On this episode we talk about trying to focus more on finding positives in situations, and over the course of 30 minutes, we continually find negative things. So we obviously need more practice being positive, and we hope you will practice it in your own life as well.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• (0:30) Our cat, Gunter, finally learned to love us.
• (1:10) Big storm causes a snow day and the kids destroyed our house.
• (2:45) Didn’t have to go sledding. Phew.
• (3:35) Big snow storm in 1993 gave us a snow day, but we had to make up the school day on a Saturday.
• (5:40) Rochelle has 2 super weird dreams.
• (6:15) Malcolm gets a “CEO” award.
• (7:45) Ivy had middle school orientation, and Rochelle almost cried.
• (9:30) We talk about not dwelling on the negative, or over-thinking things.
• (10:30) Does negativity bring on more negativity?
• (11:30) we talk about some effects of rumination,(repetitive negative thoughts).
• (14:15) How rumination can hurt a marriage.
• (15:20) Its better to look for the positives of situations, but it’s easier to find the negatives.
• (16:45) Positivity: The miracle hangover cure.
• (18:30) Scott hits his goal of making Rochelle laugh daily. He always avoids confrontations and tries to always be positive.
• (19:30) Rochelle has a tendency to get feisty, while Scott is reserved, but we even each other out.
• (22:00) We are still dwelling on a negative situation after 11 years (justifiably), so we still need practice.
• (26:15) Too much time in your own mind makes you crazy.
• (28:00) Rochelle struggles with the state of the United States that makes it hard to stay positive, and wishes Scott was Canadian.

On this episode Scott and Rochelle discuss why there was no episode last week, because we were on a couples only retreat in the snow, and couldn’t tear ourselves away to do a podcast. We discuss why we don’t normally do winter activities, and what it’s like to crash a snow mobile. We also discuss why we think little, frequent romantic gestures are more important than big ones.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• (0:30) Missed an episode because we were on vacation without children.
• (1:30) Yearly vacation with our friends and kids is a lot of work, so we thought it would be fun to go without the kids
• (3:10) We get to do whatever we want when the kids aren’t around.
• (3:35) We went on a winter adventure that I never thought I would do, and promptly crashed.
• (7:15) Thought I was okay after the crash, but my left arm ended up hurting for days.
• (9:10) We aren’t good navigators, but we still had a great time.
• (10:45) Should we have done a podcast with our friends? Or maybe in the car ride?
• (12:30) Malcolm gets a CEO (citizenship) award. Does every kid in the school get the award by the end of the school year?
• (15:00) Grandma sits Rochelle down to tell her what is wrong with the kids.
• (17:45) Do we have a topic today? How the little things turn into big things.
• (18:45) We both hate traditional romance.
• (19:45) Our non-romantic engagement story.
• (21:25) Scott does the dishes, since Rochelle made dinner. Little things add up to big things.
• (22:30) Doing small things is a good way to show your love for your spouse.
• (25.00) Little things might be bigger than a big gesture.

On this episode we discuss an article that says insulting your partner everyday could be good for your relationship. We talk about how this has been true in our relationship and we believe it’s the key to our longevity. If you would like to read the article discussed in this episode go here.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• (1:00) Go over the reason we have a tie breaker question from last week’s episode.
• (1:45) If we won the lottery, what frivolous thing would you buy first?
• (2:45) Why Scott would get a big ass RV.
• (4:05)Why Rochelle would get a family trip to Samoa.
• (6:15) If you roast your spouse you will have a stronger relationship.
• (7:10) Why roasting helps keep things light and fun, which keeps your relationships better.
• (8:15) Having a roasting type relationship with your kids can open up the deeper conversations.
• (11:05)Scott’s sister’s family also roasts each other, and it made us like them more.
• (12:30) We have always had a teasing relationship that included nicknames like Puke-ahontas and Stinky Pete.
• (13:30) Neither of us can think of a time when we’ve actually been offended by the teasing.
• (15:00) This kind of relationship may not be for everyone, so be gentle when attempting to tease your spouse.
• (16:15) Don’t take life too seriously.

On this episode Scott and Rochelle go through 10 questions in the style of the newlywed game to see how well they actually know each other after 20 years together. You may be surprised by the final score.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• (0:40) We got a little tipsy for this new episode in honor of our 20th anniversary.
• (1:15) The (Not-so) Newlywed Game
• (2:20) What is your favorite homemade meal?
• (3:10) Least Favorite meal?
• (6:30) Celebrity crush?
• (9:15) Spouses favorite physical attribute of yours?
• (11:30) Name a movie that we messed around during.
• (13:40) Dream job (besides the one you have now)?
• (17:30) Favorite movie?
• (19:15) Biggest fear?
• (22:15) What is your ideal date night?
• (24:30) Your spirit animal?
• (26:45) Final score. Who is the winner of our Not-so newlywed game?
• (29:15) The kids are back in school, so we can miss them again.
• (33:00) Rochelle goes on strike over making dinner.
• (35:00) We hope you can do this game with your own spouse.

On this special new year’s episode we discuss the 10 best things that happened for our family in the last 10 years, and why they were significant for us. They include everything from moving back to Utah, to super fun vacations and even leaving the LDS church. We also challenge our listeners to come up with their own list of awesome things from the last 10 years as we all prepare for lives in this new decade.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• (0:30) Happy New Year!
• (1:05) Our 20 year anniversary approaches and makes us feel old.
• (2:10) The 10 Best Things in the last 10 Years.
• (2:50) Moving back to Utah.
• (5:25) Leaving the LDS church.
• (6:40) Ivy eating a chicken nugget.
• (10:30) Getting our dream yard.
• (12:15) Vacations without the kids.
• (14:10) Grand Canyon vacation with the kids.
• (15:45) Getting comfortable in my own skin.
• (17:00) Getting the band back together.
• (20:35) Date night.
• (23:05) Starting our podcast together.
• (24:30) Fun facts about us for our 20th anniversary.
• (25:00) Grew up near each other and could have crossed paths several times in childhood.
• (27:30) We were a real life pretty in pink scenario, sort of…

We are a week behind schedule because of Christmas festivities, but we hope you enjoy this episode about why everyone has different feelings around Christmas time, and everyone should be treated with kindness and respect. We reflect on losing Scott’s sister just before Christmas 11 years ago and what it was like to attend her funeral with a baby who was released from the hospital the day of her viewing.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• Christmas can be a tough time for some people. (:50)
• Treat everyone with respect even if you believe differently. (1:50)
• Scott’s sister, Stacy, passed away 4 days before Christmas in 2008. (2:40)
• Ivy was released from the hospital the day of the viewing for Stacy. (4:00)
• Having a dog be baby Jesus in a nativity reenactment. (4:30)
• “Where’s your Christmas spirit?” isn’t a nice thing to say. (5:40)
• Raw emotions get tied to this time of year when something hard happens, so treat everyone with kindness. (7:00)
• No celebrity couple of the week. Merry Christmas! (8:00)

On this episode Scott and Rochelle discuss how they have come to financial stability after years of living paycheck to paycheck. They discuss the differences in their childhoods that may have lead them to be more financially responsible even when money was tight.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• We got a hot tub! (1:05)
• Checking off items on our bucket lists. (2:30)
• This week’s topic: Financial stability (3:15)
• Living off of chicken noodle soup we were given as a gift and being able to ask for help when we couldn’t afford milk. (4:00)
• Ivy’s expensive formula taking all our money. (6:00)
• Living off Little Caesar’s Pizza, feeding our whole family with a $5 pizza. (7:10)
• Not being able to afford any luxuries and enjoying the little things. (8:00)
• How Rochelle growing up poor makes it hard for her to make big purchases. (9:15)
• Scott’s grew up more well off, but his parents taught him very well about finances. (11:45)
• We were taught by Scott’s dad about mortgages when we were newlyweds, and that knowledge has always stuck with us. (13:15)
• Always telling each other about every purchase since the early days of our marriage. (15:00)
• Paying a mortgage and having two kids while making $7 an hour. But at least we’d had help with the down payment from Scott’s grandparents. (16:00)
• Growing up and becoming responsible adults when we got pregnant with our oldest. (17:30)
• The struggles from the economy going down in 2008 or 2009 when Ivy was still a newborn. (19:30)
• Buying a hot tub is Scott’s midlife crisis. (21:00)
• Celebrity Couple of the Week (Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly) (21:45)

On this episode Scott and Rochelle discuss an article we recently read that gives 1950’s relationship advice, and whether or not they think any of the tips are still relevant today. To read the article click here.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• Having a better week, getting a new Christmas tree (0:50)
• Lying to the kids about the demise of Taco Bell (2:00)
• Reuniting the bunnies after being neutered. (4:10)
• Finally recovered from pneumonia round two. (5:15)
• 7 tips for keeping your man from the 1950’s. (6:20)
• Tip 1 - Don’t talk. (7:10)
• Tip 2 - Bad cooking will drive your man to seedy saloons. (8:45)
• Tip 3 - Be the hot steak, not the cheap pork (wild in the sack instead of boring.) (10:15)
• Tip 4 - Don’t be a sexual vampire, or frigid Frannie. (11:45)
• Tip 5 - Pink panties are a must. (13:30)
• Tip 6 - Let him have a little fun now and then (it’s okay if he cheats, it means he loves you). (15.25)
• Tip 7 - Remember your husband is the boss of you. (16:40)
• Our grandparents were newlyweds in the 50’s and we wonder what their relationships were like. (18:00)
• We have traditional marital roles, but are not very traditional people. (19:45)
• Women are better and more organized (in Rochelle’s opinion). (20:45)
• Scott is the more tech-savvy person in our relationship. (22:45)
• The only tip we think is still applicable in our relationship. (24:00)
• Celebrity Couple of the Week. (Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson) (25:00)

On this episode we discuss why the recent Holiday and the activities that go with it triggered the anxiety that Rochelle has struggled with for the last 20 years. We also discuss how Scott can support her when things get overwhelming and give everyone a few examples of what not to say when someone you love has an anxiety attack. We also give suggestions of things you can do to help ground yourself when an attack occurs, and discuss the difference between an anxiety attack and panic attack.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• No date night, but still trying to get the podcast done. (0:35)
• More sickness including pneumonia going around our house. (1:10)
• Anxiety around the holidays. (1:30)
• Feeling overwhelmed with family obligations. (2:30)
• Learning to support someone with anxiety issues. (3:50)
• How Rochelle manifests an anxiety attack with anger. (5:15)
• Anxiety is real. (6:15)
• Things not to say to someone with anxiety. (7:15)
• “Just cheer up and be happy.” (9:30)
• How to stop or prevent an anxiety attack. (10:20)
• My first ever anxiety attack. (13:00)
• Five things to do during an attack to ground you. (14:30)
• The difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack. (15:50)
• Scott’s final thoughts on dealing with a wife with anxiety. (17:45)
• Celebrity Couple of the Week. (20:20)

With Thanksgiving on the horizon we talk about traditions that we’ve kept from our childhoods, and the one’s we’ve decided to toss to the curb where they belong. We also discuss some of the random, everyday crap we are grateful for. Happy Thanksgiving.

Specific topic discussed in this episode:

• Recent news, Thanksgiving coming up, etc. (0:45)
• Planes, Trains, and Automobiles yearly tradition with friends. (1:00)
• Main topic, Traditions. (4:00)
• Keeping the good traditions you grow up with, tossing out the garbage ones. (5:00)
• Discussing Thanksgiving traditions before the upcoming holiday. (7:00)
• Discussing T. Hanks-Giving with Rochelle’s family. (9:20)
• Christmas and Scott’s brother’s birthday traditions. (11:00)
• Kick off to Summer party and more birthday traditions. (13:15)
• Mother’s Day nightmare tradition that we threw out. (15:20)
• Things we’re grateful for this week. (18:00)
• Road trip movies and Jonathan Taylor Thomas. (20:00)
• Scott gently annoys for more love! (21:30)