Kelly and I have literally known each other our whole lives—she’s my twin, after all! She’s not just my sister, she’s my best friend and my go-to travel buddy. We’ve been through everything together, and no matter what, we always have each other’s backs. Some of my absolute favorite memories are from the adventures we've had together—whether we were lost in a new city or just laughing over something ridiculous, it’s always a good time with her.

David and I have been partners in crime—I mean, friends—for years now. It all started with a totally random twist of fate when we became roommates. Our other roommate, Tim, already knew David from their days in the military ). David was just getting out and needed a place to crash while he worked on his degree. The two of us hit it off fast, bonding over late-night snacks, questionable life choices, and the kind of shenanigans that make you say, “We probably shouldn’t tell anyone about this.” Somehow, we’re still getting into the same kind of chaos today—older, maybe wiser, but definitely still ridiculous.

Ariel and I have known each other her whole life—we're cousins, but honestly, she feels more like a little sister. Some of my favorite childhood memories are when the three of us—me, Kelly, and Ariel—were all together, just laughing nonstop, playing all day, and occasionally getting into a bit of trouble (the fun kind, of course). Those were the best times, and I’ll always cherish them.

John and I became friends when I finally made it to A school in the military—after getting held back thanks to messing up my knee. We’d run into each other here and there while we were in, but never ended up in the same unit (probably for the best, honestly). Every time we did meet up though, it was always a good time—and sometimes those good times turned into some pretty epic stories.

Riley is my youngest cousin, and we’ve always had this special bond—especially over our shared love of trying new foods. Some of my favorite memories with her are from when I used to babysit her. We’d have our little life chats, snack on something new (or weird), and just enjoy each other’s company. Watching her grow up has been such a joy, and those moments together will always mean a lot to me.

David and I met back in high school art class, where he quickly realized I had zero filter—didn’t matter who it was, even the teacher. That led to some wild laughs for sure. But honestly, there's no one else I'd rather have manning the grill at a cookout. We definitely had our fair share of trial-and-error food experiments, but somehow it always turned into a good time. Never a dull moment with that guy.

I met Kathryn through my sister Kelly, and we’ve been friends ever since. Even after I moved to California, Kathryn made the trip out to visit me, which meant so much. Some of my favorite memories with her are from our bowling nights—lots of laughs, questionable scores, and just all-around good times. She’s the kind of friend that turns even the simplest nights into great memories.

Justin was the first person I knew back in Marengo—our parents were friends, so we were basically forced into friendship. But next thing you know, we're staying up way too late, hopped up on snacks, trying (and usually failing) to beat some game we rented. He ended up being like a brother to me—if brothers argue over controllers, talk trash during boss fights, and laugh until they can’t breathe.

Brianna and I are cousins, but we’ve definitely gotten even closer since I moved to California. We both share a love for hiking and animals, so we’ve spent a lot of time exploring the outdoors together and bonding over our shared interests. It’s been really special to have her here, and I’m so grateful for the adventures we’ve had and the memories we’re making.

Pretty sure Erik and I met somewhere between middle school awkwardness and high school chaos. We rolled with a tight group—Jason, Ryan, Jake, Torrance, and Damon Otto—basically a band of backyard warriors. Our idea of fun? Intense airsoft battles where we acted like we were in a movie, and settling arguments the mature way… by throwing on boxing gloves and duking it out. We definitely had fun for all the right (and occasionally questionable) reasons. Over time, we got a little older, a little wiser… and slightly less likely to start a fistfight to win an argument. Slightly.