Big family, big challenges

Jen and Larry Kilmer have 11 kids ranging in age from 1 to 12 — and none of them were multiple births. Daily life for the family is often chaotic, but the parents have created a routine that allows them to manage their full house.

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The Kilmer family — Jen, Larry, and their 11 children — at their home in Rockville.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer gathers her 11 children in their living room for a quick family meeting before they go swimming.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Some of the Kilmer siblings play soccer near their home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer does a roll call of her 11 children in their family van before they go swimming.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

From left, siblings Julie, 10, Christina, 12, Rosemary, 3, and Michelle Kilmer, 10, swim together at their neighborhood pool.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer checks the sun damage of one of her children, Michelle, 10, as two of Jen's other children — Tommy, 9, and Julie, 10 — stand by at their neighborhood pool.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer and her 11 children prepare to leave their neighborhood pool.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Michelle Kilmer, 10, paints the toenails of her youngest sister, Rosemary, 3, at their home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer comforts her youngest child, Peter, 1.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The summer reading and workbook checklist hangs on the fridge of the Kilmer family at their home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer sets the dinner table at her home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer hangs up the phone at her home. The license plate hanging on her wall, a gift from a friend, says,"B4UASK, yes, these are all my kids!"

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Matthew Kilmer, 7 keeps his youngest brother, Peter, 1, from destroying his armyman formation as some of his siblings look on.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Matthew Kilmer, 7, picks a tomato from the garden to include with the family's dinner salad.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Joe Kilmer, 11, delivers a plate of hot dogs to his father, Larry Kilmer, as siblings Christina, 12, and Michelle, 10, look on.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The Kilmer family sits down to dinner.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer tends to laundry at the family's home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen and Larry Kilmer discuss life at their home.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Jen Kilmer puts the younger few of her 11 children to bed.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

The oldest six children of the Kilmer family watch TV before bed.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Five of the 11 Kilmer sibling brush their teeth before bed.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

Joe Kilmer, 11, says a prayer before going to bed.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

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