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?