Playing Mom

Well, I am on one of my last days of babysitting for Bryan and Donna's eight kids.  I really have enjoyed the time I have been here.  There have been up sides, and downsides.  I feel like I have learned how to wake up to kids in the night and not be upset about the beauty sleep I could be missing on.  I have learned to be careful when yelling..kids get scared!  Aunts should never yell at their nieces or nephews.  Oh my, and keeping a kitchen clean is pretty much impossible! Another thing I have learned, by the point a family reaches eight kids, the first three kids are way helpful with cleaning.  it is amazing what six extra hands can do.  2 hours of work can easily turn into 30 minutes. 
I have a new respect for mothers.  They sacrifice their time, energy and sleep on their kids.  Donna is so patient with her kids.  Hopefully I havent scarred them too much since I have been with them.  They definitely know what I dont like.  Just the other day when I got home, one of the kids hands were in the chips. He hid them behind his back and started walking backward. They give me this look like..uh oh!  Aunt Michelle is here.  Dang I am mean.  I just dont want them to spoil their dinner is all!  :)
Carter-the youngest boy who is 3 has definitely grown on me since I have been here.  When he asks me for a cookie and I say yes, the sweetest smile comes to his face as he jumps up and down and yells "YAY!"  There are those times...like just now..when he asks and I say that he can after dinner.  He proceeds to cry. Dang, I am mean.  On the upside, he forgets quickly!  :)
Gretchen-Okay the reason I am talking about the 14 year old is because she has been a lot of help with the two youngest kids. For instance, on Saturday morning at 5:30, after staying up until three with the oldest, Shantelle (yes i am that responsible) I heard a cry outside of my door.  It was Carter.  I just knew it!  I crawled out of bed with only 2 hours of sleep and gretchen was sitting by Carter.  Gretchen looked at me and said I got it Aunt Michelle, go back to bed.  The only thing I did was say Okay.  I was back in bed asleep 30 seconds later.  Wow, gretchen is more responsible than I am!  Sadly last night the same thing happened but this time poor carter didnt want Gretchen.  Gretchen came into my room so I could help Carter. Brian tried, but to no avail.  I was in there within 2 minutes.  Gretchen also helped so much with putting the 3 little boys to bed.  She slept with carter in her bed one night.  :) what a nice sister.
All in all, this has been very educational and there have been many fun times while here.  I loved playing mom for a week.  Now I know what I have to look forward to..

Watch for the Women on Saturday Night!

Women are crazy.  I will tell you why.  When men go to Priesthood session in Utah, all the women gather to Deseret Book.  Let me just say, it is madness!  Why you ask, did I get caught up in this madness?  One: 20% off everything, Two: Lottery for prizes, Three: Grand prizes were three $400 pictures.  Four: my good Friend Staci was working there. Bonus: Door Prize for the first 200 people, hence the line..

 I am glad I got my friend Mandy to come with me!

 I thought about taking pictures with one more grand prize to go..  It is beautiful and in the bottom left corner of the next picture..

 I was sad I didn't win the grand prize, so I bought a new temple bag and some good books!  I did however win a CD which made my day.  :)  I dont know the lady, but she was there and I had her sign it.  :)  sweet!

THE END. 
(Next Post, GRADUATING SENIOR)

Missing Australia

 

I wish I could be back in Australia.  I dont like these finals looming over me.

 I miss my big brother, Mark.  On big trips we used to be partners cuz we were the only ones not married.  I am glad we both married awesome people though.  :)  I like my roomie now 

 I miss the koala that I pet.  He was a cool guy..pretty chill

 OH AUSTRALIA.  Let me go back someday..this time with Brian!

Finals, you are not my favorite

March 25 Blizzard

March 25th, what a day!  I woke up startled by my alarm clock going off.  I couldn't figure out why it was going off in the middle of the night.  I grabbed my phone and looked.  It was indeed 6:45 and time to start waking up.  You know what though?  It wasn't even light outside, so i pressed that snooze button.  Finally after 6 snoozes, Brian and I got up and ready for our 8 o'clock classes.  Brian walked outside and came back in saying that it was pretty cold out there.  I decided its okay to pull out a big jacket one last time before I really put my coats away for the summer.  We left home, made it to our classes on time and I sat in my class for 50 minutes.  I had to walk to my next class, which is entirely on the other side of campus.  There was definitely some small rain drops coming from a very gray and cloudy sky.  another 50 minutes went by, then I was on to my next class, which was in the first building I was in today...THE OTHER SIDE OF CAMPUS.  It was freezing outside and drizzling.  50 minutes pass.  I head to the library, which is the center of campus.  When I walk into the library, my hair was soaked and my black coat I wore today was completely covered in white.  I walked up to Brian who is studying in the library.  He says, oh it looks fun out there...so i shook my body, yes i did..and I got him alllll wet!  It is currently 11:45 and I am in the library looking out the window at the snow falling listening to Garth Brooks and dreading going to my noon class...what a day..  Come on Summer

Senior in College!

Well, it is my senior year of College!  Yes, I am almost a College Graduate!  And yes, this means that senior night saying goodbye to Jimmer Fredette and Jackson Emery was the night they said goodbye to me as a lowly college student.  Brian and I had to leave an hour ahead of the game just so we could get in our seats at the very tip top of the rafters.  Thanks to Sarah and Kurt, we were able to get that close!  ha!  Below are some pictures of the game.  It will start with a bowl of fruit..  I just wanted to show how healthy I was..thats all..  Whoo!

 My husband is so cute

 So when we walked in, they were handing out basketball cards.  I got three decks!

 We saw Rachel and David climbing up to the tippy top with their cute baby.

 Miss Sarah Van Wagenen..i may have gotten the last name wrong..sorry!  I like you though

And the basketball game was a winner!  We got over 100 points!

What a fun game..  and what fun company!

Scrubs

So Brian has entered his first semester of nursing.  He is so awesome but is always trying to do my blood pressure!  We need more friends so he can practice on others when both of my arms are dead.  :)  just kidding.  So a few months ago, he got his scrubs and had a clinic for his class taking blood pressure.  He wore his scrubs all day.  Well, im glad he looks good in them, cuz im sure I will see him in this more than just this once.  :) 

Enchiladas

So, I have tried to stick to one of my goals for the new year, which is to cook at least one new thing a week.  I really didn't do it in January.  Sad, I know.  Anyway, so I decided to do a dish just the other day.  I looked through my Flake Family Cookbook and found the best thing I could find.  I found something to help consume the 60 + tortillas in our fridge (thanks to brian's bulk buy): Enchiladas!  In the cookbook, they are called Cheesy Beef Enchiladas by Carin C.

All it asks for is:

1 lb ground beef

2 C. Salsa

2 C or 3/4 lb Velveeta Cheese

10 Flour tortillas

Directions:

Brown meat; drain.  Stir in 1/2 cup salsa and half of the cheese.  Then, spread 1 C salsa in a 9 X 13 in dish.  Place meat mixture down the center of each tortilla.  Roll up.  Place tortillas, seam side down on salsa in dish.  Top with remaining salsa and cheese.  Bake at 350 Degrees for 20 minutes.

It was fun to make for sure.  When the food was almost cooked, I realized we had way too much and we needed some other mouths to help us eat it.  We called our neighbors Trever and Mandy who were also making dinner.  We decided it would be fun to have a potluck.  They came down with yummy chicken and potatoes and a wonderful salad.  Thanks for sharing with us guys!