slipcover project + Kate's new play area

Naturally, after being trapped indoors for 6 straight days, there were projects getting started and completed in our house.

I made 2 slipcovers and 3 scarves! The scarves were not photo-worthy, but I thought I'd show Kate's new play area.

If you've been to our house, you know how our downstairs works. There's a kitchen, living room, and 2 places to eat. We hardly ever used the breakfast area. We decided this would be a better space for Kate's stuff, especially since the amount of stuff continues to grow. Here's a rare moment using the table that was there. We decided to move it to the attic storage.

And here's our new open play area!! Yay! Kate loved it. From the moment we put the rug down, she started running around in circles in there. I got these 2 chairs from my parents - they belonged to my great-grandmother. We looked at getting them reupholstered, but even with comparing quotes - it was still going to be about $400 (not bad, but not how we want to spend $400). I decided to tackle slipcovers.

I thought this would be the most frustrating project ever, but it was really simple. I used freezer paper to make a pattern of the fabric I needed. Then I cut out the fabric giving a good inch all the way around..

I put the patterns on the fabric all at once to try to get the most out of my yardage. I only used 6-1/2 yards (I bought 7 yards - it cost about $40. What a money saver!).

Then I pinned all the pieces together on the chair using pins.. and then I took it to the sewing machine using the pins as my guide.

Finished slipcover! I was going to add cording or a trim at the bottom, but James said they looked just fine as is. I decided I got pretty lucky that this was a success, so instead I finished the other one and we looked outside at the snow instead.

I still may add a pleated trim in the same fabric at the bottom... but I'll figure out new pillow covers first.

I took Kate to daycare for the first time this week, and I went to the office for about 4 hours. The roads were still tricky in some areas, our neighborhood being the worst. I know our car went horizontal across the road in the one icy patch... It was so scary!! Kate said, "whooo!" Hopefully this will all be gone in a few more days. Be safe, Atlanta drivers. :)

The Cold Snow

Kate has learned the words "cold" and "snow". We use those words a lot these days!

For those of you that live elsewhere, Atlanta has been covered in snow and ice for days and days.

This was Monday. We took Kate out. She said "COLD!"

She wasn't a huge fan. She wanted me to pick her up, and when I asked her if she wanted to go inside, she said, "Yeahhhhhh"

Tuesday, we got some sun for a little while, and then low temps again. Everything froze over.

This was the day we should have gotten out in the car - before the ice.

You can see our neighbor's car across the street.. they worked for over an hour to clear a path to get out. They were nice enough to bring us some eggs and bread from the grocery store (notice our new gate, too!! Now Kate can safely play on the front porch this spring).

There's the ice!! I had a strong urge to lick this ice, but contained myself.

Wednesday was complete ice everywhere.

It was quite pretty.. the glossy shininess of it.

I had to snap some photos before dark on Wednesday.

There's our icy driveway. Not. going. anywhere.

Today (Thursday), we finally ventured out. We were on day SIX of being in the house. I went out on Sunday for an hour, but other than that, we've been in since Saturday.

Talk about cabin fever. It actually felt a lot like maternity leave!!

It wasn't too bad today - the sun came out and melted some of the ice away. We did hit some icy patches on the way to 5 Guys (had to get a cheeseburger!!), but it was manageable. We held our breath and kept going. We also went to Lowes to get some sand, but of course they were out. Everyone seems to be out of everything right now since there have been no truck deliveries. Hopefully we will start getting back to normal tomorrow. Emory will open at noon, and Kate's daycare opens at 11. It will be a balmy 45 degrees!! :)

New Year's at the Johnson House

This New Year's (like last), we hung out with Elizabeth and Michael and their son Whitley.

We had a great time catching up, eating and playing Apples to Apples after the kids were sleeping.

Kate and Whitley enjoyed hanging out - Whitley showed Kate the new chairs that he likes to sit in.

They also shared each other's toys and went around the house.

New Year's Day, we said our goodbyes and hugged. They were so cute!!

Christmas wrap up

We had a wonderful Christmas.

We still aren't finished, but on a break for now. :)

Kate had her Christmas outfit. We had to distract her to get those shoes on. We went to my office Christmas party at Tom's house. It was fun, and Kate liked playing with the other kids.

I believe this was before we went to my friend Kim's party.

such a daddy's girl!!

We went to my family's Christmas at my aunt and uncle's in Auburn. Here's the little cousins playing together!

Grace and Kate had a lot of fun.

We also traveled to Lexington, and we had to have the right shoes on before we could go..

Goodness gracious, these shoes. Every time I turn around, she's wanting to put shoes on or take shoes off. :)

I could have picked a better photo without the camera strap, but blogger is being very difficult tonight!!! Sorry.

We got together with Mel, Lisa, Jennifer and Melissa in Lexington. Kate had a ton of gifts to open!

She started getting into it more as we went. Everyone was so sweet to do Kate's gifts first!

Whee! Kate decided to make a game of falling back onto aunt Jen. Over, and over and over!

Jen said, "we're bonding!!"

We also saw Lanndyn before coming back to Atlanta, but alas... no photos to share. :(

On Christmas day, we were at home. It was very relaxing. It was a normal day for Kate - she still doesn't know what's going on. (I should enjoy this, right?)
In fact, I even found our little santa in the toilet on Christmas morning!!!

Kate had been taking Santa away from his table all month (we even found him riding in the mini bus with the little people toys), but I didn't expect this. Poor santa.

We did a good bit of napping and TV watching.

My parents joined us for lunch and more present fun! My dad kept telling Kate to give Elmo something to drink.. he was thirsty.

There you go Elmo, drink up.

My parents had to leave to avoid the snow. Snow on Christmas was awesome though!

And now we are in the 3rd snow of the season. When will this stop?! It's really pretty, but I'm ready to leave the house now.