To preface, I have a family of ten. I have two older brothers, an older sister, and a younger sister, but the three older ones have had significant others so long that I grew up with them as a part of my family. We are a close family. But not the normal definition of close. We're the kind of close family that all get in one car to drive to family dinners every Saturday night. This past week my brother and sister-in-law had their first child and added an eleventh member to our family. While welcoming and meeting baby Cecelia this weekend, I thought it’d be helpful to create a list of things that inevitably happen on the family vacations she will soon be attending. Baby Cece, this one’s for you.
1. Long, loud, and lively car rides. It’s “bonding.”
2. Craft beer shopping sprees. Even though it tastes like stale sugarless ginger ale.
3. Food wars. Most recently it was pancakes. See #2.
4. Tasing. See #2 and #3.
5. The throwing of personal belongings like glasses out of windows. See #2 and #3...again.
6. Also, the throwing of Wii remotes, board games, and Jenga pieces. Yay for sore losers.
7. Firey magic tricks. That’s why your dad doesn’t have hair on his hands anymore.
8. Dog purchases. Because eight dogs between all 10 of us isn’t enough. You may wonder who even buys a dog on vacation? We do. Every. Time.
9. Laundry cart races in hallways. The maids never like us very much. See #2.
10. Locking phones in hotel safes. Thanks Aunty Paige.
11. No personal space or boundaries. Arms, legs, heads, feet, and pretty much everything you can think of, can and will be draped over you.
12. Crying. Usually me. I’m sensitive, and it happens.
13. Getting lost. Again, usually me. Directions to boba places can be so confusing.
14. Runaway siblings. Don't worry they always come back.
15. Free stuff. Room service wasn't on time? Free meal. Your mom got trapped in a faulty elevator? Free massage. Even though you might be embarrassed by it, just know Aunty Barbie always has your back.
But whatever outrageous and occasionally unthinkable shenanigans ensue when all of us are cooped up in small quarters, you'll look back on those memories with a lot of laughter and even more love. Maybe we're a little crazy and overwhelming, but we're never boring, and we'll always be there for each other. Welcome to the world our beautiful Cecelia Alice. We love you already and know you'll grow up to be just as fabulous as Lily Pritchett-Tucker.
