Easter Weekend 2008!

We had a WONDERFUL weekend and a very happy Easter. The weather was something to be talked about as we were in the 80's on Saturday and I'm guessing that it was close to 90 today. Phew! Nothing like what Chicago experiences for their Easters. You really don't know how good it could be until you experience. This is seriously one of the first Easters that I can remember where I wasn't stuck inside due to some weather element that was going on. Easter did come early this year as well, so that threw us off. Ryan didn't realize that it was Easter weekend until Friday. Shame on us, huh?

On Saturday we headed out to one of our favorite places, The Los Angeles Zoo. Getting the membership was probably the smartest thing that we have done. This was our 4th trip to the park since May, so we got our money's worth.

Aislynn and Tyler were able to pet bunnies and Aislynn got her face painted like a rabbit! It was really cute. After the volunteer finished, Aislynn jumped down and was bouncing around "like a BUNNY, Mommy!"

We didn't stay long since the sun was getting warm and we were eager to do something else...

.

.

GO SWIMMING!!!!

Tyler had no problem getting into the water. By the end of the Summer last year, he had really turned into a fish! He's getting better about not ahem, drinking the pool water. Next we have to work on putting his face in the water. No rush, though. He's just enjoying kicking around the pool with that pink noodle thing.

Aislynn REALLY surprised me! She absolutely hated going into the water last year. She would just sit and play on the side of the pool with different cups and stuff that we brought with. But that's all changed now! Our little girl wanted to put on her swim vest and jump right in!

We did have a little, uh,

"situation" in the pool. Aislynn

is potty trained, except for the

fact that she will not go poop in the potty. She's scared. So she holds it and goes. I know, gross. Well, nature called and she seems to be the most relaxed

when she is in water (we had a different "situation" in the bath tub a couple nights back). Luckily it wasn't bad and I promptly pulled her out of the water, threw a towel around her, and marched back to the apartment. I don't know who was more embarrassed, her or me. And I can tell you this, those swim diapers are lame. They don't hold anything in! So if you think that you are same from any arising "situations", don't be fooled! It was a mess. Nothing in the pool, but a lot everywhere else! Okay, I'll leave it at that.

So Happy Easter to all! =)

XOXO

Ryan, Melissa, Tyler and Aislynn

Happy Spring!

So Spring has arrived.

Today, upper 80's and sunny.
Tomorrow, close to 90 and sunny.

Thank goodness the Easter Bunny won't have to shovel his way to our house this year. He'll just have to lube up with sunblock...

Tired.

I'm tired, so this is going to be quick... but I always wind up blabbing on long longer than I expected.

Tyler's Dr. Appt - It went okay. We just have a doctor that isn't on the same wave length as us. Any dr. that tells me that I'm suppose to lock my son in his room for a time out and let him destroy everything in it is not thinking the same way that I am. Tyler is still doing all that he has been doing. Time outs are going "okay". He's becoming resistant and that just makes it more difficult. We went out to a store Tuesday night and it was a nightmare. His behavior out in public is growing intolerable and just embarrassing. I have constant knots in my stomach and doing anything fun just turns into a disaster. Anyways, the doctor basically just brushed us off saying that Ty is too young for meds (which we kinda figured) and he referred us to a psychologist (after Ryan asked for a referral). But I have a feeling that this psychologist does not specialize with ADHD, so now I'm back to square one to find someone on my own. Danielle said that she would get me some referrals as well, and honestly I can't wait to get my hands on them.

Work has been BUSY - not stressful, but just really busy. I really should go into detail of some of the phone calls and emails that I get every day. They get pretty entertaining. The beauty industry its self is just interesting.

Ryan received a very nice review and a raise. He's a hard worker and I know that he will go far in this company.

Aislynn is into 4 things at the moment - Dresses, make up, doing her hair, and SHOPPING! My little diva told daddy that she didn't want to go to school. She wanted to go shopping. =)

Adios. I'm going to bed.

Happy, happy, happy birthday!

On this day, my wonderful friend gave birth to one of the most beautiful baby boys that I know. This kid rocks socks! He's not only super cute, but smart and a little charmer too! I'm thinking that I'm putting in my notice to Corinne that he will be wedding my daughter in about, oh, 25 years.

Happy 1st Birthday, Noah! I so wish that I could be there to celebrate your (and your mama's!) BIG day with you! XOXO

Love you and miss you!

Discipline = Love

Ryan found a few helpful sites when he was looking into disciplining a child with ADHD. In the past, we have tried everything and nothing was working. We read an article about how one father disciplined his 2 boys and we thought that we would try it. It consisted of getting a chair and placing it in the bathroom. Why the bathroom? Because it is seriously the most boring room in the house. The concept is simple: if he does something that we don't approve of, he goes into the time out for 10 minutes. Period. No warnings or "Do that again and you go in timeout!". Ryan and I made a clear list of what the rules were, trying to keep them as simple as possible: No hitting, no spitting, no talking back, do as you are told, no running or climbing in the house, ask permission, etc... We are planning on putting these rules on a poster board with pictures for Tyler to see.


Forget that "minutes per age rule". It was 10 minutes for what ever rule he broke and if he got up or asked if he could come out, the timer got more time on it. He could have a few books, but no toys. And by God it is working! Last night he was pretty much in time out for the majority of the time that he was home until bed, but now it's Wednesday and he did better last night. Since Sunday, he is starting to get a little resistant to going to his time out, but we'll keep on doing this until the dr's appointment and see what happens from there. If he doesn't "do as he is told" when he is asked to go to time out, he looses his tv time. He lost it this morning, so hopefully when he sees that his sister is enjoying watching her Dora while he has to sit in his room, he'll remember and go more willingly into time out.

Ahhhh, Remember When?

My Pictures0019, originally uploaded by mrs.ross.

Gretchen, where are you? =)

Joke of the Week

Thank you Grandma Ozzy for sending in the "Joke of the Week"... Anything that can make me giggle after a hellish day is worth sharing.

THREE WOMEN, TWO YOUNGER, AND ONE SENIOR CITIZEN, WERE SITTING NAKED IN A SAUNA. SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BEEPING SOUND. THE YOUNG WOMAN PRESSED HER FOREARM AND THE BEEP STOPPED. THE OTHERS LOOKED AT HER QUESTIONINGLY. 'THAT WAS MY PAGER,' SHE SAID. I HAVE A MICROCHIP UNDER THE SKIN OF MY ARM. A FEW MINUTES LATER, A PHONE RANG. THE SECOND YOUNG WOMAN LIFTED HER PALM TO HER EAR. WHEN SHE FINISHED, SHE EXPLAINED, 'THAT WAS MY MOBILE PHONE. I HAVE A MICROCHIP IN MY HAND.'THE OLDER WOMAN FELT VERY LOW-TECH. NOT TO BE OUT DONE, SHE DECIDED SHE HAD TO DO SOMETHING JUST AS IMPRESSIVE. SHE STEPPED OUT OF THE SAUNA AND WENT TO THE BATHROOM. SHE RETURNED WITH A PIECE OF TOILET PAPER HANGING FROM HER REAR END. THE OTHERS RAISED THEIR EYEBROWS AND STAREDAT HER. THE OLDER WOMAN FINALLY SAID.........WELL, WILL YOU LOOK AT THAT... I'M GETTING A FAX!!

Please send some prayers for a friend...

My wonderful friend Cara that I met on the message board I belong to and have known for almost 5 years could possibly be having a miscarriage. She is 9 weeks pregnant and has had some cramping and spotting. She has a history with such problems, so we want to grasp all hope that the spotting and cramping is normal.

Please keep her in your thoughts and your prayers that the baby is okay.

Thank you