The Rundown

Saturday was Layne’s birthday. Tuesday was Valentine’s Day. Our addition project is finally rolling. Our toddler didn’t pile drive our baby into the wood floor as often. This Week, you were alright!

Adam: If you know anything about Layne and me, you know that we love Boise. We love downtown Boise and all the great activities and food you can find down there. For Valentine’s Day, my parents gave us a break from the little ones and we took full advantage – hitting up Red Feather for a super-early dinner, then walking down to Happy Fish for a couple bits of sushi, then back down to Fork for the finest butter cake in the city. Three hours of time, three different restaurants, but back in time for bedtime. That’s our city. That’s what I’m wild about this last week.

Layne: I went to Antique World on Saturday. I walked around for an hour and a half and enjoyed almost every minute. Here are some of the things I found.

There is an annex at Antique World – a tiny room labeled “Hot Poppy Vintage Wares” was my absolute favorite; their displays were gorgeous.

I’m still dreaming about that Fire King egg plate.

This pile of vintage wool warmed my heart (see what I did there?).

This Teddy Ruxpin would have come home with me if his mouth would have worked.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I abhor taxidermy – it scares the begeezus out of me. I was just white-girlin’ it up, walking around my neighborhood antique mall when, all of a sudden – right at eye level, out popped this stupid, hundred-year-old, tiny gator all crinkly and stuffed, ready to snap at my face. I shuddered and slid to the right a few feet and shook my head in disgust. That was the only downside to my trip.

Ivy: Sweet Ivy. The pendulum swings fast and high with this almost-two-year-old. The big development this week has been the introduction of the potty. She totally gets the potty. We sit her down on her Minnie Mouse potty seat and she does it! Almost every time we’ve sat her down, she goes potty; we are both so stinkin’ proud of her (tight throat, tiny tears proud). We are also experiencing the special kind of torture that is this emerging independence of hers. Nearly every change in activity is a struggle – especially in public. We are trying to figure out the best way to guide her through this crazy time. Prayers appreciated. And maybe treats. For us. Not her.

Leo: We are starting to incorporate stories into his bedtime routine. He is a wiggly kid so the written word isn’t doing much to hold his attention but there is one/sort of two that are starting to catch his eye. I bought this book from my friend Lisa a couple months ago and I think he likes the big, bright pictures. This book was one of Ivy’s favorites and it seems like Leo is starting to enjoy it as well.

Thanks for reading – it was really nice of you to visit.

-Adam & Layne

 

The Rundown

Oh, friends. The sun is shining again. It was 62 degrees on Thursday. We live in Idaho – all of this is bound to change in the next twenty minutes but, holy handbaskets, watching the snow melt feels like we are King Leonidas and winter is that messenger guy and we are just kicking him right into that bottomless pit. Adios, snowpocalypse.

Adam & Layne – This week, our attention was focused on the possibility of getting started with the foundation laying part of our addition. With the break in the weather, we were able to get started on Thursday! They are likely pouring concrete this afternoon and we are seriously off to the races after that. Adam had to jackhammer the back steps away yesterday; it took him something like seven and a half hours to demolish them. Here’s a little peek into the progress – we’ll write up the full update next week.

Also – my birthday is around the corner (hence the birthday flowers from my Ma at the top of the post) and Adam scored me the coolest present. I’m mildly obsessed with Polaroid photos. Enter this sweet little Instax printer.

These little pictures make my day.

Ivy & Leo: These two are enamored with what is happening in our backyard. Ivy’s window faces the backyard and, when the two of them stand on her bed, they can see everything. So they watch. And watch. And watch.

If they knew that, at the end of this project, they would have a new playroom – I bet they’d be even more pumped.

That’s the rundown. We’ll catch you back here next week with lots of photos/videos of the project!

-Layne

The Rundown

Friends, we are three days away from digging up our backyard to pour our new foundation for the addition. We were supposed to begin the week after Thanksgiving and then things got weird weather wise. We. Are. Pumped. We are so ready to get started with the big stuff.

We’re also pumped about the following…

Adam: Always with the photo stuff. But this one is a gem and I thank my lucky stars that I have it every time I use it. Super fast and a little wide angle, this lens is just a thing of beauty. It doesn’t come off of one of my X-T1’s unless I’m doing a portrait session, and even then, it’s a great little lens that is light as a feather even though it performs better than some 3lb lenses I’ve owned in the past. Nearly all the pictures I post of these babies and my wife come through this piece of glass. It’s pricey but has been worth every penny.

Source: B & H Photo

Layne: The Preemptive Love Coalition is an organization committed to easing the burden on those in the middle of crisis. I was introduced to their organization because of their work in Syria. They released these shirts. I really want one. My birthday is coming up. That is all.

Source: Preemptive Love Coalition

Also, I’ve had the song Big Yellow Taxi running through my mind all week. While browsing YouTube, the rendition I loved the most was Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock performance. Her mannerisms are so endearing. The video below is of both her Big Yellow Taxi performance and Both Sides Now. Enjoy.

Also, the little hammer in the photo at the top of the post was a Christmas present from my sister-in-law. It’s adorable, right? It’s gotten a lot of use in the last couple weeks.

Ivy: The iPad. We got this case and it’s been a lifesaver because Ives drags this thing around like a caveman. Anyway – her grasp on technology shouldn’t surprise me as Adam and I use our technology a lot. Still, her ability to navigate her way from app to app (except when the iPad is in “Guided Access Mode” – praise) blows me away.

These two have started taking baths together and this sight is enough to make our hearts explode over and over again.

Leo: Leo’s racked up nine months on this Earth as of this week. Adam and I have observed that he is so agile. He has laser-like precision when shoving food in his mouth and when trying to swipe things out of our hands. This baby!

We look forward to inundating you all (hi, mom!) with photos of brand spankin’ new cement in the coming weeks. For now, go and have yourselves a great weekend!

-Adam & Layne