We all know, and we’ve all heard, the stories of grandparents and how they actually think they can “spoil” their grandchildren in any way, shape, time or fashion.
Who do they think they are, anyway?
(Oh, wait.  That’s right.  I am one.)
And I’m of the not-so-humble and categoric grandparent opinion that the rite of passage into grandparenthood [...]

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A year ago today, Caroline Patricia was born a beautiful baby angel into the life of my dear and precious friend Bernadette.  The earth stopped spinning.  Light was extinguished. The world became silent.
The grief at the loss of Bernadette’s first grandchild was, and still is, unthinkable.  Caroline danced inside her Mommy for all the moments [...]

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Barry’s birthday was one of the nights that Barry and I enjoy most of all.
A celebration. All the kids. All the grandkids.
And an angel.
It has been rainy and unseasonably cool in New England this week, but Barry’s “back deck” birthday party went beautifully well. It didn’t rain. It was warm enough [...]

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“Hmmm”… I was thinking this morning while standing in line for a coffee at my local Dunkin’ Donuts. There were lots of people, most standing alone. But right behind me were two women who looked to be in their 30’s. (I will call them “young” women!) One was talking about how [...]

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Jake graduated from pre-K today… and as I watched this little-guy-who-is-now-suddenly-overnight-a-BIG-guy celebrate this wonderful event, I couldn’t help but think of how he has gloriously enriched the lives of his Grandpa and me and our entire family.
This is the story of Jacob Adam Couto.
Jake arrived in this world a bit earlier than expected, while Barry [...]

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This morning, Audrey came to my home bright and early to get lots of work done… like 7:00 am early. Matt was doing breakfast and pre-school transportation for William and Alex, and Benjamin and Henry (still in jammies!) came to Grandma and Pop-up’s with Audrey.
The Audrey/Jane/Sharon to-do list work began in earnest while Benjamin and [...]

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Today, Barry and I had the great pleasure of attending Grandparents’ Day at our granddaughter Taylor’s school. The grandparents were treated to a magnificent concert of violins and singing first, and then we accompanied our granddaughters to their classes, library, computer room, science room, Spanish room, music room, outside reading and reflecting gardens, and [...]

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Barry and I are on our 3rd day of babysitting for Benjamin (2) and Henry (10 1/2 months), with help from Auntie Janie, too!
This morning, Benjamin’s voice woke us up at 5:30. That would be AM. The hushed whisper, “Gramma. Gramma,” alerted me to dawn as Benjamin touched my face.
“Hi, Honey,” I [...]

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While the cats (aka Mommy & Daddy) and brothers are at Disney World with the mice…
Grandma & Pop-up are having our own brand of fun!
Leaving jammies on all day long, and Christmas jammies at that. And rocking Benjamin to sleep outside on a sunny deck.

Letting the baby play with Pop-up’s BlackBerry.

Washing and drying favorite [...]

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I’m not a dirty girl.
Well, I do have a totally dirty mind… but I love CLEAN things.
I love clean cars. Clean counters. Clean bathrooms. And especially while cooking or gardening, I love a clean environment, and I clean as I go.
So yesterday provided a bit of a challenge for me… a Grandma [...]

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