Caribbean Cruise 2009

We recently returned from a Caribbean Cruise for a week with our good friends Ryan and Jenny Keisel. We visited the islands of Bahamas, St Maarten, St Thomas, St John and Grand Turk on the Turks & Caicos. We also stayed a couple days on the back end of our cruise in Ft Lauderdale, FL. It was truly a fabulous vacation and we had so much FUN!!! I will give a recap of the trip day by day.

Saturday we traveled to Ft Lauderdale, most of the day was spent traveling but we did manage to get to Florida in time for dinner at a 5 Star Restaurant called Taco Bell.

Sunday was the day to board the boat, we got over to the port about 10:00 am and waited until 11:30 to board but once aboard we found plenty to do.

Waiting to board the ship at the port station

We got right on board and made ourselves feel welcomed by watching a movie on the ship, eating pizza and sipping on Pina Coladas. They had an open air theatre that they called Movies Under the Stars, we must have watched 4 or 5 movies while aboard the ship.

Watching a Movie

Craig getting an early start on the 10 lbs that he gained.

Monday morning was our first port day, we stopped on a private island that Princess Cruises have called Princess Cays, it was a very cool island and we had our very own private BBQ for everyone from the ship.

Arrival at Princess Cays, Bahamas

Pina Coladas on the Beach
Group photo with the cruise boat in the background
Surfin' Bahamas
The ice sculpture on board made these characters out of fruits and vegetables

Tuesday was spent all day at sea, we just relaxed out by the pool on the ship and caught some more sun, and once again sipped on Pina Coladas. We did get a massage that evening and had a wonderful dinner with deserts galore. Craig was fried after day two.

Laying out by the pool on the back of the boat
Evening dinner at one of the sit down restaurants
DESERTS!!!
Waiting for our Massages
Craig's Sunburn

Wednesday we ported at St Maarten, this was a beautiful island that was French and Dutch settled. We rented a jeep to tour the island in. We went to a beach on the French side called Orient Beach. A French Beach=Topless, there weren't too many ladies for me to be worried about Craig looking at. We spent all morning at the beach and then shopped in the afternoon on Front and Back street(s), we got souvenirs for the girls and Craig found a steal of a deal on some Lacoste Polos 2 for $25.Arrival at St Maarten

We rented a jeep to cruise around the island in with the top down
Orient Beach, the water and beach were beautiful
Love is in the air!!!
View of Orient Beach from up above on the road
Getting ready to get back on the boat headed to St Thomas
Formal Evening
Group Photo Formal Night
Clubin at Club Skywalkers, we hit this club just about every night and didn't leave until 1:00 am

Thursday was spent in St Thomas and St John. We ported in St Thomas but Craig and I took a ferry over to St John which is a beautiful island. We loved seeing both islands and this was probably our favorite stop. They are both part of the US Virgin Islands so it was much more civalized and up-to-date.

Arrival in St Thomas
Looking back at St Thomas from the Ferry
Michael Jordan's house mid-way between St Thomas and St John
Cruz Bay on St John
Trunk Bay on St John, famous beach is down below. I guess it is called Trunk Bay Beach.
Cinnamon Bay on St John
Some look out on top of the island
Izzy the Iguana

Dinner AGAIN!

Friday was spent at the Turks & Caicos Grand Turk Island. This island had been devestated most recently by Hurricane Ike. Hurricane Ike pounded this island for 7 hours and was between a KAT 4 & 5. A lot of the trees were still leaning, powerlines were down. Craig snorkeled in the water and could see tin, shingles, PVC pipe all in the ocean from the hurricane. This island had some of the nicest people and everything was very laid back here "island time".

Arrival to Grand Turk

Porting into Grand Turk with the beautiful water and beach in the background
Downtown Grand Turk
Our taxi to and from the cruise ship getting around Grand Turk Grand Turk Cruise Center
Giant Flip-Flop at the Grand Turk Cruise Center Everything's bigger in the Turks & Caicos
Formal Night #2

Group Photo Formal Night #2

Craig needed a bib for his lobster tail and giant prawns
We told them we were celebrating B-Days so I got them to sing to me

Saturday was spent on the boat at sea all day, we relaxed by the pool again, sipping on Pina Coladas and Diet Coke while watching 2 movies. We watched The Bucket List and Indiana Jones. I think in all we watched Mama Mia, The Dark Night, Hairspray, Marley & Me and the two above mentioned movies on the ship. (NO PICTURES)

Sunday we got in about 9:00 am and headed over to our hotel to check in. We had to wait awhile to check in so we went to eat lunch at Hooters after being there a little while we realized we were there right as General Conference was starting, oops. After checking in we took a Sunday afternoon nap and then went on the water taxi's looking at really nice mansions and yachts and then ate dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.

Lunch at Hooters
Getting Ice Cream from the Ice Cream man

Monday was spent laying out until noon and then off to the airport to catch our flight home and get back to see our girls that we missed so much.

Thank you to my mom for making this trip possible and watching our girls and to Ryan & Jenny for the fun times. Can I get a big YEE-HAW!!!

Things Are Cookin' at the Philipp Home

IN

THE

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DELIVERY IN LATE OCTOBER!!!

hAppY nEw YeAr!!

Happy New Year everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Once again, I didn't send out Christmas cards, I feel so bad. Next year will be the year. I would have to say I was truly grateful for this time of year. Not becuase I love cold weather by any means but because I love being with family and that's the only thing that gets me through this cold season. I absolutely DREAD winter. We have had so many fun occasions to help out with that horrible attitude of mine. Movies, Breakfast, dinners, parties, games and lots of yummy food. This season helps me to reflect on how I've been blessed. I have food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over my head, an amazing husband, two wonderful children and the gospel in my life. I am also extremely grateful for good health. I do have to say though I am excited to start a brand new year. It always feels good to make new goals and to start off "fresh" so to speak. Here are some holiday pictures of us over the past couple of weeks.

ENJOY!!!!

Our 5th year in a row to go to the Keisel's for the big sha-bang!

They always throw a great party.


Starting the night off right with some air hockey

CHRISTMAS STUFF
Fun Cousins
Jessica, Christine, me and Mom


Me and my awesome Mom

A fun tradition that my mom started this year was to make these big gigantic
stockings with everyone's name on them and have everyone get 5 little presents from each

adult put into their stockings. So the kids got like 20-30 little toys each. It was so much fun and turned out great. Thanks mom for the wonderful and fun idea. Defintely a keeper.

Halle sportin her new coat from Nana Philipp and out cold for the night.

Halle thought this was so funny, I don't know why

Lexi and Aunt Jana

Lexi built this house out of tiny tiny legos.

We got the Wii from Craig's parent's this year and we have seriuosly played it every night since Christmas. Thanks Nana and Papa.

Say Cheese!!!!

This was from Craig. Can you believe it?? Before you start freaking out I will let you know that it is a CZ. A "fun" ring if you will.

This is the best story by far... When santa went to pick this up at toys-r-us he only paid $1. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT...$1 stinkin dollar. It is suppose to be the "bling, bling" of the barbie cars and when the cashier rang us up it came to $1. That's the bargain of the year.Lexi got her bike she has been dting to have

This was our christmas tree. I am not the best at decorating. I hate tree decorating. We have had the same theme for 7 years now. I think we might try and change it up next year.