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it is about 11pm and I am sitting out on the porch at the beach, doing a little star gazing. And I wonder if the stars got a little brighter tonight?

I got a call around 7pm from my Godfather, but since I was putting the boys to bed, I had to let the  call goto voice mail.  This was not our usual call about the Yankees, politics, UNC basketball or the boys.  This was a call to let me know that this brother in law, a man that I have known my whole life, was caught if a rip current today and died.

After hours of phone tag and text messages, I just got word that George passed away.  I can’t sleep.  I mourn for BJ & the boys.  I mourn for my Godfather tonight. I remember George being larger than life.  I just saw BJ a few months ago.  This doesn’t seem real.

So tonigtt, I say a prayer for the family and for Geoger’s soul.  I pray that BJ is strong through this and is comforted by those around her.

And tonight, as I rock, looking at the ocean and listening to the waves crash & watching distant lightening crashes, I am start gazing and trying to make sense out of something that dowse t make sense.

Tomorrow, I will hug the boys tighter and I will treasure the moment, as that is all that we have.

 

 

 

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Thirteen years ago today, America stood in silence. Our country forever changed, families forever changed, people were forever changed.

Today, as we stand in silence at 8:46 am, which was when the first plane hit the World Trade Center Towers, we remember. At 9:03, the second plane hit the World Trade Center Tower, we remember. At 9:37 a plane hits the Pentagon, we remember. And at 10:03 the final plane landed in a field in PA and we remember.

To those that lost their lives that day, we remember. To the families that were left behind, we remember. It has been thirteen years since America stood in silence and it is a day that will be etched in everyone’s memories.

God Bless America and God Bless those that were lost that day.

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A few months ago, the Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice was accused and ultimately charged with hitting his wife. Now, after being suspended from the NFL for 2 games, additional footage has been released of Ray Rice punching his now wife in the face.

Here is the thing. No man, unless they are being physically attacked, should they every lay their hands on a woman. EVER. And, if they are being attacked, they should never punch a woman in the face. They should only defend themselves to get away from the situation.

In my opinion, what Ray Rice did was uncalled for and the NFL, if it is true and that they watched the entire video, be ashamed for only suspending him for 2 games. The NFL has an obligation to the athletes and fans, and for this action to take place and Ray Rice only receive a 2 game suspension is a disgrace to women.

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Doing what is right, is not always easy, but sometimes it can be life changing.  And that is exactly what happened with the Cincinnati Bengals Defensive tackle Devon Still.

I love sports. I LOVE sports. I could watch football or basketball all day. Don’t get me wrong though, even though I love sports, it is a business. Teams have budgets, (minus the NY Yankees) that have to be kept, but they have responsibilities to their fans, their vendors, their players, their employees, etc. but sometimes, teams get it right. Sometimes, the business side of sports gets puts to the side and a team does what is right to help a player.

Devon Still’s daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 pediatric cancer in June and even though Devon was in camp and trying to earn a spot on the team, he was cut. But, instead of cutting Devon completely from the team, the Cincinnati Bengals signed Devon to their practice squad, which allowed him to still be paid, still have insurance for his daughter and most importantly, since she was being treated in Cincinnati, he gets to stay close to his daughter. Could the Bengals have cut Devon and said that he was taking a valuable spot on their team, sure. I am sure that if they had, everyone would have said, it was business.

Instead, they are doing what is right. They have taken care of a player who is going through a lot in his life right now. He is trying to work and provide for his family, while at the same time, he has to be worried to death about his daughter. Today, the Cincinnati Bengals have been caught doing what is right. They put the needs of a person, above the business.

Take a moment to watch this video: https://gma.yahoo.com/cincinnati-bengals-sign-devon-still-help-pay-daughters-145953313.html?vp=1

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This past week has been a challenge as we have been having a lot of bed time struggles with Baby A.  Our night time routine has been completely throwing off and I’m not really sure as to why?

We have kept the same routine, dinner, bath, watch a quick YouTube video, read a story, rock and quiet time. But the last weeks, he has wanted to go downstairs for toys, he has needed us to lay down beside him until he goes to sleep, he has thrown a fit, he has screamed, well you get the idea.

Bed time struggles seem to be a common issue at this age, so that isn’t that big of a deal. And it could be growth spurts, changes with the boys routine and as we prepare to transition to a new daycare facility. But, the last few weeks have definitely been a challenge at night time, often times taking an hour and a half to two hours.   And there has been an increase in night terrors as well, which has been on average 1 to 2 per week for Baby A.

And as usual, Baby B just puts himself to bed and is usually asleep within a few minutes. Bless that child. This is just yet another challenge in the life of twin boys, bed time struggles.

 

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I remember when I was a kid, I loved Saturday morning. I would wake up early and run downstairs, fix breakfast and watch cartoons.

Now, Saturday morning is a little different except, now the boys are picking cartoons. I am still waking up early, now my breakfast is coffee and fruit and the boys are right by my side. We sit on the sofa and laugh and watch cartoons. This is my Saturday morning now.

And I love every minute of it and we are currently watching Wreck It Ralph.

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I’m amazed everyday at the changes that I am seeing in my sons on a daily basis. From saying Please and Thank you on a more consistently basis to potty training to more social interaction.

Holding a new born baby is awesome, there is no greater feeling. But being able to see these changes and being able to interact and have conversations with the boys is completely different. They are able to express themselves, their wants, their needs in words. They are able to do things for themselves, like getting dressed, getting things out of the fridge, etc. I have no words at how cool it is to see these changes happen, right in front of my eyes.

 

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I’ve been asked lately by several friends how the boys were doing with their school transitions? To which I usually reply very simply, “How do you prepare a 3 year old for the unknown?”

We have already started preparing the boys with letting them know that they are going to a new school soon. And we’ve arranged with the school for them to start visiting once a week for at least a half day. But how do you really prepare them for school transitions?

I’ve had lengthy conversations with my mother who was an elementary school teacher for 44 years and she agrees that the slow approach should work well. But, she also agrees too that the boys adapt really easily, so they should be fine.

Am I concerned about this transition? Not really. This is the best move for the boys long term, as they prepare for school. And at the end of the day, that is really all that matters.

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It is all fun and games until someone takes a poop on the floor. Yep, that happened today.

We’ve been working on potty training big time and the boys, I have to say, have done a pretty good job. A few accidents, but they have been really minor. Today, Baby A said that he had to go upstairs to poop. Great, off we went. Get upstairs and within a minute, he is pooping. High fives and we are off back downstairs. Literally two minutes later, he is standing on the rug, clinching his little butt cheeks. I ask him what is wrong and he starts to get ready to cry.  It is then when I realize, he has to poop again. Off we go, but not before I look down and realize that there is poop on the floor.

When we were sitting upstairs, Baby A is obviously upset. He kept saying that he was sad.  We talked. I explained that he has to tell us when he needs to poop and that he has to control it, but that sometimes it is hard to control when you have to poop and that you have to just go with it. That was when he smiled.

He smiled because I was not mad with him. How could I be? He pooped, he didn’t break the tv. He made a mistake. But what I hope that he realizes, as his brother, as they go through life, my job is teach them right from wrong, good from bad. My job is teach them and show them how to and how not to react to situations. I hope that they realize that sometimes, it is ok to poop on the floor.

 

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Change happens daily. It it just a basic part of life. Sometimes, change can be good. And sometimes, it rains.

Last night, I had to make a difficult decision and inform our nanny that we were changing to a different daycare provider.   Our nanny has been there and taken care of our children from day 1. She has been a part of our family and our lives, but my wife and I made the decision that the boys needed something different as they prepare for school.

Change can be used in so many forms, as a verb or a noun, but at the end of the day, no matter how you use the word, it still can be difficult.

 

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