asked,
I always
answer
the same way.
I say,
“Yes,
it’s true!
My
hands
sure are
full.
But you know
what?” I also always say.
“So
is
my
heart.”
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
full
September 6, 2010
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[...] so when I shared these the other day, I didn’t tell you that there was one photograph my husband miraculously [...]
A family of full hands and full hearts are just fantastically fabulous!
As a mother of four…I LOVE seeing all your kiddos! Sometimes you feel so alone with a “bigger” family these days with so much judgment. It just made me happy, and a deep corner in me can’t say I’m for sure done with four! The funny thing is my youngest is four months, but she is sooo adorable and sweet that she isn’t great for birth control…ha!
i’m sure eight gazillion people asked this already but WHERE THE HECK IS FLURRY’s outfit from!?!? i absolutely am in LOVE with it.
My friend with six gets asked all the time, “Are they all yours?” To which she replies, “Yes, you should see how many I left at home!”
I love this post! I had a friend once say that she would rather her hands be full than empty…and at the time I had no children, so my hands seemed a little empty and it made me sort of sad to hear her put it that way. So, I really like that you said that your heart is full too and you wouldn’t have that any of way.
As another mom with five kids very close together, I used to get all of these comments as well. I would often hear “Better you than me along with a sarcastic “God bless you…” to which I came up with a perfect reply. I simply would say “Oh! He certainly has!!” The reply certainly caught people’s attention and was a small way to bring attention to God, the giver of my wonderful blessings
I hope to have my hands like that someday. For now, I’m pregnant with number 1. Many more to come Lord willing!!
So precious…
Amazingly beautiful, each and every picture! I’m sure your heart is ‘full’, you can see it in your eyes!
Blessings today and always,
Kaye
Matthew 21:22
B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L
You inspire me. I can’t wait to have a big family of my own some day.
someone once told me that they respond to that statement by saying “yes, but it’s better than having my hands empty.” I loved that response, and I love the one you give too. As someone who prayed for a child and struggled with getting pregnant the first time around, the answer resonates soundly with my story. Thanks for the encouragement!
I love the photographs and the sentiment! How do you get your children to stay in the shot and look so happy while they’re there. It’s such a struggle for us, and we only have two boys, ages 4 and 2. I do love to photograph them, and we take lots of unposed photos in an effort to capture some natural smiles. Rarely does this happen with both in the same shot though. Thanks for sharing and for any tips!
Oops, there should be a question mark after the second sentence.
First of all, these pics are adorable. I have an off topic question, though. Did I see a pic of Small Fry on the back of my Tide bottle? I just noticed the pic this weekend, and it looks just like her!
I love it!
I thought surely you were going to say…
Yes
They
Are
All
Mine!!!
Because….everywhere I went, people would say the craziest things. And I only had 3 little ones. “Are they all yours?” was the most common one!
What in the world, people? It’s not like I had 11 children with me! haha
Enjoy your full quiver!
Love, love, love the colors in this post!
I have four boys and I have started replying the same way you do. I always love the look on people’s faces. it takes them a minute to process it.
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Beautiful
What awesome photo’s!
That’s EXACTLY what I say! I need to have a t-shirt made with that on it!;)
Is this your way of saying you’re done
Awesome post! You are always so inspirational. I know you talk a ton about photography and I read it all but holy smoke, how did you get the color in those pics to be so bright and so fantastic?? Do tell Mckmama, do tell.
I had to borrow this Saying… I am an adoptive momma to 4 children and 2 of those have multiple special needs. I hear this all the time and now i W
Amen! I love it! We have a 6 1/2 month old and another on the way….we actually hadn’t told many people yet but I know I will get asked similar questions only to answer in the same way! (I actually emailed you the other day about Bfing……=)
Oh thank you so much for that! So sweet and a great reminder.
Oh, the smiles you put on my face! They are beautiful pictures. I love all the color! Stellan is growing too fast, they all are. You have a beautiful family and every time I see pictures of your wonderful children, it makes my heart smile! Thank you!
great pictures!! i stole that saying from you! I only have two and one on the way and also get the commets that my hands are full. I love having my kids close in age! what a beauitful family!
)
Stunning!
How nice to see you Jennifer. Your curls are beautiful! You all look so colourful and cheery!. MckFlurry is like a little rainbow. Love that the girls are wearin pink.Thanks for the warm, fuzzy felling in my heart!
lovely pictures! you’re so lucky. your kids are adorable:)
Never commented before but had to say this. As the oldest of five children pretty close in age, I can say that being in a family whose mama has full hands and a full heart is the best! My mom used to get comments all the time when we were little that were not always positive, and now at nineteen, I am so grateful for each of my wonderful beautiful siblings, I don’t know who I’d be if our mom’s hands hadn’t been so full! I may not have always gotten exactly what I wanted as a child, but the trade-off is wonderful, because I have such a different and yet equally special relationship with each of my siblings! Your children are beautiful and so blessed to have you as their mama!
What fabulous pictures! They make me want to go out and take a bunch of pictures with my kiddos.
Once in the store the checker asked, “Do you only have 3?” That was a nice change. Then once in Target the couple in front of me was finishing something up as I put my stuff on the belt and manuvered the cart (someone may have been complaining and I think I was wearing X) the man helped pull up my cart and said, “looked like you could use a hand.” I said, ” Yea, 3 or four would be nice.” He replied, ” They’re probably working on that.”
Love the pics!!! What a blessing….all 5 of them!!
Beautiful pictures!! I was going to say something else, but then my 3yo dumped the movies out of the cabinet, and this pregnant brain forgot! But I looked like a lot of fun taking those pics, too!
Thanks for sharing photos of your gorgeous, joyful family!!
Prince Charming did a fabulous job photographing all of you ~ makes me wonder exactly what funny things he was doing behind the camera to make everyone laugh so much ; )
So sweet!! Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family!
Beautiful pictures!!
Your heart must be soo full of love!! Mine is just looking at the pics! 
Tara
This is awesome! You have a beautiful family.
what a sweet post and what beautiful pictures of your family!
I wish I got “your hands are full” – normally I get “you must be busy!” If you have a sweet comeback for that one, I’d be happy to hear it…
I usually say, “Yes, I am, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Blessings to you on your lovely family. So happy!
I have 5 children as well…I like to answer the hands full question with…”Better for them to be full than empty!” or….”They are the only things that I can take to heaven with me!”
However, I have been known to answer the “are they ALL yours?” question – only a few times and only when I’m in the grocery store and a little frazzled from the trip and the many questions and/or comments- “Yes, they are all mine…but they all have different daddy’s.”
Lovely pictures of your lovely family!
LOVE LOVE LOVE these pics!!!!
So precious. You are so blessed to have 5, happy, healthy, beautiful children. Thanks for sharing. 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures! You have such a beautiful children!
I LOVE all the bright colors and it’s SO nice to see you with all of your babes in your arms…not too often we actually get to see you in the photos since you take them all! You are so blessed and it’s wonderful to see everyone so happy and joyful!
Oh my goodness! They bring such joy and laughter to my heart. MckMama you have a beautiful family. I just get giddy whenever I see all your children in photos. They are just so darn stinking cute!! God has blessed you in more ways than you know. Thank you so much for sharing your family with all of us here!
incredible! love how you posted so many… they are all so different and capture all the kids personalities so well. the bright colors are perfect! isn’t god so good to fill our hearts and hands so full of love for our babies?!
southern love and prayers from alabama!
Great photos of the cutest kiddos around.
Allison
My only question is where do you get the energy to keep up with those precious angels of yours?! I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with the three I have, but would take a couple of new babies in a split second. Isn’t being a mom the best feeling in the world?
LOVE IT! I totally got choked up! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family!
I just love your little ..err, large family… you are all so cute and happy! And, well… best of all, we live only 15 minutes away from each other. LOVE that!
Those babies sure do love their Mama! I think baby fever is hitting me… uh oh. I love #10 photo. They are sure beautiful!
Thank you! I love them, too….and I think they’re so beautiful as well!
Someone may have already said this, but my girlfriend always says “Yep, they are full- full of blessings!” I love that response, too. Sorry for the grumpalumps in the comments, too. . . Guess you gotta take the good and try to brush off the bad. Thanks for being an example of loving your kids in the moment. There are far too many overly cautious, overly critical, overly unhappy examples of motherhood but not nearly enough examples of overly loving, overly gracious, overly joyously content mothers. Thanks for being one of the latter. . .
Thank you for that beautiful compliment.
so cute~ all of y’all! i say the same thing to people about my full hands~ and i also say better than being empty. God has blessed me for sure!
love the pics~ way to go PC!
much love and blessings~ erin
Yes, God has blessed you for sure, too, Erin!! (See you in a couple months, maybe?)
Having a new one always makes the others look so grown-up, doesn’t it? You have a beautiful family. I always say something different when someone tells me I have my hands full. If I only have some of the kids I usually say, “You have no IDEA…” But I kinda like the lady who said, “Better full than empty!” I think I’ll start using that…
You may have full hands and a full heart, but you filled my heart a little with this post.
Thanks.
So true! You’re making me want another one pronto!! (-:
If you love your children so much, your first concern should be for their safety.
There are no life jackets designed for infants. The Minnesota Board of Water Safety states that children of under the age of 6 months should not be placed on a boat.
No vacation is worth tje life of a child. Please, be more careful.
There are life jackets designed for small infants. We have one! A small infant and a life jacket, that is.
now you’ve got a lot of great choices for a new twitter/blogger/widget photo! lovely children, blessed momma!
Jennifer, your love for your life and your babies is simply shining through these photos and this post. It is inspiring to hear such positive words about being a mom, and wonderful to see you enjoying your children so much! Thanks for sharing!
I can tell by the smiles on their faces, and the giggles that are coming from these pictures that your children’s hearts are full of love and joy too. Y’all are doing a wonderful job!
Boy oh boy, do you make cute kids!! I love those pictures.
God bless.
Thanks, Jen!!
Awwww…beautiful! Put a smile on my face!
We just had our 2nd another girl 9/1 and I am too also in baby love. I just wanted to say I love all the stripes on the younger 3 and matching shirts on the two boys. It makes the picture POP!! Well so does the whole bushel of kiddos! Love your eye point of view through the camera I’m looking at my pictures so differently now when editing. I don’t have prof. software but I’m work with what I have! Thanks!
Just thinking McMama, how nice it would be to add your sponsored children’s photos and little bios alongside your own down the side bar…. Just a thought!
Love the hands are full and so is the heart.
Hmmm… too bad you couldn’t think of any way to get any color in those adorable photos. Just so dull and drab
Yeah, I’ll work on that for next time!
Love it…I have four children and my response was always… “Better Full than Empty!”
Such beautiful, sweet photos of a beautiful, sweet family. Well, 6/7 of it, anyway.
your family is absolutely beautiful. you look extremely happy!
I “only” have two girls (9 & 4)….and tonight was a difficult night as they had been with their father all weekend. Trying to get them back into their regular “at home with Mommy” routine was a chore since it was coupled with the excitement of school starting tomorrow for my oldest. I really felt like my hands were full with supper, baths, books, and everything that goes with the first night home after a couple of nights away…. This post changed my perception of my “full hands” and I wanted to say thank you. My girls are home tonight…safe, clean, well-fed, and sleeping soundly. They said their prayers, gave me hugs and kisses, and despite the challenges we had tonight, I’m so happy my hands are full….and my heart is too! So again, thanks for the reminder of why I love having my “hands full.” I needed it tonight.
You are so welcome…I am glad your heart was open to receive that message. We often as mothers can forget about our full hearts, instead focusing on our full hands. It happens to me more often than I’d like. I always enjoy remembering the true joy of child rearing…the joy that you are remembering tonight, too. Thank you for sharing with me!
Love these! I’m amazed they all stayed within the frame long enough for PC to snap 19 (or more) pictures!
Cutest pictures ever!! I have been out of town all weekend and just read the last few posts. Looks like you and the kids have been having lots of fun. So cute!
We sure have been! Thanks, Jen:)
beautiful.
That is great! I only have three (under four) and I get told that all the time. That is a great response. I may have to steal it!
Holy Mackeral does Nuggey ever look like his mama, especially in that first picture! Beautiful pics, beautiful bbies
Oh really, do you think so? I’m never “sure” who he looks like…but I’m thrilled to hear you think he looks like me!
I never noticed that before! Your smiles are identical in the first pic!
beautiful!
Whew! That’s a lot of kids!
My Facebook status a while back was something like this, “If people aren’t going to say anything more creative than, ‘You’ve got your hands full!’ I’m not going to say anything more creative than, ‘Yep.’”
Although a lady at the clinic last week said, “You need just one more!” I had Tali on my back and Amanda and Christiana on my lap. It was nice to hear something new for a change.
A really sweet lady once told me I “needed one more” too! In fact, that was before I was pregnant with Lachlan. I guess she was right!
OK. Glad to see I wasn’t the only one who got teary over this post. So amazingly blessed you are. You make me want to strive to be a better mother to my two!
I like the next to the last photo. Looks like you are listening to Nuggey tell you something, even though we can’t see his face. Small Fry looks to be speaking, and Stellan is watching her intently. Love it!
LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!!!! They are all so beautiful….you are one blessed Mama!
Thank you, Audra!!!
I was going to say something extremely lame… ok. I will anyway, just b/c I’m cool like that.
You should carry around one of those latex gloved, blown up with a knot in it and when people say that to you say “Good thing I have 3 hands!”
I know. I’d totally get boo’d off the stage! But if not for sass and sarcasm (or crude, rude and insulting…tsk tsk), what good am I but for comic (groan) relief?
Ahahahaaaaaa!!!! I thought my C-Section incision had LONG since healed, but I just busted a gut so hard I started to feel it again!!! Ahahahahaaaa!!!!
Oh.My.Goodness!!! That was AWESOME!!! Wicked hilarious
Seriously? Hahaha. That’s awesome. I totally thought it was the lamest joke ever known to man! I LOVE that you loved it
hahahahaha. I’m going to go look in the mirror now and repeat ” I AM funny! I AM funny!” over and over to myself 
And now, I feel all weepy and want to have more children. My hands and heart are full with three, but they can grow. We may be “done” but if God sees fit to do something, I’ll embrace it with open arms!!!!
Beautiful
Thank you.
so much love and blessings! great pictures!! one of the best is when they are all kissing you and stellan is just sitting and looking at you
God is great!
Yup, He sure is!!!
I love that saying! Has always been my favorite! And you have such a beautiful family!!! Just LOVE all of the pictures!!
When people tell me “you’ve sure got your hands full!” I usually answer something like “Yes, I do, and it’s a good full.” Because it is, know what I mean? There are a lot of worse things to have one’s hands full with, imo…
Adorable pics! I need to do that more often with my kiddos!
Love the pics – way to go PC!
Yes, he did a great job, huh? I was rather impressed with his photo taking and kid wrangling skills when he took these!!
Beautiful photos!! It’s hard to pick a favorite but I love 9 and 10!!
You are so blessed!!!
Oh man, that made me totally tear up! What beautiful babies you have. I was thinking the same thing as Pamela. I love seeing your sweet Stellan he has such a special place in my heart after shedding tears and so many prayers over that boy. He looks quite intense and observant.
God bless you and your full quiver!
Thank you, Rachel!!!
I know it has been said but I can not believe how big Stellan is!! So awesome!
Yes, he’s SO big! We can’t believe it. And so crazy to think if he had not had his second ablation, we’d still be waiting for him to reach 40 pounds so the doctors could try again. SO thankful to now just be enjoying his BIG, healthiness and not be anticipating another surgery!!
You look like a beautiful happy Mama!!! They’re all getting so big. Love it!
What a wonderful post! Thanks for sharing.
Seventh photo down = priceless!! That should probably be your new bio picture… I mean, you need a new one with all FIVE of your kids and you! Oh yeh, and a your kiddos are so precious
I’ve only 2 children, but always say that too.
My heart is very full!
Love this series of photos, it shows the love, and most important your children, being just that happy children.
You kids are beautiful and Lachlan is such a blessing. But I have to say, it does my heart good every time I see Stellan growing so BIG! Congrats on your beautiful family!
It does my heart so good to see him so big and healthy, too. What a blessing his healing will ALWAYS be to our family!!
Phew! Looking at all those pictures of you made me feel your exhaustion. It’s funny how when you have 1 child you think that you are pretty busy. Then you add your second and can’t believe how much free time you actually had. I can’t imagine what it must feel like in your shoes. Good for you!!
I can see the joy just beaming from you! You are blessed!
I can only imagine how much love you have for those beautiful children!
I know how full of love my heart is with only one…and it takes my breath away to think of having 5. Beautiful photos! You all look so happy!
PS. Big Mac looks like one big huge ball of FUN!! You know who he reminds me of? Julian (that little boy) in Big Daddy. Soo full of life and sooo darling!!
So, so, so precious.
You are a blessed woman fo sho:).
Fo sho!!
Beautiful pictures! Love all the bright colors…and the great smiles!!
these are the best!!
I just know your heart is bursting with love!
It totally is!!