A Bit of Me(Me): Families

Danielle over at There's a Book hosts this fun meme every week to help bloggers get to know each other better. Come join us!

Here's this Week's Question:


 Do you come from a large or small family and how do you think it influenced your life?

Here's a picture of the family I came from taken nearly 25 years ago. Yes, that's me in the Micky Mouse sweatshirt, with all my 8 younger brothers and sisters. I have three brothers right after me, then it goes girl boy girl boy girl after that! My youngest sister was born after I had left the house and was in college. There's only one summer that we were all actually living in the same house together.

And here we are today, this picture taken at a family reunion just a month ago. Keep in mind, we had just been camping for three days, so we all look a little... shall we say, worn! Can you match any of these adults up with the kids in the above picture? I find it interesting that even though there's nearly 20 years between me and my youngest sister, we find that today we have lots in common. She is the one that got me started blogging. We both have the Josh Groban (and other celebrity) fascination. We love the same movies. We giggle together all the time over many silly things. Very fun.

Being part of a big family is so much a part of who I am that I'm not sure I even have words to describe it. I fulfill the "first child" role to the T. I've always been the bossy one, the organized one, an over achiever (back in the day, not sure that fits me now) and all the rest of the traits oldest kids have. It was fun growing up with a tons of kids, there was never a dull moment. Sometimes it made me crazy though, and I really got sick of tending everyone. But really it's a lot of fun.

My dad comes from a family of 12 kids, and each of those kids had families similar to ours. That means I have I think about 72 first cousins on that side. Now, can you imagine how fun those family reunions were when I was growing up? 

Now I myself have four kids, which some people may think is also a big family. Around here in Utah though, it's right down the middle average. As for me, I think it's just perfect! :)