Read more about the article We pulled our old fish tank out of retirement (Lots of Pictures)
Family Pets / My thoughts

We pulled our old fish tank out of retirement (Lots of Pictures)

We've discovered that the boys really enjoy fish. I've had fish tanks throughout my life but we stopped after Emmett was born. There wasn't really a reason for it, we just hit a point where everything had died and we didn't replace them. The last fish we had was one of those goldfish you win by tossing a ping pong ball into tiny fish bowls at the fair. Gavin one that fish when he was teeny tiny and it lived for years. It grew from half an inch to something like seven inches in length by the time it died. That fish out lived everything else in the tank and when it died, we packed it all away. Since I've recently reviewed the EcoQube C, the kids have become entranced…

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March 3, 2018
Read more about the article Gavin’s NOT having a good day and it’s taking a toll on all of us
Gavin / My thoughts

Gavin’s NOT having a good day and it’s taking a toll on all of us

Holy shit! Gavin is not having a good day by any stretch of the imagination. He's been on overload all morning long. It's crystal clear that he's extremely stressed out right now and actually in distress. Maybe it's from a long day with his grandparents and not because they've done anything wrong. Gavin had a great time but it still takes a toll. It would be the same thing if he'd been at my parents. This is just the nature of who Gavin is. He's been getting ahead of himself all morning because he's acting before he really thinks about what he's doing. I suppose you could also call this being a bit impulsive. This morning's festivities began when he went to do the dishes. I've always had him throw…

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March 3, 2018
Read more about the article Take advantage of the time you have together
My thoughts

Take advantage of the time you have together

We had a really nice evening. For that matter, it was also a pretty nice day as well. The boys got off to school with minimal headache and that's always a fantastic way to start the day. 😀 Not too long after the boys got off to school, I drove Lizze to the Cleveland Clinic for a doctor's appointment. The drive sucked because my back still isn't doing so well. Sitting or standing for any period of time is extremely painful. Laying down flat or pacing around the house is the only pain free positions I have at the moment. Lizze's appointment went well and I decided to take her to lunch on the way home. It was actually more of a late lunch/early dinner but it was nice. ☺…

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March 2, 2018
Read more about the article Why family time is so important to me (25 pictures)
Family Time / Gallery / My thoughts

Why family time is so important to me (25 pictures)

The other day I took the family to the Garden Center. It was relatively nice put and I want everyone to get used to being more active, especially as Spring approaches. Everyone had fun and I was able to take some pictures. Family time like this is so important because it helps us all to put aside what causes us distress, even for a little while, and live life without fear or reservation. Selfishly, I need moments like these because my life isn't easy. It's not even remotely easy on the best of days. When I place myself in situations like this, I find peace and can center myself, both of which makes me a better husband and father. I thought I would share some of the pictures I took…

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March 2, 2018
Read more about the article Choosing A Babysitter: How To Make Smart Choices
Contributed / My thoughts / Sponsored Post

Choosing A Babysitter: How To Make Smart Choices

Every once in a while, parents need a night off, which is perfectly fine. Of course, while your children are young, you can’t leave them alone, so you need to find a babysitter for them. If the first port of call - AKA your family and friends - aren’t available or you feel bad always asking them to watch your child, then you may want to search for a babysitter.

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March 2, 2018
Read more about the article I met with the principal after my son was stabbed several times with a sharpened pencil
Emmett John / My thoughts

I met with the principal after my son was stabbed several times with a sharpened pencil

While I was waiting to pick the kids up from school today, I made it a point to sit down with the principal and express my concerns in regards to Emmett being stabbed multiple times with a sharpened pencil yesterday. I know the kid responsible for this assault, for lack of a better word. He's not a bad kid and this is very much out of character for him. This is a school for kids with various special needs like Autism, ADHD and others. As an experienced Special Needs Parent, I know that there is probably more going in beneath the surface here, especially considering how out of character this behavior was for this kid. I don't believe this was maliciously done. It sounds like this kid was goofing around…

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March 1, 2018
Read more about the article A down and dirty update
My thoughts / Updates

A down and dirty update

It's been a weird day and painful day. It was weird because of some of the things going on and painful because my back hurts like a motherfucker. I have to thank my amazing wife for stepping up and getting the kids to school this morning because I wasn't in a condition to drive. I'm moving around a little better as the day goes on but I feel like I'm being ripped in half and that's not an exaggeration. Anyway, Gavin is on his way to his grandparents house, where he's going to spend the night. He's super excited and has been looking forward to this all week. The timing is perfect because I have to drive Lizze to the Cleveland Clinic in the morning and we won't be home…

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March 1, 2018