My name is Ashley Evans. I have always wanted a big family. My immediate family consists of my mom, dad, brother, and myself. I have two cousins on my mom’s side and two on my dad’s side, all who are significantly older than me. I have always found myself a little lonely around the house and during the holidays when my friends are at huge family gatherings with their extended family. In a way however, I have a huge family.

Every summer my family and I go to Hilton Head Island for vacation with the Smith and Hook families. The Smith family has two daughters; Alyssa is one year older than me and Katie is 3 years younger than me. The Hook family has one daughter, Gillian, who is a year younger than me. Long before any of us were born, all of our parents met. All three couples started going on vacation together and soon enough they were bringing their children.

As young children, us girls had our ups and downs. We would fight like crazy, throwing tantrums over who got to use the pink noodle in the pool and who got the head seat at the children’s table. The next day we would be inseparable and convince our parents to let us have weekend-long sleepovers. We would spend New Year’s Eve, birthday parties, graduations, family parties, lake weekends, and summer vacation together every year. When my family moved it became harder to continue these traditions, however, we have still spent every New Years and summer vacation together. We all share the love of Pittsburgh and its incredible sports teams, restaurants and people. We all share the love of years spent growing up together, helping each other with college decisions and experiencing so many monumental moments with each other. Just like real sisters, we didn’t choose each other and we had no option but to be friends. However, I can’t imagine myself today without the extended family that my parents have given to me.