75th Birthday Parties

 On Friday, Sept. 15th the staff of the Mission office surprised us with a fun birthday lunch for Elder Smith ... you only have a 75th birthday once in life!

 Sister Heiselbetz bought salads and these yummy meat pies, and made a delicious carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

 Meat and potatoes in delicious bread casings - reminds me a little of meat patties in Jamaica.

 After work we went with Elder and Sister Heiselbetz to a Mexican restaurant they had gone to before --- not quite what we were used to - but pretty good and lots of fun.

 We walked around downtown and this is a famous old Church - we see it on postcards, etc.

View from our apartment - some wonderful 'old' Russian houses surrounded by high rise apartments!

Novosibrisk - downtown

 View of the city from our living room window.  There is an elementary school right behind our building and Sis. Heiselbetz said on the first day of school - all the children bring flowers to their teacher ... the parents and grandparents walk them to school and it is like a floral parade!

 Sister Heiselbetz getting into the mission van to take us shopping.

 Crossing over one of the bridges in Novosibirsk - see the green electric trolley?  so fun!

 Statues in Lenin Square - way larger than life!  These depict Russian soldiers.

 Lenin himself.

 Russian workers...this was my favorite.

 The mission office.

 Beautiful picture of the Savior in the Mission Office.

 The Office elders and the Assistants to the Presidents ...real nice young men.

 Elder Heiselbetz in front of the clocks showing the time in all seven time zones of our mission!  It is huge - and beautiful.

 Shopping was fun - wonderful large stores and lots to choose from - eggs come in 10's not a dozen.

And they are all orange!  and good!!  I made eggs, hashbrowns and toast, oj for Dad's 75th Birthday breakfast.

More of our apartment

Our living room ... big TV that we haven't turned on and might not!  Couch is a futon so someone can stay with us - nice to have a rug and another computer desk.

 Office space - we will do a lot of work from home - looking forward to that! Note big drying rack, fan and ironing board in the background.

 Our bedroom...when the building is announced to be built, people purchase apartments - then decorate them how they want.  No built in closets - just the cupboard kind - one on each end.

 Large bathroom off the bedroom - deep tub!

 What is this you ask?  I'll tell you!  It has warm water flowing in the pipes and it is always warm to...

 hang up your towel!  So nice to have a warm towel waiting for you!  Reminded me of the car seat warmers some of you kids have.

 The other smaller bathroom..off the hallway.  Pretty blue tile.

Small shower in the small bathroom.

Our Apartment

 Elder Smith in front of our Building - 20 stories high... we live on the 14th floor, the Office Couple on the 8th floor.  We can walk to the mission office and shopping.

 Our hallway - kitchen to the right, then front room, office at the end, our bedroom on the left - big bath in it, small bath off the hallway left then front door.

 Our keys - quaint!

 Front door with tables for shoes, boots, and slippers.  Notice the pass along card ... so each time we leave we can recommit to doing the Saviors work.

 Kitchen - door in back leads to a storage area - balcony space.

 Washer and dish washer - micro wave - we feel very blessed to be able to live here.

 Cupboards open up - Sister Heislbeltz said that was Europeon - I wouldnt know!

See how small the washer is?  we're just happy to have it!  Drying rack and ironing board in the office room.

Getting there....

 This is the large airplane we flew from JFK New York to Moscow !

 Waiting in New York.

 The meal we had on route .... this was dinner, then about 7 hours later we got breakfast!  so the sun go down from the air - and come up!

 Landing in Moscow... pretty forests all around.

 Looking a little like we had flown for parts of three days!!!

The wonderful office couple - Elder and Sister Heiselbetz's - they have been so much help to us.

More Family Pictures

Here are all the wonderful people who came to our Farewell Dinner Party - wish everyone else could have been there...so happy to talk with, hear from, or see on face time everyone else!

 Grandpa and Grandma and the Fairbanks grand kids!

Adding Lindsey and Dan - Tait is going to grow so much in 18 months ... so will we!

 The Mortensen's - Kate, Joel and Annabelle.

 Kids playing games out on the front lawn.

 Briella playing with the Doll House Gramps made for my little girls - about 40 years ago.

thanks so much Williams family - we couldn't have done all we accomplished without your help!  Especially all the driving around - love and gratitude!

Family Farewell Party

Sunday morning, Sept. 4th - we had Regional Conference so we didn't have to hurry much to get ready...when I came upstairs Lindsey was reading to all five children - so precious to have them all around her!  It was a great meeting - inspiring and short!

Kate, Joel and Anna came from Hyrum, Kroebers, Fairbanks - wonderful ham, yummy cheese potatoes and rolls - so fun to all get together one last family party ... until March 2019. Thanks all!

Another view of the party.

The smaller grandchildren out using sidewalk chalk on Polly's driveway - Kind of fun that Joel, Eli and Anna stayed inside talking with the adults!  Kids grow up!

Isaac's  ' house'!  he might become an architect!

Briella's so cute!

Olivia is leaning more for the Picasso look!