New Year's with MG

In the picture, 3rd row from the bottom - far right picture, I'm on the far right side of the stage at the Montgomery Gentry show bringing in the New Year:
http://montgomerygentry.musiccitynetworks.com/index.htm?g_id=3098&inc=9&id=1441&sid=14784#

New Year's Eve with Montgomery Gentry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-fcLozVPu0

Montgomery Gentry concert

Stan & I went to Phoenix to watch a Diamondbacks baseball game - and a post-game concert with the country duo, Montgomery Gentry. I was awarded a VIP pass (and meet and greet opportunity). With all the chaos surrounding my mom and her care, I was so grateful for this opportunity to "escape"! Our good friends, Darrell and Tricia Rezendes (Tricia is pictured with Mindy in the phot) came with us to the game. It was great to spend time with them! During the game, I went to my assigned spot and met the guys in Montgomery Gentry. They were gracious and a lot of fun! Troy Gentry (pictured on the right) thanked me/us for coming out to the show and hoped that we had a good time.

I went back up to sit with Stan, Darrell, & Tricia and this is the photo in our seats. I have to thank my sweet husband for taking us to Phoenix - and for allowing me this "once in a lifetime" opportunity to meet one of my favorite bands!

Summer Fun

Katie's birthday is July 15th and for a "present" her brothers and her dad got the day before off and we went to our old stomping grounds, Bolsa Chica Beach. We spent the day and all 4 brothers came! Plus, a couple girlfriends. We played in the surf, they built a sand castle, we sat around a fire and made s'mores. It was a great day!

We were able to talk with Nana (my mom) to make sure she was doing OK before we headed out to the shore. It was the best thing we could do for our family in light of the latest stress we've experienced!

The weather was perfect and the company was awesome!

Summer BLAHS

I was really good about posting for awhile, but I've slacked off. So, if you want to see my photos, here's my flickr address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/summersfire/ I do keep that updated with the latest photos.

Current happenings in our household: Nana (my mom) had a stroke on July 9th, while Stan and I were out celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. She had never changed her health care to Kern County, so once the docs were sure that she was stable, they moved her back to LA County. Such joy..... NOT. Now we're 140 miles from her and do our best to visit twice a week. She is closer to two of my sons, and they're doing their best to fill in the gap, so to speak. Nana is eating well but she has limited mobility due to left side paralysis. The prognosis is favorable for her to walk again, but they're not sure about the usage of her left arm. Her spirits are pretty good and she has a nice, friendly roommate. I'm glad that she's in good hands. I just wish that she was closer!

Because of this, we had to postpone a trip to Wyoming to visit the Hoggan's. Wahhhhhh!!! (I'm pouting). But I know we need to be here in California for now. We are realistic enough to know that (with my mom) this could be the shape of things to come. Our prayer is that we get everything in order before the next stroke hits.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. As usual for the Thompson household, our summer is crazy-busy.

Much love to our friends!

99 Things

99 Things.
Saw this here, and thought I'd play along ...
Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child - I'm adopted - does that count???
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - I want to!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - I was in a commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - custom-made swimwear
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone - my wrist... my horse went one way, I went the other!
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - does a slow one count?
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car - our truck
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper -- modeling clothes as a little girl
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - Bill Bixby (remember the Hulk show on TV?) and Mike Anthony from Van Halen
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (X 5)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee