If you know anything about me is that I am obsessed with my family. I am not talking about my small family of five, but my extended family.

My family where my cousins are my siblings and my second cousins act like my first cousins. My family where we have ridiculous traditions that I do not even try to explain to my friends because I know that I would just get questionable looks. And a response something along the line of “... your family actually does that? I thought that is just something they made up for television.”

My family means everything to me. My family is wicked close. We are the family that is filled with love and always makes a scene. The family that squeezes 10 plus kids on ONE air mattress.

The family that wears a matching t-shirt to drive around in a coach bus in small-town Pennsylvania to see where my Nana grew up.

The family that wears matching red/black plaid shirts to run around Target on Black Friday.

The family that takes over the street on a bike ride, making it difficult for cars to go around.

The family that gets lost on a hike in the woods, somehow ending up in the middle of nowhere.

The family that can easily have a reality television show.

The family with endless laughter and love.

My family is the definition of crazy. But that makes me love them even more. Every one of the over thirty members has such unique personality that it makes the family even more special. It is always a party whenever we come together, especially during big holidays. Every day is a new adventure and a new memory that I will cherish forever.

Let me talk about my ultimate favorite family tradition: Thanksgiving. Hands down my holiday. Yes, Thanksgiving is about food, football, pumpkin pie, parades, food, and family. But in my family, Thanksgiving means the morning 5k turkey trot (we are that crazy family that no one wants to marry into), afternoon Piligram and Indians soccer game, food, of course, Black Friday, a secret movie and shopping, and the house filled with unconditional love.

As we eat, we go around the table saying things that we are most thankful for that year. Thanksgiving always honors my loving grandmother, who made Thanksgiving such an amazing tradition in my family. It was her favorite holiday and is now the most important holiday. My family would be nothing if it wasn’t for her strong will and caring self. Thanks to her, my family has a special bond that is unbreakable.

The most important lesson I learned in my entire life is that family is forever.