*what have we been doing while we have NOT been updating our blog? lots and lots:
ripping up disgusting carpet on the stairs ----->
pulling the carpet up was the most challenging part in my mind. you really have to yank on it, and it can cause you to fall backwards down one-seventeen stairs if it ever does give.
pulling the nine million staples and nails out was not nearly as bad, although we did have to take turns with the "good" pliers, as we have one pair of needlenose only. the other ones were about as useful as my fingers on their own.

and here is a shot of the lovely yellow tile that we found underneath the carpet and underlay. yes, that is some sort of FUR on top of the lovely yellow tile. i had a lot of fun pulling that stuff up. far easier than pulling carpet and it made a great sckooching sound everytime you got a good piece off!

...and here is what the stairs currently look like, although i did start sanding last week. using the sander is a lot of fun actually, but it makes a terrible noise (this is UNLIKE the great sckooching noise...don;t be confused!). if i can figure out how to add video i will include an audio sample of the sander in action.

and what about these last two pics? they are the first two holes that we have knocked in our wall. hurrah for just-going-for-it!