Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Our beautiful new bathroom!

Kurt and I took advantage of the empty nest we had for a little while and completely renovated the hall bathroom. We ripped out everything except the bathtub and the tile around it. It took a lot of time and hard work, but it was so worth it!!

The before- a dated, functional, but not pretty bathroom.
ImageThe gutted bathroom- pulling up the old linoleum and scraping off all the glue was quite a chore
Image Kurt putting down the first of the tile. He got pretty sick of doing all the tilework, but he had a great assistant!!
Image The finished bathroom- a big change!
Image The new vanity and mirror
ImageNext I want to redo our bathroom and replace all the hall tile, but I think I'd better wait awhile before I bring it up- right now the mere sight of tile makes Kurt run screaming the other way!

My new front yard!

The front yard was looking sad with overgrown bushes and dead or nearly dead rose bushes. It was time to take some action! So we pulled out all the old bushes and had all the old brick planters and concrete walk torn out. We had beautiful stamped concrete put in and even added a new porch. I have had fun picking out lots of pretty plants and some new trees that will grow up and give us much needed shade. Now all we have to do is put up our new house numbers and add some new rock and the front yard will be all done! I'm not sure our missionaries will recognize our house when they come home next year!!

Image Our new entryway with an added small porch and a beautiful new front door

ImageThe new stamped, curved walkway and concrete planters with all my new colorful plants. The planter on the left was expanded by about a foot to make our new porch and give me lots of room for my pretty flowers.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

San Marcos in a Chili's?

ImageA couple of weeks ago I went out to lunch at Chili's with Jennie and her mom. As I'm sitting in the booth waiting for them I look up and see a sign that's posted on the wall in the waiting area. I couldn't believe my eyes!!! It was a sign for the San Marcos chili cook-off!! Before Kristi started serving there a few months ago I'd never heard of San Marcos Texas!! So of course we had to get a picture to send her!!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

A Great Trip to Disneyland!!

ImageOn the way to Cali!!

ImageYep, I get the front seat!!

ImageThe four of us in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle

ImageKurt, Keith, and me after getting wet on Splash Mountain

ImageKeith demonstrating his driving abilities!

ImageShould we bail 'em out or leave 'em there?

ImageSaying hi to Mickey!

ImageHaving lunch at our favorite out of the way spot- Whitewater Snacks

ImageWaiting in line for the new Toy Story Ride - modeling the newest in 3-D eyewear!!

ImageThe lovebirds at the Blue Bayou

ImageHaving a yummy dessert at Blue Bayou and watching the Pirates of the Caribbean boats go by


Kurt and I took Keith and Sarah to Disneyland for their 1st Anniversary. It was so much fun!! The ride over was full of "Name That Tune" 80's style. Kurt is really good at it and beat both Keith and Sarah combined!! I couldn't play because it was my ipod playlist (that would be cheating!!). Keith got carsick on the way there which wasn't fun, but by the next morning he was fine as we hit the park! Kristi had asked us to take a picture in front of the castle and to say "Hi" to Mickey for her. Kevin asked us to ride the Winnie the Pooh ride for him (I know, interesting request!). We had so much fun running around the park all day- the lines were pretty small so nothing was more than a 15 minute wait (with fastpasses) except for the new Toy Story ride. I even got to ride Tower of Terror and California Screamin' because Keith and Sarah went on them with me- Kurt won't do those. We spent time in Toon Town (which we haven't even been in for a couple of years) and even rode Gadget's Go-Coaster!! Kurt almost couldn't fit his long legs in the tiny coaster car!!
The next day was more of the same. We had dessert at the Blue Bayou which is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's a really neat experience. The park was supposed to close at 10 pm but they extended it an hour because so many people came into the park in the evening. Keith was determined to eke out every last minute of rides so he ran poor Sarah's feet ragged!! They were able to go on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and run over to Pirates just as they were closing the doors. They were the last people on the ride and they got a whole boat to themselves!! What a great way for them to close out their Disney time!
We slept in on Saturday and then went to Downtown Disney for a little while and then the Aquarium. Sarah really liked taking pictures of all the interesting species of fish. After dinner at California Pizza Kitchen (yum!) Keith and Sarah headed back to Downtown Disney to finish their shopping and hang out. Kurt and I decided to pop into Disneyland for a few hours instead (that's the benefit of annual passes!!). Sunday morning we visited with Kurt's aunt and cousins and then headed home in a car that was loaded to the brim!! It was a great trip full of lots of fun times and many great memories!! Now when do we go back???

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Some pictures from Denmark

I know, I haven't posted in a while. I will.... after the new year!!! So, here are a few pictures of my favorite Denmark Missionary. (I will post some pictures of my favorite Texas Missionary on her blog soon too!) I'm so excited to get to talk to both of them on Christmas! I can't think of a better Christmas present!!!
ImageAeldste Kleisler with Yang, Aeldste Meyer, Ray, and Roy
They met the three of them playing basketball in Roskilde and now they've all been baptized! So does that mean that basketball is now a missionary activity?!?!?
ImageAeldste Grover and Aeldste Kleisler in Arhus.
It's getting cold in Denmark!!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Mia Maid Rappelling Adventure

Two weekends ago I went with my Mia Maids on an overnight Stake Camp Out/Rappelling Trip. No, I'm not a camper and I've never been rappelling. But I decided that you only live once!! We had a great time and I ended up bouncing down a 90 foot cliff. I guess I'm becoming a little bit of a daredevil - maybe Kristi's rubbing off on me just a tad!?!

ImageMy girls: Cori, Shaela, Cierra, and Moniek chilling in their tent
ImageThe very ominous looking cliff
ImageHere I come (I know, a very flattering shot!)
ImageI made it!! Can we go again?

Two Kleisler Missionary Plaques!

ImageI finally got both Kevin's and Kristi's missionary plaques up on the missionary bulletin board. They're official now!

ImageSister Kristi A. Kleisler
Texas, San Antonio Mission October 2008 - April 2010

ImageElder Kevin C. Kleisler
Denmark, Copenhagen Mission April 2008 - April 2010