Rose Bowl, Resolutions and a Recipe

We started out the New Year with another victory for the Trojans!

On New Years Eve Eve our friends made up some goals for us, here are a few of their suggestions for us:

1. Have twins--what?!
2. Enter a Dance Dance Revolution Competition (keep in mind that we don't have and aren't good at DDR)
3. Learn "It's a Hard Knock Life" dance from Annie and perform in ward talent show...we'll be sure to get right on that.
4. Become ultimate Nascar fans and get a car to park on your lawn like our neighbor (they moved, thank goodness)

Thanks to the Ashby's , Perryman's and Mortimer's thoughtful suggestions it got me thinking. I haven't made resolutions for about four years so I decided 2008 was a good year make some goals and share them so that I'll actually take the initiative to follow through.

My "real" goals include:

Spiritual
* Read the Book of Mormon in 4 months with our wards Relief Society
Personal
* Start an R.N. program and make good grades
Financial
* Deposit money into our IRA's
* Start a missionary/college account for Carson and future children
Physical
* Exercise 3 days a week for at least 30 minutes (housework doesn't count!)

Today, after the game we had these amazing mouthwatering ribs. They were so good that I thought I would share with you the recipe so that you can try them for yourselves.

3-4 lbs Pork Spare Ribs (makes 2-3 servings but we cooked more and the sauce amount was enough)
1 C. Maple Syrup-the real stuff
1/3 C. Soy Sauce
3Tbs. Sweet Cooking Wine (Kikkoman Aj Mirin, found at Raley's)
1Tbs. Garlic Powder
2tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Sugar
Bring ribs and water to a boil and cover in a large dutch oven, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Place ribs in a slightly greased 13x9 pan.
Stir together syrup and other 5 ingredients and our over ribs
Bake @ 325 for 1 hour
When done baking, pour sauce out of 13x9 into a saucepan and thicken with corn starch. Then pour sauce over ribs and enjoy!

5 Years!

It seems just like yesterday that Andrew proposed and we were planning our wedding. I can still remember that wet day so clearly, we look so young!

During these five years we have grown as a couple and experienced many things together; college, traveling, homeownership, and parenthood to name a few. I love him so much more now than when we were first married and I am lucky to have him as my husband. He is everything than I could ever ask for and more.

It is fun to see how our relationship has grown and I am looking forward to many more happy years! I love you Andrew. Happy Anniversary!

Merry Christmas!

I was so proud of how well Carson was with Santa because all of the children after him were crying and trying to get away. I hope that while celebrating the commercial aspects of Christmas that we will remember the reason we celebrate CHRISTmas.

President Ezra Taft Benson said:

“Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fullness of joy. It is my testimony that the Babe of Bethlehem, Jesus the Christ, is the one perfect Guide, the one perfect Example. Only by emulating Him and adhering to His eternal truth can we realize peace on earth and good will toward all.”

I know that by keeping our Christmas preparations simple and giving small presents help us remember our Savior at Christmas and bring His Spirit into our home.

Below is our Christmas letter for those who want to know what we have been up to this year.

Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family,

It has been one eventful year! Within a month’s time, we bought our first home, we finally retired my pink car, and Carson was born.

Andrew is still working at home. Shortly after we moved into our home, we had cabinets and a desk built for his home office. This upgrade makes the office the nicest room in the house and allows Andrew to be more organized and productive. Carson and I are lucky to have him around all of the time and enjoy getting to spend our days with him. For the past year, Andrew has been playing basketball one night a week. He enjoys the competition and considers it a victory coming home uninjured.

I am still cleaning houses one day a week. I am also anxiously waiting to get accepted into a nursing program. In my spare time when I am not being a busy mom, I have been trying to catch up on scrapbooking and enjoy making homemade cards for a card club I joined.

Carson is six months old and he is getting so big! He has his two bottom teeth and can sit up all by himself. He is becoming photogenic and is quite the flirt. He is such a happy baby. He loves being outside and tries to grab anything within his reach. It is crazy to think about our lives before Carson, how boring!

We wish you happiness now and in the coming year.

Love,

The Morgans