Washington DC Temple - March 17, 2013

We had to go to Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland and on the way there we saw the Washington DC Temple spires from the freeway.  We drove around until we could drive right up to the temple.  It is so beautiful!

Senior Couple Get-Together at Mohonk Mountain House - March 13, 2013

Elder and Sister Wells invited four couples to their apartment today in New Paltz for a get together.  The Wells are going home in April having served their 18 month mission here in New York.  They took us to what is called the Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz.  This is an amazing place.  Twice a year they have "community day" where commoners like ourselves can go and look at the facilities.  I believe only millionaries could afford to stay there.  We sat in on a presentation where a gentleman told us about the history of Mohonk.  Mohonk was built by Quaker twin brothers Albert and Alfred Smiley between 1879 and 1910.  The room rates start at $580.00 per night.

March 9, 2013 - Plebe Parent Weekend

Cadet Austin Wheeler the first one on the back row
Cadet Amanda Skalisky the first one of the front row
March 9, 2013

Cadet David Koerper in the big hat!

Cadet Rocky Rispress receiving his Defense Service Ribbon - March 9, 2013
(Rocky is the fourth one over on the back row)

Cadet Parker Dixon receiving his Defense Service Ribbon - March 9, 2013

Spring break started on Friday, March 8, 2013 for everyone except the Plebes.  They stayed at West Point for two more days while West Point celebrated its Plebe Parent Weekend.  Our branch did a get-together on Friday evening at Thayer Hall for the Plebes in our branch and their family members.  Saturday, Jim and I were guests of two of the Plebes since their families weren't able to come.  The day started with a march by the Cadets.  After we attended a meeting for their Company.  Cadet Parker Dixon and Cadet Rocky Rispress received their Defense Service Ribbon.  Saturday evening we attended a fancy dinner at the Mess Hall where BG Richard D. Clarke was the guest speaker.  It was a great event and a once in a lifetime opportunity to here at West Point.

Cadet Kenny McCain, Elder Hohosh, Sister Hohosh and Cadet Amy Slaughter
Plebe Parent Fancy Dinner at the Mess Hall

Cadet Parker Dixon (Utah) and Cadet Rocky Rispress (South Carolina)
WE LOVE THESE GUYS!!!!!



 

February 15, 2013 - Bear Mountain Skate Park

Jim and I volunteer with Army Community Service (ACS) and they asked us to come and volunteer at the Bear Mountain Park for Family ACS Day.  There were about 80 people who came.  It was open to all families in the military.  We served hot chocolate and cookies.  Great time!

Sister Missionaries in our District!

We have three sister missionaries now in our District.  They are (left to right) - Sister Richardson from St. George, Utah;  Sister Otukolo from Salt Lake City, Utah; and Sister Maldarizzi from Italy.  There are now six Elders and three Sisters in our District.  We meet at the Hut every Monday from 11:00 to 2:00.  We are excited to have these Sisters

January 20, 2013 - Missionary devotional at the Hut

On Sundays after church, we have several Cadets who like to come over for dinner.  We decided that we would also invite the missionaries to come and give some type of message or discussion on the gospel.  On this particular Sunday, we have three non-members who came for dinner and participated in this discussion.  Our missionaries are the best.  We just love Elder Fragiacamo (Italy) and Elder Higbee (Alamo, Utah). 

Leadership Conference - January 17, 2013 - Ossining Chapel

We had a missionary leadership conference for the Yorktown and Newburgh Zones in Ossining, New York on January 17, 2013.  Here is a picture of me with Sister McClary.  She is from Utah.  She has a beautiful voice and also plays the piano very well.  Some people get beauty and talent!!!!

Boat on Hudson River

We woke up one morning to this boat on the Hudson River blowing its fog horn.  It was so loud!  We are going to miss hearing the trains and all the boat horns from our apartment when we get back to Utah.

Visit to China Town - January 19, 2013

We took four Cadets to New York City since they took a PASS for the weekend because of the Martin Luther King holiday on Monday.  We decided to go and visit China Town while we were there.  Here are some pictures of the open market they have in China Town  I have to admit it was pretty stinky.






dried shrimp





Live frogs - YUM!



There was a Chinese man in line at this market picking up live frogs with tongs and

putting them in a plastic bag to buy.  I turned around and started laughing. 

This picture is of a guy who was laughing with me and he picked up a

live frog and pretended to take a bite out of it!  hahahaha

Jim and Cadet Adam Wilde in front of Chinese open market





 

Christmas in Ohio - 2012

We have the privilege as a senior missionary couple to leave our mission boundaries so we decided to go and visit the Gabrielsens during our Christmas break.  The cadets at West Point leave the post so there isn't anything for us to do here while they are away.  We drove to Ohio on December 21, 2012 and stayed until January 3, 2013.  Jim had some dental work done by Dr. Gabrielsen while we were there.  This is a picture of Abbey and Ela sitting standing in a bathroom looking at what "Snowy" their elf did during the night to the toilet - Snowy totally wrapped the toilet in wrapping paper! We had a great time there.

Mission Christmas Party - Scarsdale Chapel - December 20, 2012

The New York New York North mission held its Christmas party at the Scarsdale Chapel next to the mission home on December 20, 2012.  Jim and I went down the night before and stayed overnight at the mission home.  We peeled enough potatoes for 200 people - ugh!  Another senior missionary couple, Elder and Sister Wells from Pine Valley, Utah cooked turkey outdoors in this 55 gallon drum.  We also fixed creamed corn, stuffing, ham, and rolls.  Other couples brought salads.  It ended up being a great event and we always love to see all the missionaries in our mission together.

West Point Cadet Chapel

On December 12, 2012, we took some Elders from Middletown on a tour of West Point.  Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of those awesome Elders but I did take a picture of the West Point Cadet Chapel.  This Chapel is so amazing.  It is a classic example of gothic revival architecture.  The architect was Bertram Goodhue and was completed in 1910.  This Chapel replaced the Old Cadet Chapel which had been built in 1836. 

Connecticut Elders - December 11, 2012

One responsibility we have as a senior missionary couple is that we get to inspect missionary apartments.  This picture is the six missionaries that live together in a tiny little apartment in Stamsford, CT.  There is a funny story behind the Santa Clause.  The missionaries were assigned to do service down in New York City after Hurricane Sandy.  While doing their work, there was this Santa Clause buried in sand and water.  The owner of the Santa said to throw the Santa away because he was ruined.  The missionaries asked if they could have him and the owner said "Yes".  They took Santa home, dried him out, fixed his little speaker box, and now he is good as new.  He dances and sings.  It is the funniest thing ever!  Santa is a survivor of Hurricane Sandy.  One of the Elders in this picture lives in our home ward in South Weber, Utah - Elder Golding.  Elder Golding is in the middle on the top row.  We are so lucky that we get to see him from time to time.

Philadelphia - December 8, 2012

We had the opportunity of taking a group of Cadets to Philadelphia for the Army/Navy game.  This game was a requirement for them to attend but a few got a pass and was able to come with us and the rest rode on buses provided by West Point.  On Friday night, we took them to a famous place called "Genos" and "Pats" (across the street) for delicious philly cheese steak sandwiches.  We stayed overnight at the Holiday Inn and then dropped the cadets off at the football stadium for the game early Saturday morning.  We then cooked the rest of the day for a YSA activity that evening.  There were approximately 15 cadets from West Point, 12 midshipman from the Naval Academy and 25 YSA adults from the YSA Philadephia ward who attended this event.  We met at the Elders Quorum Apartment for the party as the church was totally booked that night for Christmas events. We had a great time?

Downtown New York City - December 3, 2012

Rockefeller Christmas Tree

Today we had the wonderful opportunity of going to the Scarsdale Chapel and listening to Elder Paul V. Johnson.  He gave some wonderful advice on how to be a high yield/low maintenance missionary.  After the couples got on a bus and we went to the city to attend the Christmas Show from the Radio City Music Hall and the Rockettes.  We went and saw the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree - it was spectacular!  We love our mission.

Inside the Radio City Music Hall
85th anniversary of the Rockettes

Yankee Stadium - The Bronx

Of course while we were downtown New York, we just had to go and see Yankee Stadium.  We got there too late to go on a tour but we were able to walk around the outside.  Eric loved it!  Amy Slaughter went with us.  Ela and Amy put on funny hats inside the Yankee stadium gift shop.

Hike near Fort Montgomery

We decided to go on a "nature walk" after our Thanksgiving dinner.  The girls love to be out in nature.  These are some pictures of our day.

Times Square - November 23, 2012

This is a picture of all of us in New York City at Times Square.  This is such an amazing place!!!

Hard Rock Cafe - New York City style

Leesa, Eric and the girls came for Thanksgiving to West Point.  We took the girls and went into the city on Friday, November 23, 2012.  It was a great day because it wasn't too cold outside.  I was amazed at how "non-crowded" it was.  We saw a Hard Rock Cafe so we decided to eat lunch there.

Trunk or Treat - Branch Activity

The West Point Branch had a trunk or treat activity.  In this picture is Cadet Amy Slaughter.  She is from North Ogden, Utah.  She is an awesome young lady.  We made witches brew (which is root beer with dry ice).  The kids here at West Point didn't know what dry ice was.  It is almost impossible to find dry ice here.  Must be a Utah thing!!!