Chair Redo

Sometimes I get crazy ideas. Sometimes those crazy ideas turn out okay. We got some chairs from a friend who was moving. I've been wanted comfortable chairs for our library room for a long time. It was really a win/win for everybody. They were both hand me downs that were hand me downs. One was green, and the other had a beige slip cover.

I enjoyed the chair, and would have been quite content until, while wandering through the Goodwill, I saw a big roll of upholstery fabric. Upon finding out this whole roll was only $5, I knew that I would bring the fabric home and do something. Looking at the projects I needed to do that took fabric, I realized that this fabric would be perfect to redo the chair in the slip cover! I had at least a dozen pinterest pin on the topic, so I could totally do this, right?

I pulled off the cover and found this stained yellow fabric. (The picture has the back of the chair in the new fabric, and the rest is the original.) I had a very satisfying time getting started pulling out staples. After finishing the back, I had a very sleepless night realizing that perhaps the $5 roll would not be enough fabric. Oops. After measuring and realizing I needed more, and several different trips to several different fabric stores, I found a coordinating fabric to supplement.

After thinking about giving up in the middle several times and help from Daniel with hard parts, we had a finished project.

Kite flying

We had a beautiful breezy spring day on a Monday so we decided to try out the kite Grandpa bought us. Unfortunately, the wind died down as we packed up to go fly our kite! We had fun catching a random breeze here and there though. (Even if we weren't the best kite flyers)

Ella Says the Cutest Things

Ella had a couple really cute things she said recently:

Ella's "Little Buddy":
Ella has been learning about underwear. Her favorite stuffed friend, Pooh Bear, wanted to wear underwear after nap time. She sat down with Pooh and reassured him that diapers were perfect for watching a show and that he would be so comfortable. She comforted him by patting him and saying "It'll be okay Little Buddy." She is going to be a great big sister to the Little Buddy coming in June.

What is that sound?
Ella was playing outside and heard something. She put her hand up to her ear and said "What's that sound?" She hasn't quite figured out how to put her hand behind her ear though. Which makes me smile a little every time.

Mailbox Surprises

Ella decided to send a note to cousin Ellie! (She selected the card herself.)

Ella also got a card from Grandma and Grandpa. She loved it so much she put it up on her shelf in her room.

Since watching a Daniel Tiger episode she has taken to decorating envelopes for people she loves. They all say the same thing. "Dear _____ This heart is for you. Love _______" (Insert the name of recipient on the lines)

And Baby Larsen is...

Closet Redo

After our pile of coats and jackets at the bottom of the stairs multiplied (6 pairs of shoes and as many coats? There are only 3 of us!), I decided that we needed to make our coat closet more functional so we would use it.

We put a shoe rack in the bottom, and bought some coat hook racks to hang our coats on instead of the standard bar and hanger method.

It seems so spacious! We have room on our shelves above! We could put a hanging stuff holder on the back! It is amazing!

Mommy Goes Away (For the Weekend)

In a first, Mommy went away for the weekend. I needed to go to my Grandma's funeral, and it seemed impossible to pull off pregnant with a toddler in tow. The plan was hatched that I would leave early on Friday and come back in the afternoon on Sunday.

I tried to plan lots of fun surprises for Ella and Daddy while I was away. After leaving on an early flight, I was excited to see this cute video on my layover! Nothing makes you miss your toddler more than seeing them being cute and not having them nearby to do something un-cute to spoil the image.

I may have forgotten to do the laundry before I left...  but she picked out the outfit herself. 

One of Ella's favorite surprises was her new "cat house." The day before I left a neighbor posted on the neighborhood facebook page: "I'm leaving tons of toddler/preschool toys on the curb. I want them gone before my kids are home from school. What is left is going to get donated." We brought home bags of things, (Mari Kondo is cringing at the thought of me picking up bags of things on the curb. :P) The winner was definitely the tent/cat house. 

We prepared Ella the best we could for Mom going away. She seemed particularly excited at the thought of seeing the Thinkery! I understand that it was a hit! They also enjoyed the warm weather to visit the park. 

I had a quick, productive trip. It was good to see my family, and it was even good to have a little time away from my full time job.;) It was also good to get back to my happy family.