car troubles

Well I've been experiencing a lot of car troubles lately. I've definitely been tested with patience. Of course it was my fault, I waited till the last minute to look at my car registration information and realized a couple days before it was due that I had to get my car smogged. Once I realized this, I started to stress. My check engine light had been on for awhile, but I've been putting off fixing it till I got a job. Unfortunately I had to get it fixed in order to do the smog check so that I could get my car registered for 2009. Anyway, I took my car to Meineke to get checked out and they told me that the third cylinder was misfiring and they needed to change out all the spark plugs, gaskets, and the coil in the third cylinder. After that bill of $585 I had to drive 100 miles so that the computer would clear and they could do the smog check. So I drove 185 miles, and just my luck....the check engine light came back on. Geez, what a bummer! I had driven out to San Clemente to camp with my cousins and had to leave early to fix the car...again. So back to Meineke I went. Now they had to change out the fuel injector. That cost another $200! So after spending (borrowing) all this money, my car was fixed. I was able to get the car to pass smog with flying colors! Finally that stress is over with!

camping in san clemente

I love camping! My cousins Cathy & Don invited me to go camping with them and their family down in San Clemente Beach. They are so sweet for inviting me, it really was a lot of fun!I drove out there and met them down on the beach.
Paige and I collected some cool rocks along the shorelineCathy and I laid out to get some sun...but we don't need to show no stinking bathing suit shot! haha :)
The boys chilled out enjoying the waves crashingPaige burried Corey in the sand, looks fun!...Don and Shane did a little surfing, check out the hotties! :) The kiddos had fun in the oceanThe hikes were funCathy and I got some yummy fruity drinks to cool off after a hot day at the beach...I loved the campfires!The sunsets were awesome





I had a great time! Thanks Cathy & Don for being such great cousins and friends! I love you guys!!!

st. patrick's day

Annie and I started the day off with a drive to the beach. We made our way to Huntington Beach, picked up some lunch (for me) and headed over to the dog beach. Annie was a little afraid of the noisy waves crashing and seemed to be stressed out. She also could've gotten herself killed cuz she started chasing some dogs that were 10 times her size (she's crazy!). But we had fun.Bad dog! hahaha :)
Later that day, we headed over to Grandma Vasquez's house for some traditional Irish food...we had some corned beef and cabbage - my first time eating this meal! I actually really liked it. We all hung out eating, chatting, and playing games. Good times.Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
I hope ya'll wore green so you didn't get pinched!!!

bob's big boy...yum!!!

Today was fun...and YUMMY!
I went to Bob's Big Boy with some of my relatives.
My sweet and beautiful cousin Diana works at BBB and so we went to visit her while she was on her shift. The food was delicious, and the service was great! I was so happy to get some of that FABULOUS chili spaghetti into my belly!!
Mmmmm Mmmmm Good!
Thanks, Mister Big Boy! :) lol

gramma and me
the lunch party...the vasquez ladies, with the Big Boy! :)

lunchtime!

Today I met up with some girlfriends that I used to work with from Matlock Associates. It was so great to see them again and spend a little time catching up. I miss seeing their sweet faces everyday! We went to this lil restaurant called Dickie's BBQ. It was so yummy! If you haven't been there yet, its a must try! Don't forget to save your cup...if you bring it back you get a discount next time! Anyway, thanks girls, for inviting me to lunch. I hope to see ya'll again soon! Big Hugs!!! xo

lots of family time...

This last week was a full one. Since the day my grandpa died, more and more family members showed up. My mom and my sister with her little girl Hailey-Jo all flew in. My poor brother wanted to be here so bad for the funeral but since his wife is due any day with their new little girl, he couldn't risk missing it by flying out here. But he wrote a beautiful, touching song and it was played at the memorial service...it was perfect! So the week was full of lots of family time. Everyone gathered at my grandma's house all week. We would sit and visit, eat lots of food, get things ready for the funeral, help her around the house, etc. The time together was very nice, even though the circumstances for us all to get together was so sad. After these last days being together, I have a new appreciation for my family. They are all so awesome! It was great seeing everyone pull together during this time and see our relationships blossom into something more...true friendships. Special times in deed.

Mom and Sister arrive with little Hailey-JoMeeting my new little niece Hailey-Jo for the first timethe family all gathered together to reminisce and share stories about grandpaUncle Dave and Grandma indulging...
but seriously, pepsi in a coke glass?? hahaha :)Vince's is a Vasquez tradition...I learned a lot about my family history this last week...like my Great Great Grandfather was an artist and started the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, Frazee Paints was started by one of our family members, my Great Grandma Helen Frazee-Bower is an author/poet and has a few books like this one:
The funeral was very special. Saturday morning there was a graveside service at Forest Lawn for family. It was such a wonderful service honoring Grandpa. Later that afternoon there was a memorial service that was open to everyone. This day was very memorable and very special. I was honored to take photos for Grandma that day and have posted some of them on my photoblog:

Jody Vasquez Photography

(Some people who read this blog might think that taking pictures at a funeral is weird...but if you knew my family, you'd know that its not weird at all. There is always a camera going off when any of us get together, for any event or occassion!)
Anyway, the day was full of tears and joy...we are sad for us that we don't have Grandpa with us anymore, but joyful that he is healed and in Heaven with Jesus, his sons, his parents...and all his family.

The next night, on Sunday, the girls got together and we had a girly night at my cousin's house. We watched Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, ate goodies, chatted, took some fun pictures, and just enjoyed each others company. It was a great way to end the week, and we were all so glad that Grandma fell asleep through the movie and had some time to finally get some rest. She hadn't been able to sleep all week. Oh, and my sister fell asleep too...they were two peas in a pod...the party animals! :) hahaha!