{uneventful--pizza}

This past month has been pretty uneventful! I'll be honest....I am not a big fan of January. It must be a combination of the cold weather, short days, and going stir crazy that gets to me during this month. So with that being said, we do have some fun things to look forward to in the coming months, and for that I am thankful.

This past week, we thought it would be fun to make homemade pizzas together. The boys each got to pick out whatever toppings they wanted to put on their individual pizzas, and it was actually a lot of fun.

I was a little surprised that they both picked mushrooms to top their pizzas off with.

Steve's creation.

Delicious!

Steve's mom is coming into town next week to stay with us--yay! We get to celebrate Steve's big 30! We have a temple trip planned to the Winter Quarter's temple in Omaha with some good friends. Plus Valentine's Day is coming up soon, and I can't wait to make homemade Valentines with the boys for their school friends, and of course--make some sugar cookies.

{recipe exchange}

I just joined a recipe exchange blog, and wanted to share my latest recipe! I am a big fan of apples--and I found this awesome apple crisp recipe ! I don't usually eat apple crisp very often, but this recipe is just too good! I made it this past weekend, and sadly it is already all gone!

The key to making this dessert perfect---- is using a wide variety of apples. I used:

Granny Smith
Golden Delicious
Gala
Johnny Gold

10 cups of apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1/2 cup white sugar
1 T. flour
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
2/3 cup of water
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup flour
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 T. flour, and cinnamon and nutmeg together, and sprinkle over the apples. Pour water evenly over all. Combine oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture. Bake at 350 degrees (covered) for about 50 min or until top is golden brown.

If you want to check out the recipe blog, here is the site: {recipe exchange}

{strengthen}

2011 is here!

I am really looking forward to what this coming year will bring. The year 2010 was full of so many transitions and changes for our family, that I am looking forward to the New Year with great anticipation. I, like many of you have been pondering as to what direction I want for this coming year to take me.

I personally am not a big fan of "New Years Resolutions"---or I guess I should say the idea behind them. I have a hard time setting a big list of goals at the beginning of the year, to fall short by mid February, and feel like a total failure. (Which in the past, is usually what has happened)

So this year, I want to take a different approach. I have had a lot of thoughts and ideas that have been floating around in my head for the past few months. And the reoccurring theme that keeps coming back each time is the word

strengthen.

The word strengthen-- could mean a variety of things to different people I suppose! But to me, it means something very specific. With all of the challenges, transitions, changes, and at times trials that last year brought--I feel that the thing, that needs to be at the fore front of our lives this year- is working to build a strong foundation within our family unit.

Working on strengthening our family and all that it encompasses-- is my aspiration for this year! I have really thought long and hard about what kinds of things that I could do this year to not only strengthen my family but also myself. I found this awesome link off of lds.org that gives several key ways that will assist you in building a strong family. Click on the link {here} if you want to check it out.

The four main topics cover:

1. Keys to Strong Families

2. Strengthening Husband and Wife Relationships

3. Strengthening Parent and Child Relationships

4. Strengthening Individual Family Members

So even though my "goal" for 2011 to strengthen may seem a bit vague to you--I am very keyed in, as to what it means specifically for me--and I can't wait to get started!

And to start out the New Year, the boys have undergone some changes of their own. First up Tanner.

Meet the newest member of the Sunbeams!

That's right, Tanner had a little "graduation" from nursery yesterday, and is now officially in primary!

He did very good on his first day. I think that he was mostly just excited to be in primary with Hunter. We are so proud of our little Sunbeam.

And Hunter has now lost both of his top front teeth!

He lost his two front bottom teeth this past summer, and they are now almost all grown in.

That sweet little smile of his just melts my heart.

He calls his "new smile" his vampire smile.

So here's to a New Year ahead for the Morris Family!