Cruising the Caribbean

That's right ladies and gents, it's time for my post vacation details. I absolutely LOVED my 7 day cruise to Jamaica, Cayman Islands, and Cozumel Mexico. I had the pleasure of going with my family, grandparents, and my uncles family-a total of 12. My whole vacation was the week of January 19th-29th, we spent a couple extra days in New Orleans. So we departed SLC Saturday morning very early and got to New Orleans that same afternoon with a layover in Phoenix that only last 30 minutes.

playing phase ten on the plane

New Orleans is very green, swampy, and the people are very friendly. We stayed in Metairie the first night-our hotel was very nice the service wasn't the best but what can you do. That first night we just ate dinner and relaxed-flying with 12 people was exhausting. Sunday morning we headed to the ship that set sail at 4:00 pm sharp after we did a send off we never looked back! We first sailed off the Mississippi which took almost 6 hours then we got into the ocean. You could definitely tell the difference from river to ocean, it was not as smooth and it was nice and blue. Sunday was spent touring the ship and getting lost as well. Our ship was the Carnival Conquest it had 12 levels with the top 4 being just decks. Deck 9 or the lido deck was the buffet deck, they had anything and everything you could imagine. Pizza and Ice cream 24-7 and also room service 24-7 too. The average weight gain on a cruise is 10-15 pounds...yikes. That is really hard to imagine because you have to walk everywhere plus the wait for elevators was usually so ridiculous you were better off walking 5 flights up or down. Besides the buffet area each cabin was assigned to a dinning room at night that they could go to instead of the buffet. The dinning rooms were so nice, you had to dress less casual. They also waited on you and entertained you as well. The food was delicious I had the opportunity to try shark, duck, frog legs, mahi mahi, and many other things. They were also famous for their melting cake dessert. I had it every night...don't judge me. The waiters also had to remember our names and they did so good! I loved our 3 waiters and hope they know how much we appreciated them. Every night after dinner we would go back to our rooms and find some sort of animal made from a towel laid out on our bed, the service offered from carnival is almost unexplainable. The amount of details they look into is just amazing! Our rooms were cleaned several times a day if needed and the ship was spotless every day too. Being on the ship also made me realize how mush I depend on worldly things like clocks, alarms, my phone, the internet, TV, etc. The ship doesn't have these things and It was just an eye opener to me.  

dinner at the hotel restaurant 

Mississippi River

Woke up Monday on the ocean!

Top of the ship

one of my favorite towels! We first walked in and thought we didn't have one!

our room

our room was on deck 8 

Monday and Tuesday were our days at sea, I loved the days at sea. The ship had so much to do everyday it was almost overwhelming. most people have this idea that you get to rest and relax on a cruise (which is sort of a lie) but you are always running from event to event and you are up early and up late too. They had plays, movies, game shows, comedy clubs, dance partys on top deck, pools, hot tubs, and plenty of chairs to nap in the sun. I only got motion sick once but took a pill then was fine the rest of the trip. Our first port was on Wednesday in Montego Bay Jamaica, let me tell you it was the worst port ever. The people are too pushy and the area we were in was just awful. Their government takes all the money and keeps it for themselves, the people only get like 40% where the government gets 60%. My parents did an excursion in town and it wasn't much different there for them. It just breaks my heart and makes me grateful for the government we have here in the USA. 

looking off the ship onto the shopping tents

For some reason this area was abandoned! These buildings are all empty!

This was fascinating to me and it shows how big Jamaica is!

Our second port was Great Caymens, I loved the Cayman Islands! They had good shopping, weather, and people. We also did an excursion there, my family went on a pirate ship that sailed out to open water and then let us just off the ship and swim. It really was a blast, I was skeptical at first but in the end ended up having a great time. Holly and I were buddies all week and loved our time together, we were always the last ones in our family back on the ship because we loved to explore. We walked all over the Cayman Islands and loved it. The worst part about the Islands was the fact that they had to tender us to the port; the port area was not deep enough for our ship to dock so they had us get on other boats to get to the Islands, It took forever! 

Tender boat on/off our ship

Pirate Ship

View of the city!

Our last port was Cozumel, Mexico it was awesome. Our excursion was snorkeling! I loved looking under the water and looking at the beautiful Ocean bottom. Our tour guides would swim down and usher the fish up to us, my mom freaked out it was so funny! We also saw a sting ray and got to pet a sea cucumber. After our excursion we just went shopping, they had the best shops out of all the ports so this is where I spent the most money. The next day and a half was spent hauling it back to the USA. Our last two days on the ship were those do or regret it days, time to do everything so you don't regret it. We went to all the shows and towel folding seminars, ate at places we hadn't before, and just experienced our ship to its fullest! The day we docked in New Orleans was a mixed emotion day, I was grateful to be back in the US but also felt like I was leaving a home is that weird? I don't know how else to explain it. 

Snorkeling!!!

Yep 7-11 in MEXICO! 

They had these huge containers of alcohol! It was crazy! 

These are the things I did the last fun day at sea:

towel folding seminar

My brother is a pro at making ice cream

Loved watching the Sun rises and Sun sets! 

Loved hanging out with my beautiful sister! 

My wonderful grandparents were in this hilarious skit, it was priceless!

The next two days was spent touring New Orleans, my mom really wanted to take us to the French Quarter so we rode the city bus (it was so much fun and so cheap) down town and explored the city. We ate beignets at Cafe' Du Monde which was located on Decatur street, they were to die for! We saw where the Superbowl was being held and also lots of Marti Gras stuff and even bought a mask. We loved exploring the city and did it all day long.

Very common store decor

Freaking sweet toilet seat automatic cover!! At the airport ha

Tuesday we departed early and got into SLC that same afternoon. We again had a layover in Phoenix longer than last time but we needed lunch so it worked out.  We got our luggage and vehicles then headed back to my uncles to pick up the rest of our vehicles. We said goodbye to our family and got on the road to come home. It was a very long drive but we made it and it was definitely good to be home. I loved every second of my vacation and getting to know my family members better, we are now a much closer family and I love it. I am a witness that cruising is the BEST way to travel. It was comfortable and required no effort to get to/from destinations. You played all day, slept all night then woke up in a new place! I am just glad we didn't break down like that ship recently! Don't let that keep you from cruising that can't happen very often...it can't. My family is now hooked on cruises so we may or may not be planning our next one already.

The beginning of 2013!

Due to lack of time and things that are more important I have been neglecting my blog, I have a chance now though so here is an update on the life of Heather Moat! Today I already wrote a post you can see it here, basically that post is from Christmas and the beginning of December. This post will be the end of December until today! The end of the year is always my favorite, I love the celebrations and the time I get to spend with my friends and family. The last Saturday of 2012 was spent at the Eve's residence. Tiana bought Brandon a huge basketball hoop for Christmas and they needed help putting it together. Aubrey and I decided to help them, we are champs and put the whole thing together while they wrote their sacrament talks for the following Sunday. After we got it set up we played all night! It was so fun and we are hooked! 

This year New Years Eve was very different from the ones I have had in the past. We normally throw a party as roommates but since I didn't have any this year there wasn't a need. Plus there were other parties being thrown so I just went to those. I also had to work at 6am on New Years Day so I couldn't stay out long. The party I did go to was a good one, there were a ton of people and a pinata! I stayed out until 11:30 then came home to watch the ball drop and then went to bed. I made myself a promise that one day I will see the ball drop live from New York...we will see when that happens! 

New Years day was spent working, It was so very cold that morning and after work I felt so sick! I  definitely had a cold and was hating my life. I am so thankful for medicine though that makes it so I can get better, I feel for those that are sick more often then I am. That first week of the year was spent just getting better, I couldn't do much else. Saturday the 5th I did get a new roommate though!! It is true that Natalie Belka is back from her mission and she is living with yours truly. I have loved our first week together and cannot wait to see what this semester brings us. Sunday the 6th was our first Sunday in our new church building! It was so nice and I loved the new building smell. Monday the 7th was the first day of school and I couldn't of had a better first day. I took last semester off for personal reasons and I was happy to get back into the swing of things. I am only taking 2 classes and that is enough for me. I am at the point where I either need to get into Nursing school or do something else until that happens. This semester is when I need to make a decision and go in that direction for Fall... wish me luck. Since last week was the first week of  school it was pretty hectic! There was homework, activities, institute, work and gym time. Aubrey had this crazy idea to do a 12 week body toning workout, and I had the crazy idea to do it with her. The first two days were all upper body workouts and I was so sore for days! I am excited to see what this week brings and can't wait to be done...only 11 more weeks! Tuesday the 8th we went to Institute-we are taking teachings of the Living Prophets it is going to be awesome. Wednesday the 9th Kari and I went to the meeting held by Sorenson communication at the school. In the meeting they threw out 4-5 potential names for when Dixie becomes a University. We have waited for this moment for so long and I cannot believe that it is already here! The final decision has not been made yet it will be done by the end of the week! I really hope they keep Dixie in the name but whatever they choose better be good!

Thursday the 10th we went to the men's basketball game (we totally won) and then we went to Bingo afterwards. We loved playing bingo, we didn't win anything because there were a ton of people but it was still fun. Friday the 11th we put ourselves on lock down and did a lot of homework. We didn't want to be stuck with it all weekend. Yesterday I hung out with my sister and did some much needed shopping for the cruise that in happening in less than one week!! Then I came home picked up Kari, Aubrey, and Nat and we went to lunch at Cafe Rio-it was delicious. Then we went to the Temple and then Smiths. We decided to boycott Wal-Mart for awhile and try out Smiths shopping experience. At first I was a tad overwhelmed (it is weird trust me I know) but in the end I really enjoyed my shopping there and it will happen more often. For dinner we went to Red Robin, then had the desire to do something super fun. I have been craving to go laser tagging for a couple weeks so I threw it out as an idea and everyone liked it! We got our group of 10 and headed over to laser mania to play. We had so much fun and I am very glad that everyone came! After laser tag we all went our separate ways; Kari, Aubrey and I came home and watched the new Spiderman and ate ice cream with cookies. Overall I had a great weekend and don't want to go back to school tomorrow. The good news is Friday we leave for our cruise to the Caribbean and I am so excited I can't even tell you! 10 days in the sun with no work, no school, and no troubles?? I'll take it!  

Very Merry Christmas 2012!

Well it has been awhile since I have done a post, I have just been busy with different things. Since I last wrote on December 9th many things have happened-two of my very best friends moved out, Christmas has come and gone and I survived yet another predicted ending of the world. We will get to all that when the time comes. First off, we did our roommate present exchange on the 9th and it was so great! I have thee bestest friends and roommates that a girl could ask for. We also celebrated Kari's birthday that night with her choice of homemade dinner and better than sex cake. Her birthday was the 22nd but we were all home for Christmas so that is why we did it early. Kari and I went to ward Temple night on the 11th, there were not very many that came so we did a lot of names which we loved. On the 13th we celebrated Tiana's birthday as well, we went to Applebees and then to her house for cake and Glee! The last couple episodes have been disappointing and Fox better step it up come January.

On the 14th we all went to see Playing for Keeps it was so good! If you love Gerard Butler this is the film for you! On the 15th we made yet another trip to Mesquite to play bingo. It was very busy both hours and no one in our group won..it was still fun though we really only go to play. The 15th was also the official move out day at our complex. I hated having two empty rooms and no one to come home to or talk with. I got a new roommate on the 16th but we are on totally opposite schedules and never see each other so I basically live alone. I don't mind most times but it is nice to have a full apartment I can't wait till that happens again.

The chore chart was all assigned to me since I was all alone...thank you Aubrey!

On the 17th we did our last FHE of this year and it was a Christmas/ white elephant party we had a good turn out and some interesting white elephant gifts.  On the 18th Holly and I hung out and I finally finished my Christmas shopping, I just had no idea of what to get for my family this year...hence the procrastination. On the 21st (day that the world was suppose to end...nice try Mayans) I headed to Tooele to celebrate Christmas with my family, this trip up was very hard for me because I had to leave my sister behind (she worked up until Christmas eve then her and Dustin came up). I have not made the trip alone for a long time and it killed me. My sweet mother talked to me a lot though so I was not as lonely. Plus I got to listen to all the glee and Justin Timberlake I wanted since Holly wasn't there to complain.

I made it home and just had the best five and half days ever. I apologize to all those who wanted to see me while I was in Tooele but I am such a homebody when I am home, I just can't help it. We did normal family things during my stay like play games,watch movies and make delicious Christmas treats. On Christmas Eve we always go out to my grandparents and have a big party. Another thing that was very hard for me to do without my dear sister. She called while we were at the party and I could not stop crying I was a mess. After we ate an amazing dinner Santa and Mrs. Claus came to deliver us each one present; a tradition that has been around since my mom was little.

After all was said and done we headed back to Tooele and went to bed. Christmas morning was spectacular my parents out did themselves yet again. I got many things, the most unexpected present was from my grandma. She gave me my very first sewing machine. I hadn't asked for one or ever mentioned that I wanted one but I was thrilled when I opened it! I sat there holding the box in my arms just thinking of all the things I can make. After presents, clean up, and a ham n' eggs breakfast, we visited my dads mom. My dads side is very very big so for presents my grandma makes our gifts. She is also very big into family history, everyone of her kids has a big binder full of family history stuff! Stories, pictures and pedigree charts. This year she decided to give me a binder as my present! I loved it! I have wanted to get into doing my family history and I think this is the push I needed. After visiting my grandma we came home and watched all our new movies. My sister, Dustin and grandparents all arrived around 5 and we had a big Christmas dinner then just talked for awhile. After they left my mom, sister Hailey and I watched brave then went to bed.

I arose early this morning to make the dreaded drive back to St George, I always hate leaving my family! The weather didn't make it any easier either! It was snowing or raining the entire way down. It normally takes me 4 hours but today it took me 6 and I was almost late to work. Never again will I leave home on the same day I have to work. The drive today and being in the cold snow all weekend pushed me to the edge, I am so sick of this crappy weather everywhere I go! I cannot wait until I am on a ship and soaking in the sun for 10 days!! Only 5 more days until our family cruise and even that isn't soon enough.