Dishwasher diaster!

My mom was in Utah and I had just gotten home from Shasta so I was laying on the couch being lazy. My dad thought he would be helpful and decided to start the dishwasher since my mom wasn't there to do it for us. He asks me which buttons to press and I tell him, but I had a feeling I should go in the kitchen to make sure everything was ok. But of course being tired from Shasta I stayed on the couch for the next 20 minutes. When I finally got hungry enough to get up I walked into the kitchen and found this!



I started yelling for my dad saying the dishwasher was broken. I thought maybe something had got in the way of the door and that's why all the bubbles were leaking out.



I opened it and couldn't find any problem in there....but it didn't smell like the normal soup. "Dad what soap did you put in there?" He reaches into the cabinet and pulls out the soap(like for washing dishes in the sink)!



There were so many bubbles from that soap that I spent most of the night trying to scoop them out, mop them up, pour water on them to dilute them, and I must have ran the dishwasher at least 6 times before they all finally went away.

Lesson learned: Don't put regular soap in the dishwasher!

Arkansas

After leaving Louisiana I went to visit my sister Heather, brother in law Danny, and nephew Caleb in Harrison, Arkansas. I took 700 pictures while I was there so these on here are just a little sample of all the stuff we saw & did there.

Friday June 12- I flew from Louisiana to Houston then onto Arkansas but because of flooding in Dallas I spent most of the afternoon in Houston. I was supposed to meet my dad at the airport in Arkansas but he never made it because his flights were canceled. Luckily Heather, Danny, Caleb, and Lucy(Heather's dog) were able to pick me up that night at the airport. We went out to dinner then went to their house to get some sleep.

Saturday June 13- I was still pretty tired from all the traveling the day before but Danny, Heather, and I went to check out the little mall in Harrison. Caleb was spent the day with his friend at the zoo in Springfield, Missouri for her birthday. Caleb came back home and soon my dad finally got into Harrison, a day late because of crazy travel problems.

Sunday June 14- The boys went for a car ride while Heather, her mom, her sister Kelly, and I went to do a spa! My sister Heather has recently got into selling Beauty Control products so it was fun to go with her and see what it was all about.

Monday June 15- My dad, Caleb, and I spent the day in Branson, Missouri while Heather and Danny were at work. It was really hot but we toughed it out and played a game of dinosaur miniature golf! I'm really bad at miniature golf so I became the official score keeper when I accidentally overshot and lost my ball on the 5th hole!

Caleb was telling us the names of all the different dinosaurs

Caleb probably cheating

Caleb & my dad trying to cool off in the shade of a dinosaur

After golfing we drove down to the Branson Landing, my favorite place in Branson. We went into the huge Bass Pro Shop, a harley shop, and had some ice cream.

Tuesday June 16- There was a huge storm in the morning but we were still able to make it out to Branson that afternoon to go to the Branson Zoo & Aquarium. Caleb LOVES animals, especially snakes & dinasours, so we thought it would be a good place to take him. We pulled into the parking lot and realized we were the only people there....strange. After paying we walked into the building....I nearly vomited from the horrible smell of animals. I have never seen such a dirty place before! I was really starting to doubt whether it was even safe to be in there when we started seeing the animals. I was pretty nervous the whole time we were there and kept telling Caleb to not touch anything but there were some really cool animals in that place. I have never seen so many snakes before...it totally creeped me out but Caleb was having a blast looking at all of them so I had to keep going.

I took a picture of every snake for Caleb
(I had to close my eyes while taking the pictures, I was pretty scared)

Caleb(happy) & me(terrified)

I was so glad to get out of that place! It had some really cool animals but man was it smelly!


Wednesday June 17- Caleb went to daycare while we went out for a motorcycle ride. My dad rented a Harley so I rode with him and Heather & Danny went on their bike. We rode to a little town called Jasper, it was hot but we made it!

It was pretty hard to take good pictures while on the back of the bike but it was beautiful and so green there!

It was way too hot to wear our jackets but we kept our helmets on even though we were the only ones...there's no helmet law in Arkansas.

We went to Colton's for dinner in Harrison and I had my very first chicken fried steak! It was different but I liked it.

Thursday June 18- I slept most of the day, I guess all the sun on the ride wore me out! My dad rented a Honda motorcycle so I rode with him to Eureka Springs. We passed by some chicken farms, which really smelled but otherwise it was great ride. When we got there we all pilled into Heather's truck so she could show us around. There are so many historic houses there and there are natural healing springs all over the town. It's kinda like a hippy town in the middle of Arkansas...strange I know!

Me, my Dad, and Caleb by one of the springs

We ate dinner there at Local Flavor then headed back to Harrison.


Friday June 19- We got to spend some time with two of Heather's sisters, Nichole & Kelly. But since Kelly had a rodeo to go to she couldn't come with us to Springfield. So Danny, Heather, Caleb, Nichole, my dad, and I went to a motorcycle shop there and then went to dinner.

I was so proud that I got a picture of both signs. Sarah can be my witness that I am horrible at taking pictures in a moving car!

Saturday June 20- We went to Promise Land Zoo, it's a petting zoo & drive thru zoo! As if I hadn't seen enough animals yet, we got to see lots more and very close.

Caleb with another snake


Danny feeding the animals (before they ate the bag right out of his hand!)


Me, Caleb, and a tortoise


Buffalo...but no wings!


I learned I am scared of Emu's. A little too close for comfort!

We went back to Eureka Springs for dinner at Sparky's, we had some really good burgers there! On the way back we stopped to take some pictures outside of Booze Brothers because my dad loves the movie Blues Brothers.

His glasses fit perfectly!

Sunday June 21- My dad & I had to say goodbye to Danny, Heather, and Caleb...I always hate that part. We drove to the airport but made a quick stop at Sonic because I am addicted! I was so glad to get home finally after being gone for almost a month, but wishing I was still with my family down south! I can't wait to go back and spend more time with them again!

Louisiana

I went to visit my sister, Sarah in Lafayette, Louisiana from May 26 - June 12.
I flew into Lafayette during a lighting storm which caused the power to go out at the airport and that's when I began to realize Louisiana is very different from home.


Humidity: It was super hot during the day there so we spent most of the day inside. But the humidity at night made for some awesome sunsets.







Bugs: I have never seen so many huge scary bugs in my entire life. There was a cockroach inside the apartment one night that was so big that it wouldn't even fit into the vacuum tube! Sarah & I had no idea what to do when we saw the bugs but luckily Sarah's roommate Jai came to our resuce with a shoe! One night sitting out on the balcony I was attacked by this critter:

Frightening, I know!



Food: I think I ate my body weight in Buffalo wings, they are way better than the ones we have here! I am still having cravings for some WOW(world of wings)! Of course I ate at Raising Canes and went to the fair that was across the street, just for the food! Corn dog, chicken on a stick, lemonade, caramel apple, funnel cake, no wonder my stomach hurt so much that night! We also cooked a lot and baked some delicious desserts at Sarah's apartment!


Cowboys: One Saturday night I went out with Sarah's roommate Measie to a place called Cowboys, and that's what the place was full of! I have never seen so many pickup trucks in a parking lot or cowboy hats & boots in one bar! I had so much fun listening to Jamie Bergeron play some Cajun music. I even tried to learn how they dance too, I'm sure it wasn't pretty but I had fun anyway!


School: Since Sarah's had summer school the last week I was there I spent a lot of time shopping and sleeping while she was at her classes in the morning. But on the last day I was in Louisiana I went with her and Hilary to check out the campus before heading to the airport. Sarah had told me there were alligators at her school but I still couldn't get over it when I saw them there!




Mousey: It was good to spend time with Sarah since she couldn't come home for the summer because of summer school. I am sure she was glad to have me there but also glad when I left. So she could have her bed to herself again & not have me borrowing her clothes everyday!



This is the only picture Sarah & I took together the whole time I was there, on the way to the airport.

The time flew by really fast but I had fun doing and seeing things that I would have never done here in California.

99

Good thing I am still young, I want to do so many of these things!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6.Given more than you can afford to charity
7.Been to Disneyland
8.Climbed a mountain
9.Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14.Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20.Slept on an overnight train
21.Had a pillow fight
22.Hitch hiked
23.Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24.Built a snow fort
25.Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

Total: 32/99

Christmas

In true Becky Smith style, my mom left all the Christmas shopping and wrapping to the very last minute. Me and my sisters decided that my mom hasn't wrapped a present since Jenny was old enough to wrap, so about 18 years.

She also decided to buy a completely ridiculous number of presents for my nieces, so one night we spent hours wrapping 39 presents! The wrapping was UGLY, no bows, no gift tags, no ribbons. We just wanted it done!

We spent Christmas eve at Gram's house and ate some really good potato cheese soup, just like at the cabin! After dinner we had our annual girl cousin secret bathroom gift exchange! There were 11 of us in there this year, we were packed in like sardines! We had a great night at Gram's house like always!

After Gram's house we come back home and got ready for bed. Except I couldn't sleep! I had a sore throat for about a week before that, but it really only hurt at night. But Christmas eve night my ear decided to start hurting too....wonderful! I sat up all night holding my ears and waiting for my mom to wake up and keep me company, luckily she is an early riser! After a sleepless night I woke up the rest of my family and opened presents! We all got lots of fun presents!

My ears just weren't getting better so I went to John Muir Urgent Care. The doctor looked at my ears and throat but said there was nothing he could do because of all the medications I already take, I guess you can't take 2 different antibiotics at the same time! Frustrated, I just went home, took some pain killers, and slept for the rest of Christmas day! I always complain that there is nothing to do on Christmas afternoon and night, well this year I didn't have to worry about that since I slept through it all!!!

Jackson!

Sarah and I have been planning some pretty outrageous road trips, that we will probably never go on. However today we went on our first one! We decided to go to Jackson, it's the only casino that we know of close by that lets people under 21 gamble. Somehow our parents got in on our road trip too, which didn't turn out that bad considering we were stuck in the car together for 5 hours today!

We left home at around 1:30 and headed straight for Sonic! Incase you aren't aware, Sarah and I are willing to drive all the way to Tracy for Sonic, so we were thrilled when we realized it's on the way to Jackson!

Me trying to not look miserable after a couple hours in the car!
We finally arrived at the casino at 4:00pm, it was a very long 2 1/2 hours of country roads to get there, but it would all be worth it soon!

It was my first time ever using a slot machine so I had no idea what I was doing, luckily the old men who seem to spend a lot of time there tried to help me. I finally gave up on the complicated games and went to a 25 cent slot that I just had to match up 3 things. I put $1 in, lost it all. Put $5, lost it all again. At this point Sarah and my mom walk away and tell me to go with them but I decided to slip in $10, just to try my luck again. Next thing I know there are noises coming out of the machine and a little old lady kept telling me that I won! I had somehow got 7, 7, and 5 times bonus. The men next to me were asking me for tips and the old lady won't stop telling me that I really won this time. The machine finally stopped and I had won $155!!! I was so excited I had to find my family and tell them how I had totally won! And yes I stopped and didn't waste it all playing more slots!
$16 in the machine....$155 out! I would say it was a good day!

Sarah is coming home tomorrow

My sister, Sarah, is finally coming home after spending four months in Louisiana (if you are bad at geography, let me just tell ya -- Louisiana is FAR AWAY). Look forward to lots of new blog posts on my blog and on hers, too.