Oh summer

It has been quite awhile since I last posted. July was a tough month for our family; just a few days after my grandfather passed away, my dad had a stroke. I don't want to go into details here but God was certainly on his side that day and he is doing well now. Losing a grandparent is hard but when something happens to your parents, it really shakes you. Needless to say, we were all happy to put July behind us. 

At the beginning of August, we went on our annual family vacation. This year we went up to New Hampshire and spent a week relaxing by the lake. It was just what we all needed after a rough month. Gabriella loved being in the same house as everyone and we all had a wonderful time. 

We also did a few things around the house this summer; Gianni built a fence (with the huge help of Diane, Alex, and some friends!), and we made our mostly unused dining room into a play room. 

The dining room is in the center of the house and had become a dumping ground for anything and everything. It was a waste of space so we decided to go with our guts and make it work for us. It was honestly one of the best decisions. Having that "aha" moment and realizing that one day it can be a dining room again but we need to make it work now was a great moment. Our home feels like a better fit for us now which is s great feeling. 

I'm glad to be back blogging and will do a full Gabriella update soon! She's become quite the toddler! 

xo,

Mary