The Disappearing Staircase

The title sounds like a Nancy Drew mystery, doesn't it? Remember the small landing at the top of the stairs? And the thick half wall that wrapped around the opening? GONE! We hated that maze-like layout since we moved in. It's such joy to now have that area as usable space.

The master bedroom door is on the right and
Cole's bedroom door is directly across from it.   

The door is to the boys' bathroom. You can see the narrow pathway around
the stairs by the brown paper held down by blue tape.

This picture shows the awful diagonal cut in the hallway.
The boys' bathroom is on the left and Jay's bedroom door is on the right.

The effect downstairs is just as dramatic! The boys love to go through the old closet door into the dining room.

I was a little worried that going through the laundry room to get to the stairs would feel awkward, but, from the beginning, it seemed completely natural. Moving the stairs has been the most dramatic change. What a transformation!

New Staircase

Our entire remodeling plans depended on whether a staircase would fit in the laundry room. Rob had measured and remeasured, so we were fairly certain it would, but still held our breath as it was being framed.

Here's the laundry room before:

The door farthest right is to a closet. The garage door is open.
The laundry machines are on the right.

Here the machines are on the left with cupboards on the right.
The red room is the half bath.
Through the doorway to the kitchen is the pantry. 

The far wall of the laundry room, opposite the bathroom.
The door to the closet is on the back right.
Washing machine is in the front right corner.

The first step was to open the eaves between the frog (finished room over garage) and the closet off the hallway. In the picture below, the closet is on the left wall. The door at the end is to the frog.

Note especially the wall between the closet and the doorway to the frog.

The small closet.

The closet and wall are gone!
Jay is standing where the closet was, and the eaves are opened.

Next the U-shaped staircase was framed against the far wall in the laundry room.

It fit perfectly!

The door to the closet was removed.
The garage door is on the right.

On the second story, the old closet floor is gone and the stairs are in the eave.

The opening above the stairs is where the closet floor was.

So, you might be wondering what happened to the old staircase.

That will be the next post...

Sunroom

One of the last posts (from 2013!) was from when we had just installed the windows in the sunroom. There were no pictures of the finished room, so here's a shot of the back of the house. Thank goodness we added it to the house, because we've been living in it during this next round of remodeling.

Here's a few shots of the interior.

Now, onto the 2017 remodel of the entire house (except the sunroom).

Welcome to Paper City

Cole and Jay spent many, many hours one weekend creating Paper City in Cole's room. We managed to keep it standing for a few days, then big tornadoes, shaped like my feet, inadvertently cleared a path to the dresser.

Windows! Yay!

Christmas 2012

The boys love decorating for Christmas! As soon as Thanksgiving is over, they're asking to get out the decorations. Actually, what they love is tearing through the storage bins, throwing things everywhere, then playing Legos while I place it all. Despite the chaos, it's fun to see their excitement. 

Picking out the tree is always another chaotic adventure. The rows of neatly arranged trees look like a labyrinth that invites exploring. As soon as we enter, they begin chasing each other. To end the commotion before they crash into a person or tree, I quickly grab the closest one. This year I didn't realize until we got home that it had a distinct tilt to the right. 

The Leaning Tree of Christmas

This was a year when the Moehn side of the family got together for Christmas in Arizona. The boys were excited to see their cousins again and everyone got along well. They especially liked playing with the babies.

All the cousins. It was close to impossible to get them all still for this picture! (Cole, Luc, Sophia, Jay, and Noah.)

Cole and Noah snuggling.

Jay and Sophia dressed for dinner.

We went on a beautiful desert hike.

A big tarantula decided to say hello. He blended into the path so well that we almost stepped on him.

Sunroom Progress

Workers were here the past couple days and we finally had progress on the sunroom! There was one surprise: water pipes in the roof of the jut out. No one could believe it was designed it that way. Now a plumber needs to move them above the ceiling in the family room so we can tear down the jut out. Another delay! We're still hoping to have the room done by Thanksgiving.

View from inside the house.

Looking to the left from in the house.

Looking to the right. The door will open onto the desk.

View from back yard.

Imagine a deck here.

Side view with new HVAC units.

Back to School

The first day of school was fairly uneventful, except that the boys had no school supplies! I thought I had ordered them through a service that has all the gear waiting at the school. I thought wrong. I received two notes and two disgruntled boys at the end of the day. At least the boys themselves were prepared!

I can't believe Cole is a 4th grader.
After this year, he has only one more at the elementary school!

Jay is ready for 2nd grade.

Eager to start!

Growth Spurts

I don't notice the small changes taking place every day as the boys grow, but once in a while I look at them and think, "Holy cow! When did they get so big!"  This evening was such a time, so we got out the yardstick.

Jay grew 2.5 inches this past year (from his thumb to his index finger)! He is now 4 ft 3/4 in and very happy to be tall enough to go down the big slide at the water park. I think his crazy smile is due to his shorts being too small. I hadn't realized he never buttons his pants because they are all too tight. I thought he just didn't take the time.

Cole grew 1.5 inches and is now 4 ft 3 in. Although he still has a couple inches on Jay, they wear the same size. I'd like to put a dresser in the hall and throw all their clothes in it so I can stop trying to sort.

One of Rob's favorite activities is to guess how old the boys will be when they pass me in height. I feel fortunate to be fairly tall. It will be a strange day when I have to look up at them. 

Lego Robbery, directed and produced by Cole and Jay

Cole and Jay went to a fantastic camp last week where they learned to create stop-motion movies.

Grab some popcorn and prepare to be entertained!

Jay Promotes to Red Belt!

Cole's Possible Careers

Written on the back of a Brixx menu when we went out to eat:

1. Judge

2. Author

3. Planetary geologist

4. Police department

5. Detective

6. Lawyer

7. Jury

8. Scientist

9. Artist

10. Explorer

11. Inventor

12. Astronomer

Disney!

We had a great time at Disney World this year. We spent a day at Magic Kingdom, then another at Hollywood Studios. Our hotel was in the All Star Movies Resort and the boys were relieved to stay at the Toy Story complex and not a princess one.

We can't stop for a picture now!

Trapped by the evil emperor Zurg!

Log Ride. Love that Jay is smiling!

The new Star Wars ride was a favorite at Hollywood Studios.

Finally, a family photo at Hollywood Studios!

Jay was selected to be the torch holder at the Pirates of the Caribbean show. He took the role very seriously.