gatorcast from paul smith

Today was a wonderful day.  I was blessed to be the God Father for my new niece Madeline Hoel.   It was a beautiful ceremony at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Miami.   The priest spoke about the heart, love and the importance of family.  He said that the heart was only 1 inch from the umbilical cord and that the heart was at the center and that everything revolves around it.   He asked us to consider the idea that the heart, with Love,  gives balance to life .

Today I felt so much love from my family and wondered how people survived without it.   I hope one day to share with my Goddaughter how wonderful it was to be there with her and all of our family.

The family baptism dress.  This was the 24th baby in the family baptized starting with my mom.

Today was a wonderful day. The boys had two Christmas’s today, one at my sister’s house in Lakes by the Bay and the second at my mom’s house in Cutler Ridge.

It was the 1st time in 21 years that I spent Christmas at home with my family in Miami.  A special thanks to my mom and sister for making everything so wonderful for the boys and I.   My entire family has been great and I truly love each and every one of them.

This afternoon everyone gathered in Homestead at my aunt Roberta’s house for Christmas dinner.

Here we are posing in the front living room.

Here we are playing Family Feud on the Wii

And of course the star of the day, Madeline.  It is her 1st Christmas.

Lila, Mary, Mary, Madeline and Rosemary

Yesturday I went down to Miami to be with my sister Rosemary and her husband Rob as they welcomed their daughter Madeline Juliana Hoel into the world.  Here are some pictures at the hospital.  She is just so beautiful!

Last night my family had a party for my aunt Jane in Coconut Grove at my grandmothers house.  We had traditional Cuban food, Arroz Imperial con Pollo, Pork, Black Beans and Rice, Plantains and Yuca.    We all had a great time, especially all of the kids.

Evan, Danny, Billy, Bobby & Cameron in the ’shop’ in the Grove.

Bill

Bob, Jane & Linda

My Grandmother and her grandchildren (missing 6)

My Grandmother and her great-grandchildren (missing 4)

Getting ready to sing “Happy Bithday, Jane”

My Grandmother and her children (missing Joe and Nancy)

My grandmother and her oldest grandson (me).

The redheads, Cameron, Lila and my Grandmother.

The birthday cakes

Last night was the first time in a long time I went out to hear music with my brother and sister.  In fact, none of us cousld recall the last time.   We went to Little Hoolies  near The Falls south of Miami.

Here we are having a great time singing and joking about the band & local “dancers”.

Here is Bob with a good old friend that joined us, Paul.

Bobby and Rose

Rosie and Rob

Julia (Paul’s fiancee), and Christine.

The band rocked and so did Zaida, the lead singer.  After the show she came over and talked with us.�
She is a very good singer and seemed to be a sweet girl.

Paul just sang part of the song.  By the end of the night all of us shared the mic.

Paul and Zaida, the singer of the band Ego.