No real post today. Just a very rare picture of me with all my kids. I think I only have a handful of group shots like this…so hard to wrangle them all. Thanks Mom for taking this. I have more from our trip to the zoo yesterday, but today is crazy busy and I am just popping on here to share this picture.
There was a family at my church growing up that had five kids. The parents worked with our youth group and were (are) incredible. Back then none of us high schoolers could remember how many kids they had. I have five kids now and I’ve learned not many people can remember how many kids I have! I’m that mom. It’s awesome..jpg "zoo")
Sidenote: my boys need haircuts. I am so impressed with those moms that have lots of boys and the boys’ hair always looks great. I don’t know how they keep up with it. Their hair grows so fast and my youngest son has one mean cowlick! Good thing Cherry Berry is next to Sports Clips.
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And you guys had barrels of color!?! They must have been cheap at our race, they just used the old type ketchup bottles to put color on us. Anyhow, glad you guys had fun! Such awesome memories for you and your son. And a neat date tradition.
Lyn - Great Picture. Zoo’s are incredible places for families and Pictures!
Liene - Great capture!
Charity G. - I always feel like the need for haircuts sneaks up on me and by the time I notice they need a new one we continue to walk around for a month or so before it ever happens. I like to tell myself their being trendy and no one will notice their longer hair because we live in California and the beach isn’t too far away.
Danielle - Got to love the zoo
I have no trouble remembering how many kids you have because that is how big my family was 
Glad I am not the only one with shaggy haired boys!
Laurie J - Ha! I can relate to this on so many levels, but ESP because my 3 boys needs haircuts desperately and my middle one is the cowlicker…..seriously, it’s amazing how the chunk of hair keeps popping up, lol
Necole @seriouslysassymama - A group of ragamuffins. It is perfect.
Kiera - love the pictures…fun that you’re ‘that mom!’
do your boys want hair cuts? our son decided to grow his hair out, about a month ago he had a hair appointment with his dad {they both have amazing hair! and usually keep it on the shaggy side} he asked that day if he HAD to cut his hair, he wanted to keep growing it out…okay…he’s 7 1/2, he has great 1977 feathered hair, we have 3 rules {the same rules that apply to his sister}
1. keep it clean
2. keep it brushed
3. keep it out of your eyes
Christy - Your oldest is straight up modeling! Ha! I love it!
Lisa - Love the Tulsa zoo cause of the memories going there when my three were little. You do many things well, learn to cut their hair. I have three boys too and started cutting hair assembly line style a few years back. We have a cape and everything, bought a kit at costco. Just a #4 up the side and then make the hair on top be all the same length using scissors. you have watched the pros do it a million times. They are 15, 14 and 10 they still let me do it. It’s a #1 for my hubby all the way around, mr balding. Practice makes perfect. Three boys are a lot of fun!
Mary - you’re THAT mom!
you mean, the awesome one who is amazingly inspiring and beautiful and creative and on and on and on??? i TRULY mean that.
you are so amazing and God has used you to inspire me!
big hugs mama!
xoxo
amber - That’s hilarious:)! No one can remember how many you have…lol. Perfect time of year for the zoo! And what awesome looking kids…all 5 of them!
Jillian - You have such a beautiful, fun family!
Kristin S - Great pic! Fun to see you all together – and that you kept your bangs!
Recently one friend of mine (mom of two boys under 2) taught another friend of mine (mom of 5 boys and one girl) how to cut “boy hair”. She said it was life changing after years and years of hauling all of them to get hair cuts far too often.
She takes them outside, strips them down to their skivvies, and cuts away.
Shelly Cunningham - You are adorable! And so are your kids.
ps- love firecrackers’ boots!!!
Court - With all the awesome stuff you do yourself, I’m surprised you don’t cut the boys’ hair. A set of clippers will pay for itself in only two haircuts and it’s really easy. And you don’t have to give them all buzz cuts – I buzz the bottom of my boys and then pull the clippers away at the top to blend it a longer length. Way more convenient than going somewhere. You should try it – you have nothing to lose. It’s hair – it’ll grow back.
merideth a - i always realize my boys need haircuts through pictures. it is so hard to keep up with it!! and we have some crazy cowlicks going on in this household too!
AshleyAnn - Court – I used to cut it….not so good at anything but a buzz cut!
AshleyAnn - Keira- they all want me just to buzz them….I like the longer shaggy too
Julia - What a great looking family.
Julie L - I’m going to be that mom too! I’m expecting my 5th around my birthday in October. I have a daughter and 3 boys and the kids are hoping for a little sister. Of course, that would be sweet but with either a boy or girl I’m excited. And as for our boys’ hair, my father-in-law cuts it and he lives next door to us. Also my husband likes to buzz their hair nice and short in the summer so it’s less of a chore. It does grow so quickly and I’m glad I don’t have to pay for 3 haircuts all the time. Love the picture. Have a great day Ashley!
Heidi Jo the Artist - “or we are the zoo” love it! I think we qualify into that category too.
I said to our older son, “Let’s cut your hair”, a few years back…he absolutely hated it always, and I was always met with dismay. And one day I came across a blog that said that she just let her kids, who happened to be both boys, do what they wanted with THEIR hair. I thought brilliant! Why am I fighting this!? So now my oldest son’s hair is super, super, long! I think maybe longer than mine!? He’s been called a girl several times, which he hates, but apparently not enough, since he isn’t ready to cut off his beautiful locks yet. When he does, he plans on giving them to Locks of Love. You might be able to take a peek of his hair on my Instagram. I actually got a couple of photos from a distance of him recently. Photos of him lately seem rare though. He’s had his hair long for so long that it will be weird if/when he gets it cut. Now, what to do with our younger son’s hair, too young to decide for himself. And it is growing super fast, after I just cut it, again…so I can definitely relate!
Victoria / Justice Pirate - You ARE that mom and you are ALL very awesome!!! I’d love to be that mom too in time. May God bless us with 3 more.
If it helps at all, I have known a few families that have had 7 kids, 9 kids, and 10 kids. I know a lot of big families but those three were the largest.
Christina C - Love this photo! I don’t have boys but have nephews and buzz cuts are the best!!!!!!
Ingrid - Oh my goodness, I love this pis – you with all of them, it’s awesome! 5 kids looks so awesome!
kelleyn - So glad you had a fun time at the zoo and I love your yellow table! It is perfect!
Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - You are THAT mom
Amabile - Dear Ashley,
I came across your blog a few weeks ago and I’m really in love with it. Your posts touch me. I can relate to most of the thoughts you expose here. It’s a big relief to find such kindness and simplicity in a world that can be so cruel. Your family is beautiful! Thanks for sharing it all.
Amábile.
elizabeth H - i love this picture!! i never seem to catch myself w. all my kiddos, though i value them SO much!
You look so calm & collected ~ a definite attribute of having a “zoo” family :0)
xoxo
Katie - You are “that mom” and that totally rocks! I am working on being “that mom” (I will have 3-under-3 come July, with God guiding us to more). I myself am an only child, but my mom is one-of-nine and my dad is one-of-five, and I have 26 (and counting) first cousins…so it seems natural to have a large family. My grandma actually refers to her 9 children, 13 grandchildren (plus spouses) and 10 great-grandchildren by number when the names don’t come to mind fast enough!