Fruit store (renik) close to our apartment. 
A mother walking her baby in the snow. I think she has on magic shoes!
THE METRO This is our dear friend! 
garbage "drop" from the 18th floor
Babushkas selling their stuff at the Metro
Church Bells ringing 
She is playing the church bells
Every Missionary has a Water Filter - change filters every 2 months 
Russia's favorite breakfast - Buckwheat 
Beautiful Snow in Russia 
Snow covered grounds in the Park
This sign says "exit to the city." This is over the door when we leave the train station. There is a similar sign underground in the metro that tells you which way to go to the city and which way to go to catch another subway. When this sign is above a door it is easy to know that it says exit, but when we are underground...I just figured that the long word with an X spelled out. (Enter is a shorter word with no X.) 
Every Sunday Jim buys two round trip train tickets so we can ride the train to church. (He is third in line with his stocking hat on and his bag over his shoulder.) It is not called a round trip ticket. He tells the ticket lady he wants two tickets to Chewklinka and back. Sometimes the lady understands his American accent and other times the lady (I don't know if we have ever had the same lady) acts with no emotion at all. We sometimes try to see if we can get her to smile or show some emotion...I think we have had one smile and it was a very small one. 
This is a picture of the snow covered stairs we walk up on our way to church. Maxim, a member of our branch, stopped so I could take this picture. 
This is the top of the stairs on top of the tracks. The train station is down the stairs to the right and our branch is down another set of stairs to the left. 
Notice the group of homeless men on one corner, a group of homeless dogs on another corner, and a group of pidgeons (homeless?) on another corner. 
Dogs sleep just outside the doors of the metro. Sometimes they are curled up so tight in a circle that you can't see their head. FYI, it is very cold on the stone floor and the metro has warm air coming out when people come through the doors.
This is a very common site. I have seen every kind and color of fur coat. Some of them are very beautiful and some are very interesting. Notice her hat. The ladies look very nice in their fur hats and fur coats.
McDonalds advertisement for a Cheerburger and a Chickenburger! Each only 29 rubles from 14 thru 31 of January 2010.
My first attempt at baking in my oven was memorable. I made bananna bread. It was very tasty. I did not have a mixer so I just used a spoon. I used a long loaf pan because it was the only one I had. Notice the packages; baking powder, vanilla sugar, yeast, and yeast.
This is the Post Office. We pass it on the way to the metro. Never used it.
Pavel, Ninel, Victoria, Viktor, Ninel, Elder Dunn, Elder Rudd
Andre Lochin and his son
Elder Nielson, Elder Dunn. Eldridge, Elder Jessee, friend, Elder Callister, Andre. Elder Hansen 
Elder Baldakov, Vasily, Dimitry, Elder Dunn 
Eldridge, Elder Jessee
(Branch) President Alexay Solinov, Joseph
Konstantine and Elder Nielson
This is Vladimir Preshepa. He came to our apartment for a missionary discussion on a Sunday afternoon after aspecial District (Stake) Conference (our two districts were combined). We walked through the park on our way home and had a delightful visit with him. He was a rocket engineer and he is the only member of the church in his family. He is a very humble man with a strong testimony. In the picture are Elder Kaderov, Vladimir, Elder Jensen, Chad and Bethany Packard. (The date is wrong. He was baptized on June 12, 2010) 
This wonderful man going to be baptized is Anatoli. He is single and travels a lot. When he returns home from a trip, he will print his pictures and put them on cardboard and pass around for everyone to see. He brought me a ceramic dish from a trip to Portugal. He also gave me an Easter deviled egg dish and made me the little matrushka doll with flowers in it. He is very kind and speaks no english. Andrea Cranney, President Cranney, Anatoli, Elder Miller, and Elder Trotter. 
Sister Dayberry, Sister Abram, Anatoli, Elder Miller, Elder Trotter, me, Jim 
Natalia was taught by the sisters. Her parents were members but became inactive when they moved to Moscow. Natalia has a strong testimony and would love her mother to become active again. Different members in the branch call her often to help fellowship her. Her father became active when the missionaries found him and started teaching Natalia. Elder Miller, President Macarov (our Branch President), Natalia, Natalia's dad, Elder Imogazine.
Elder Nikoliachev is the elder with the LONG legs that took us to church the first time. It was a challange to keep up with him. I'm sure we are in much better shape now because we have done it every week. He speaks english very well and was on the news (ch 5) in Salt Lake City during conference one year. President Macarov our Branch President, Natalia, and Natalia's dad.
The sisters that taught Natalia, Sister Visitiv and Sister Abram.
FHE at Lochheads
Budd's
I love this Wooden Palace!
Patterson's
Tsaritsina's summer palace
WILD THINGS
Patterson's - Craythorn's eating pizza
Packard's and President and Sister Sorenson
the lock tree on the lock bridge
Me, Patterson's, Anderson's, Budd's
Women's Day was a holiday and the offices were closed so we played games at the Central Building. Bethany, Chad, KLynn, Paulette, Lynn, Linda, Leon, Jim
We went to Pizza Hut for dinner BUT because of Women's Day, the restaurant was full, SO, we had take out and went back to the Central building and ate pizza and visited before Jim gave his lesson.
Jim teaching the couples about how the church is set up in Russia.
Jim teaching
Jim and Mark Anderson 
Visit to the Kremlin Palace in February
Couples Training with President Sorenson
E/S Holmes
Our chocolate eclair store-visit with the couples
E/S Patterson 
Christmas party at Carpenter's Judy Hawkins, E/S Carpenter, E/E Growning, E/S Budd 
Christmas Party at Carpenter's E/S Anderson, E/S Hatch
Christmas party at Carpenter's E/S Hatch, Jim President Sorenson
Scott and Geri Conlin
Fran and Mark Anderson
Marsha and Carlyle Gronning
Dori and John Carpenter
Chad and Bethany Packard
FHE at the Mission Office - special performance by Elder Hansen
On an outing to the German Embassy to see their Christmas "bazzar" with food and lots of fun things. It was raining. After riding the metro, some decided to walk to the embassy because it was only supposed to be "down the street a little" instead of waiting 15 minutes for a bus. The walk in the rain lasted about 30 minutes. but it was fun!
After the visit to the German Embassy we decided to go to a German restaurant because all of the German food had been sold. Jim ordered Pork Knuckle - a huge piece of meat but very tasty. I ordered a dish but wanted the sides that came with another dish. We thought we comunicated that to the waitress. Soon the watress brought two dishes and placed them in front of me. One dish had the meat I wanted (with the regular sides) and the other dish had the sides I wanted (with the meat I didn't want). The waitress then brought Jim's Pork Knuckle. We had Three dinners! The funny thing about this is that Jim and I usually split one dinner between us. We had a ton of food for the entire table! Andersons, Packards, Scott, Budds, and us
Jim's Pork Knuckle with potatoes
On a Marshootka (van) on our way to Lochheads for FHE. There were 13 in our group plus others on the Marshootka.
At Lochhead's eating pie for dessert.
Dinner and FHE at President and Sister Sorenson's home in Rosinka.
Sister Sorenson in the kitchen with beef stroganoff, salads, and hot rolls mmm...
Jack & Francis Holmes, Aliene Overly, Bethany & Chad Packard, Bob Lochhead, Carlyle& Marsha Gronning, Don Overly, and Jim
Linda & Leon Budd, Scott Conlin, Dori & John Carpenter, Sister and President Sorenson
FHE at the Meridian (we hosted) complete with trick-or-treat candy!
Flu shots...ouch!
President and Sister Lawrence (Bob Lochhead sitting)
Aliene Averly looking through binoclars to read the menu!
Celebrating Jim's birthday at FHE (Packard's) Marsha and Carlyle Gronning, Jim, me, John and Dori Carpenter
Crossing the street on our way to Wright's apt for FHE.
FHE (Seniors Night, Senior Couple Council? are we changing our name?) at the Central Building. Overly's are hosting. Delicious lemon bars for dessert! Notice a YA in the back on the left. She is doing dishes because a group of friends fixed dinner for themselves. This building is like the Institute for all of the youth.
FHE AT BURTONS
FHE AT THE MERIDIAN - WE HOSTED
the rest of us: Hyrum, Carlyle Gronning, Marcia Gronning, Jim, John Carpenter, Dori Carpenter, Bethany, Chad, (Devere and Arva), Nancy, Virgina, Dale 
FHE at the Meridian (we host). 
Devere, Arva, Linda, John, Gary and Judy Hawkins, Chad, Leon, Linda, Nancy 
Chad, Linda, Nancy, Hyrum, Dori, Don hiding behind Aliene, Sister Packard (mother of Chad leaving Armenia mission to be matron of Houston Temple) Bethany, Kaylynn, Elder Packard (father of Chad leaving the Armenia mission presidency to be President of Houston Temple)
THE ROYAL DINNER 
more Louisianna Steak house Jim is in the back and both the Moscow and Moscow West couples are in this picture.
STARLIGHT DINER
RIDING THE METRO/SUMMER
Linda and Leon Budd and Frances Holmes 
SUNDAY DINNER AT HOLMES Rick and Marilee Page and daughter Rachael John and Frances Holmes Us 
GROBLY'S CAFETERIA Burtons and Holmes and us 
PRESIDENT AND SISTER CRANNEY AND US 
WINTER METRO Leon Budd, Arva Burton, me, Steve Rees
Jim, Linda Rees, Linda Budd
Arva Burton reading her dictionary, 
FHE AT HOLMES
NEW YEARS DAY 2010 Couples at Yelky Paulky (lovingly called Hokey Polkey) Me, Linda Rees, Aliene Overly, Don Overly, Arva Burton, Devere Burton, waitress, Hyrum Hall, Nancy Hall, Frances Holmes, John Holmes, Jim