Happy January!

For some reason I always kind of get the blahs about this time of the year. I think it's because the excitement of the holidays are over and it's back to real life (deadlines, homework and early morning alarm clocks). Also, the weather is frightfully cold here in Utah - complete with fog, lots of snow and icy streets.

However, there is a lot of happiness and beauty around too. I live in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains and just walking outside my house makes me really happy - I get to look at the incredible snowcapped peaks hovering over my house. Also, my kids and I always spend a day at my friend's house in Midway and snowmobile and sled in her backyard - something fun to look forward to every January. (Thanks, Sunny!)

Then there's the four birthdays that we get to celebrate within 28 days of each other. We usually have one big birthday dinner right in the middle of the month and invite both sets of grandparents. This is always a memorable evening - something to really look forward to. My 10-year-old daughter, Brecken, is quite the chef and she's cooking the entire meal this year. She chose the menu: Parmesan Chicken, Steak House Potatoes Au Gratin, Veggie Melts, Citrus Salad, Fresh Cranberry Relish and Southern Banana Pudding.

A profound poet once wrote: "God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December." In my case it would be January and the roses would be snowcapped mountains, snowmobiling and sledding, birthdays and a young daughter who's treating me to an entire meal!

Happy January!