Family Pictures - Salt Flats - Ashlee Marie

It’s crazy to think that these pictures were actually taken 5 months ago! The kids have already changed so much, esp Baby Boy and Princess! I added these to my about me page right away, as well as ordered this one to hang over our mantle, but I totally forgot to share this photoshoot here with you guys!

I actually got this couch from Vintage Revivals hoard sale last year but I ran out of time to reupholster it before pictures, SO I painted it! Yep, spray painted it with upholstry spray paint. It’s still not QUITE the right shade of purple, but it totally worked for our pictures!

we borrowed a truck and drove out to the Bonneville Salt Flats before the rainy season and got some AMAZING pictures!

My amazing sister, Chelsea Peterson Photography, has a natural eye when it comes to pictures. I’m so lucky she lives so close and can take pictures for me! AND she somehow managed to make Mr. TT and I look GOOD! No small feat considering he usually closes his eyes in 90% of pictures and I don’t lose weight until I wean my babies!

The Reader – My oldest is turning 12 this year, I can’t even believe I’ve been a mom for almost 12 years. She still loves to read, she reads anything she can get her hands/eyes on. I was the same way when I was young (still am in some ways) so I can totally relate. I’m not sure I’m prepared for the next stage of her life!

Computer Boy – This one is growing like a weed, he can’t eat enough and is super skinny. Even skinny pants are HUGE around his waist or the pants are total high waters. But he’s just a joy! Always laughing, making jokes (although not funny ones) and asking “what if” questions. He tends to laugh at his own stories before he even finishes telling it, so we miss a lot, but I love the way his mind works.

Lego boy – is CRAZY! He’s such a hoot, always building, thinking, singing and humming. He just never stops. Oh how I love this sweet boy of mine. Quick to laugh, quick to cry, quick to anger, quick to forgive, quick to joy, etc… His speech issues are effecting his reading so he’s frustrated with school, but I think his speech is so sweet, it will be sadish when he talks “right”.

And this guy makes SO many faces I couldn’t pick just 3. Seriously, could you? Narrowing it down to these 5 was hard enough. He’s so expressive and is always making us laugh. And of course he still loves Legos, and Pikmin, and angry birds. He’s having the hardest time narrowing down his birthday party options for the year.

Princess – or should I say, little Miss Sass. Look at that attitude, 5 going on 15. She has loved kindergarten this year. She loves to draw, read, play with Baby Boy, and her favorite thing of all??? Annoying her older siblings. Seriously she has a knack for teasing and making them SO frustrated. No one can get the rest of the kids as riled up as she can. Serious Talent!

Baby Boy – A few years ago we were at a crossroad, do I go back to school and get a job to help support our already large family OR do we stay poor and follow my heart and have another baby? Obviously we choose to have number 5, and I’m grateful EVERY DAY that this little man is a part of our family. He has all the best qualities of all the other kids. Smart, inquisitive, compassionate, adverturous, always happy, and also a bit of a ham. He has me wrapped around his fingers.

Seeing my 5 babies makes me so happy. Is there anything better? So while I may not be the most consistent blogger, my goal is to be an amazing mother. And that’s where my passion truely lies. Sometimes I get off course, get too into blog nunbers, readers, and what OTHER opportunities other/bigger bloggers have. Then I remember how blessed I am, and how much I love my life.

Have you ever seen such beautiful girls? It’s amazing what a great mix of Mr. TT and I they are, a lot of My husbands family in The Reader, and a lot of My mom’s side in Princess. I can’t believe I MADE them. What a miracle babies and children are. My own mother and I had some rough years during my teens and I’m scared, as my oldest reaches those years that I’m making major mistakes and repeating history. But I’m trying to maintain our relationship.

And the level of handsomeness here is insane! My mom’ family in Lego boy, to an insane level, like my grandfathers twin. Computer boy is my dad’s mini me, and Baby Boy is a great mix of both boys. They get their pale vampire skin from me though…

I love Princess in this picture, jumping on the couch, but the other kids were so… stoic. I think we went a few mins too long in our family time (2 1/2 hours in the van driving to the Salt Flats).

By far my favorite picture of the whole day! I love pictures like this that let us be US! I have framed on my wall a similar picture from a few years ago before we got pregnant with Baby Boy. I can’t wait to add this one to my wall.

have I mentioned I love myh life? My husband is amazing, and oh so patient with me and my crazy. I think the pictures with the two of us are the best since our wedding. 12 years, and hundreds of lbs later… not to bad!