It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

And, no, I am NOT talking about Christmas...

While lots of people are boo hooing about taking down the Christmas tree, the horrible cold weather, and how depressed they feel in January, I just want to take a moment to give January two enthusiastic thumbs up!
That's right... I said it... and I'm proud enough to say it again.  I LOVE January.

I DON'T cry when I take down my Christmas tree... as a matter of fact, these days I'm so anxious to take it down I'm practically ripping the ornaments off as the kids are still opening their presents (okay, maybe not THAT fast...but I actually start thinking about it at about 10 p.m. on Christmas day).  I used to be one of those people that hated taking it down and I would leave it up until the afternoon of New Year's Day but not anymore.  I'm not sure why, but I have a few guesses...

Maybe it's the fact that I am bombarded with Christmas crap before we're even done with Halloween.  I'm sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Store Owner but I don't want to shop for rubber spiders and skulls at the same time I'm looking at wrapping paper with smiling snowmen.  Give me some time to enjoy one stinking holiday at a time why don't ya!

Then I was reminded of another reason as I drove my son to the stake dance this evening and I passed at least ten houses with their Christmas lights still on--I'm not talking about just hanging on the house, but actually glowing in the night sky, all full of electricity and all.  I even saw a lighted Santa waving at me and I wanted to go punch him in the face.  It's January, people...get with the program!  You don't have to get on the roof and take them down, but can you please unplug them at least?  I don't want to celebrate Christmas for four months.

And then there's January... all full of inversion, iced over windows, the flu... isn't it great?  All kidding aside, I really do LIKE January.  It's the time of year when I am filled with the most enthusiasm for accomplishing things.  Not only do I always set (sometimes really lame) new year's resolutions, but I also make a huge list of great projects that I want to accomplish and I walk around feeling all gung ho about it.  Will I finish all the projects?  Probably not, but then before I know it there's another January on the horizon and I get to try again. It's my time of year to feel all motivated.  I love it.

So here's my list of projects, and I swear I will get them all done:

• Paint the upstairs.  (I've already started and it looks awesome!)
• Organize my recipes, coupons and "junk" cupboard.  (Already started this one too--I'm even printing a huge pile of new recipes to try)
• Do my family history and temple work (see previous post)
• Reorganize all my photos, photo CDs and scrapbooks.
• Edit and print all my waiting photos (I'm over a year behind...scary!)
• Spray paint all my family photo frames and put new pictures in them
• De-junk my bedroom closet
• Sell my unwanted stuff on KSL (3 of 4 great things are already gone and I'm ready to post some more stuff!)
• Redo my food storage inventory
• Reorganize my storage room and the garage

I could go on and on...but this is my starting point.  Sometimes I even have a hard time sleeping because I'm so excited to get started.  Weird, eh?  The other day I even ironed (and not out of guilt)... and there were only four shirts (it took me all of 5 minutes--you'd think I'd remember that and quit letting the ironing pile get so big).  I felt very accomplished when I was done. 

And after keeping myself busy with all these projects, time will fly.  I will blink, the inversion will be gone and Spring will be here!