I never really had a choice if I wanted a big family or not -- I'm the last child. Of six. Nevertheless, I've never regretted having a big family. Sure, sometimes everyone getting together for the holidays will kick me out of my bed, or there won't be enough couch space, or someone takes the last cinnamon roll. The downsides have never outweighed the upsides of my crazy brothers and sisters, however.

One of the best things about having five siblings is that there will always be plenty going on. There is never a worry that we can get enough people for a board game, or that no one will have an opinion on what to watch or do. There are enough people that we can even split into two different groups for activities, if need be. More importantly, though, is mixture of personalities which make for hysterical conversations; frankly, a lot of laughter in my life stems from stupid or comical things my brothers and sisters have said.

Being fifteen years younger than the oldest sibling makes for an interesting time difference. Starting my junior year in college, I am in a much different place in my life than my sister with her husband, three kids, two pets, and steady job. I, however, get all the advice (warranted and not) that she never got when she was my age. Both my sisters have helped me edit my college application essays, cover letters, or resumé. They are, among other things, invaluable resources in my life.

Beyond all activities or advice, however, I appreciate how well we all mesh together. It is a blessing to be able to mix introverts and extroverts, high maintenance people and those with short fuses, confrontational siblings and those that are confrontation-phobic. We like each other, we hate each other, but most importantly, we love each other.

In fact, as I write this, everyone is home for one of the two or three times of the year (there are two birthdays to be celebrated this weekend). The smell of cookies baking in the oven wafts throughout the living room and kitchen. There's music playing in the background, jokes are being tossed back and forth at the table while we play board games, and the sounds of cackles and chatter carry throughout the bottom level of our house. It's like Christmas, but maybe that's just me being sentimental. We won't be together again for several months more, but there won't be any distance that grows between us as we all head our separate ways; twenty years does a lot for bonding.

So for all of those people out there with only one sibling:

I pity you (Just kidding--you get more cinnamon rolls).

And for those with multiple:

Don't forget how lucky you are to have the extra love and comedy in your family.