15 Things That Always Happen During the Holidays When You Have a Big Family

You better keep the door shut because the neighbors can probably hear your family from a couple blocks away. All those people fighting to be heard means lots and lots of noise. From the second the first guest arrives, the noise starts immediately and keeps getting louder with each knock on the door.

Big families seem to grow at rapid rates. There are always new babies and kids of all age ranges running around. When everyone gets together for the holidays, there are kids everywhere. Seriously, you need to be careful not to step on one whenever you leave your chair.

It's hard enough to cook a full meal for a family of four, so imagine what it's like to cook from the same small kitchen for 20 people or more? Holidays spent feeding large families almost always end in some sort of food disaster.

It's probably the older generations, and no matter how much you love them, you cringe whenever they make an inappropriate joke or comment (which happens at least a few times every hour).

When grandma has all the grandkids in the same place at once, you know she needs to get a family photo. Participation is mandatory and be prepared for 15 takes or more.

Whether you participate in the family gift exchange, or are just opening your annual present from your relative with *unique* taste, you're bound to get at least one awkward gift. And you better pretend to like it, otherwise you'll hear it from your parents on the way home!

When you come from a large family, you get used to eating in strange places. You can look all you want, but the good seats are always taken. It's either the floor or leaned against the wall, but you get used to it.

Speaking of eating, you better grab a dish and fill it at the first call of "Food's ready!" If not, you might miss out on the meal all together. There's always that one cousin who snatches up your share of food before you get to the table.

Without fail, there's some sort of tiff going on when you get the family together to attempt a nice holiday. Whether your one cousin took the teasing too far or your aunt brought up something from 10 years ago, you can almost always guarantee there will be a fight.

It's not like you can blame them. There's at least one person in the family who can't physically make it through the holiday without alcohol. And, they'll probably end up drinking too much of it.

When you have a big family, there's usually an outsider who is meeting everyone for the first time. If you miss the introductions, you're bound to wonder who they belong to. The poor people usually get TMI on their first family experience.

Either someone tells your new significant other an embarrassing story from your past or grandma brings up the fact that your brother is still single. Crickets.

With that many people in the mix, opening presents with a large family takes forever. And it all ends in one big mess.

You have to give them credit for trying, but someone in the family always looks like a disaster when they come barreling into the house dressed as Santa. Whether it's your loud uncle or your crazy cousin, the kids don't believe it's the real Santa anyways. But, it's all in good fun!

Even though spending the holidays with a big family can be crazy, it's also the best. There's something special about reminiscing about old times and building new memories with the people who know you best. That's what makes every single moment worth it in the end.