Most people know that I come from a HUGE family. We're 7 kids to be exact though there's suppose to be 8 of us had my stepmom did not get an ectopic pregnancy this year. Yes, you read it right. Stepmom. That explains the number of kids. My dad remarried four years after being separated from my biological mom. There were four of us kids... 3 girls and a boy (Often referred to us the big kids). Then there were 3 little monsters. I mean, boys! Since I'll be talking about my family a lot in this blog, I've decided to make brief descriptions of the Brady Bunch Plus 1.

Dad (41): Yup, pretty young to have a 23- going- on 24 daughter. He and my mom had me when they were only 17. Obviously, they forgot their prophylactics. Dad is bald (by choice) and big. He used to be very strict with us four big kids. We were hardly allowed to go out and play in the street. Or if we went to malls, a yaya had to accompany us. I used to be so scared of him to the point that I'd avoid him and I wouldn't talk to him unless I had to ("Dad, can I go out to..."). That wasn't the end of it. If he did allow me, I had to submit a piece of paper indicating the who's, where's, when's, how's and contact numbers! But when he remarried, he became more lax with us kids. Whenever I ask if I could go out, he just says "ok." We're still scared of him sometimes. I, for one, panic whenever he calls or SMS me after 2am on a night out. But he can be a funny dad. He makes jokes and teases us. Dinner can be pleasant because of the stories he tells. Like us kids, many people are intimidated with him. I guess it's the "I'm a damn tough guy, don't you ever make the mistake of messing up with me!" aura he exudes. Combine that with the fact that he's a big guy and he's bald, that just doubles the terror. But one thing that amazes me is that he's got a LOT of friends that he helps out. In return, they are willing to break an arm just to help him too.

Mom (39):Whenever my friends see my mom, they always gush on how pretty she is. People actually stare at her when she walks by them. But beneath the beautiful exterior lies an equally beautiful heart. She is very sweet and always thinks of other people first. She loves throwing baby showers and surprise parties. She is very involved in all her kids' school activities. In fact, she was once president of the parent association of her son's kindergarten. She treats us all as her own. She's been a real friend to me. Someone I could just talk to whenever I have any problems. When she and my dad first started dating, I warmed up to her easily. We would talk in my room for hours on end talking about my obssession back then, some cute guy named Paolo. Looking back, I am amazed at her patience listening to some teenybopper with stars in her eyes, helplessly in like with her high school crush go on and on about some kilig moment where his eyes met hers in the cafeteria. Back then, such small, meaningless moments meant the world to that psychotic stalker disguised as a high school junior wearing a plaid skirt.

The BIG kids

Me:Nuff said.

Ara (20):Ah! The braniac of the family. She was in the honors class all through out high school. She was always involved in extra curricular activities, even until now, that she's hardly at home. She once told my dad that apart from her "clubs" in school, she wanted to join the swimming varsity. My dad said that he's getting fed up with the school and its activities. My sister pleaded not to get mad at the school and explained that joining such activities were her choice. Dad said, "That's why I'm not getting mad at them. I'm getting mad at them for not stopping you from joining too much organizations!" He was just joking, of course. Now this girl doesn't let anything stop her just because she is a female. Thus, she is the most boyish among the three girls. She's not at all tomboyish though. She had a "boyfriend" before I did. Among the three of us, she has the longest, most beautiful hair. She wears skirts to school and when the mood strikes her, makes her own earrings. Not at all boyish but definitely someone who could beat you up!

Enzo (17): It's no secret that growing up, Enzo and I would engage in screaming matches. Being the eldest child, next in line after my parents when it comes to authority, and him being the trouble maker, something would definitely spew between us. But being more mature now, I try not to engage in arguments with him. I believe that he, too, has changed for the better so it lessens the conflict between us. Enzo is one friendly person. He's not afraid to approach people. He gets along with adults more than kids his age. Enzo is also a whiz in computers. He's practically the troubleshooting manual of those unfortunate souls with computer disasters.

Camille (14):Currently, she is the sibling I'm close to. She is the most kikay among the sisters. Constantly whining about her curly, Hermione- like hair and thus, forever sitting in front of the mirror with her straightening iron. Yes, even if she's just staying at home. She has finally discovered the wonders of shopping and make-up. At times, I consult her on what to wear on dates with A. I even borrow her earrings. She's got good taste, I tell yah. We often discuss the latest in pop culture and I tell yah, whatever is the latest teenybop movie, she's obsessed with it. She searches the entire world wide web looking for tidbits of her latest movie fave. One time, she was so into Harry Potter that she joined an online trivia competition and won! We all thought she was busy studying for an exam cuz she'd prepare flash cards. We didn't know it contained Harry Potter trivia. She's fun to talk because she's got a shallow sense of humor. She doesn't get mad easily when you tease her. Sometimes, she could be really funny even when she's serious. Read her blog, you'll get what I mean.

The little kids

Judo (7):Being hearing impaired in one ear did not stop him from being the best that he could be. Currently studying in Ateneo (I'm telling you, he's a die hard Atenean, cheering the loudest during UAAP games, holding "We Believe" signs that he picked up lying in the parking lot of ADMU. In birthday parties, while other kids are having Nemo or Shrek painted on their faces, he'd ask for a blue eagle and the letter A!), he's one of the smartest in class. Still so young yet already a leader. He's a soccer player and prefers to be the goalie than the forward during seasons. He's the wildest among the 3 little boys. The most hyper. Sometimes, the most brattish. Boy, when he gets mad, he gets really mad. He throws tantrums and bangs doors. He knows how to answer back to his elderly siblings (except me!). Yet, he can be the sweetest. He'll just suddenly wrap his arms around you and plant a big fat kiss on your cheek. And just like that, he's back to being an angel again.

Don (5): Probably the most charismatic one among the three. He's very clingy with mommy and very sensitive. I guess you could say he is the most emotional one. He's also a mama's boy. Mom told him not to fight with Xavier, his younger brother, and not to resort to punching or pushing even though Xavier does that to him. One time, Xavier grabbed his toy from his hands. He pleaded to give it back and snatched it from him, though Xavier quickly got it back from him. Like most kids, he would have hurt his younger brother to get back the toy but since mom said not to do that, he crawled up the couch, buried his head under the pillow and cried out his frustration. Poor kid but it was just so sweet. And eventhough Xavier can be rough by sitting on his brother's face while watching tv or pulling his hair, Don doesn't do anything. I guess he doesn't mind or he's too busy watching cartoons that he doesn't even notice that his younger brother is practically beating him up. One thing I like about Don is his cute voice and laugh especially when he's so excited.

Xavier (3): The baby of the family. My dad calls him "jungle boy." Just like his kuya, he can get very wild. Being the baby, everybody in the family just lets him be because anything he does is just "adorable". When he gets into a scuffle with his brothers, he cries and runs to mommy or daddy and makes sumbong, even if he's at fault. He pretends he was the one hurt even though he bit, pinched or punched first. Still, this makes him very adorable to all of us. It's the age he's in. I'm sure give it a couple or three more years, it's no longer cute!

And there you go, Brady Bunch Plus 1. I'm sure you'll hear more of them as I'll be writing anecdotes especially about the three little monsters.