Danny...

I want to talk about my brother Danny. He is the oldest of all of the kids and I am the youngest, with 16 years between us you would think that we wouldn't be very close or have much in common, but luckily for me that is not the truth. When I was a kid growing up Danny and I were not very close, because back the age gap was way too obvious and well he liked to be a little bossy, which he still does but now it works. When I say he was bossy I think that he just always felt that I got everything that I wanted and truth be told I was probably the annoying little bratty sister who was spoiled rotten in his eyes, which was kinda true.
As we got older and our lives changed so did our relationship. It first changed when Mike died. Mike dying definitely brought Danny and I closer together. Danny's wife Anna had their first child (Sarah) about 2 months after Mike died and it was as though we were delivered an angel right when we needed one. I love babies, my dad loves babies and so we were all so happy to have this precious new life around. We spent a lot of time with them and it for sure helped the grieving process.
A few years later (3 to be exact) our Dad died. He honestly just couldn't take anymore. He had buried 4 of his own children and his parents and several of his very dear friends and he really, really couldn't handle anymore. Once our Dad died is when Danny kind of returned to his bossy/fatherly mode for me. He often gives me his opinion, and 9 times out of 10 I do what he tells me to. I don't make a lot of decisions without consulting with him first, it's funny but for whatever reason whenever we have a decision to make, like buying a house or naming a child, whatever it may be one of the first things out of my mouth is "well, let me call my brother first." I don't even know if he even realizes how much I rely on him.

The funny thing is as he has gotten older he looks more and more like our dad and he acts like him too. The even stranger thing? I act so much like him! I will say something to the kids or to Chris and all of a sudden will think 'oh my gosh, I sounded just like Danny'.

I really don't know what I would do without him, he is a wonderful big brother and he loves me and my kids so much. I am so grateful for him and the relationship that he and I both have worked so hard to achieve.