Growing up I was the baby of the family, with one sister and five brothers in line ahead of me. Anyone who knows me knows my life has been an adventure (to say the least) and I know for a fact that I don't know where I'd be without my siblings. So this is my letter of gratitude to them.

Dear Brothers & Sister,

Thank you for raising me.

You guys, seriously. If it weren't for all of the babysitting and diaper changing and taking me with you to friends' houses and taking me to practices, I don't know what our parents would have done. In case no one else ever thanked you for this- I will. Being the youngest by 10+ years, I know y'all did a whole lot of watching me that you didn't sign up for, but it means more to me than you will ever know that you put so much time into my well-being.

Thank you for parenting me.

This one could tie into raising me, but this goes beyond that a bit. Even though it drives me crazy sometimes when you talk like mom or dad, I know you mean well. And now that many of you are parents yourselves, it's probably hard not to parent your baby sister. But again, I know you're just looking out for me so I'll let it slide.

Thank you for setting the bar high.

Really high. You played sports, got rather good grades, graduated high school, went to college, got degrees & certificates, and most of you have started wonderful families now. You've set the bar so high for me, and I'm thankful for that. So many kids' biggest goal is just to graduate high school. Thank you all for showing me that my goals can and should be big. I can do whatever I want with my life, and you've showed me that by the way you've lived your lives. Thanks to you, graduating high school seemed a small feat compared to what I knew I was going to do with my life. You've given me a lot to live up to.

Thank you for letting me love your children.

I've been an aunt since I was three years old. I've never known a life without my nieces and nephews and I am so thankful that you all let me love your kids like my own. Without them, I really honestly don't know what I would do. Whether we're three years apart or 17 years apart, I have my own unique bond with every one of them. Bonus: I'm young, so I'll always be the cool aunt.

Thank you for reminding me to stay humble.

"We NEVER would've gotten away with that!" "We never had that as kids!" "You're spoiled." "When we were your age..." Need I say much more? You're always reminding me how good I have it- compared to when you were my age.

Thank you for making me laugh.

No matter how far apart in age we are, we will always have our own inside jokes, and that is just awesome.

Thank you for still rolling your eyes at our parents with me every once in awhile.

Especially when they break out their stories of "the good ol' days", "When we were kids we had to walk to and from school in three feet of snow. Uphill. Both ways.", or when they break out their favorite joke since forever. *Eye rolls*

Thank you for being my best friends.

You've always been my very best friends, whether you've slept in the room next to me for years, taught me how to read, changed my diapers, taken me out to dinner when I was a broke college student, called me just to talk, texted me just because you missed me, gone to movies, gone on road trips, etc. The list could go on and on and on because you've always been around.

I don't know what I would do without you all, so thank you for being my big brothers and sister. I was so blessed to get stuck with you forever.

I love you so much,

Baby Sister