It's a "birthday" work in progress.....

As tradition goes, since I'm so creative, I'm the lucky one to make Tyler's birthday cake each year. I have pictures of all of them somewhere in my unorganized files. *Note to self* organize your pictures on your computer....before it gets out of hand! Each year, he picks something different and my quest to make the "coolest" cake begins.

Tyler's lifetime of birthday cakes

1st birthday - Fish
2nd birthday - Spiderman
3rd birthday - Pirate Ship
4th birthday - Power Rangers
5th birthday - Transformers cake w/ flames
6th birthday - Broncos themed

This year he was a little more indecisive. First he told me he wanted a "Vikings" cake, then it was a "football" cake, and totally unsports related as you can get...his final choice was a "snake made out of cupcakes with licorice for the tongue" cake. OH yes, he was that detailed.

So here is the cake so far..... (don't judge too quick...like I said - work in progress)

I'll have it completely done by 6pm tonight for his "birthday dinner/party"

HAPPY 7th BIRTHDAY TYLER AARON!!!!!

("finished" pictures coming soon)

Everything happens for a reason...

Back in 2003, I felt like I needed to move back to Laramie. At that time, I really didn't know why, but I packed my bags and here I am. It's been 7 years and it hit me today, I KNOW why I was supposed to move back. I needed to be a part of a little boy's life. I needed those big brown eyes looking at me, his contagious laugh to enjoy, and those little arms wrapped around my neck. Tyler Aaron will turn 7 on February 22nd and to save my fingers hours and hours of typing, simply put - I love that guy so much!!!!!!

The other day, I was putting laundry away and Tyler walked in my room. This is how the conversation went.

Tyler: Kristi? What is your favorite picture hanging in here?

Kristi: ..I like them all. Do you have a favorite?

Tyler: My favorite is that one.

The "favorite" picture

Awww....... it's my favorite too!!

And even though he's slowly changing from a little boy to a big kid, he STILL without hesitation will climb on my lap to sit close to me, take my hand while walking through a parking lot, follow me around the house to do what I'm doing, and of course he lets me smother him with hugs and kisses. Everything happens for a reason......nephews happen for a reason!

Turn up your radio...

Ever hear a song come on the radio or whatever and it instantly triggers a memory of some sort?

I learned today…that the part of the brain known as the medial pre-frontal cortex which sits just behind the forehead…..well it’s constantly acting like the host of your “Memory Lane” show. So next time you hear a song and that memory of your first kiss, or that slumber party with your friends, or maybe that long road trip as a kid pop in your head….it’s that lovely pre-frontal cortex. Good ol’ pre-frontal cortex!

I could name so many songs and the memory within each song, but so as not to lose your attention…here are 3 songs from my childhood that recall a memory…EVERY SINGLE TIME!

Song # 1 “99 Red Balloons” by Nena

Memory -- I remember my brother and I would dance around. Well I was dancing, (concentrating on my naturally awesome moves) I don’t know what he was doing. Near the end of the song, we would both run to the couch, sit down, and in unison our arms would raise slowly up from our sides. It was our BIG finale, apparently! So now every time I hear that song, the memory of the “couch finale” is without fail….right there in my mind’s eye.

Song # 2 “Jump” by Van Halen

Memory -- I remember thinking my brother was the ultimate cool kid. I wanted to do anything and everything he did. So naturally when he would throw in the old 45 of “Jump” and play air guitar, I was right there! Except being the natural genius that I am, I incorporated using glitter batons as guitars. I want to say even Ryan thought it was cool and joined in the baton use. We would run around playing guitar - jumping from the couches and sliding on our knees. Oh the awesome slide on your knees while playing guitar! So yes, every time I hear that song, the memory of “air guitars” is without fail…right there in my mind’s eye.

Song # 3 “Walk like an Egyptian” by The Bangles

Memory -- This song was totally the “it” song! I honestly didn’t know a cooler song….EVER! My girlfriends and I would pretend that we WERE The Bangles. We had a tamborine, a whistler, and our “baton” guitars and jean jackets!! My dear sweet friends were kind enough to let me be Susanna Hoffs, the lead singer. Haha. Or maybe I was bossy and they were afraid of me. Haha… I’m not bossy! Who, in that day and age, didn’t think it was cool to “walk like an Egyptian”? You know you did! So yes, everytime I hear that song, the memory of “Egyptian dancing and my girlfriends” is without fail…right there in my mind’s eye.

Now get out there...turn up those radios and enjoy memory lane!

Monday blues..

I've got a terrible case of the Monday blues...

Sadly, I wish it had even the slightest bit to do with the game yesterday.....it doesn't though. :(

I don't want to be at work today.

I don't want to be in my "work attire"

I don't want to listen to other people talking.

I don't want to smile.

I don't want to be awake.

I don't want to anything.....well besides crawl under a blanket and watch a good movie!!!

The cure? Most people say "just be positive..." Easier said than done.

So here is my list of ways to Beat the Monday Blues

1. Talk to a friend - I do this even if it isn't the Monday blues, sometimes I pause to text/email/call a friend even if I've got something as simple as the "gosh this hour is rough" blues. No matter what where your "blues" originate .....pause to "phone a friend"

2. Listen to happy songs – a tune can totally affect your mood. My computer should automatically turn on Michael Buble' every Monday morning.......that guy...how can you be sad and lethargic listening to his amazing voice?

3. Dance - Seriously...have you ever seen a sad unmotivated person dancing? Or if you don't want to dance.....JUST move!! I'm lucky enough that I have a secluded office. I take breaks to stand up, stretch, move around. I take breaks to complete 3 or 4 sets of different reps of different forms of exercise. If you don't have an office to yourself, take a bathroom break, or go for a little walk up and down a couple halls in the office. Bottom line - get your body moving, you’ll feel happier, I promise!

4. Laugh and smile. Recall the funniest memory or even a happy memory. I've got funny friends or I guess I could say clumsy. I just replay a Janine fall or a Reen fall. It's kinda like "America's Funniest Videos" in my head. Some research is saying that even the thought of laughing raises your endorphin (feel-good hormones) levels and a fake laughter provides similar benefits to a real one. So get laughing!!!

5. Buy something new for Monday – We all do our shopping on Saturdays, so next time you are at the store, pick something up specifically for Monday. A new pen, a new notepad, yummy new cereal, a chocolate milk. You could make it "chocolate milk Monday" Anything that would brighten your Monday. JUST don't drink your chocolate milk on Saturday. :)

6. Try something new - you’d be surprise how easy it is to feel energized by doing something you’ve never done before. so take a new route to work, not only is it something new, but it also exercises your brain.

7. Start working. The thing about work is, it’s usually not the work that makes us tired, it’s the thought of starting work that makes us dread the actual action of "working" Quit thinking and start doing!! Besides, in my experience, if you dig into all the work you have to do, the day flies and before you know it...... Monday is OVER!!

8. No errands on Monday - So when lunch time rolls around, do like I do.......relax. I make sure I go to the tanning salon on Mondays. Tanning is relaxing to me and plus it's a dose of UV rays which create happiness. IF you don't want to tan, do something relaxing. Read, take a nap, just don't run errands. The key here is - don't, by any means make your lunch hectic.

9. Plan something special for Monday night – meet a friend for dinner, rent a DVD. My day is always easier and more liveable when I have something to look forward to. (why do you think we have Family Home Evening on Mondays? hmmm....?)

10. If all else fails, rip open that piece of chocolate that you've been so good at resisting!!! And now.......breathe......ahhhhhhhh.......see? Feels better already?

I'm back, I'm back, I'm back....and GO COLTS!!!

Superbowl Sunday is just around the corner, all you football fans!!!!! Get out your Colts gear and let's rally around cute ol' Peyton Manning! And Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie and Joseph Addai and Reggie Wayne...and Dwight Freeney... JUST RALLY OKAY!! (and no..I'm not a Colts fan JUST because I think Peyton is cute and I'm not a bandwagon jumper either!)

I've been a Colts fan...well let's just say a long time. Just trust me on this one.

I'm going to step up on my soap box for just a minute.

I know the New Orleans Saints are experiencing their first Super Bowl berth, I understand that the Colts have been to the Super Bowl. I also understand that Peyton has a ring already. I know all this stuff. Now tell me, why do people root for the underdog? Why do they WANT the Saints to win?? JUST because they've never won? PLEEEASE!!!!! I hate people that pick a team based on those silly AND stupid factors. For example..Wyoming Cowboys...ohh my beloved Wyoming Cowboys, I will always be here for you...through thick AND thin! And for that, I believe that I'm a tougher and stronger fan than some fans out there. Because...now hear me out...Wyoming....we fight for what we get and we deserve what we get, when we get it. I can tell you first hand, that victory tastes so much sweeter when you work your BUTT off for it!!!! Some of those teams out there, like Texas or Florida....do they really know what sweet sweet victory tastes like? No! They know what victory tastes like and what they THINK sweet victory tastes like, but I would love for ONE of those fans to be a Wyoming fan for one year....follow your team through REAL struggles and then tell me what victory tastes like. Now back to my "picking your team with brains" rant, Wyoming is a lot of times....an underdog. I've NEVER NEVER, not even ONE time seen OR heard of anyone cheering for Wyoming to beat all these teams or beat so and so based soley on the fact that Wyoming is the underdog. Sure, Wyoming has never won the Rose bowl, Wyoming has never won the BCS championship game. SO why don't people cheer for Wyoming to MAKE it there? I mean...we are the underdog...so come on...all you "pick a team because they've never been there" fans....where are you when Wyoming needs you? HUH???? I'm disgusted with the lack of knowledge that most fans have when it comes to "picking" their team. Pick a team based on something other than "pity"!! Pbbt...I know the Saints don't want the Colts to just roll over and let them win.....OUT OF PITY! As for me, my brain, and my two hands, we will cheer for the Colts! The Colts deserve this JUST as much as the Saints....so HA! And GO COLTS!!!!!!

Stepping down from this here soap box now......

And there ya have it, the thoughts and ramblings of me....Kristi.

Now...aren't you glad I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack???