Chip's 1st Birthday

My youngest Siamese, Chip, turned one on Wednesday.  That means I have no more baby kitties in my home!  So sad!  I do love both Chip and Sparky and think they are the greatest cats ever.  Since this post is dedicated to Chip's 1st Birthday, let me tell you about him.

 8 weeks old and such a diva

Chip is my cat that loves to cuddle.  He's always laying on me and when I wake up in the morning, I find him under the sheets curled up next to me.  I love when I find a paw draped over me as if he is holding onto me.  It's really cute and I laugh every time.  Brett likes to say that Chip is obsessed with me which is true since I am the mama cat.

Me laying on the floor and look who makes himself comfortable

Ignore me, but look how Chip is obsessed with me

Chip is my lazy cat.  While Sparky is my athletic jumping cat, I then have Chip who is extremely laid back and when playing most of the time, he just uses his paws.  He also loves to eat especially when he is stressed out.  Not good, but I monitor him to the best of my abilities.

Chip is very vocal.  When Chip was 8 weeks old and I kitty-sat him for two weeks and his two other brothers from that litter, Chip had a very distinct little cry.  It was really cute what came from that little body and I fell in love with him.  As of now, Chip likes to be "the cat who cried wolf."  He will do these frantic screams when he can't find me, Sparky is wrestling with him, or if a door is closed.  At first I use to think that he was hurt, but when I find him just sitting there, I laugh every time.  I'm on to his tricks!

Chip was one angry cat on Easter Sunday

Chip loves Sparky!  This is why I wanted Chip because I thought Sparky needed a brother so he wasn't bored.  It has paid off and they love each other tremendously.  I can always find them next to each other either sleeping or playing. I am not thrilled when I do find Chip trying to nurse off Sparky and I have to flick his nose.  It's weird, but I think it happened because Chip was taken from his mom so young and he confused Sparky with being able to nurse. Never a dull moment!

Baby Chip and Sparky

Found them quietly on the egg crate

Warm fresh laundry

Chip loves to purr and he does it all the time.  If I wake up in the middle of the night, he purrs and rubs my legs.  When we came home from our 10 day Panama Canal Cruise, Chip purred 12 hours straight. I was super impressed with that even though it interfered with my sleep.  I know that he is one extremely happy Siamese.

After being gone for Memorial Day, both Chip and Sparky purred like 

crazy and would not leave my side.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY, MY CHIP!

Memorial Day Weekend

This year for the Memorial Day weekend, Brett and I decided to go to St. George to spend time with my family.  I also thought it may be a good to get away from home before the chaos of full cast rehearsals and the 5 performances that will consume my entire month of June.  Brett and I arrived late at my parents Wednesday night and left early Monday morning, so we thought it was a great mini vaca.  We were also thrilled that my brother, sister, bro-in-law, niece, and nephew could all make it as well. We had a great time playing games, eating, seeing a lot of movies (movies are cheap in Utah compared to Cali), and just spending quality time with one another.

Unfortunately, I was lame and did not take any pictures of my family and what we did.  However, I did get a picture of my Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Shake.  I wasn't feeling well that day and that was the one thing that got me through the day.  I can always count on my Carpenter side to go to Baskin Robbins every night. :)

Delicious unhealthy calories!

Birthday Weekend

On Friday, I turned 26. 

Am I really 26 because I still feel like I should be 18-20?

I'm getting closer to 30 and I don't look it (good thing).

Weird...

Anyway, I had a great birthday on May 3rd.  The night before, my Dad took me to the Angels game.  We had a great time even though the Angels lost.  After all, there are pretty terrible this year, but it was more about bonding with my Dad.

On my birthday day, I really had a great day!  I was spoiled with donuts for breakfast and received many wonderful presents from my loved ones.  I won't get into my presents, but there are a couple I am really excited about.

Later that night, my parents, my brother, Brett, and I all went to dinner at the Wrap 'N Roll Kabab House in Brea.  It's an Indian Fusion restaurant that is really good and now my whole family loves it.

After dinner, we came back to our place and enjoyed my delicious ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.  Every year I have to have one.  So good and a great way to end a birthday! :)

  

April 14, 2013 Panama Canal Cruise; Day 10 The Final Sea Day

The final sea day had arrived which was a very bittersweet realization.  This cruise had gone by at a perfect pace.  It didn't seem short which was great, but I still disliked the fact that the last day was already here.  It was nice to be away with the hubby with no cell phones and lap top distractions.  It was nice to actually be able to read two books and not have to worry about what I needed to do.  This, my friends, is why I love cruising.  It's the simple things that use to be in our world.

Brett and I started our last day with early morning Zumba.  The first day we met a couple from New Jersey, Bella and Larry Goldman, who we ended up seeing every day all the time.  They were very nice and so on the last morning, Larry took this picture of us.

As the day continued and Brett and I made the most of our last Sea Day, we decided to treat ourselves to one of the specialty restaurants on the ship, the Bayou Cafe.  We had heard from several people that this place was excellent and that you had to try the Gator Ribs.  So, Brett and I decided it would be an experience.  This place was excellent!  I loved everything from the biscuits to the gator ribs to the spicy gumbo and finally to the King Prawns.  We both stuffed ourselves, but it was delicious!

The Gator Ribs

Spicy Gumbo

(I took the craw-fish off)

Brett with the best filet minion I have ever had in my life

Me with my King Prawns

Sweet Potato Pie

Brett and I loved this cruise and were grateful once again for the opportunity to travel.  I feel very blessed in my life that I have been able to see what I have seen so far in this world.  I am glad that I was able to have this quality time with Brett and share these experiences with him.  You never know where we will be going next, so stay tuned!

April 13, 2013 Panama Canal Cruise; Day 9 Grand Cayman

Day 8 was a Sea Day which was a nice little break to just relax, Zumba, swim, eat, and more working out.  And that is what Brett and I did all day. :)

The next morning, the Island Princess had arrived at Grand Cayman and we had the whole day there.

Taking the tender to shore

Rainbow

Brett and I saw this lady often on the ship, and we thought she was quite ridiculous, comical, and annoying.  No fashion sense especially when it came to the beach.  I don't understand why you would wear Ugg Boots when it's 85 degrees F on an island in the Caribbean?!  

Maybe you can figure out what type of person I may be talking about...

Brett and I did a half day excursion to the famous 7 Mile Beach.  This was the best beach I have ever been to in my life.  The sand felt like velvet between my toes and the water was beautiful.  This was definitely heaven to me!  Brett and I went swimming, snorkeling at a nearby reef, and even went on the banana boat with three other guys that were over 65.  We had so much fun and enjoyed the three hours at that beach.  

7 Mile Beach

Isn't it beautiful?

After our excursion, we walked around the capital, George Town, and went looking for black coral earrings.  We eventually found some, but it was nice to be exploring in this cute little town.  We really liked Grand Cayman and would go back again.

April 11, 2013 Panama Canal Cruise; Day 7 Limon, Costa Rica

Brett and I were both looking forward to going to Costa Rica for the zip lining.  Many people had mentioned to me that Costa Rica was the best for this, so how could we not want to do this.  Costa Rica is beautiful and very similar to Belize with lots and lots of Rain forest! 

Pre-zip lining picture

Our group with Princess

Walking to the zip line

Getting our gear checked before entering

Zip lining through a rain forest was so cool and fun especially with this view.

I made Brett go first to make sure he went 

(he's scared of heights)

Me!

There were 9 different tracks, some short and some long.

We would stand on these platforms between each one.

Tucan

When we were heading to the zip line on the bus, I saw a 3-6 ft. long web hanging from the trees.  I had to look again to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me because I saw three huge spiders hanging from this web.  I then noticed that there were multiple webs like this with even more spiders.  I have arachnophobia and I was slightly nervous about these huge spiders  Luckily, I didn't have to encounter any spiders while zip lining.  

Here is one of spiders at the end of the zip line.

Ew!

Post- zip line picture

This leaf is the same leaf that is in Chanel No. 5

Smelled really good!

Brett and I loved Costa Rica!  We had a lot of fun and enjoyed doing the adventure of zip lining.  We both agreed that we would definitely go back and spend a week there.  I have to admit that this was my favorite port and excursion of the entire trip.  

Puerto Limon