My Big, Insane Family

 This is my lovely fam.  I have 2 brothers, 1 sister, 3 aunts, 2 uncles, and 6 cousins.  It may not be the biggest family you've ever seen, but when we're all together, i'm confident in saying we probably have better [and more awkward] family discussions than the average family would.  Going out to dinner is always an event, and funny stories are always brought up, and it always ends up my mom throwing ice at someone or putting it down someone's shirt or AT THE LEAST spilling something.... i feel so sorry for the people around us and our waiters, oops. Yet, we still go out to eat alot... maybe we like the world knowing how embarrassing we are? Beats me.  Anyways, i'm fortunate to have a few siblings... and as we've all grown up, we've definitely grown closer.  Sure, we'll always bust on Danny the most... but that's just a routine now haha- sorry Dan! 

I'm also fortunate to have both sets of grandparents live down the street from my house and in the town over.    My 3 cousins actually live in our town too- so we treated each other as friends, rather than family... which was awesome going to the same high school.  I think because of my childhood experience, I can only hope that my kids are as close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins because we got to see them SO MUCH and still do... when i didn't realize alot of people can't say the same of their family.  My other 3 cousins live down in Georgia... BUT the lucky thing is, even though they are the furthest away, my Uncle is a pilot and they get to travel anywhere they want, practically anytime they want.  So it makes them coming up to visit us on holidays and summer alot easier, and i'm soooo thankful for that because it's amazing when we're all together in good old Park Ridge.