The King family has a big home, a big family and an even bigger heart.

Chris and Tracy King are the proud parents of 10 children, some adopted and others welcoming their new siblings. They range from 16 years old to their latest baby, 2.

“It’s a team effort because raising 10 kids, it doesn’t feel super hard to us at all, but it’s a big thing. We need to make sure we’re loving each other and our kids in a really loving, meaningful and intentional way,” Tracy said. “We should always be loving people well. We should always be reaching beyond ourselves to make an impact.”

“It’s a team effort because raising 10 kids, it doesn’t feel super hard to us at all, but it’s a big thing. We need to make sure we’re loving each other and our kids in a really loving, meaningful and intentional way,” Tracy said. “We should always be loving people well. We should always be reaching beyond ourselves to make an impact.”

–Tracy King, mother of 10 children

The Dripping Springs community recognizes the King family when they pull up in their 12-person Nissan Van, otherwise known as the party van. However, their full house is like most families in many ways, such as being behind on folding laundry, making time to have family dinners and hustling to make it to school before the morning bell.

Every morning, Tracy King wakes up around 5 a.m. to get herself and her nine youngest kiddos ready for the day. A typical morning looks like dropping off the kids at up to five different spots, ranging from school to daycare. By 7:45 a.m., she will arrive at work as a Behavior interventionist for DSISD at Walnut Springs and Dripping Springs elementary schools.

In the evening, the Kings make family time a priority by eating dinner together. Tracy will cook large healthy dinners, perfectly proportional to fill up everyone’s tummy. Everyone at the dinner table will take turns talking about their day by sharing their high and low points. A lot of their time together is spent around the kitchen table.

“It’s pretty cute when new people come into our home and one of the little kid says ‘OK, so today I choose the question about my favorite part of the day’ and then they pick the next person to choose another question,” Tracy said. “People will be confused and be like ‘do y’all do this every night?’”

Chris King says they try to make dinner together as much as possible, but extra-curricular activities requirements can rearrange the evening. For the fall season, three children are involved in either volleyball, baseball or football. Tracy said they still make it to every game and practice.

“We typically always go. It works out. Sometimes if the game is far, maybe only one parent can make it. Every Friday night, the whole family gets out to watch the football game that my husband is coaching. We sit in the stands, they play and we watch football together,” she said.

As much as the Kings love family time, they always arrange to spend alone time with each individual child through special date nights.

“My nine-year-old loves Dude Perfect, so me and him went to the Dude Perfect live show in Austin. That was his special outing. My four-year-old saw Frozen on ice with me. Different things like that, we make sure each kid gets their intentional time,” Tracy said.

The kids aren’t the only ones, who need alone time. Chris and Tracy always arrange to have “calendar dates.” Tracy said it’s team work and organization that makes the family so functional.

“Chris is amazing at recognizing and arranging things so I can meet up with my friends or take a nap. We’re very good at recognizing each others’ needs. It’s a team effort because raising 10 kids, doesn’t feel super hard for us, but our marriage and family needs to be taken care of in a really intentional and purposeful way.”

The almost 20-year marriage continues to be the backbone for 10 children who in return “will do anything in the world for us,” Tracy said.