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Eleven kids and counting: Moray family announce baby number 12 is on the way

Still counting: Another Sullivan on the way

The Sullivan family from Lossiemouth have announced that their numbers will be going up – with a new baby due next year.

Ben and Zoe Sullivan live in organised chaos with 11 children ranging in age from three to 16.

But having a football team of their own obviously wasn’t quite enough for the RAF engineer and his wife.

And now, the couple have announced a new arrival will be coming along in April.

Zoe is adamant that the new baby – just the tiny star of a scan picture for now – won’t change much in the Sullivan household.

She added: “The numbers don’t scare me any more.

“People already know we’re crazy – nothing shocks them.”

But who are Baby Sullivan’s impatient big brothers and sisters, why is the family growing now – and where will they keep all the nappies?

Adding to the football team

The Sullivan family – as it stands – consists of Elisabeth, 16, Olivia, 15, twins Charlotte and Isabelle, 13, Noah, 11, and Evangeline, 10.

And breathe.

Then comes eight-year-old Tobias, twins Leah and Erin, five, Agnes, four, and the current baby of the family – Joseph, three.

Every meal is a military operation, Christmas shopping looks like actual Santa’s list and even remembering everyone’s appointments is an achievement.

So why did Ben and Zoe decide to add to the squad?

Zoe explained: “I think for us, our family is everything. Everything we do revolves around them.

“Why would you not want to have more to bring to the team?

“They’re all just so much fun and bring so much happiness and joy.

“It makes sense to us.”

What has the reaction been like?

Casually telling friends they are adding a twelfth child to the brood has gone down well so far.

Zoe added: “We have had a brilliant reaction – so many lovely comments. It was really nice.”

But did anyone have to pick their jaw up off the floor or suggest it wasn’t the most sensible decision in the world?

“When we got to seven or eight, people might have said that, but not now.

“They already know that we’re crazy – nothing shocks them any more.”

Any more for any more?

Zoe revealed it has been a long wait for baby number 12, and hints that a round dozen might be enough for them.

The 43-year-old explained: “We have always fallen pregnant quite easily, but it’s taken a good couple of years this time.

“We got to the point we thought it probably wasn’t going to happen again. And then it did – it’s brilliant.”

Members of the Sullivan family with scans of the new baby

Coupled with a tough few months of sickness to get to this 14-week stage, is it time to stop after a twelfth baby for the Sullivans?

Zoe said: “I never say never, but we’re both getting older now and this time round was a lot more waiting.

“I don’t know. I’d love to keep going forever. But I don’t know if this might be our last.”

A day in the life of a family of 13

Even without a new arrival, things are pretty full-on round at Ben and Zoe’s.

A twelfth baby for the Sullivans will just add to the fun.

The Sullivan family have a standard four-bedroomed house, with parents in one room, the three boys in another, and the girls split by age in the last two.

Everyone is up at the crack of dawn anyway, and buffets, bulk buying and beach days out are the keys to a happy life.

In terms of treats and outings, the family keep it to day trips – and it all comes under the budgeting umbrella, with Ben’s salary and child benefit the mainstay of income.

A weekly shop of essentials for the Sullivan family
A weekly shop of essentials for the Sullivan family – and nappies will soon be back on the list

For a while this year, they managed with just an ordinary car – but now they’re back to a people carrier and looking for another.

Ben will leave the RAF in the next year or so and the family will be looking to buy their own house after living in tied accommodation.

It will be a big move – especially as there will be a twelfth baby for the Sullivans by then – but Zoe isn’t fazed.

She said: “You watch them grow up and think ‘we had a hand in that’.

“It makes us so proud.”

More on the Sullivan Family

Back to school with the Sullivans: How many packed lunch boxes do this family need?!

Lossiemouth couple and kids appear on Britain’s Biggest Families show