Every so often I like to take the time to thank some people, or things, in my life that I don’t always recognize.

As usual I want to thank Roy, my amazing husband, for helping me with this site. He never judges me based on what I say, he never ridicules me or changes what I write (though he might clean it up a bit, and he always fixes my sometimes crazy punctuation!), but he proofreads my posts, makes suggestions, and will occasionally find funny videos or clips to share with us all.

My boys. I realize that I tell them every day, sometimes multiple times a day, how much I love them. But I don’t know if I thank them enough. So… thank you to the older boys for offering to babysit once in awhile, thank you to Joe for taking out my dog most nights since I fall asleep early, thank you to Corey for pitching in with the cooking and clean up, thank you Addi for taking the time to learn to listen and for being honest with us (even though sometimes we get upset) when things aren’t going so well in school, thank you Hayden for putting your bike up the way Daddy showed you to, and thank you to Dean for using his frog (potty) to go potty instead of going on the carpet (we are making progress!).

Elishaa5 (a fellow tumblr) and Lifewithboyz (a new Wordpress blogger). I love to write, and sometimes when I am feeling less than confident shall we say, or just down in the dumps, I wonder why I bother.  Does anyone read what I write? Can I write? Is what I write stupid or silly? But you two ladies remind me that sometimes it’s ok to be silly, and it’s even a good thing to make someone else laugh. You make me smile with your kind words.  When I read your blogs, I laugh because it’s wild how alike our lives are, and it reminds me that none of us are alone in this whole parenting thing.  If you are EVER in the DC area, let me know.. .we have to get together and share horror stories!

Our school systems website. I am sure other counties use this system, but our public school system has something called Parent Portal.  All I need is a computer with internet access, and no matter where I am, I can check the three older boys’ grades and attendance.  If they ever skip school, I will know.  If they forget to turn in their homework, I will know.  When they ace a test, we know… LOVE technology!

Pamela Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor, the founders of “Juicy Couture.” No, I don’t wear their famous track suits, though Roy tried to get me one (I was too lazy to try on the pants). For Christmas, Roy bought me some lotion from their latest fragrance - Viva La Juicy.  MmmMmm… it just smells so good! When I put it on, I remember I am a woman not just a mom, and it makes me smile.  

Pinkberry. I could eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and NEVER get tired of it.  It’s that good. If you live near one and haven’t tried it out… well, get your head checked. Or just go get some!

There are lots of other people and things I could, and probably should, thank. Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, Steve Jobs (or whoever created iPods [going to the gym wouldn’t be nearly as much fun without my music]), my parents, and the list could go on and on…

So, more next time…