More Pictures of Erie, Pa

When we were at the mall yesterday, the clouds just looked like we could touch them. The high yesterday was 66degrees. The warmest Dec 27 since 1932. Then today, it was down to 32 again I don't know if you can see the frog in the middle of the picture by the window to the right of the flag pole

The snow melted and now there are just pools of water all over the ground This was almost to grandview street just a little ways from our new member Kelly

This is Dad in front of Kelly's house. No snow, just poodles of water

Yes, this is green grass, soon to be snowed on again!! Can you believe this weather??

More water standing in the yards when this freezes it will be a nice skating pond

This is Alicia Hunsaker, daughter of the 2nd counselor in Bishopric

This is SisterHunsaker

This is Brother Nielson, Young Men president

Christmas 2008

Here is Santa Dad, with all the stockings along the coutch, waiting for the missionaries to arrive. We thought the sisters would be the last to come, but they were the first and a great surprise.This, of course, is our little tree with the presents beside it. The one present I was most interested in was the one from LLBean because I had no idea who sent it. Come to find out that that wonderful Marleenee had sent Elder Dad and I some warm, cozy slippers!! Oops, I deleted it, but here are the elders getting food from the table!! Sister Thompson (from California) on the far left, then Elder Goutcher, Zone leader Langford and G's comp Elder DeYoung

This is one of the Walkers--those who walk in their area--Elder Ammon Evans

Here is Elder Dad, doing his thing--cooking cheeze eggs, bacon and sausage and stirring a big pot of hot chocolate

This is Santa Goutcher with his stocking Elder Evans in the foreground

Looks a little lonely--Elder Johnson (he'll be transferred, after 10-1/2 months here) next week

Elder Langford and Elder Rich

There was a box labled from the tooth fairy. It was from DeYoung to Goutcher. The hat, the uke, a "dinosaur egg" stone, his camera, all things De young had wrapped for Goutcher to unwrap. It was quite funny

This is Sis Wolfgramm in front and Sis Thompson holding up the tie the Zonies gave to each of us. I thought that was cute!!

Sister Thompson finds her orange!!

Here is Elder rich with his hulla girl. She has a face on both sides thus two faced and a cone for legs, over which is the green grass skirt. (apparently they send this around to the elders, from one apartment to another and it is Rich's turn)

Hope you can see "hula girl"

Goutcher also has on a biking hat that was also previously owned by Goutcher

On the screen is "Its a wonderful life, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed

Elder Goutcher with his uke and the velly pletty Hawaiian miss

Sister Thompson taking pictures

Elder Dad, when they had all gone home, just resting in front of the telly. It was a fun morning, but tiring and you all know Dad!!

Our "white Christmas" baptisms

This is Bro Vikari and Brother Hunsaker. Bro Vikari conducted and presided at the baptism. They were representing the bishopric.

This is our "blind" convert, Kelly McCammon. Elder Riley baptized Kelly. Before he was baptized, he asked if he could be the first one as he did not want to be baptized in water with the sins of others in it.

This is Jessie Simpson. On the left is Elder Johnson and on his right is Elder Evans Jessie is holding his 21 month daughter

On the left, is Brother Brough, who baptized Jessie

Kelly and Elder Lindblom

Elder Mitchell, Kelly, Elder Riley, Sister and Elder Lindblom

Sister Lindblom, Kelly, Elder Riley (who baptized Kelly) and Elder Lindblom

Elder Brough, Elder Evans, Kelly, Elder Mitchell, Ricardo Lopez, Elder Riley, Ricardos brother, Jessie Simpson and Elder Johnson

Elder Mitchell, Kelly, Ricardo, Elder Riley

This is Kelly, Matt Nupp (who introduced Kelly to the missionaries)

Ricardo, and Brother Hunsaker

Opening song: Come Follow Me--hymn 116--accompanied by Sister Wilkerson

Opening Prayer: Elder Mitchell

Speaker: Baptism by Sis Thompson and Sis Wolfgramm

Baptismal service

speaker on Holy Ghost: Elder Riley

WElcoming to the ward--Bro Vikari

Closing song--Let the Holy Spirit Guide hmn 143

Closing prayer Elder Evans

Sister Hinkler and Sis Parco made refreshments (Bro Parco is our WArd Mission Leader)

A ride around Erie, Pa

This is going to be a tour of Erie. Just about a mile from our apartment, is the post office. See that little black spot in front of the building?? Well, that is Dad going in to mail some letters.

When we go down Peach Street a few miles we see this ball. That is right at Cherry Street, where we turn to go up to the ward building.

This is ice that formed on the truck. No! we did not scrape it off, but as the day went on, it did melt

I thought this would make a good picture with all the trees covered with snow

Now, when you see that 25 mile per hour sign, don't think that we go over it, because we do not. When the roads are slushy, snowy and slick, we do not speed!!

You see the road?? That is ice under the snow, so you know why we are cautious travelers.

I also liked this picture of the trees with snow on them!! And yes, we are still on the road up to the church. See that hill up ahead??

Yup, more ice and snowy roads!! This was taken on Monday morning, the 22nd on our way up to the ward building for our district meeting of missionaries.

We ease up to the stop lights so we can get enough traction as to now smash into the car ahead of us.

What?? More snow, you say!!

Yup, there is a school bus up ahead. The kids last day of school, here was the 23rd.

We caught up to the bus!!

When we got to the church parking lot we saw the three cars driven by missionaries, parked this way, so we just pulled in back of them. I know the parking lot was just to icy to try to get into a parking place

OOps, this should have been before the parking lot. This is just before we made our left turn into the parking lot of the church

Oops, this is the last right we take before we head up the hill to the chapel.

This is sister Nielson, she takes care of the cleaning of the building and usually does it on Thursday, but that was to be Christmas day, so she was there on Monday when we had our District meeting.When I went into the ladies room, the water was not running. I think it was frozen. She checked it and took care of the problem.

This is the last of the meeting. You notice the car in the foreground is parked another way?? Well, wizenheimer Riley parked in front of the other cars to block them in, but the other district one by one got out of the parking lot. A joke on Riley!!!

Just wanted to see if you recognize the furniture?? The room on the right is the Relief Society room

This is the couch. Does it look familiar to anyone?? The door to the right is to the bishopric office

I guess I told you we went to the Mexican restaurant for our anniversary. This is the entrance to Canelo's

This is the Mexican restaurant Dad and I went to for our Anniversary It was pretty good considering. WE decided we would probably go back again but found one a little closer to our house, which we wished we had known that day as the holiday traffic was terrible as was the weather and road conditions.

This is me, look at the plate of enchilada, taco and beans!!

Dad got enchiladas and rice and beans

Dad looking at the menu. Check out the pinata on the right!!