Dear Flager Family,

Thank you for welcoming me into your family with open arms. I must say, my in-laws are pretty amazing.

Julie, Dad, Meg, Joe, Mom, and Aaron

Yay for new sisters!

All Photos by Alyssa Jul Photography

I'm sitting here on the couch . . .

. . . and I REALLY need to work on my legal brief. It's due on Monday, worth a whole heck of a lot of my writing grade and, well, what I am going to be doing for the rest of my life so I should get good at it. But all I can think about is . . . Joe and cookies. I miss Joe. OK, I know he needs his "man time" and to be honest, he's a lot happier after playing basketball with the boys. Sure their team never wins, but it makes him happy and that makes me happy. He goes and plays, I stay and "do homework." Sounds like a perfect solution right? Yes. Meg, get back to work, you are wasting your time. I know, I know, but all I want is for Joe to come home so we can make cookies. Should I eat cookies? Probably not. Goodness knows a law student's lifestyle isn't the most active. I purposely park in the farthest parking space, just to make sure I get in the most possible steps in my day. Isn't that sad? I'm trying to get steps in, not miles? Oh my. I've gone down hill. Yeah, certainly don't need the cookies. But oh, they taste so good, and making them with Joe is the best thing ever. He's the cookie monster. That man can eat more sugar than a sugar plum fairy. And it makes him so stinking happy when they come out of the oven. It's just so dang cute. He's like a little kid. And then it makes me think that someday we will have kids. And then my heart gets really big because then I think of what Joe will be like as a father and I know, well, he's going to be the best Dad ever. I hope I can be a decent mom. Our kids will probably LOVE him and just deal with me. But that's OK. It's going to be great. It makes me smile. He always makes me smile. Except when he's sad. He just walked in the door. His team lost again. The season is over. He just frowned. He's so cute when he frowns. Yeah, I'm completely smitten with him. I never thought I would let myself care so much about a person, but I just can't help it. He makes life so good.

Ok. I'm sorry for the mushiness. I'm really not trying to brag. It's just, a year ago I was lonely and not very happy. And when I have to do things that stress me out, like write this brief, I think about the happy things. It's what gets me through.

Chili-Rubbed Salmon with Sauteed Corn

Since I have someone else to cook for, I have been cooking A LOT more! Here is a great recipe from my favorite cookbook: Great Food Fast by Martha Stewart. It's a really light yummy meal!

Ingredients:

(Serves 4. Prep time: 25 Minutes)

4 skinless boneless salmon fillets (6 oz each) ( I get them frozen at Costco).

Salt and pepper

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tbsp olive oil

2 cups yellow corn (frozen or canned drained)

1 garlic clove, minced

1 cup fresh prepared tomato salsa (I LOVE this with fresh mango salsa)

Heat the broiler, set rack 4 inches from the heat. Rub the salmon all over with salt and pepper. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet; sprinkle the top of the fillets with the chili powder.

Broil until the fish is opaque throughout; 8 to 10 minutes (for out broiler 10m mins is too long!).

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the corn and the garlic, tossing until the corn is tender and beginning to brown. About 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the salsa and season with salt and pepper.

Place the salmon on plates with corn mixture. Garnish with lemon or lime if desired. I like serving this with rice too.

Enjoy!

Pizza Pie Cafe : A Review

It had been a long day. I didn't get home from school until after 8:30pm and I was STARVING. Joe hadn't eaten either so we thought we would try out a new pizza place that has opened in town. Pizza Pie Cafe was all I hoped for and more. All you can eat pizza, pasta, and salad at a reasonable price (around $6 per person). They offer 10 to 12 different kinds of pizza, including some very yummy new varieties. I like the Hobo pizza the best. They also offer a few varieties of pasta and several sauces such as alfredo, a meat sauce, and traditional tomato basil. With my giant sweet tooth, my very favorite part was the dessert pizzas. How can you go wrong with cookie dough pizza, oreo pizza, peach cobbler pizza? There were so many options, Joe and I felt like we had to try it all. Needless to say, we left full, happy, and a few pounds heavier.

A New Do!

You know you need a hair cut when you have been wearing your hair in ponytails for the last few months, your hair feels like straw, and you can't remember the last time you got a trim. Well, at least that's when I know I need a cut. My hair was so damaged, it wouldn't grow anymore, so I headed to the salon for a new do!

I asked her to cut off all the really damaged hair and this is how it came out. I feel like it is SO short! Joe says it makes me look like a little girl. But he likes it, and that's all that matters.

I'm getting used to it and comforting myself with how much I will be saving on shampoo and conditioner!

Comfort Food: Pot Roast and Veggies

My Mother is a great cook. She always makes meals that are delicious and easy to make. On cold winter days she would often make pot roast. It was yummy and warmed us right up. This winter has taken it's tole on me and I felt like I needed this comfort food. I can't be the only one who is needing comfort this winter, so I thought I would share this with you!

Ingredients:

A good size chuck roast for the number you are serving

1 potato per person

2-3 onions in quarters

1 bag baby carrots

2 cubes beef bullion

2 cups water

Sear roast on both sides in frying pan.

Place in slow cooker.

Cut potatoes into 2 inch size pieces.

Cut onions in quarters.

Place all veggies in slow cooker.

Add bullion cubes.

Add water evenly.

Cook for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low.

I like to cook this on Sundays. Since we have church until 5:30pm, it is nice to put this all together before church and then come home to a house that smells yummy and a dinner ready to eat!

This meal should not be eaten alone. We invited my sister Allie and her husband Chris to enjoy it with us.

It was a great Sunday family meal. It definitely fulfilled my comfort needs!

Lion of the Lord

Today was a great, bitter sweet day. I took my little brother Kyle to the Missionary Training Center where he will learn the Spanish language so he can serve the Spanish speaking people of the Phoenix, Arizona area for the next two years.

Of course, his mission would start in Kyle style. Spending his last night in with some friends, he lost his wallet. We spent all morning before he entered the MTC at BYU's various Lost and Founds. It was no where to be found! So, an hour before he was to head in, he called his bank to get a new debit card and the DMV to get a new drivers license sent to him. Hakkuna Matata was what he kept saying. No worries, all would work out . . . and they did. We took him to the MTC, snapped a couple pictures for Mom, and dropped him off at the curb with the other missionaries. They do it differently than they used to. Instead of going in with the missionaries, they just have you drop them off at the curb where two Elders are waiting to welcome the new missionary and help him with bags. So, we dropped him off and wished him God speed. Man, I am going to miss him!

Oh, and two hours later, I got a phone call. Someone had turned in his wallet. (sigh) I went an picked it up and dropped it off at the MTC for him. The debit card won't do him much good, but at least he won't have to buy a new wallet or get a new temple recommend.

I am really proud of Kyle. He is has a strong testimony and a desire to serve the Lord. He will be such a blessing to all the people he serves!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

One of the best things . . .

. . . about my husband is that he holds me when I cry.

It's been a hard week.

I had no idea . . .

. . . a person could eat as much ice cream/sherbet as my husband does. In the last few weeks he has eaten:

3 cartons rainbow sherbet

1 carton thin mint ice cream

1 carton mint and chip ice cream

Oh, and tonight when we went grocery shopping, he bought another carton of sherbet and a carton chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. I bet you those won't last until next weekend. (OK, I admit I had a bowl or two. Who wouldn't?)

It is starting to scare me. I had no idea one could eat so much ice cream without going into a diabetic shock or something. When I asked him if this was a new development since we'd been married he replied, "Oh no. I ate a whole GALLON in ONE DAY once!" WHAT?!?! Is this NORMAL? I don't think it is, but what can a wife do?

And another thing, doesn't this just seem a little unfair to you? I even look at an ice cream cone and gain five pounds. He eats a GALLON of the stuff and is as fit as ever?

This must be the reason he is so dang sweet to me.