I can never remember a time in my life when I wasn’t side-by-side with one of my brothers. When I first found out I was going to have yet another sibling, I was in sixth grade. My first younger brother Emmett was in second grade, and my next youngest brother Ridge was only two. Emmett has blonde hair, freckles, and loves to ski. Ridge also has blonde hair, olive skin, and a freckle above his lip. He can’t wait until he’s old enough to ski race. My stepmom, Emilie, and my dad always made jokes about how we had a big family and crazy kids, but apparently three wasn’t enough.

It all started when we were heading out on a yurt adventure with the Wenners, our family friends. After an hour of kids crying while we finished loading gear onto the snowmobiles on the side of the highway, my dad towed the Wenners to the trailhead first and came back for us. Just as we were about to head out, the snowmobile cut, and we were left stranded on the side of the highway with no other way to get to the trailhead but walking. We finally built up the courage to begin our ascent to the yurt. We walked about 100 yards when Emilie stopped completely out of breath and held her stomach. I stopped next to her with my dad and caught my breath. Emilie looked me in the eye, still out of breath, and said, “ I’m pregnant.” I almost fell head-over-heels. I covered my mouth with my eyes wide open as my dad was still next to me and couldn’t help but grin. I looked at my dad, then Emilie. They were both dead serious. I was going to have another little sibling to deal with!

Finally, we reached the trailhead. I was still in so much shock from the most recent breaking news. I replayed the moment in my head at least 300 times that night, from our arrival at Fishhook Yurt to playing in previous visitors’ igloos. I was bubbling with secrecy and promised I wouldn’t tell a soul until the family dinner two days after the trip.

At the family dinner that night, my grandpa hovered over the oven cooking fresh duck. Cousins paraded around the house, and parents rushed through the kitchen, pouring drinks and eating appetizers. After what seemed like hours of sitting on the couch waiting in suspense for the big toast at dinner, my grandma herded all the children in the dining room and set them down in assigned seats.

When my dad announced that they had something important to share, it took a solid two minutes to get everyone to quiet down. Emilie raised her glass, my dad by her side. Me, being the only one who knew what was coming, grinned from ear to ear and sat up straight in my seat, looking around to see if everyone’s full attention was on my dad and Emilie. Emilie made the announcement short and sweet. Everyone clapped and raised their glasses, my grandpa and grandma held back tears, and my cousins and siblings continued their various activities. Today, I have three little brothers and I wouldn’t want it any other way. My siblings are my best friends and nothing can change that.

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