The Love Dare

Tyler and I are starting the Love Dare tomorrow. It's a 40 day commitment to focus on doing the little things that make our marriage better. I don't believe a book itself will make things better but I think it's necessary to have tools that will help us remember the small things in our relationship that really matter. I think people lack the motivation to save their marriages because they don't truly know the love of God and therefore are not enabled to give their spouse the unconditional love demonstrated by Christ. I have no excuse. I have experienced His love and I'm really encouraged to do whatever it takes to make my marriage what God wants it to be! Here I go!

I'm feeling gushy mushy about him right now. So here's a picture, more for my benefit than anyone else.

Stephanie Needs

I got this idea from another blog. I typed in "Stephanie needs" on Google and here are the things that came up:

1. Stephanie needs some help- Ahem, If you didn't notice already, I'm crazy and weird. So yes, I could use some help.

2. Stephanie died from Ritalin- Interesting...Cole could sure use some!

3. Why Stephanie needs rhinoplasty surgery- Sometimes I hate my nose. Now it's clear to me why.

4. Stephanie needs to come back home- I'm already home. There's nothing better than Ventura, California! I think it's Hillary and Kim who need to come back.

5. Stephanie needs to get a life- Your mom needs to get a life. (Such maturity, I know)

6. Stephanie needs a date for Valentine's Day- I had one. It was fabulous.

7. Stephanie needs a loving home- What, am I a dog?

8. My best friend Stephanie needs help with her crush- We all know I'm married but if I were speaking of anybody it would be Usher. Yowzers.

9. Stephanie needs a sound proofed home to protect her- I need protection from the people who hear the screaming and pulling hair and call child protective services on me.

10. Stephanie needs to get off her high horse!- Heck no I won't! It's where I belong!

Wordless Wednesday II

Wordless Wednesday

Ten on Tuesday

1. I started doing laundry on Sunday and I still havn't caught up yet.

2. When I asked Kayley about playing with toys in her bed at night she said "boy, I sure learned my lesson on that one. I'm never doing that again!"

3. I put myself through a vigorous leg workout at the gym on Monday.

4. I'm going to watch nine kids at church this morning.

5. I haven't had a weekend without some planned activity for a month.

6. I spent a good two hours alone with Cole yesterday. The kid sure is fun when it's one on one.

7. Tyler let the kids help paint the trailer but didn't inform me it was oil based paint. Apparently that equals black paint all over my kids' hands that will not come off.

8. Cole threw a fit and peed his pants at Trader Joes. I gave him a cookie.

9. I bought an entire box of mints and ate them within two hours.

10. I'm trying so very hard to find a way to put Cole into preschool. It will be my sanity.

California Adventure Pictures

Waiting for a ride

Surfin' Kayley

Surfin' Noah

Fighting fires like they always do

Radiator Springs

Not Me! Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.


I went to the gym a few times this week. The first time I had a trainer and I got my butt kicked. I'm still sore till this very moment. That man was unkind and had no mercy. The second time I went I did water aerobics. It was surprisingly easy on my body. I was the youngest person there and I so do not love it enough to go back.

Friday night I headed down to LA for my grandmas 75th birthday party. On the way we stopped at McDonald's to go potty. I had to go really bad and there were no seat covers so what did I do? I hovered. Ten seconds into hovering I realized that my legs were so sore from my training session and they were going to give out on me. My mom absolutely did not hold me to keep me from falling while I finished my business. The moment was so funny and I'll never forget it.

At dinner that night (it was at a fancy country club) we had a five course meal. First we had some sort of tomato soup, then Caesar salad with a real sliver of anchovies (ew!). Then we had a lemony sorbet to cleanse the pallet. The main course was steak with mashed potatoes and veggies. It was all wonderful until I cut my steak and the blood from it did not work its way into my mashed potatoes. I have never seen a more disgusting piece of meat. I tried to eat just the sides because I didn't want to be rude about it but I finally asked them to take it back and cook it more. They brought me a new steak cooked properly and I devoured it. The tasty cake for dessert made up for all wrong done there.

On Saturday Tyler, Kayley, Noah and I went to California Adventure. It was great because it had shorter lines and more shows and rides that the kids really liked than at Disneyland. Cole was at Auntie Jojo's house the whole day. I did not enjoy the day without him. I could tell Kayley enjoyed it too. When we picked Cole up she was so sweet to him, sharing things and being really patient with him. What a sweetie.


Right now I'm not so overwhelmed by Cole the three year old that never stops talking or moving. I'm going to snuggle up on the couch, shed a tear and sleep. Why can't we skip the threes?