Let me start off by saying my parents are braggers. Their brag list contains two main topics; my brother and I. They will never turn down the opportunity to throw in a few statements about every major achievement we have ever accomplished in our lives. However, what they fail to mention is the reason we turned out so great; and that's all thanks to them. And I guess thats how we ended up here.

An open letter to my parents: Thank you.

Thank you for being involved when we were kids.

And I don't just mean in dancing school and little league. I mean the small things. For sitting through the Broadway performances that we would put on after dinner. Every. Single. Night. For making our hats and hair the craziest during "Crazy Week" at school. For all the snowmen we made, and forts we build. For letting us run wild with our imaginations, and going along with it. For playing the most annoying games with us, like Hungry Hungry Hippos and Pretty Pretty Princess (sorry dad). Thank you for doing it all.

Thank you for teaching us to dream big.

All through my childhood, and even to this day, I truly believe I can do anything I set my mind to. You always taught us the sky was the limit. You never told us a dream was too out of reach, or insignificant.

Thank you for teaching us big dreams require hard work.

Yes, the sky is the limit but you always made sure to make it clear that the bigger the dream, the bigger the workload. You taught us that hard work and dedication gets us to reach those dreams, and if we truly wanted something we would be motivated to do anything for it.

Thank you for teaching us independence and responsibility.

I have been working since I was 13 and a half. Not because I needed to, but because I knew if I wanted something I would need to find a way to get it myself. From a very young age, it was instilled in me that I control my future. I was taught to never rely on anyone, and always be able to take care of myself, by myself. And although I will and always had my parents to rely on, I wanted to be independent and responsible. And that is all thanks to them.

Thank you for teaching us its okay to ask for help.

Yes, it's great to be able to take care of yourself, but its okay to need help sometimes. You taught us that you would always be there to help and guide us through the tough parts. You were also always there to help us even when we told you we could handle the tough parts on our own, because you know us better than we know us sometimes.

Thank you for raising us surrounded by so much love.

And when I say so much love, I mean so. much. love. With every day, week, month, year. With every achievement or hardship. With every fight or disagreement. There was always so much love, it was never a question. For that I am eternally grateful.

Thank you both for being you, because there is no one better than you.