I took a little break from blogging last week so I could devote all my attention to moments like this one while my brother and his family were visiting. I told the girls that Hannah liked silly faces and noises, so they started jumping onto the bed and saying 'Boo!' to entertain her. So cute. The break wasn't planned, I just let it happen and I'm glad I did.

Unfortunately it was windy and rainy for most of their visit, but everyone made the best of it and we crammed in some fall activities wherever the weather would allow. Mostly it was just nice to spend time together, since we don't get to see each other nearly enough (and as great as Skype is, it can't possibly compete with real hugs and kisses from my nieces). There was also something special (and kind of crazy) about seeing my family's next generation together. Being so close in age, I can already imagine how much fun they're going to have together.

I'll be back with some house-related updates this week, but here are a few photos from last week :)

I want to offer a HUGE thank you to everyone who stops by this blog. Your support and kind comments mean so much to me! I'm going to be taking a little blogging break over the next couple of weeks to enjoy the holidays with my family and friends, and to work on a few projects I can't wait to share with you in 2012. I will be sharing a few updates on Twitter, so make sure you find me there.

  I received a card from a friend recently that I think says it best...MERRY EVERYTHING!!

xo Amelia

It's funny how life works sometimes. I spent Saturday celebrating a good friend's marriage and the growth of her family. On the same day, my family lost one of its most important members when my grandmother passed away. I have lots of happy memories of my Nana, and Adam and I will be travelling to Massachusetts tomorrow to celebrate her life with the rest of my family. That means the blog will be quiet this week, so thanks in advance for your understanding.

I haven't posted in a week, but I've got a good excuse - Adam and I got hitched on Saturday! I'm working on a post with all the details (i.e. lots of photos), but for now I'll just say that it was, literally, the best day of my life (I've been watching a lot of Parks and Recreation lately).

(Photo by Chelle Wootten Photography)

I'm off to Boston for a few days to hang out with some girlfriends from college and celebrate my upcoming wedding. That means the blog will be quiet for the next few days, but I've got lots of fun projects to share when I get back. See you next week!

Hi guys,

You've probably noticed that I haven't posted anything in awhile. There's a lot going on in my personal life right now, so I've had to take a short break from blogging. The reality of having a full-time job and a part-time volunteer gig means that I can't post here as often as I'd like (and I can't transform my house that quickly either). The good news is that I've got lots of DIY home improvement projects on the go, which means that I'll have lots of updates to share with you soon. So please bear with me as I figure out how to fit this whole blogging thing into the rest of my life.

Love,

Amelia xox