Family is such an important part of our lives, both immediate and extended family members. But we are only going to focus on our respective siblings.
Chris has one brother named Curtis. He is 5+ years younger, but that age difference has never interfered with their relationship. In fact, they have generally gotten along growing up and into adult life. They both are avid sports fans (Utah Jazz basketball and BYU football) and make the effort to go to at least one Jazz game each season, always paired with dinner at Crown Burger in Salt Lake City, Utah. They also enjoy going golfing, shooting guns at the range, eating good food, and playing video games on occasion.
Both possess a dry sense of humor and can quote all sorts of things to each other from pop culture, sports commentators, books, movies and more. They are able to lean on each other and have a special understanding of each other's experience growing up in the same household and how to support one another.
Cassie has two younger siblings, one sister (Ariana) and one brother (Ethan). Much like they did when younger, they still consider Cassie to be bossy at times. No matter the age differences, Cassie also has a strong relationship with her siblings and gets together with them for family events and dinners often, in addition to beginning a tradition of going on annual trips, generally to St. George, Utah.
Cassie's siblings like to laugh and make fun of each other. Cassie laughs at stories that Ariana shares, mainly about herself, and she loves listening to all of Ethan's antics. Both Ethan and Ariana can take something Cassie would find mortifying and turn it into a hilarious story.
Fun side note: because we met in high school and have lived in the same area since (minus a brief hiatus for Chris when he lived in Pennsylvania), their siblings have also grown up around each other—in fact, Curtis and Ariana were friends in high school!
It's difficult to put into words how we value each sibling and his or her contributions to our lives. Our daughter loves to spend time with each sibling and often asks where they are and why they are not with us. Our siblings love our daughter and are good uncles and a good aunt. Each adds a richness and color to the tapestry of life and we are eternally grateful for them.