6 kids, 5 bedrooms

When we first moved into this ridiculously large house, we only had three kids (though we were planning our fourth). At the time, we even considered the possibility of adopting a little girl whose mom was in a tough spot. That didn’t play out—thankfully, her mother was able to keep her child—but we thought max we might have five children someday.

The house seemed perfect: master bedroom downstairs with all the common areas, then four bedrooms upstairs plus an office over the two-car garage. That office is a great size—17x19 with an entryway not even included in those measurements. The room above the kitchen is also big at 14x15. Back then, we thought space wouldn’t ever be an issue.

Fast forward to baby number five, William. We decided he and Alexander (three years older) would eventually share a room. But in those early months—when the risks of SIDS and suffocation were still fresh on my mind—I didn’t feel comfortable putting William in with Alexander. I knew Alexander would try to “help” with the baby, maybe tossing a stuffed animal in the crib or trying to get him out himself. So, William ended up in the office. Honestly, it worked out. It kept my husband off the computer at night, but the office was still usable during the day for my work-from-home hours.

Then came baby number six. And William never moved out of the office. Suddenly, we were staring down the reality: six kids, four bedrooms, and a deep desire for everyone to have their own space.

Pairings weren’t simple. Emily (11) and Danielle (6 months) are ten years apart—when Emily is full-on into dating and Danielle is six, that’s not a good match. Henry (13) is five years older than Timothy (8), and while Henry is a good brother, teenage life just isn’t compatible with an impressionable eight-year-old.

That left the three middle boys: Timothy (8), Alexander (5), and William (2). My idea was to move all three into the big office room together and give Danielle the smallest bedroom. No surprise—Timothy immediately vetoed the plan. He wants his own room and I get it, even if I built a wall to give him a “space.” Fair enough.

So now, the plan looks like this: Alexander (5), William (2), and Danielle (the baby) will eventually share the office-turned-bedroom. For now, Danielle will still sleep in the office with us until she’s past the SIDS and suffocation stage, but long-term, the setup makes sense. When Danielle turns five, Alexander will be ten, and at that point we’ll likely reassess—different genders in the same room only works for so long.

Yesterday I started measuring everything out. The office is huge, but we’ve crammed it full: two sofas, three desks, an armoire (because there’s no closet), a TV with gaming consoles, and a 10x8 library wall of bookshelves. I wasn’t sure if all of that would fit in another room—but it just barely does.

Then I cleaned out our linen closet and our game closet upstairs. They're both small and in the hallway, but better than nothing for three kids about to share space.

So, the plan is to move the furniture out and create a three-kid bedroom plus a small play space. I’ve researched all the options: IKEA shelves, pony walls, even full drywall. But with the windows and layout, I think temporary PVC walls will work best. They’ll be lightweight, safe, and covered with cloth so the room doesn’t feel too odd (or at least, not any odder than PVC running across the space).

The hope is that this setup gives each child their own little nook, plus a shared playroom, instead of toys spilling all over the house. We’ll see how it plays out—but for now, it feels like the best way to make this big house work for our even bigger family.

It may not look Pinterest-worthy, but God always provides a way to make room for the blessings He sends.

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Imagine walking into a space where you don’t have to do anything but be yourself. That’s what I offer at Kristian Hutchings Portraits—an escape from the everyday, a day of pampering, and portraits that remind you how truly special you are.

Kristian is a mom of six, Program Manager by day, active Professional Photographer by trade, and a big believer in finding beauty in the everyday chaos.

Life in our house is loud, messy and full of literally everything. Love, noise, laundry, laughter, and definitely could use a bit more grace. I'm happily married to my best friend, grounded in my Catholic faith, and fueled by five to six hours of sleep per night and adrenaline.

I try to find joy in the everyday — even when it's wild, because without the little bit of joy, this life would be unbearable. This space is for the moms in the middle of it all: the ones juggling family, faith, work, and wonder. The ones that need someone else's messy life to make their own seem better or somewhat normal. You're not alone, and you're doing better than you think.

Welcome to Six Sweet Smiles — where we celebrate the mess, the miracles, and everything in between.