South Padre Island

We finally made it to the beach this time around. I was up bright and early and got dressed and ready to go. By the time we had breakfast and got everything in order, it was around 11am.

We went by to pick Sydney up from her grandmother's house since she had spent the night and then headed towards SPI. We arrived there at almost 1pm.

Contrary to what I thought would be the case, it didn't seem like it was packed. We finally found a parking spot and headed towards the sand. Unless my mind fails me, this is Sydney's first time going to the beach.

We were out there for almost five hours and then decided it was time to head back, as all of us (Liz, Rebecca, Sydney and I) were hungry and pretty worn out.

We got back to my dad's after grabbing a bite to eat at around 6 or so. Because we are still on the hunt for some documents of his, we started looking through old pictures.

Boy did Liz and I crack ourselves up looking at some of the pictures...fun times!

For those of you that didn't know, I was a tomboy growing up..at some point I had convinced myself that I was a boy (and now I've got the pictures to prove it). I'll be posting those as soon as I get back.



Sexy mama...




Rebecca getting ready for the beach.




My cool dad & I.




Liz, my dad and Rebecca.




Sydney and her Grandma Yolanda.




Sydney, Carolina, and her baby.




Ramiro, Frank's brother, & Sydney.




The intention was there when I bought her the hat..didn't quite fit...but you get the picture, don't you?




S.P.I. here we come, baby!




"Welcome Spring Breakers."




The Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge from a distance.




Sydney & Rebecca being silly with their sand pails.




The Queen Isabella Memorial Bridge. This is the ONLY way in and out of South Padre Island. It was renamed shortly after September 11th because it broke apart and some people died in the incident.




These flags were up (red & blue). The red one meant there was a high tide and the blue one was warning beach goers there were venomous sea creatures nearby....ohhh.




"What's this?"




We were ready to hit the water and sand.




Check me out. Her shades are actually her sunglasses, except they are transition. I must say she looks precious.



"La playa," "the beach."




Aren't we just precious?




Sydney was a little cautious of the water, as you can see by the way she looks. She was having issues with the way the tide would move her towards the water when she stood on the edge.




"Look momma, I can't put sand all over me...and I do me all over!"




Rebecca & Sydney working hard to build their sand castles.




Our sand castle, okay you get the picture.




Momma & daughter taking in some rays.




Cool!




Look at her all cool...she was really digging the beach and the sand.




By this time all Sydney wanted to do was destroy our sand castle and well I let her have at it.




Considering it was Spring Break, there wasn't like a ton of people and the ones that were there weren't crazy. It might have still been too early for all the crazy crowd. They were probably still sleeping off the hangover from the night before.




I had always wanted a picture by this sign and finally got it.




This was my parents wedding picture. Interesting fact: It was taken 5 years after they were married and my mom was still able to fit into the dress after having 3 children. My older sisters and brother thought they somehow had gone to my parents wedding.




My parents on their honeymoon. Here they were at a park called "La Cola de Caballo" in Monterrey, N.L.




My parents on their wedding day.




My mom and Liz, Eva, Andy, Albert and myself...I guess Erica was not around yet.



My mom & dad.




Erica & I again at one of my aunt's house.




I wonder what on earth we were looking at?




What's up camera...you want something?




Look at me leaping off of that step....not even the dress was going to stop me.




My family in China, Nuevo Leon years ago.




This was my mom with her parents on her 15th birthday.




Oh, I must have been around 7 or 8 here and already I was self conscious of my smile with my gap in my teeth. That's why I'm on round 2 of braces.




Cutie pie...look at the gaps.




Albert & I....well look at who's actually not shirtless.




Erica & I at the Minyard's way back when on First St. I ran into a tone of pictures of us on different occassions on this carousel...we must have begged to get the $.25 to ride this thing, because it seemed we did get to ride it a lot!




This photo was taken at Central Park. Someone must have done something to me...I was not happy about something.




Just look at those cheeks...man they must have weighed 2 1/2 pounds each, at least. Check out Albert in the background by the door.




Erica & I just chilling beside some rocks...gosh we were tiny here.




This was in China, Nuevo Leon....if I can recall, it was at one of my aunt's weddings....just look at me...I'm like "I don't know!"




We were having Sunday school here at Central Park. That poor Sunday school teacher, I swear she tried but we were all just in another world.



Looking like "I didn't do it!" "Or did I?"




Erica & I outside our house on 817 Beverly. Check a girl out...no shirt and no shame either!




Wasn't I just adorable? Tell me don't I look so cute in that red dress and baseball cap? :)




Liz and I....yet again chilling without a shirt!

Vacation: Part II

Today was again dedicated to some more running around and taking care of some more of my dad's business. These last few days have definitely been such an eye opening experience for me in terms of my dad...there is a "role reversal" of sorts that has become reality...it's like now we are having to become my dad's parent. Although a bit frustrating, I much rather prefer to see the positive side of it all and be thankful to still have my dad.

After we finished with his business, Liz, Rebecca and I headed South for the border...better known as "Las Flores." We were headed with a mission, but still did some side shopping. I made a purchase of a straw hat I had seen when I came down in July. Let me just say I am not a "hat" woman, but for some reason, I'm "digging" this one. I bought Sydney a different one and we'll probably sport them while out at the beach tomorrow (hopefully).

After we got back from Mexico, I went to visit the Garza girls...old friends from church. We spent a couple of hours chatting and catching up and reminiscing about old times. That was real nice...it's so crazy how the years just pass by.

For the last hour or so, Liz and I have been sorting through some of my parents belongings one of which included my mom's purse....in almost the exact condition she had it with contents and all when she passed away going on 10 years ago. We discovered what we already knew about her...that a pack rat she was, but a neat one at that. We seriously found stuff from the late 60's, early 70's....I'm not kidding. It's so strange in a way, all of this ordeal....at times it feels as if I was just having a bad dream.

What I'd give to turn back time! :(




Okay, you might disagree, but I'm digging this hat....since I was last here in July, for some reason I just loved it but didn't get it then....I did now. I probably won't ever wear it again.




I bought this cute straw hat for Sydney Poo.




This was the line to get back on US soil. We were there exactly 1 hour. Patience and hope you don't have to go potty, is all I have to say.




"Las Flores" This is probably the only "safe" place in Mexico. I say that and after we returned to Garland, I read on the local newspaper that on the following Monday there had been a bomb threat to blow up the bridge.




One side USA, the other Mexico.....literaly, like an invisible line drawn across the ground and the Rio Grande.




I was just here in July and this was not up. This is on Military Road (going East will lead you to Brownsville and going West will take you to Rio Grande). The fence you see there is the famous border fence being built across the entire Mexico border to help with drug traffic and illegal entry.




Emma and her three little ones.




Cindy and her little boy.....expecting her 2nd.




Emma, "Mono," and new baby boy.




Eliza, Liza girl, and her adorable daughter.




The Garza girls & me!

Vacation: Part I

My long awaited vacation is FINALLY here. I have not had a week off from work (entire/whole) in over two years, so it's quite overdue.

While most newscast at home are talking about the popular "staycations" thanks to the economy, I decided a vacation was still happening for me...money or no money.

So you ask yourself, "where did I go?" Easy, none other than to my dad's in "The Valley." I've been here since Saturday and of course the "events" and "memorable moments" have not been an exception, in just my 2nd full day here.

I'll try to be brief as I am attempting to "blog" from my phone, but just to give you an idea of what my trip has been like so far.

I'm running from all the rain and cold in Garland only to come here to tropical South Texas and find the same crappy weather. Today finally, the sun graced us with it's presence and the entire day was just GORGEOUS!

But again to give a glimpse into the drama....my dad and his son decide to take off walking home while at an uncle's house...what they were thinking is beyond me.

The whole butt-crack of dawn rooster awakening is still bright and early (as was the case when I was here last July). The "funky" happenings are still at the call of the day.

Although, this might end up more like "work away from home" because of some parental matters Liz and I are trying to resolve for my dad, I'm just going to enjoy my time off.

I say that and have to admit I was up @ 8:30 this morning making work-related phone calls thanks to the work email I get on my phone.

I'll apologize beforehand in case my post is screwy...trying my best to give updates.

Laterz...with more excitement to come....no doubt!




My little Sydney Poo!





Happy because the sun finally came out!

And Jr. Makes 12.....

times an aunt for me. My sister Erica, gave birth to Hector Cardoza Jr. this morning at 11:30 am. He came in weighing a whopping 9 lbs, by far the biggest of Erica's 4 kids.

I still don't how long he is, but he looks pretty long.

I wasn't able to get too many pictures because he was quite fussy, but I'll be going to visit during lunch tomorrow so maybe I'll have better luck.

I'll post some pictures as soon as I can get them on here.

Just wanted to share the news!

Congratulations Erica & Hector!




Isn't he just precious. For a moment we worried, because for the longest, his little toes were a real dark purple, almost black, but all turned out well.





Proud Aunt!





I swear this boy cried for a good 3 hours after he was born.

Ms. Jill's Bridal Shower

Yesterday evening at my part-time job in Plano, we gave Ms. Jill a bridal shower. She and her husband-to-be, Dave, will be married next Friday, March 13th in Colorado.

Planning this whole shin dig was quite funny. You see my boss, Ms. Debbie, sent out an email to my B-Shift co-workers last week for ideas and suggestions on her shower, and all would have been dandy except for one big problem, she accidentally also included Ms. Jill in the email. Unfortunately although she did recall it, I guess once someone opens it, the message is not deleted and so Ms. Jill was given a heads up that well, we were planning something for her.

Things didn't get messed up though because we of course just had another email drafted (that didn't include her this time) and planned it for last night - and honestly she was clueless about it.

I had to work the window so I wasn't able to help set up but if you had the view from the main lobby to the Toler Room which is where we had it, you would have thought that all the Records Assistants had gone into the sneaky business as one right after the other, they'd go in and out of the room with an array of stuff all in preparation for the party. How they managed to pull it off with not once being caught by Ms. Jill is beyond me.

We finally all gathered and waited for Ms. Debbie to bring in the "bride-to-be." I've got pictures so you can actually see the priceless expression on Ms. Jill's face as she walked in and saw what all and who all had come together. Oh, before I forget, I don't know who was responsible, but someone somehow contacted her fiancee and dragged him into all this too, again, all without Ms. Jill's knowledge. That was pretty cool, if I say so myself.

Once she got over her excitement, we had her put on a shower cap that was all decked out thanks to Ms. Michelle's craftiness! We even had Ms. Jill practice "coming down the aisle," with tunes and all. Last but not least, we had them each exchange decorative wedding bands to "seal the marriage."

Just a side note, if you know Records, you know we love to make up excuses to have food, so being that this was not an excuse but a real celebration, FOOD was definitely in abundance!

We had everything from pizza, to barbecue sausage links, chips, salad, some little roll thingies (sorry, I don't know what they are called), cake, strawberries with chocolate and punch.

I think I speak for everyone when I say we "stuffed our faces."

Ms. Jill and her hubby got some very nice gifts hopefully to go along or help with whatever it is they may need for their place or themselves.

Wishing the best of luck and happiness to my "neighbor in Records," on her marriage (Ms. Jill is a follower on my blog, so I know she'll read this)....CONGRATULATIONS!

Below you'll find some pictures of the celebration.




Priceless! Ms. Jill's expression as she walked into the room to her little shin dig that B-shift put together for her.



The "bride-to-be." Although she was red from I'm sure shear embarrasment, she was also red because she had been inspecting 18 wheelers all day and it was a tad warm out!



We had Ms. Jill "walk down the isle." We all hummed the "marriage tune" as she walked.



The wedding ring...okay it was a decorative one...but you get the picture!



The happy couple.




"El Pastel"




Ok, trust me people, these strawberries with the chocolate/caramel deal were delicious....more so than what it looks...trust me on that!



The "cake cutting" ceremony.




Ms. Jill having a bite of some of her yummy cake.




Ms. Jill stuffing cake down her hubby's throat.




Ms. Jill & I.

Sharky.......

Meet our newest addition, not by choice on my part, to our dog family. One of the parents of the girls that Frank coaches gave Sydney this puppy, of course not before Frank agreed to keep it, knowing real well that I do not want or need another dog.

I must say though, the little runt is cute and of course Sydney is totally crazy about him - so that makes all the difference.

Don't ask how I came up with the name, it just came to mind - Sharky and well won't you believe, Sydney can sort of say it so that will do for me.

Here are some pics of Sharky.