Cheaper by the Million

My entire family hadn't been all together, under one roof, in four years.

There are 11 of us kids and then another 3 brother-in-laws, 1 sister-in-law (and 1 new one), 2 nieces, 6 nephews and 2 parents. For those who don't have patience to count that up, it comes out to 25 people in my (relatively) immediate family (26 with the latest sister-in-law). But it seems more like 4 billion when we're all together.

While home for my brother's wedding last week, I couldn't help but analyze the constant chaos. There were kids flying around the house, screaming and beating each other up starting at 7 in the morning everyday. Cereal spilled all over the floor. People walking around with hair dye in the hair, wearing shower caps like that's totally normal activity for 2am. My mother sitting on the floor of the kitchen organizing groceries, the fridge wide open, people all over the place.. It would be weird if all was calm and quiet in this household.

Normal living room activities.

I could never imagine what it would be like as an only child or growing up with only a few siblings. I wouldn't even know what to do with all that attention. Who would I steal clothes from? Who would hide all my clothes on the porch when they got mad at me? How would I ever learn to cherish my personal space because it's not something that should ever be taken for granted? Siblings are an interesting concept; you never actually realize how much you need them or how much they've affected you until you imagine what life would be like without them. How calm and uneventful your childhood would've been...

The whole family (including parents and the new sister-in-law). 

They may make me crazy (they may actually be crazy) but they are family. They are my family. And if you mess with one of us, expect to have 25 other crazy people coming after you.