Here are just a few snapshots of some of the places we visited!!
"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore...there's no place like home." Six of us-mom, dad, Dave, Janet, Suzanne and I made our way to Ogden, Utah where mom and dad were both born. We visited several of their childhood homes. This duplex was just one of the many homes dad lived in as a child. His home was on the right side of the duplex. It looks pretty good huh?--better than some of the other places he lived. We also visited Ogden High School, places of employment, my Grandpa and Grandma Southwicks home and my Grandma Jensens apartment building. Then we visited the cemetery where many of my relatives are buried.
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"....then we headed up to the mouth of Ogden canyon for lunch at "Rainbow Gardens". This place has special significance to mom and dad. Even though they had known each other for years, even living next door to each other at one point, it wasn't until one New Years Eve when mom was on a date (with another guy) at the "Gardens" and dad was working there that ........well you'll just have to ask them for the rest of the story!!!!!
Here is the original Jensen family. Jayne, Dave, Mom, Dad and Suzanne. It really was fun to be together! We are a crazy bunch!! (Janet was taking pics and she was a trooper to put up with all of us)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ aka 'little fish' ....after travelling through Sardine (aka 'little fish') canyon and arriving on USU campus, dad lit moms fire by making her a "true Aggie." It is tradition at USU that if you kiss on the "A" you truly become an "Aggie". Natalie, who attends USU, had joined us for this part of our "blast to the past" and was determined to witness her grandma become a true aggie. It must have inspired her, because that night she became a true aggie herself!! Way to go mom and Natalie!!
After visiting a few more sights on campus, we walked to the Lillywhite Building which houses the communicative disorders department. Our visit turned into quite a surprise for dad. Dee Childs (on dad's right) is now the department head. He used to be one of dad's students--I guess he was taught well!! Dee arranged to have several of the staff there to visit with dad as well as some of the current doctoral students who know dad only by reputation. They had decorated the lobby with a sign and had some delicious chocolate cakes there to meet and greet him. I think he felt honored and it was a joy to watch him renew those relationships. There were so many nice things said about him and what he contributed to the field of communicative disorders. To many of those who knew him, he was much more than just the department head, he was a mentor and friend. 
That's Amore!.....Our next stop was at the local pizza place in Logan--Frederico's! When mom and dad saw on our itinerary "That's Amore!", they knew we were headed for Italian food, but what they didn't know was "that's Amore!" was all about the love-not the cuisine. We had arranged several of their dearest friends to join them for dinner and you can tell by the expression on moms face that she did indeed feel the love. 
After nearly twelve hours (at this point) you would think mom and dad would've looked exhausted, but surrounded by all their BFF's they look radiant. What a day!!
I don't have the pics of our next days adventures (Suzanne has them), but our "Trip Back In Time" would not have been complete without a few hours spent on SLC Temple Square (the north and south of things....and everything in between) where mom and dad served their mission. It had changed quite a bit, but the same feeling was felt as we strolled from exhibit to exhibit and from building to building. It was fun to talk to the sisters serving there and watch mom and dad light up as they remembered their own time as missionaries and the relationships they developed with those that served with them. It was a marvelous time.
That night we had dinner at P.F. Changs. Such good food- but the best part was when we presented mom and dad with a book. Suzanne spear-headed putting a book together from the extended family. Each family submitted pics and a personal note to mom and dad and then had it bound. The book is beautiful, the pics fun to look at, but the sentiments from each family was the perfect tribute to end an almost perfect "Trip Back in Time".
