The South's Warmest Welcome

Matt served his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the Mississippi Jackson Mission. He's been wanting to take me back there and after he's been away for six years, he's finally returned with me at his side. Josh Bennett, mission companion, and his wife Melody joined us as well and we all had an amazing time! Matt and Josh felt right at home and it was a lot of fun seeing where they served. I can see why Matt and Josh loved the area because the people were so hospitable.
Matt jumped on the opportunity when he heard that BYU was playing Ole Miss in Oxford. He didn't need to talk to me into it and the same with Josh. We were on board and started our plans. Matt and I flew out of the Provo Airport on Sept 1st and flew into New Orleans. It was so nice flying out of Provo because we didn't need to be there till 15 mins before takeoff and it's only 10 minutes from our house. It was also a very nice change of scenery seeing the Y Mountain and flying over beautiful Utah Valley. The best way to fly!
After landing in New Orleans, picking up our car rental and checking into our hotel, we headed to Bourbon Street for dinner.

We were hopping to find a place that we couldn't eat back home but we ventured away from the tourist crowd and settled at a clean and safe known place called Hard Rock Cafe.

The Next morning we had breakfast and checked out of our hotel and drove to Jackson to pick up Josh and Melody. They flew stand by and got stuck in Memphis because so many BYU Fans were doing the same thing. They ended up taking the Greyhound, right into the heart of West Jackson. West Jackson is the Ghetto and a very dangerous area. It was Matt's first area and his most favorite place to serve. He took us around the place and I kid you not, most homes looked like this.

The guy in the picture with Matt lived in this house above. He rented out one small room that could only fit a twin size mattress. His name is Jack, a crazy drunk that would always say to Matt, "Let me hug your belly."

Josh wanted to see this mural and as we drove to it we drove by a drug deal. CRAZY! Josh was brave enough and got out of the car to take a picture next to it and I asked Matt if he wanted to do the same thing. He said "No! The driver doesn't get out of the car in this part of town because we wouldn't ever see you again." Duh Elise!

After our little adventure in West Jackson we went downtown for lunch. Matt's been looking forward to eating at this place called The Edison Walthall Hotel but it was no longer serving lunch.

We left our car since we already paid the meter and started walking to another place. We walked to the State Capitol and the Governor’s Mansion to take pictures.

For lunch we ate at a place called Keifer's. They make the best Gyros ever!

We then drove to the Mission Home.

After touring the area more we checked into our hotel and visited The Hansen's. Matt was close too Ryan and Stacy while he served in their area. I heard so much about them so it was great meeting them. After our visit we went looking for a BBQ place for dinner. We ate at The Hickory Pit. YUM!
The next morning we woke up and headed to Oxford after breakfast. We met up with one of Matt's Uncles and Aunts on the Thompson side. They drove from Wisconsin to see the game with us. It was only appropriate to take a family photo in front of the Thompson House.

We had lunch at The Rib Cage. Pretty good food but I had better ribs and their baked beans weren't original. I can get Bushes Baked Beans anywhere.
We found this funny newspaper there.
We had time before the game to make a Wal-Mart stop to buy supplies to make a poster to hold up.

Does the sign look familiar? It was on ESPN twice :).
Josh is holding the sign and you can see Melody to the right and you will see Matt's hat after a while on his left.

The sign is in the left hand corner and you will see all of us. Matt is next to Josh and you can see half of my face to the left of Matt.






The game was amazing! It was boring at first but the last quarter made up for it! We were all amazed at how well we were treated by the Ole Miss fans. They welcomed us and wished us good luck before the game. Even when they had a heart breaking loss they told us we played a great game and told us to have a safe flight/drive home. They were all so nice. We also heard that a lot of BYU fans were invited to join their tailgate parties.
With it being a two hour drive back to the hotel we got back late and crashed. We went to church the next morning at the Jackson Branch for Sacrament meeting and then to a ward that Matt attended for the last hour of church. We also got to attend a baptism afterwards. We then went back to The Hansen's to have Ryan and Stacy's famous ribs. They were very delicious and all of us were very grateful that they opened their home for us again and fed us.
We then made our way down to Meridian to Josh's friends. They were having a get together and they were serving Gumbo. Yes I did try it even though it had fish in it. I honestly thought it had great flavor behind the fish but I could still taste the shrimp. I can't knock it till I try it right?
We then made our way down to Biloxi. We stayed there the remainder of our time. Both Matt and Josh served there so we did more site seeing had more great food and just enjoyed our time on the beach. Josh and Melody ended up staying one night and left Monday. Matt and I enjoyed the Beach one more day and it was great because the Sun finally showed its face and the sky was completely cloudless. Tropical Storm Lee made it's why through Mississippi while we were there but we were lucky to avoid it till we got into Biloxi. It rained throughout our whole stay but it was worse on the coast. We had times when it wasn't rainy but it was still dreary.



Our last day was gorgeous! The day after a storm is always the best!
This lighthouse survived two Hurricanes, Camille and Katrina

Katrina Hit two weeks after Matt left his mission. He was interested in seeing the destruction. It was sad seeing all the driveways on Beach Blvd that led to nowhere. A lot of things weren't rebuilt.
This one is of a neighborhood that wasn't on the beach but still got wiped out.

This one is on the beach front. It used to be full of business and homes.

We ended up flying home Sept 6th into Provo again. With Provo Airport being as small as it is the boys got to see us off the plane like the good old days. This was Alex's first time away from me for more than a day and he did amazing! We missed the boys like crazy but we did enjoy our time without them. We wouldn't have been able to do this without my Parents and Matt's dad so we owe them big time!
We plan to visit Mississippi again in 2015 when BYU plays Southern Miss.

Another Year Older..

And wiser too! Well I don't know about wiser but I am a year older. I'm starting to feel old after feeling like I've been 21 for the past five years. It hit me that I'm no longer 21 but 27, and before I know it I will be 30!
Evan was so sweet by singing me Happy Birthday a few times and I got some hugs and kisses from both boys. Matt took me to our regular birthday lunch to Tucanos and then we went and saw the final movie of Harry Potter 7.5. It was a bittersweet thing because we were both excited to see it but so sad it was the end, at least that's what I felt. I know Matt was excited to see it because he was eager to know the end but I don't know about him being sad. He's not as big of a fan as I have been. He's only read up to half of the 5th book and I've read all of them 7+ times each. Yes its a guilty pleasure but I couldn't help being sucked into the magic. I was dead set on not reading them when I was first introduced to HP. It was May 2000 (yes I had to ask) when I first heard about it from my cousins. They were visiting us from Utah and they got my mom interested but I wouldn't touch the book because I thought it was weird. My mom was hooked and she tried to get me to read but I refused. When the first movie came out in 2001 we were visiting family in Utah and my Uncle rented out the entire theater room and we were invited. I couldn't avoid it with us being on vacation and it being a family thing so I went. To my surprise I did enjoy it but I didn't pick up the 1st book till after I graduated from High School in 2002. I decided to just read them since I quit my job after thinking we were moving and since no more school, I had time. J.K Rowling has a talent for capturing her readers so I too got hooked. Books 1-4 were only out at the time and I read them all with in a few weeks before I started my new job. I couldn't wait for the next book and it continued till the last book came. I think the movies have been great but obviously not as good as the books but I guess you have to expect that since they do their best to put everything in a two hour film but I have to tell you, I was very impressed with the 6th and 7th movies. They were right on and kept to the book pretty darn well. Thanks J.K Rowling for the magic!
After the movie we met up with the boys at Matt's parents house. We tucked Alex into bed and told Evan to be good and we set off with friends to hike the Hot Pots up Diamond Fork Canyon. We stayed up there enjoying the springs longer then we thought because we hiked down thinking it was 12ish but when we got to the car it read a little past 2am. It was fun though.
Yesterday I got to celebrate it with my family and close friends. We had yummy desserts...

opened presents...

and played games. The night ended with an aerial firework that we purchased. I'm so blessed having the family and friends I have to make me feel so special on my birthday. Love you guys!!

Thompson Reunion 2011

This year's reunion was different from past years because we were with family for 11 days instead of 5. This was also the first year that our family planned the reunion and the first year without Mom. The reunion started on the 7th but the family started arriving on the 1st so we had a pre-reunion.
This year Utah passed a law that we can shoot off our own aerials. People were shooting them off in the past anyways so instead of Wyoming getting the taxes from us, they decided to allow us to shoot them off and get the money. Smart!
On the 2nd we had our own firework fun at our house. Family and friends joined us and we bought a lot of fun aerial fireworks that we can't wait too shoot off again next year.
On the 4th we went to the Provo Parade. I think this was the first time we actually watched the parade on the 4th because we were always out of town or didn't want to wake up early to go. Later that day we got together for a BBQ in honor of Leanna turning 21 years old and then we went to Nephi to watch the big fireworks. If we're home for the 4th we always look forward to going to Nephi to watch the fireworks because they shoot them off so close to you. Evan and Alex loved them!


And Alex was having too much fun with the glow sticks and staying up way past his bedtime.

The next day we all went to Salt Lake City to watch the Bee's play. We always try to do something baseball during the reunion because the Thompson family are huge baseball fans.


Before we headed to the Reunion location on Thursday, we went to a session at the Timpanogos Temple. Leanna went through for her first time because she's leaving on her Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints September 14th to Edmonton Canada. It's so special having all us siblings Endowed and being in the Celestial Room together.



This year the reunion was in Midway. It was a nice short 40 minute drive :). The house was amazing! 6 Bedrooms, 5 1/2 Baths, 1 1/2 Kitchens, 3 Family/Living Rooms, 3 Laundry Rooms, Theater/Media Room and loft.

We got settled in our room before heading out to Salt Lake.


Back when Mom was alive her and Dad went to a live auction and bought a spot to practice with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was her dream and she never got the chance to use it so Michael was given that Honor.


Friday we spent most of the day at Deer Creek Reservoir. We rented a raft, borrowed a canoe and Aunt Becky's brother came and let us use his boat. It was so nice of him to do that for us because it made for a very fun day! It's been a while since Matt and I have been on a boat and it was Evan and Alex's first time.
Alex wasn't too partial to the life vest. I don't blame him but gotta be safe then sorry.


Evan didn't seem to mind it.

Fun on the boat




Alex helped drive


These are videos of Matt and I on the tubes. Mine isn't as interesting as Matt's because he wiped out. That was the point though for the guys to see how long they can stay on. I did get pretty good air but managed to stay on.


Matt also tried wake boarding. I was too chicken to do it because of my experience with water skies.
Since we were out there for a while and it was nearing his normal nap time, Alex actually fell asleep after I finished my turn on the Tube (So fun!). I didn't think he would but I was so happy he did.

He even stayed asleep after getting off the boat. It allowed me to enjoy my day because he was well rested. Evan was having so much fun on the beach and playing in the water when he could. It was hard for him to get into the water because there were rocks between the water and land. Some guy moved rocks out of the way so he could park their jet skies. When they were out playing it allowed Evan to be in the water. When Alex woke up he also joined in on the fun. He loved the sand.

He loved it so much that he had to sample it.



Alex also loved the canoe! When it wasn't out in the water he had to be sitting in it.





Since we were out in the sun a lot we skipped our evening tour at the Olympic Park so we could relax because we planned to hike Stewart Falls the following morning(Sorry, no pictures). The last time I hiked it I was 8 months pregnant with Evan but I didn't go near the falls. This time I did and loved it. It was really hot that day and we forgot how moderate the hike was. We figured since I could hike it 8 months pregnant it was easy enough but it turned out to be harder then we originally thought. Maybe it was the two kids we had to carry. Evan didn't want to walk so Matt carried him and I carried Alex. I loved how the falls cooled us down because of the heavy mist and there was still so much snow on the ground. After our hike we realxed, had a yummy dinner and played games with water balloons.
Sunday we went to church. Matt wasn't feeling well so he stayed home with Alex. We came home to this :).

We had a main meal after church and then we had girl time! Since Julie is due next month and our cousin Erika resently had her first baby boy, I thought it would be fun to throw them a surprise shower. Laura and Leanna jumped on board and it turned out to be really fun.








We also bought a few gifts for Aunt Becky since she had her 5th child, a girl, around the same time as Erika. So really the shower was also for her.

Monday we said our goodbyes and we look forward to our next years reunion :).