My son Joseph had his braces removed the other day. I haven’t seen him smile like he was that day for a long, long time. As I told my mom – four down and one to go! Our daughter Anna Banana is next. Joseph’s teeth are perfect now. Amazing.
Joseph "before"
Joseph "after" Lookin' Good
Our move is getting closer. Dreading all the packing. Especially in this heat. Anxiously awaiting fall!
Be Well!
Posted by: Paula on July 17th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: blogs, moms, orthodontist, teeth
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Gah!, Happy Days, Life..., Mama Rants, Mommyhood, Roll With It, The Rugrats
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This has been, by far, one of the wildest spring seasons I can remember. And when I say wildest, I mean craziest, busiest, well, most exhausting springs that I can recall in my 45 years. Yes, 45. But I love my life.
Over the past month my son Phillip (son #3) attended his first prom, graduated from high school and survived his college orientation at UMASS Lowell. I was the happy mom with the camera, you know how that goes. I’m very proud of this guy. Love you Freckle Nose (that would be Phillip :) )
Uh, now what do I do?
Hold REAL still Phil....
Phil and Megan You looked MARVELOUS you guys!
Perfect together! Philip and Megan
A night to remember...
Phil's graduation morning with his brothers Nick and Jay
Phil says farewell to Academy teachers 6-7-10
Phillip John graduation day 6-7-10
Phillip (background) saying his goodbyes St J Academy 6-7-10
Phillip says his farewells to St J Academy teachers on graduation day 6-7-10
Phil the HAPPY Graduate June 7, 2010
Phil Nick and Jay St J graduation 6-7-10
Phillip and Megan St J graduation 6-7-10
Phil and Cam graduation day! 6-7-10
Phillip UML orientation June 2010
Phillip's orientation at UML with Jay and Anna June 2010
Peace…
Posted by: Paula on June 27th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: blogs, college, moms, prom, spring, UMASSLowell
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Happy Days, Life..., Mama Rants, Mommyhood, Roll With It, The Rugrats
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It’s mid May. Mid May. We’re well into biting black fly season, school will be ending in a few weeks, it’s getting warmer outside…where the hell have I been? Well, I’ve been a little busy. First Holy Communion for my Anna banana, UCONN graduation for my son Nick, Mother’s Day which was lovely, thankyouverymuch, and surgery on my damn right big toe that has been killing me for the past two months. Ingrown toenails and fungal infections of the toenail are a bitch (will spare you pictures of this mess). So that’s my story. For now. We’ve got spring concerts, tennis matches, senior Prom, high school graduation and college orientation still on the list – in the next 3 weeks. No problem.
Anna Grace looking all sweet and innocent
Anna and her girlfriends on 1st Communion Day
Anna and one of her best friends. Kinda looks like they're getting hitched.
Anna hangin' with the dudes
Anna's 1st Holy Communion 5-2-10
Anna receiving her 1st Communion 5-2-10
Anna, Phil and Jay 5-2-10
Anna Grace on her 1st Communion Day
Nick waiting in line at his UCONN commencement. He's the very tall guy with the blue shirt. 5-9-10
Nick's UCONN commencement The Gampel Pavillion 5-9-10
Nick with diploma about to have his picture taken. 5-9-10
Nicholas Daniel UCONN grad! 5-9-10
Nick and Felly UCONN graduation 5-9-10
Nick's UCONN graduation with the gang 5-9-10
More pics to come…..
Peace!
Posted by: Paula on May 15th, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Tags: FirstHolyCommunion, moms, UCONN
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Books, How About Some Cheese With That Whine?, Life..., Mommyhood, Roll With It, The Rugrats, Travel
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I’m exhausted. Ya know, I think I’ll take a nap. I really do need one. A big, long one. Not only is it the kids spring break this week but I have so much going on within the next 6 weeks….WELCOME SPRING! MaMaZina Mag’s spring issue just launched this week and you must order your copy today, it is ROCKIN’ the house! I’m also preparing for my daughter’s First Communion which is next week. She’s got her fancy, puffy, lacy white dress, white shoes and headpiece and she is ALL SMILES. Then my second son, Nick, is graduating from UCONN with a BS in Structural Biology. Cool. So I’m planning our trip to Storrs for Mother’s Day weekend cause the school set graduation on Sunday, May 9th, MOTHER’S DAY. So much for my swedish message. Son number three, Phillip, graduates from high school the first week of June and then a few days later we head to his college orientation for a couple days at UMASS Lowell. Hey, another good excuse to do some shopping in Boston!
Since I finished reading Kathryn Stockett’s novel The Help (and how I miss reading this book everyday) I have started to read Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir Eat, Pray. Love. I know, I am only like 3 years behind as I think everyone has read this bestseller, but I’m finally reading it, and loving it. Actually, I want to read this before I see the movie in August. ”I wish Giovanni would kiss me.” That’s like my all-time favorite line :)
Oh, would you look at the time…where’s my book? Time to walk the treadmill for the next hour and read more about this Italian stud Giovanni…
Arivaderchi!
Posted by: Paula on April 19th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: Boston, EatPrayLove, Mamazina, momblogs, moms, Mother'sDay, TheHelp, UCONN, UMASS
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Books, Happy Days, Life..., Mama Rants, Mom Writers/Authors, Mommyhood, The Rugrats, Travel
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I just love the book I’m reading. I want to keep reading, it’s so hard to put down and I’ve been staying up way too late….but I also don’t want the story to end. The Help is Kathryn Stockett’s first novel, and it is excellent. I can easily see this becoming a box office hit at the theaters and I’d be right there in line to purchase my little ol’ ticket. For those of you who have read this novel, don’t you just get a kick out of Minny? And of course, you just have to admire Miss Skeeter for all that she is and all that she has done…I don’t want to tell too much of the story, in case you haven’t read it yet. Well worth your time, and money. A wonderful read!
MaMaZina Magazine’s spring/summer 2010 issue launches in two days! That’s right, April 12th. Please check us out and tell a friend!
Hope ya’ll had a fantastic Easter holiday. We sure did! We celebrated with our five kids and two of their girlfriends in the fabulous city of Boston. We are broke now, but hell, it was worth it!
Here's the gang! Hey kids!
Boys will be Boys! Jay and Nick Museum of Science Boston 4-10
The kids hanging with T-Rex Museum of Science Boston 4-10
Posted by: Paula on April 10th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: Authors, Books, Boston, KathrynStockett, Magazines, Mamazina, moms, momwriters, TheHelp
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Happy Days, Mama Rants, Mommyhood, Music, The Rugrats
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This past weekend I attended a talent show at my sons high school The St Johnsbury Academy. The talent show was the Capstone Project put together by Megan Killeen who happens to be my high school senior son Phillip’s girlfriend. My guys Phil and Jay entered the show with their friend Matt to play two songs that they wrote. Away (for now) and Spicy Sauce. They call themselves Upstream, and they are awesome. Luckily, I sat front and center and brought along my trusty camera. What I didn’t know was that the digital camera was not fully charged. I think you know where I am going with this. I took video at the start where Megan talks about the Performing Arts which leads her to introducing the first act. Then I took video of an incredible performance by two Academy students together singing (while one played the piano) the song “Hallelujah” from the one and only Shrek movie. I was in tears. They were fabulous. The next video taping I took was a violin and piano act. The girl playing the violin was Phil’s friend Sarah, who is very dear to our family. What a beautiful performance. About that time I started getting a tad nervous as my guys act was second to last and the camera’s battery was getting low. I was able to record most of their first song and then the camera stopped. Grrrrrrr. I found out later that my guys had another friend tape their performance and it is up on You Tube. I felt much better. I would love to add the recordings of the acts mentioned above, however, my computer is telling me the files are too big and I don’t see them up on You Tube. I’m so happy I was able to attend this event. So much talent right here in our little ol’ town. Amazing.
Here’s Upstream performing Away (for now) and Spicy Sauce
Matt Wynn on Electric Guitar and Bass, Phil Schmitt on Bass and Electric Guitar
Jay Schmitt on the Drums Congratulations Guys!
Happy Easter! We are heading to Boston for a long weekend. Until we meet again…
Posted by: Paula on March 29th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: Bass, bloggers, Boston, Drums, Easter, guitar, Hallelujah, Mommy Bloggers, moms, performingarts, Shrek, YouTube
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Happy Days, Mommyhood, The Rugrats, Travel
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She’s back…
Yes, I am. And I survived my vacation with the kids for two weeks.
It started out with 2 1/2 days of driving, south, to Florida – from Vermont. We lucked out on the way down and didn’t run into any blizzards, earthquakes or tornadoes. On arrival in SMW at my parents house we ordered some pizza and wings and visited with family that I hadn’t seen in 3 years. Then, we snoozed.
Up early the next morning we (me, my parents and kids) packed up and headed out for Disney. The weather was perfect, we were a car full of happy campers.
We arrived at The Wilderness Lodge and the kids couldn’t wait to check out the place. We had two rooms on the 4th floor and queen size beds. The boys were happy to see bigger beds — and a snack lounge. If you’ve never checked out The Wilderness Lodge before, you really should on your next trip to Disney. It’s way cool (especially The Whispering Canyon Cafe)!
Over the next several days we visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, The Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios. We went on rides, saw shows, ate some awesome food (loved The Rose & Crown in the United Kingdom and Bob Marley’s at Universal) and shopped till we dropped!
Anna, Phil, Jay, Papa, Grandma at Epcot in Morocco
A great Celtic band in Epcot that night! 2-10
Breakfast at The Crystal Palace The Magic Kingdom 2-10
Paula, Anna, Mom and Dad Pirates of the Caribbean 2-10
Jay and Phil Magic Kingdom 2-10
Anna Universal Studios 2-10
Anna and JAWS Universal 2-10
Mom and Dad Universal Studios Madagascar 2-10
Universal's Hard Rock Cafe for lunch 2-10
Hard Rock Cafe 2-10
Phil, Jay and Anna at Bob Marley's restaurant Universal Studios 2-10 GOOD food!
Paula and Bob Marley Universal Studios 2-10
On the way back to Vermont, we made a stop in Washington, D.C. So happy we did…
The kids in Washington, D.C. 2-10
The White House 2-10
Washington, D.C. 2-10
Lincoln Memorial 2-10
Jefferson Memorial 2-10
Paula and Tom White House 2-10
Ford Theatre Washington, D.C. 2-10
Ford Theatre Washington, D.C. 2-10
AND my youngest guy, Jay, turned 15 on March 2nd He’s finally taller than his mama :)
Jay's 15! 3-10
Jay's taco bday dinner 3-10
Jay's new skateboard 15th bday 3-10
Our Mamazina spring/summer issue will be launching soon! (Early April) Please come visit us at www.mamazina.com!
Posted by: Paula on March 7th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: BobMarley, Disney, DowntonDisney, Epcot, Florida, Mamazina, moms, MOMSROCK!, Rose&Crown, TheWildernessLodge, UniversalStudios, Vermont, WashingtonDC, WhisperingCanyonCafe
So Phil had his birthday last week (Phil is son #3). His 18th birthday. Here’s the big guy…
Phillip scores an xbox 360 game
Phil's hungry. He wants chocolate.
Phil and Jay
So games, cashola, clothes, Shepherd’s Pie, family and… chocolate….Happy Birthday Phildog!
We recently returned from Phil’s music audition at UMASS this past weekend. Audition, music theory testing and some other test while the rest of us wondered the college. It was all good. Then we headed over to Tony (son #1) and Meghan’s place for a visit. Got a little lost along the way. Damn there’s a lot of traffic during rush hour near Boston. Had a nice visit though, hugs Tony and Meg :)
So excited! Our vacation starts in 5 days. Heading to Florida (driving) with rugrats and taking my parents along to Disney, Universal Studios, etc. the entire trip. Am I nuts?! Sure I am. It will be a blast – and I will be ready for a NO kids vacation come March ;) Stay tuned…
Mamazina Magazine is getting closer to launch date! Please visit us, email us and join our blog. We’d love to hear from you!
Posted by: Paula on February 7th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: Boston, chocolate, Disney, Florida, Mamazina, mom blogger, moms, UMASS, Universal Studios
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Happy Days, Mama Rants, Mommyhood, The Rugrats
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What’s today….January….19. OK, a good day, but holy crap. The month is half gone. Where have I been? Sick, that’s where. And it has sucked, big. That is the sickest I have been in ages. I started not feeling well December 20th, ended up in the ER on the 26th pumped with antibiotics, have struggled to have any energy and an ounce of feeling groovy until today, January 19th. So today I ended up at the doc’s for a follow up as I am still not 100%. Sick for 4 weeks. Really sucks.
So I’m back. And working non stop on the production of Mamazina Magazine’s spring 2010 issue! You are gonna love the cover feature, not to mention all the rest, OK.
A bit of good news…I’m going to Disney World in February dude!!! Of course I’m taking the rugrats along, and my parents too :) We’ll be gone for 2 weeks and I am so ready. Who else is going to Disney this year? I can’t wait to have my picture taken with….Captain Jack Sparrow ;) Then on the way back a stop in Washington, D.C. where I have never ever been. Would love to meet Michelle Obama, wouldn’t that be cool?
Here are some of my favorite holiday pics of my gang. How I love these guys…
The kids Christmas Eve 2009
Anna's new horse shirt
Jay's Keyboard. How this boy can play!
Phillip's new guitar. Play for us Phil!
Nick got a new TV!
Tony's Dad made he and Meghan a wine cabinet for their apartment - Nice!
Phil and Jay's xbox 360!
Posted by: Paula on January 19th, 2010 | No Comments »
Tags: CaptainJack Sparrow, DisneyWorld, Mamazina, MichelleObama, moms, WashingtonDC
Categories: Blah, Blah, Blah, Happy Days, Life..., Mom Writers/Authors, Mommyhood, The Hubby, The Rugrats, Travel
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As I sit here at my computer, munching on salty popcorn and listening to James Taylor sing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I am reminded that, he’s right. Old St. Nick will be schooching down our chimney in one week. Wow. And that reminds me that I need to get my butt in gear and get baking all the fattening goodies that you bet your sweet ass I will be consuming. Yup.
Let’s see, what’s new? Oh, my son, Phillip, the one who we have been traveling all over God’s creation with touring colleges, yea, he’s pretty psyched as he has heard from two of the colleges he applied to so far with acceptances so that is really cool. One in Connecticut and one in Massachusetts and we are one step closer to packing up son number three and saying adios hijo mio!
Mamazina Magazine is rockin’ and come January the team starts production of our spring/summer 2010 issue! You won’t want to miss this! Come visit us at www.mamazina.com to enter our writing contests or submit your poem or essay, you’ve still got time, we’d love to read your work and while there visit our mama blog! Hope you can join us!
Our second grade daughter’s holiday concert is this Monday night. Always entertaining to watch the little tikes up on stage performing for their parents. She’s ready, been ready for the past two weeks. She’s picked out her glittery, velvet dress, tights, shiny shoes and red velvet headband and she has them out on display for all to see here at our home. Her Dad told her the other day that he better see her mouth moving and that he wants to hear her singing if he had to buy her a new glittery, velvet dress and shiny shoes. Good ol’ Dad. He’ll be the one zoom-in videotaping and tearing up the entire concert. Hey, that’s the way it goes.
Our two older sons will be coming home soon for Christmas. Really looking forward to us all being together. Then, yikes, it’s the hubby and I’s 25th anniversary and we’re shipping all the kids to Boston to stay with their oldest brother and his girlfriend….YAY!!!!! And we are off on a much needed vacation, just the two of us. 25 years….amazing.
OK, I’ve eaten this entire bowl of popcorn and James is sweetly singing Auld Lang Syne to me now, it’s time to go. I’ve got a date with a good book tonight ;)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! May your 2010 be the best yet!
Posted by: Paula on December 18th, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Tags: Auld Lang, Boston, Christmas, Conneticut, Happy New Year, mamablog, Mamazina, Massachusetts, moms. James Taylor, Santa Claus, Syne