How to throw the perfect tantrum....

.....written, illustrated and directed by Kyle Thomas Greve

I was having a great day and Mommy told me that after Hailey's nap, we would go to Cabella's before Daddy got home from work. I was so excited. I love going and seeing all the animals, but mostly I love to play the gun game. (mom explanation: a video game with rifles that you hunt deer...I know, judge me all you want!)

In the van I proceeded to appear fine, singing songs, being nice to my sister and even listening to my the store rules. Little did they know what was in store. We walk in and their it is in all its glory......the gun game.

"Mommy, I want to play the gun game." Hoping she will forget that she told me I had to wait until we were leaving.

"No, Kyle, we will play it after we see the animals and the fish."
I was fine with this...for now. I hurried along and looked at the animals, still having them fooled this whole time. I pointed out animals to Hailey. YES, now we are moving on to the fish. Me, still keeping my guise, I enjoy the fish with my sister. I see the opportunity and go for it.

"Mommy, can I go play the gun game now!" I give her my charming look that I know wins every time.

"Thank you Kyle for being patient and waiting, Yes we can. But you know the rules. After we play we are leaving.

Yes gun game. That is all I registered. All I see is that orange rifle and deer.....here I come! We arrive at the entrance and mommy lets me put in the dollar. She has to help me with the gun because it's too hard. We were laughing having a great time.

Then she said it.

Ok Kyle, it's time to go.

My secret is about to be exposed. I decided to throw a little bit of a fuss, but not too much. I have to save my energy for later and to just try and push my mom's buttons. The street and the parking lot, the best place. So, I oblige, hold her hand and walk out the door. The magic to all this, is to make sure mommy is holding sister. If she is in a stroller or cart, the effect isn't as great. Mommy was holding sister. Perfect.

There had to be about 10 ATV's out front and I was determined to sit in one. I asked, she said no, that we had to get home because Daddy would be home any minute.

Tears and whining are always a good start. Mommy tries to reason with me. I don't listen and start screaming. We are walking to the van and I try to run away, but somehow mommy has me good this time. Hopefully she hasn't figured me out. I fight to get in my carseat, and by this time, my face is red, snot is all over, sister is crying and Mommy isn't saying a word. She just has "a look." My mommy says that I am not allowed to watch my show when we get home and I continue to scream.....I DON'T WANT TO GO HOME. I WANT TO GET OUT!

It isn't that long of a drive, but to make it memorable I kick the back of mommy's seat AND scream.

Mommy still not saying anything. We get in the driveway and here is my cue. I stop crying right when we hit the garage and as soon as Mommy opens the door I say:

"Mommy, may I watch my show......PLEASE?!"

That is advanced tantrum throwing. Recommended only for those serious risk-takers.. Not to be used often; they must be caught off guard. Best locations: busy public places, entrances/exits are always good.

Happy tantruming!

Carbs, Carbs, wonderful carbs

Dan got the wonderful idea to steal borrow his mom's bread-maker. He has had the inkling to make his own bread. Honey Oat Wheat bread; that was the first batch. Not bad, but a little dense. The bread people, geez. I wouldn't talk like that to you all about my husband! ;)We think it may need a hint of more honey and may try next time to mix and match the flours. We used all wheat flour and some recipes I see called for 1/2 wheat, 1/2 white. So, mental note for next time.
Attempt #2 is in the making: sweet rolls. Yeah, you said it, my mouth is watering and all I smell is the dough, nothing even IN the oven. This is my husband's new obsession my husband's new passion and I am on board. Knife and a slab of butter waiting right along with me!

3 days to fast and pray...

Waypoint, my home church, is starting Monday the 19th to Wednesday the 21st, asking us to fast and pray and ask the Lord what He has for us, individually and corporately for 2009. (some of you may notice, the 21st IS the season premiere for LOST, but hey, I am sacrificing! He's worth it!) I will be fasting tv, facebook, and meat. Quite the array, right?!
I am really looking forward to this. I haven't been disciplined in this. It shouldn't take a church as a whole to get me to do this. I have always talked about doing it, but hey, we all fail. He knows our hearts! I want to hear from the Lord and I know I will, He is always faithful. But, it may not be in the three days that I am fasting/praying. 2008 was a rough year for Dan and I. Spiritually and financially. It's terrible when you are struggling financially, how much more you need to trust, but how much more difficult it is. Hmph! I am trusting the Lord for a fresh and a new. I know He has something for us this year, I just don't know what. He knows and he will reveal it, in his time. Which is always perfect.

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save! He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing! Zephaniah 3:17

How much is too much?

TV time? How much is too much? Everyone has their own ideas and rules on this, I have asked. "As long as it is teaching him something, what's the problem?" or "you shouldn't do more than two hours a day." I know myself, I enjoy sitting on the couch and enjoying a good program and then when that one is done, another show comes on. The next thing I know, it's 3 hours later. I feel like a slug. Some of the reasons we do not have cable! I could have used that time to do all sorts of things. So, with my kids I feel the same way. Kyle would love to watch show after show, if I didn't put the brake on it. He gets a half hour show in the morning when he first wakes up, a half hour show at lunch time, and then at 4:30 (which is "sour hour", kids tired of mommy and ready for daddy to be home) he gets his last half hour show. He gets an hour and a half or two hours of tv a day. Some days maybe more than others, and some days he doesn't watch any. Depends on the day and everyones attitude, mom included. ;)
And what is your tv convictions? Do tell.

Where or where can I be?

Man alive. It never ceases to amaze me how everyone I know keeps up to date with their blogs. They too have small children, some 2 more than me and they can do this just fine. Geez, what is wrong with me? I can do this. I am sorry I have not updated this in, oh boy, two months almost. I will try to be more disciplined in this. Trying is the best I can do.


So what is new in the Greve house? Hailey is taking a few steps. YAY! I say that, but internally I am screaming...NNNNOOOOOOO!! You are my baby, you can't be walking. You are still suppose to be nursing and making those little grunty noises that newborns make. I just want them to stay small, for just a little while. It just doesn't last long enough. Kyle is 150% boy. He likes to make guns, swords, knives, you name it, out of...well, you name it. Today a paper towel roll was a gun, then it was used for Captain Hook's hook. Yesterday it was a baseball bat. He asked me, Mom, where's my baseball bat gun? Not a bat, a bat gun. BOY, all boy. He loves to be outside and doesn't quite like the weather change. Nebraska is tricky too, the poor kid. One day it was almost 50, so we went out and played in the backyard. Sure enough two days later it's spitting snow! He was excited about that, but didn't quite grasp that it's cold too. I am enjoying my time with them. I love being at home and wouldn't trade it for the world. (Ok, I will admit, there are days. Like two days ago, neither one had a nap all day....well, Hailey had a 20 minute nap in the van, and it was only 2 in the afternoon. They were both hysterical, nothing was making either of them happy, they were getting on each other nerves, so what did I do....I left them in the basement, went out into the van, sat in the frontseat, held the steering wheel and screamed! WOW, did that feel good. But shhhhh, our little secret!)
I will leave you with a little treat, my sister-in-law took some photos of us and the kiddos. It was freezing the morning we did it and Hailey was not a fan of the cold. She was a trooper, but didn't like it one bit. Kyle on the other hand, loved it. It doesn't hurt when it is his aunt taking the pictures. So easy for us because he knows her and is comfortable with her...and did I mention she takes amazing photos. Enjoy them, we certainly do.

A YEAR ago today.....

***UPDATE***
Since I have been a little slacking in the blog department, I failed to notice the date of this post.....Hailey's birthday, however is the 24th of Oct, not the 18th when I posted this. I must have jumped the gun a little. Don't know how that happened. Sorry for the confusion. Just wanted to clarify. :)





.... I welcomed the perfect little 7lbs, 4oz,(@ 4:33 AM no less) squirmy, breath-takingly beautiful little girl into the world. Everything about that day was perfect. Well, I would have picked a different time, but that is not up to me.:) Funny how, it started subtly. Arriving at the hospital at 1:00 in the morning. My mid-wife then telling me: "oh Erin, you are only dilated to a 3. If you don't progress, then we will have to send you home!" That line...send you home....to a 40 week pregnant woman is like hearing there is no more chocolate in the world and you will have to eat broccoli instead! WHAT?! I was determined & I think Hailey was too! :) I'll spare you with the details but she was born a mere 3 hours later and it was perfect. What a miracle giving birth really is.
So here it is. Her first birthday! Not many of you get to see her like we do. So I thought it only fitting to share in all the delight of our little bug.Without further a-do~ Here are a few of my favorite things:



1. She is a snuggle bug. From the minute she came out of the womb, she snuggles. Anytime, anywhere. Finally, I got one and I never want it to end.
2. Just recently she has been bit of a mama's girl...is that a bad thing?! wink, wink.
3. Her teeth. I just LOVE seeing them when she smiles.
4. Her squishy, cute little butt. I will never forget the moment in the hospital, when she was placed on my belly, that was the first thing I felt. It fit perfectly in my hand. Still does. :)
5. Love the fact, that she is a bit of a drama queen. Always has to plead her case about everything; from wanting a tiny speck of grass that I took away or telling her no, when a certain toy that she shouldn't play with. Oh the drama.
6. Dainty. Everywhere we go, I hear "Oh, she's sooooo little! Just a little peanut." That's my girl!
7. Her face. maybe I'm partial, but I just think she is absolutely gorgeous. She has the most captivating blue eyes, followed with long dark eyelashes. And a smile that will melt your heart.
8. Watching her sleep. A picture of innocence and grace.
9. How happy she gets when she sees someone she loves. It does my heart good. To have a little person be so affected by you, it's moving. Why don't we do that as adults? ;)
10. Her sweet disposition. She is seriously just a breath of fresh air. She can bring a smile to my face or make me belly laugh like none other. And she always seems to know just when mommy needs it too.

So Happy 1st Birthday, Hailey Lucille. I I love you my sweet little peanut. Today we celebrate you! Thank you for being such a delight to our family. We would be lost without you. You are a gem and we love you more than we ever thought possible.
Now let's celebrate!

I just can't get enough of.......

I have never been one to say I am "in love" with a product or can't live without "fill in the blank". I change various things quite frequently. I have had to let go of a few of my "higher end" items, like salon brand shampoo and products, Clinique face products...budget cuts are brutal, but necessary. I have found new and just as good ( ok , not nearly the same, but my hair and my face are clean, right?!). BUT there are a few exceptions to the rule. These my friends are ones I WILL not give up. Ok, if the Lord told me to, then yes, but then and only then I would. Are you ready? Drumroll please.....................



LOVE #1 & #2

These two things my friends, is love in a bottle, I am not kidding. The Peppermint Mocha is seasonal and is only around during Thanksgiving thru New Years. I will sadly admit this, but when this does hit the dairy isle, I buy 3 at a time. They can't keep them stocked. I have even gone to different stores to see if they have more. Sad, I know. The Hazelnut Biscotti. Delish!



LOVE #3

There are NO exceptions with this one. I have strayed before and like the saying goes "you stray, you pay" and I do every time. I plan for this item in the budget, it is a little pricey, but oh so tasty!






LOVE #4
This is the BEST product ever created for, well, me! I hate to even say this, but I sweat all the time, I always have been like this. Doesn't matter the season either. Pit stains and big ol' pitted out shirts to prove it! BUT a friend of mine told me about this that I would never have a problem my sweating problem again if I used this AND she was right. Heaven in a deodorant bottle, who would have guessed?! Again, not budget friendly, but my shirts and I am sure my friends and family are all thankful for the purchase!

So my friends, what are some of things you can't live without? Tell me, tell me!!