My family is fairly small. Although each of my parents is one of four children, I have only two cousins. The grand total of immediate family (including me) + grandparents + aunts & uncles (including by marriage) + cousins (including spouses and children) = 25.

Adam's family is quite large in comparison. His dad is one of five, his mom is one of six. The grand total of immediate family (including Adam) + brother-in-law + grandparents + aunts & uncles (including by marriage) + cousins (excluding their spouses and children, because that's too difficult to keep track of) + nephew = 54. Add in the spouses and children of cousins and you're probably at about 70.

This Saturday, our extended families met for the first time. Obviously, we did not have nearly 100 people getting together, but 12 of my family members plus about 25 of Adam's, along with some close family friends of his parents, all descended upon Connecticut for a "casual backyard barbecue to celebrate Adam & Stephanie's engagement" (so said the invitation, in an attempt to get people to understand it was not a formal affair with gifts to be expected... although we still received a fair share). There were 47 people at the barbecue. Everyone got along great, but it was exhausting going around and visiting with all these people. I have no idea how I am going to survive wedding weekend.

Then on Sunday, we went to Adam's uncle's house for the second barbecue of the weekend to celebrate Adam's parents' birthday. (Yes, birthday... they were born on the same day of the same year.) All of Adam's family that was at the barbecue the day before were there, as well as another 5 cousins who hadn't made it on Saturday.

I am used to family get-togethers. We celebrate Christmas with all of my family, plus usually sprinkle in a few other gatherings throughout the year. But that's usually just 10-15 people at a time. There were THIRTEEN people staying in Adam's parents' house on Saturday night. Thirteen people to see right before I went to bed, thirteen people gathered in the kitchen for pancakes in the morning. Adam and I had to sneak out to go to Dunkin Donuts for some iced coffee to get away from it all for a while on Sunday morning and regroup.

It was a really lovely weekend, but I am going to sleep so hard tonight. Thank goodness it's only a 4 day work week. (Although, Saturday morning we need to hop back in the car and drive up to New York for my grandfather's 80th birthday party. It never ends!)