This is me with 3 of my 8 siblings. There are 9 of us total. I have to clarify and say that my youngest brother Tommy died when he was only a few months old, but I can't bear to not include him whenever I put a number on us. Therefore I have 2 older sisters, 2 older brothers, and 4 younger brothers. I am smack in the middle. I didn't even realize I was the middle child until a few years ago. Honestly it just wasn't something I ever thought about. I was always the youngest girl, or the youngest of the first set of kids (after me there is a large gap of 4 years before Aaron came along).
While the kids played all Spring Break there was plenty of time for the adults to sit around the table and reminisce about our shared childhood. At one point my brother Kyle laughed and said how as a kid I always bit him. What! It must be selective memory on my part because I don't remember that. But I do remember getting frustrated with the four little boys who wouldn't help me with chores, who broke my barbies and who I had to care for, watch over, clean up after, and put up with. So thinking back now, I am sure he's right.
I am sure I am not alone in wishing I could go back and have a re-do. I wish someone would have told me those little boys would be my best friends and biggest supporters when I grew up. To just wash the dishes with a smile on my face instead of whining how unfair it was that they wouldn't help me. That when they told me the cute boy I was in love with was no good for me they weren't trying to spoil my fun, only trying to save me some tears. That even though our lives took us on very different paths, our hearts would always be aligned. That love in This Family can be stretched until the brink but would never ever break.
I know that now. And I love them all more than I could ever put into words.
I have three brothers who scared away a lot of cute boys who were all wrong, thank goodness! I can't imagine what it was like growing up in such a household. My mom is the oldest of 7 and we have so much fun when we get together with all our aunt and uncles!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous family - must have been so much fun growing up with siblings...I have 2 sisters myself and we had and still have a ball together...,!
ReplyDeleteI love it!!!! It makes me think of my family and what they will say about each other in years to come. Guess what? I've been on instagram this whole, dang time. I've such a goofball. I downloaded it ages ago, but I thought I had to something differently to follow you. Nope, I'm just a nerd. I am following you now and you have to look me up, I'm Shaunaklip. Love you!
ReplyDeleteShauna xo
Aww you guys are all so cute in that picture! My brother and i are super close now but we fought a TON as kids! who knew we'd end up being such good friends?!
ReplyDeleteIt all works itself out right?
DeleteAww.. i just cried a little.. that was so sweet.
ReplyDeleteThat picture is so sweet!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, everyone was always trying to show me how tough it was to grow up in a big family. In some ways they were right, but mostly they just weren't seeing the full picture. I wish they could understand how awesome it is to have so many siblings as an adult!
Agreed. They truly are my very best friends. We are all so different, but there is no one I have more fun with or am happier with.
DeleteWhat a sweet testament to your sibling love! :-) I'm like you. I have eleven brothers and sisters but, since I also had a sister who passed away when she was about a year, I often want to say that I have twelve brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteYou got me beat Susannah!!!!! Wow, so you know of which I speak.
Deletewow 9 total god bless your mom! i agree with you i would not able to not include a sibling who passed away at a young age. you must have had a lot of fun growing up with all those brothers and sisters
ReplyDeleteOh yes we did :)
DeleteWow! I'm an only child so sibling rivalry there :( It's a bit lonely being all on your own...
ReplyDeleteI love this. . . how cool to come from such a big family. I am one of 4 kids (older sis, older bro, me, then younger sis) and it is amazing. I also think about how times have changed and that while there was a time when we would get on each others last nerves and fight fight fight, now we have each others back no matter what.
ReplyDeleteI only ever had one sister, and Cory is an only child, so neither of us ever got to have the "big family experience". It has struck me how small Lexie's family will be since she doesn't have any siblings and will only ever have one aunt and one uncle - the possibility of cousins there is unknown, but even if they do come along, they will be at a minimum 12 years younger than her. Maybe she will marry into a big family like yours. Too bad Ethan's probably a little too young for her... ;o)
ReplyDeleteI come from a small family with just one brother. We haven't been the closest and I sometimes regret that. I love how close your family is, cherish it.
ReplyDeleteaghhh! loving your new bloggy look, girl!!
ReplyDeletexo
purposelyathome.blospot.com
Okay, am I complete dork? Why did I think Jeanette was your friend and not your sister? Obviously she is both, but I am hitting my head on my forehead on that one!
ReplyDeleteMy brother and sister are my best friends - love it! Happy weekend!
I love this! I was an only child, so it made for a very lonely childhood.
ReplyDeleteSo amazing for you to have so many siblings! I only have one older brother, and yes sometimes we argue, but we get on well overall :) Such a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteI am also a middle child...but I am the middle child of a very dysfunctional family so I'm very messed up. :) Glad that you are not! You have a gorgeous family Marie.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with one sibling, we sometimes fought, but were mostly the best of friends. I'm lunky to count her as a best friend now. I can't imagine having 8 best friends who have your back for your entire life. What a gift :)
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful memories. Now I remember why I love blogging so much...it's because I get a chance to wear another person's shoes for a few brief moments. Being an only child, I have no idea what it's like to have siblings, let alone 7 of them... Thank you for sharing that brief window. Childhood memories are definitely something to be cherished...if we only knew back then.
ReplyDeleteI love how you have such a big family! The top picture of you and your siblings is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI am the youngest of 8 kids. I think that's partially why I wanted a big family, too!