at the same time. Such a sweet post Ashley:)
Oh Ashley, these are stunning! Wow.
I just love the one where you are looking over Lesley. As a big sis, I completely relate.
congratulations! And you are right about the whole “big sister” thingy I take my role very seriously!
Yay for beautiful babies & beautiful FAMILIES! I love it. Woohoo!
Absolutely beautiful photos!
The pictures of Sweet P in the hallway brought back lovely memories – in January my sister-in-law had her son (my first nephew!) and I spent a few hours waiting in that exact same hallway I will always cherish that time.
Love what you said about being a big sister. Totally agree.
Some beautiful moments you captured! Made me tear up and ALMOST want another bb girl of my own… almost. Congratulations and thanks for sharing!
I love baby girls! I have three.
Great documentation of a Great moment!!
What more beautiful story you did to your sister, what luck has she, what more beautiful girls too.
Again congrats aunt
Me again. How old is Sweet P? She looks like my daughter. Mine was 15months when I had my little boy.
So, so sweet. I’m a big sister too. I love this post. Thanks for sharing…
Congrats, Auntie!! Beautiful pictures that tell such a beautiful story. Ava is precious.
So beautiful!! I got misty-eyed while reading the big sister part. Your family is just so special. I wish I could meet them all!
i’m a big sister too and your comments made me tear up about how much you care for your little sister. sisters are a special thing!
Awww… My daughter and both of my nephews were born in that hospital
Congrats!
xo,
Christen
ChristenKrumm.com
Beautiful pictures. Beautiful daughters. I agree….being a big sister is a joy and responsibility. Yay for sisters — big and little!
These pictures are beyond precious. Oh my goodness. They made me cry. So beautiful. And the things you said about being a big sister, that is my big sister ALL over. Ah. Just lovely. I think I will have to get my sister to do one of your snapshops so that she can take these pictures for me one day!
UH! i just love it. I am an L&D nurse and i am fortunate to see that moment when parents meet their babes for the first time each week. There is nothing better than that moment…the moment when a sibling meets their baby sis or brother is pretty amazing too. Can’t wait to watch firecracker grow into a big sister. Great pics.
What a gorgeous capture of such an amazing moment! Welcome to the world beautiful Ava Grace!
So precious!!! The subjects are so beautiful, but I am AMAZED that you got hospital photos to look so beautiful color-wise. How did you do that?! I have RadLab after your recommendation awhile back, and I love it… but still… How did you do that?!
The photo of your sister and brother-in-law holding hands in the delivery room is so incredible! She is so lucky to have those amazing memories captured. I am 5 months pregnant with my third child and I SO want photographs, but don’t want some strange person invading our private moment. Maybe my sister can take your snap shop class quick before August Congrats on a new niece!
I have to tell you that this post made me cry, at work. I am 37 weeks pregnant with my second girl and I’ve just had such a bad day. I thought I’d take a quick break and check out some blogs. Halfway through your post I had to get up and close my door to have a good cry. I can’t wait to introduce my baby to her baby sister.
by AshleyAnn
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gale - Now, that is one sweet grandboy!!!!! I am sure Pappy loves spending time with him. Have you heard Trace Adkinss’ song, “Just Fishin” ? Perfect !!
Natalie @ TheShadyAcre - That is so true! But it can sure be hard to be patient and wait!
mandi@herbanhomestead - our boys are the same age, and I could see him in those pictures! He doesn’t go anywhere without his binoculars. Sweet series of moments you captured here!
Abigail C - I can’t say I ever got that excited about fishing. But I do approve of the Trace Adkins song, and spending time with grandparents!
jenny - This is so precious!
kassondra - I say you name it the “our babies” project.
Molly @ mixedmolly - Love this series. Goggles are the best.
Suzanne @ lifemadejoyful - Beautiful day for fishing! Hope they had fun. Enjoying reading the updates on the babies!!
Ashley - My dad is a Pappy, too.
ko - What a sweet moment to capture!
maribeth - Ashley-I love your blog, but is there a reason why I can’t pin anything from it anymore? (except your sponsor buttons) You have so many great ideas, I would love to be able to pin them again!
Thanks
Steve Kellen - I have to say that as a recent discoverer of your blog, I am in awe of your eye for photography and the images you take of your children. Love, love, love the pictures of the cousins and the little details like ponytails of the kids. I am a recent owner of a Canon T3i and am just embarking on a new chapter in my photography skills. Your idea, tips, tricks, and general discussion are invaluable. Thank you.