Tidbits

Here are a few tidbits of fun we've been up to:

Going to the pool.

Playing hide and seek in the cupboard.

Making graham cracker houses.

Sneaking grapes off the food table at a baby shower.

Trying on Sarah's new Belle slippers (and walking quite well in them, actually).

Christmas

We've had a fun Christmas holiday in South Carolina, with warm weather and lots of family. Clara was overwhelmed by all the Christmas morning excitement, and this is one of the few moments that she was really happy--while feeding Sarah's baby with her new bottle.

Clara enjoyed playing on Tate's new little horse, while Tate pushed around Sarah's shopping cart and Sarah played with Clara's train.

We spent Christmas Eve at Mauri's house, where we had a little program and scattered reindeer food in the yard. Sarah and Clara enjoyed doing that.

Zoo Lights and Gingerbread Houses

Clara made (or was actively involved in making) her first gingerbread house this week. A woman in our ward brought over a gingerbread house kit, which Clara loved. She especially enjoyed eating the gingerbread tree and snowman that are missing from the front yard, and licking the icing off her fingers.

Allison, Clara and I went to Zoo Lights at the Hogle Zoo this week. We went early, so there weren't many people there, which was wonderful. Clara loved seeing all the colorful lights and the animal lights that moved around.

Clara also rode the carousel for the first time; she was excited that we could ride on the animals. I'm sure Allison would feel left out if I didn't include any pictures of her (on her elephant that you can't see).

The Nutcracker

Last night we saw The Nutcracker performed by Ballet West. The ballet is based on the book called "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky was commissioned to write the music for the ballet in 1891. The first showing of the ballet was in 1892 in Russia and this production made it's way to Western Europe in the 1930s and to America by 1940. The first full length, American Nutcracker was performed by the San Francisco Ballet.

The performance was great, and the Capitol Theater is a beautiful, old-style theater, which added to the atmosphere. I haven't seen a ballet or heard a live orchestra in a while, and this didn't disappoint. It was so fun to see The Nutcracker and feel the magic of ballet, the costumes, the set, and the beautiful music.

Growing Up

Clara is 19 months old now and is such a joy. She keeps getting more fun and funnier every day. Here are a couple things Clara is doing these days.

Clara:
* is learning about Santa, reindeer, snowmen & Jesus' birthday
* knows most of her "ABB's" (ABC's)
* knows that Dada starts with 'D'; Clara and cat start with 'C'
* is learning her numbers
* loves "riding" her Radio Flyer bicycle around the living room
* enjoys looking at pictures of Jesus and the temple
* likes to fog up the window with her breath and have us write letters in the fog
* loves going to the nursery at church, where she is always happily coloring when we come to get her
* loves to hang upside down
* likes to "say" her prayers

Finland! Finland! Finland!

As Angela requested, here is a video of Clara dancing to the Spamalot soundtrack. (I apologize for the sideways view.) Angela taught her everything she knows.

Cougar At Heart

We finally have received some news that can somewhat determine our future: Jason was accepted at the University of Utah into the Professional Masters of Science and Technology in the Science Instrumentation track. He will start in January 2009, and it is a 2-year program, so we will be around here for the next few months at least. He's still applying for medical school for next fall, which could still be a possibility. I've warned Jason not to wear his BYU hat on his first day of school, but we'll see if he listens...

Twinkle Toes

Clara and I went trick-or-treating at Foothill Village on Halloween, where there were a million kids. Clara dressed as a ballerina. She wasn't really interested in the candy itself, but liked having something in her bucket. She would stop on the sidewalk in the mass of children and sit down to look at her candy. She refused to pose for pictures before and during the trick-or-treating, but when we went to the playground afterward she was a little more willing.

Land of the Cowboys

We went to Jackson, Wyoming, for a couple days this week. We saw an interesting thing on the way there. As we passed a farm house Jason noticed a huge forklift outside the house. Hanging from it were two cows, skinned, halved and drying in the sun. Blech. Needless to say, we didn't take a picture, although we did turn around so I could see it.

On the way home we drove through the smallest town I've ever seen: Big Piney, Wyoming, with a population of 408. We also drove through the hometown of J.C. Penny. Apparently it didn't give the town much of a boost.

It sure was late fall in Jackson. There weren't many leaves on the trees and it was pretty cold. The leaves in Logan Canyon were beautiful colors of yellow and red. We were glad to see the leaves before the winter.

Although she managed to pose for the picture, Clara was a little scared of the antler arch in Jackson.
Inside Teton National Park.
Jackson Lake. Clara enjoyed wearing her hat and her new mittens in the cold.
In an old campsite we saw about 8 moose,--6 males, 2 females. We heard them talking to each other, too, which was cool.
There's a moose to the left of Jason.

We also saw lots of bison, and saw two of them playing/fighting about 2o feet from the car.


We saw some beavers and muskrats at this river. We also saw some pronghorn antelope, which I've never seen.

Genealogy, I Am Doing It...

On our way to Jackson, Wyoming, we stopped at the cemetery in Hyrum, Utah, to photograph my ancestors' graves. I figured that I should stop by while I'm still in this part of the country. Hyrum was a pretty little town, and the leaves were all yellow and orange. It looked nice and warm outside, but there was a bitter, freezing wind.

Clara meeting her great-great-grandparents, Ezra Lorenzo Liljenquist and Mary Malinda Wilcox.

Clara got up close and personal with her ancestors.

The grave of my great-great grandfather, Ola Nilsson Liljenquist. I actually think I found an original grave, and this was built later. He was the first mayor of Hyrum and one of the last traveling patriarchs.

Silly Clara

I think Clara was eating yogurt when she decided to do her hair. I don't think I've ever seen a part in her hair.

Clara admiring herself with her pretty bow.

I was laying on my side on the couch and Clara decorated me with stickers.

Farm Country

Clara and I went to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point with my old roommate Melanie and her baby Chelsea. As soon as I told Clara where we were going she tried to run out the door. She was ecstatic to see her two favorite things: animals and a baby.


On the wagon ride.


Clara brandishing her first giraffe balloon (the second one popped, too).

Me: What color is the pumpkin?
Clara: Blue?

Fun with Grandma and Grandpa

Jason's parents came out at the beginning of the month and we did lots of fun things. We fed the ducks at Sugarhouse Park and Clara found her favorite slide. (I couldn't rotate the video--sorry)



We also went to the zoo and to the Museum of Church History and Art, where Clara played in the kids' section. She loved feeding the babies-two at the same time. What a mom.

Temple Square Tourists

On Mauri's birthday we went to Temple Square, although we've both been many times in the years we've lived here in Utah. I love that there is so much to do and see all around the temple. It's a special place. We went with the intention of seeing everything and taking lots of pictures, so here they are.

We asked someone to take our picture, so of course she cut the top of the temple out of the picture.
Clara enjoyed putting her feet in the cold water.
Clara discovering that there was more water in the 'fountain.'
We found some more water, but in the shade. Clara wanted to get in the water and splash her hands like in the bath.
I love this picture.

The Meekers with the Christus statue in the North Visitors Center.
The temple doors are so beautiful. I love our wedding pictures outside of these doors.

My friend Betsy has a beautiful painting of the temple door knobs, which I love.

We're blessed to live so close to the Salt Lake Temple and are grateful for all the blessings we have because we were married there.