It’s been a little while since I’ve personally written about our family, and in that time… we’ve grown. A lot. Not just in numbers (yes, six kids 🫠), but in patience, perspective, and our collective ability to function on less sleep than feels medically advisable. My husband and I have built a life that is full of laughter, love, and just the right amount of chaos to keep things interesting—and honestly, we wouldn’t want it any other way.
If you see us out and about, you’ll spot us rolling up in a 15-passenger van (a HUGE upgrade, thanks to some generous family help). It’s basically a clown car without the clown makeup—just backpacks, snack wrappers, and at least one child asking, “Are we there yet?” no matter how long we’ve been in the car. We bring a certain level of chaotic energy wherever we go, and at this point, we’ve fully embraced it. We are not for everyone—and that’s okay. We trust that God has a way of leading us to the people and places we’re meant to be, chaos and all.
So, to re-orient any new friends around here, here’s a quick summary of our crew:
Gardner (11)
Our oldest. He loves LEGO, science, and math, and is currently learning to play the piano. He’s the kind of kid who can hyper-focus on a build for hours and then casually ask a question that makes me realize I forgot how fractions work.
Caitiejane (9)
A performer through and through—there isn’t a stage she doesn’t love. She’s taking voice lessons, an acro class, and is on stage at our local theater. She’s grounded in Jesus, and her heart shines everywhere she goes. Also, if there is music playing, she is legally required (by herself) to start performing immediately.
Steele (8)
There isn’t a tree he doesn’t want to climb and no risk he won’t at least consider. He loves all things sports and lives life with the confidence of someone who has never once calculated the odds.
Jerry (6)
Our music lover. He’s also learning to play the piano, and his ear for music is honestly incredible to watch. He’ll hear a song and instantly recognize that it is similar to another artist —while I’m still trying to remember what song it was.
Then there’s a little gap before the next wave of chaos arrives…
Cora (3)
Deep in full toddler mode. She loves caring for her babies, cooking imaginary meals in her kitchen, and talking. Always talking. About everything. At all times. If she’s thinking, then she’s giving you her opinion - lots of opinions. Silence is suspicious in her world.
Honor (1)
The baby. While she doesn’t say much (yet), she’s very committed to making sure she is not outdone by Cora. She’s quiet, which makes her dangerous. This child operates in full stealth mode—emptying cabinets, climbing furniture, and disappearing just long enough to make my heart stop for half a second.
The days can be long while parenting all these kids, but my heart couldn’t be more full. People often ask, “How do you do it?”
The short answer: imperfectly.
The long answer… well, that’s for another post.