28 September 2012

Christopher.

My brother and I are 19 years apart.

That’s a lot.  Like, a lot, a lot. 

I am old enough to be his mom and not even in like a high school pregnancy sort of way.  I was in college and pretty much out of the house when he was born.  He regularly reminds me that I’m only a few years younger than his girlfriend’s mom.  Which?  Is totally awesome to hear, let me tell ya.

He also introduces me as his sister… the old one.

He’s lucky I love him.

He came over last week after school and I think it was the longest we’ve ever hung out and talked just the two of us since he was Finn’s age.  When he was little, he could talk for hours on end without taking a breath and it just never stopped.  Teenaged boys though?  They don’t talk much to old sisters.  He asked me about the blog and it made me realize that I tell you stories about my sisters all the time and I don’t much talk about the baby of the family. 

Our little Kissy-fer.

Once, he hit Elise in the eye with a baseball bat when he was probably four years old.  It was totally un-funny until he justified it with a “but I hit her with a soft bat!”  And Elise screamed, “It was the hard end!”  He had managed to jab her with the only piece of a foam bat that had a hard edge.  He is no dummy.  I don’t even remember now {and maybe Elise or Lynnie will fill you in with a comment} what she did to get a bat to the eye, but Lyndsey and I still laugh about my dad trying to keep a straight face and yell at him for it.  Anytime someone in our family says, “but it was a soft bat!” we all laugh hysterically. 

When he was ten, Dave asked him if he would like to be in our wedding.  His response was “only if I get to wear a tux and bow tie like James Bond.”  So, even though everyone else in the wedding was in a tie, we totally got him the bow tie.  How could we not?  He took that ring carrying very seriously. 

I_0059 chris

Now, he’s a senior in high school and handsome and cool.  He’s looking at colleges.  I just know that I will do the ugly cry when he leaves and he will just make fun of me and things will go on as normal.

He’s sweet and infinitely patient with his niece and nephew, even though I think that little one scares the shit out of him.  Usually she takes one look at him and starts screaming, but they’ve turned a corner… now she just looks at him with contempt, which I think he admires.  Finn pretty much thinks that he is the coolest person in the universe and tries to act like a teenager when he is around.  At his sixteenth birthday, he let Finn hang out with him and his friends.  That is the kind of kid he is.

I might be fucking up his “swag” when I say this, but I actually like who he is as a person.  He still does dumb ass things like throw basketballs at me because he’s seventeen.  Mostly though, he’s really really quick witted and intelligent and funny and even charming when he wants to be.

Just don’t tell him I said that.

16 comments:

  1. I have a sister who is a freshman in college! I can totally relate to all of this.

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  2. I am also blessed with a much younger sister, we are 17 years apart and she has her sweet 16 in Dec.! What a blessing younger brothers and sisters can be. :)

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  3. um and he's pretty adorable! what a cutie. Loved this post. I have a baby brother that is special to me as well :)

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  4. I love when kids turn out awesomelly! I knew at a certain moment when my nephew was about 1.5 yrs old that he was going to be an awesome guy. He's 13 now and so far I've been proven correct. Love him!!

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  5. I am the younger sister in this equation, and I have to say, my older sister (16 years older) is the best. I always felt so cool riding around in her car or sleeping at her house when she moved for college or going bowling with all her friends. When she had kids (they are about the same age apart from me as I am with her) it was my chance to pay it forward. I'm so lucky to have her. (Although since I recently turned 30 she now says I make her feel old)

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  6. All I can think is that your brother is the same age as my son... and that makes me feel old. He sounds like a great kid. Funny that little relationship between him and Tate. Will be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. She'll probably end up following him around at every family gathering. :)

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  7. My brother is 13 years younger than me and my sister is 15 years younger. People always thought they were my kids when we went places. Obviously, I know they are much younger than me, but it really hit me hard a few months back when I had to take a car seat out so my sister could sit in the back of the car. You have to be 12 to ride in the front in PA (not sure how that works in other states), so I had to rearrange so she could ride with me. Its also odd to me that they are aunt and uncle to my kids!!! This coming year marks some big dates for Lauren & I. I will be crying b/c I will be turning 30 and she will be celebrating turning 13. That kills me to even write!!!

    Your brother seems like a stand up kid. I bet Finn was super excited to hang out with the big kids. Seems like he has some pretty good people in his life to look up to... you and your sisters seem like some class acts too!!!!

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  8. Omg I can't believe he was 10 at your wedding! Then, I was a bratty 19 year old who wouldn't wear what I was suppose to as a good sister bridesmaid would do haha. When I imagine Chris that young, I just can't believe how old he looks now! And I see him every week! Craziness!

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  9. This is beautiful. I have a little brother, only 4 years younger, but it felt like a lot growing up. ;)

    I spent much of my childhood being mean to him and treating him like a baby and a pest. Then I went to college, he started high school, and overnight I decided he was cool. Well, too little, too late. He wasn't having it. I regretted it so much, and it took years, but now, as adults, we are friends and look back at the whole thing and laugh.

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  10. That is just pure sweetness. I love reading this about you and your brother! Lucky lady!

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  11. Aww, what a cutie pie! I'm sure the girls are all over him. :) Whoops, not what you wanted to hear about your little brother, though!

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  12. Some day - Some day - this will be Boo Boo with her MUCH older sibs. Sarah got engaged last week for chissakes.

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  13. My brother called me the old sister too--and I am only 8 years older than him! I think anything older than 25 is ancient to a teenage boy.

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  14. Not, 100% sure but I think he hit her because she went down stairs to tell him dinner was ready and he "felt like hitting her, but it was with the soft bat" LMAO I still find this to be so funny when I think about it. He just had this look on his face that he was completely justified. I believe it may have been a surprise attack as she came down the stairs as well but I am not sure. You would have to ask Lisey because she tells it best. (laughing, ok I just laughed till I cried think about this)

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