On Sunday, June 29th, the Jensen - Ward family headed up to Utah to visit and get to know Brent's family better. We stayed in Utah for a week and had many outings and activities. We were able to spend time with Brent's parents, his sister Barb and her family, his sister Lynda and her family, as well as his sister Sheri and her family. Here are some pictures from our fun-filled adventure!
Monday, June 30th
The newleyweds embark are on their first family activity. We visited the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. This museum is VERY kid friendly. If you were to ask Grant, we should have stayed there the ENTIRE day!
Brent is getting attacked by a Utahraptor.
Which is taller, the dinosaur leg or Mitchell?
Grant, Amy, and Mitchell with T-Rex at the entrance of the museum.
Tuesday, July 1st
Early Tuesday morning we hiked 1.5 miles up the side of Mount Timpanogus to the Timpanogus Caves. It is a wet cave with amazing stalagmites, stalagtites and helectolites. It also has really cool soda straws. The cave is 43 degrees year round. So you always bring a sweatshirt to the cave even though it can be a warm hike.
Grandpa & Grandma Jensen with Brent and Grant. The trail was paved and had incredible views all the way up to the cave.
Brent and I posed in this spot last year when we went through the cave. However, this year I don't look like I'm shivering in the picture.
Later that day, Shawn and Barb took us out shooting in the forest. Shawn's military background allowed us the privilege of shooting a variety of guns. Grant's eyes were huge as he helped Shawn pick out the guns to take, load the ammo, and setting up the targets. It was fun to see so much enthusiasm. We learned that Grant has great aim with any gun. In the picture above he is shooting an M4 and hitting the target with almost every shot.
Mitchell also like shooting with the M4. This gun is very loud. Mitchell attempted to shoot at a soda can that was further away from the target boards we brought up. He did a super job! While we were taking turns shooting, a deer ran right behind the targets. You would have thought that all of the noise would have scared it away from our little shooting range.
I may look like I can shoot this Biathalon 22 Rifle, but it took a lot of practice to shoot the closest target. So if you see me with a gun, you don't need to be afraid!
Our day started with a visit to Ray and Betty Ward. Ray and Betty are Mitchell and Grant's great-grandparents on their dad's side of the family. We belive that the last time they saw each other was when Grant was a baby. It was a fun visit. Ray told us about his service in the military and in World War II. Mitchell and Brent helped Ray set up a computer. Although Betty's health isn't the best, she did make it across the room and kissed Grant on the forehead. Grant is very kissable. We wished we could have visited longer, but we had a packed schedule for the day.
One of our goals for the day was to get a tour of the Conference Center. The last time we watched general conference, both Mitchell and Grant stated that they would like to go inside it. While we were on tour there, we were able to listen to an organ concert. It was pretty amazing to listen to. We were all impressed at the size of the building. The roof of the building is spectacular too. Its hard to imagine how much weight the roof is holding up when you see all of the fountains, trees, flowers, stairs, and monuments there. After touring the Conference Center, we went across the street to the Tabernacle building. We wanted to compare the sizes between the two. When you walk into the Tablernacle building, you can see the entire room from the doorway. In comparison, the conference center significantly larger and requires a tour.
It was a breezey day on top of the Conference Center.
Grant is posing with the bust of Prophet Heber J. Grant. Do you think they look alike?
The water fountain behind the guys is huge! I love listening to it!
Next we visited a little hidden park a few blocks from Temple Square. This park is where President Brigham Young is burried. Brent is standing next to his burial site. There are a few other people burried in this little park too like Eliza R. Snow. 
That night we went to dinner with my friend's the Lee's. Grace and her family lived in Surprise a few years ago but now live in Northern Utah. We met up at Trolley Square and ate dinner at the Speghetti Company. Grace and I are a week apart in age and both have 11 year old's. It was great to catch up with each other and eat such yummy food. Unfortuantely, our visit was cut short when Grant got sick and we had to take off.
Before we left Alpine, UT, Grandpa Jensen gave Mitchell a lesson on how to drive a 50 year old tractor. Mitchell was a great student and had no trouble learning to drive it. Unfortunately, Grant was only allowed to go for a ride on the tractor with Grandpa Jensen driving. Maybe in a few years he will graduate to driver.
On our way back to Arizona, we stopped by Cove Fort. This fort was built in 1867 by Ira Hinckley, Gordon B. Hinkley's grandfather. The fort was built with volcanic rock and the mortor. It has 12 rooms total. The fort was used as a stopping place between the towns of Beaver and Fillmore, Utah. The church restored the fort in the 1990's. If you need a break from the long drive between Utah and Arizona, stop here for a great history lesson.
The newleyweds embark are on their first family activity. We visited the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. This museum is VERY kid friendly. If you were to ask Grant, we should have stayed there the ENTIRE day!
Brent is getting attacked by a Utahraptor.
Which is taller, the dinosaur leg or Mitchell?
Grant, Amy, and Mitchell with T-Rex at the entrance of the museum.Tuesday, July 1st
Early Tuesday morning we hiked 1.5 miles up the side of Mount Timpanogus to the Timpanogus Caves. It is a wet cave with amazing stalagmites, stalagtites and helectolites. It also has really cool soda straws. The cave is 43 degrees year round. So you always bring a sweatshirt to the cave even though it can be a warm hike.
Grandpa & Grandma Jensen with Brent and Grant. The trail was paved and had incredible views all the way up to the cave.
Brent and I posed in this spot last year when we went through the cave. However, this year I don't look like I'm shivering in the picture.
Later that day, Shawn and Barb took us out shooting in the forest. Shawn's military background allowed us the privilege of shooting a variety of guns. Grant's eyes were huge as he helped Shawn pick out the guns to take, load the ammo, and setting up the targets. It was fun to see so much enthusiasm. We learned that Grant has great aim with any gun. In the picture above he is shooting an M4 and hitting the target with almost every shot.
Mitchell also like shooting with the M4. This gun is very loud. Mitchell attempted to shoot at a soda can that was further away from the target boards we brought up. He did a super job! While we were taking turns shooting, a deer ran right behind the targets. You would have thought that all of the noise would have scared it away from our little shooting range.
I may look like I can shoot this Biathalon 22 Rifle, but it took a lot of practice to shoot the closest target. So if you see me with a gun, you don't need to be afraid!Wednesday, July 2nd
Our day started with a visit to Ray and Betty Ward. Ray and Betty are Mitchell and Grant's great-grandparents on their dad's side of the family. We belive that the last time they saw each other was when Grant was a baby. It was a fun visit. Ray told us about his service in the military and in World War II. Mitchell and Brent helped Ray set up a computer. Although Betty's health isn't the best, she did make it across the room and kissed Grant on the forehead. Grant is very kissable. We wished we could have visited longer, but we had a packed schedule for the day.One of our goals for the day was to get a tour of the Conference Center. The last time we watched general conference, both Mitchell and Grant stated that they would like to go inside it. While we were on tour there, we were able to listen to an organ concert. It was pretty amazing to listen to. We were all impressed at the size of the building. The roof of the building is spectacular too. Its hard to imagine how much weight the roof is holding up when you see all of the fountains, trees, flowers, stairs, and monuments there. After touring the Conference Center, we went across the street to the Tabernacle building. We wanted to compare the sizes between the two. When you walk into the Tablernacle building, you can see the entire room from the doorway. In comparison, the conference center significantly larger and requires a tour.
It was a breezey day on top of the Conference Center.
Grant is posing with the bust of Prophet Heber J. Grant. Do you think they look alike?
The water fountain behind the guys is huge! I love listening to it!Next we visited a little hidden park a few blocks from Temple Square. This park is where President Brigham Young is burried. Brent is standing next to his burial site. There are a few other people burried in this little park too like Eliza R. Snow. That night we went to dinner with my friend's the Lee's. Grace and her family lived in Surprise a few years ago but now live in Northern Utah. We met up at Trolley Square and ate dinner at the Speghetti Company. Grace and I are a week apart in age and both have 11 year old's. It was great to catch up with each other and eat such yummy food. Unfortuantely, our visit was cut short when Grant got sick and we had to take off.
Saturday, July 5th
Before we left Alpine, UT, Grandpa Jensen gave Mitchell a lesson on how to drive a 50 year old tractor. Mitchell was a great student and had no trouble learning to drive it. Unfortunately, Grant was only allowed to go for a ride on the tractor with Grandpa Jensen driving. Maybe in a few years he will graduate to driver. On our way back to Arizona, we stopped by Cove Fort. This fort was built in 1867 by Ira Hinckley, Gordon B. Hinkley's grandfather. The fort was built with volcanic rock and the mortor. It has 12 rooms total. The fort was used as a stopping place between the towns of Beaver and Fillmore, Utah. The church restored the fort in the 1990's. If you need a break from the long drive between Utah and Arizona, stop here for a great history lesson.
Brent is walking down the path by the pool. The red Hybiscus plants are in bloom.
Brent & his "single" friends
Our pretty backyard ready for the party.
The only picture of Brent & I from the evening. As you can tell it was taken at the end of the evening after the air conditioning had been out on the house for a good hour. It was a HOT night! Very fun though! 
Mitchell & Grant
Such style!
