This one is close to my heart because Kellie was my tap teacher! (Yes I did take adult tap and yes it was awesome. Maybe I will do it again when I stop writing in every free second.) She is very sweet and also, very small, as her husband notes in the interview. Anyway, Kellie, 34, and Seth, 35, are a very down to earth and compatible couple with two small kids, 4 and 6. He is obviously enamored of her. Some people are just nice, pretty, fit, and have adoring husbands. Nobody ever said life was fair, readers. Anyway, I know you guys will like them because you always like honest couples and those who don’t have sex every three minutes. Viva la normal. Take it away, Kellie and Seth!
1. How long have you been together?
Kellie: 12 years.
Seth: Been together since Sept. 2002, so 12 years and 3 months, married since Dec. 30, 2005, almost 9 years.
This is a detail oriented man. Later it says he went to law school so there you go.
2. How, when, and where did you meet and what is the first thing you thought about your partner when you met?
Kellie: We met through a mutual friend in Maryland at the restaurant that was Jaspers on rt3. We met in late summer of 2002. My first thought was that he had a lot of facial hair! My next thought was that he was a gentleman opening doors for me and using M’am and sir!
Seth: This is the question we get all the time. I’m from Louisiana, and I had a friend that was playing baseball for the Bowie Baysox. He asked me to fly up and drive back home to Louisiana with him after the season was over. We went out one night after I got in town and after one of his games. He knew Kellie (my wife) and her sister, and Kellie met us out. It was Sept. 2002 at Jasper’s (now a Mexican restaurant) in Bowie (where we also had our rehearsal dinner). It’s true, but I was into her from the start. The first thing I noticed was that she was this itty bitty, pretty, and nice girl.
She is those things! Cute about the rehearsal dinner at the same place you met. I like her honest answer about the facial hair and how she liked his politeness.
3. What is your favorite physical feature of your partner?
Kellie: What is your favorite physical feature of your partner? His eyes. They make me feel safe or his legs…he doesn’t have normal scrawny guy legs:)
Seth: Do I have to pick only one?! Her beautiful, kind face, and beautiful smile. I also love her small frame. Makes me feel like I can protect her.
This guy is really into his wife. She also loves him back. Hey should I link you guys to that article I always link to you where it says that guys who find their wives really attractive have happier marriages? Rhetorical question.
4. What is your favorite personality trait of your partner?
Kellie: His kindness to EVERYONE!
Seth: She’s kind and unselfish. In a world of selfishness and greed, she provides comfort.
I am torn between commenting “how romantic” and “LOL now there’s something nobody ever said about me!”
5. What is something your partner does nearly every day that makes you happy?
Kellie: Makes sure he kisses me when he or I get home AND kissing me goodnight right before one of us falls asleep. It’s the last thing he does before one of us actually falls asleep.
Seth: She eats desserts every single night before she goes to bed, often times IN bed! Love that about her.
Gotta love a guy who likes to watch his wife eat dessert. I also like the goodnight kiss. Spoiler alert: I bet there’s something else he wants to do right before you fall asleep though.
6. What is the nicest thing your partner ever did for you, in your whole relationship? Describe in 2-3 sentences.
Kellie: For our first anniversary he made me a box with 365 pieces of paper in it. Each paper had something on it that he loves about me. Each day for the following year I was supposed to read another paper.
Seth: After we initially met, we only saw each other a couple/few times the next half year, as she was still living in Maryland, and I was in Louisiana. Then, after we got further in our relationship, I got accepted to law school in Louisiana. She left her family, friends, and job to move to Louisiana to be closer to me and help concrete our relationship.
That 365 pieces of paper thing sounded better till he said what she did. Just kidding, both are very nice.
7. List the top five best qualities of your spouse: physical, emotional, mental, anything.
Kellie: Respectful, kind hearted, fun-loving, strong, intelligent.
Seth: She’s unselfish, hard working, determined, intelligent, and sexy.
And sexy, right, Kellie? Very compatible!
8. What are the top five things you and your partner have in common? Values, interests, goals, etc.
Kellie: Religious beliefs, work ethic, parenting style, family values, our love of having a good time and relaxing(either together or with friends/family).
Seth: We are both home bodies, both value discipline in ourselves (esp work) and our kids, value family and friends, both interested in music, with a goal to be able to fully enjoy life.
On the same page again.
9. How often do you hug? Kiss? Have sex?
Kellie: Once or twice a day hugging, kiss at least 3 times a day (quick pecks), sex – maybe once a week (probably safer to say hopefully twice a month)
Seth: We hug 2-3 times a day, kiss 3-5 times a day, and have sex on average 1-2 times a month.
Even less than your conservative estimate, Kellie. Or is he lowballing it to guilt you into doing it more? That would be pretty smart.
10. Which of you has a higher sex drive and how do you deal with any differences in sex drive between the two of you?
Kellie: Seth has a MUCH higher sex drive! He is very respectful of me and doesn’t push it unless an excessive amount of time has passed in between. I try to push myself to be “in the mood” if a long time has passed because I know it’s not fair of me because he is so respectful of me not wanting it as often.
Seth: No doubt I have the higher sex drive. I get frustrated often, but generally not openly (at least I don’t think I do). I personally deal with it by having “me time” on a regular basis. Lol! Hope that’s an acceptable answer!
You know, nobody else answered that before and now I’m wondering why. Very adaptable. You probably got used to it during the long distance portion of the relationship, though. Kellie, take one for the team tonight. This man just laid his heart bare on this website for millions of readers (slight overestimate but who’s counting).
11. How long did you wait to have sex? Are you glad you had sex for the first time when you did?
Kellie: We had a long distance relationship. After we met in late summer 02 the next time I saw him was nye 2002. Then he came to see me Valentine’s Day 2003 and that was the first time we had sex. I don’t regret this being our first time and I’m not necessarily glad either. I’d say I’m indifferent about it.
Seth: We waited (not really intentionally due to long distance) to have sex some 4-5 months into our relationship. And very glad we did when we did. Couldn’t have been better.
Couples counselor tip: Try not to use the word “indifferent” and “sex” in the same sentence. Just kidding I know what you meant.
12. Have you ever been in couples counseling. Why? Did it help?
Kellie: We had counseling prior to marriage with our pastor and there is one thing he said that I always think about and that is that no matter how angry you are with your spouse, don’t bad mouth them to others. You don’t want others to think poorly of your spouse because of one issue you’re having. Others will not see the whole picture but only what you tell them. Just as you wouldn’t want others to think poorly of your family unit (your parents etc).
Good advice. Seth didn’t count this as counseling, by the way. So I guess he doesn’t think about it all the time. ![:)]()
13. What is the number one issue you fight about, and are you working on resolving it? How?
Kellie: Parenting. We talk about what the other did that we didn’t like or disagreed with. We try to be on the same page in front of the kids and wait til we are alone to discuss disagreements. We were told by our sons doctor (he was diagnosed ADHD) that using a code word for each other to help them calm down helped a lot as far as not calling each other out in front of the kids!
Seth: We don’t fight about money or sex…I’d have to say dealing/disciplining our kids. From our attitudes towards them, how we talk to them, how we discipline them, etc. We’re constantly trying to resolve it and each continue to learn. We talk to each other about it, but generally in the heat of the moment. Parenting isn’t easy!
What a team oriented approach! Love it.
14. What are the top three stressors in your lives?
Kellie: Money, parenting, work
Seth: Money, kids, work.
Spooooky, even the same order.
15. What is one thing that you’re looking forward to as a couple?
Kellie: As the kids get older having more time for each other.
Seth: Being able to spend more time with just us. Don’t get me wrong, we love our kids and love spending time with them, but since our work schedules are so different, we are both basically single parents during the week. Then with kids’ extracurriculars and us trying to do things as a family on the weekend, it leaves little to no time for just us.
Same page. I’m right there with you!
16. Fill this in: I am glad I married my partner because….
Kellie: We are a great team. We work well together and his strengths are my weaknesses.
Seth: she truly loves and cares for ME.
Awww. Thirtysomething love.
17. Give me one secret thought that you’ve never told your partner. Something you think about them, about the relationship, about yourself, anything.
Kellie: I hate football season! I don’t mind after the kids are in bed but when the kids are up it drives me crazy that the schedule is usually around football (although I grin and bear it for the most part).
Seth: That I sometimes worry that she doesn’t love me or will stop loving me.
Doubtful, Seth! Unless you never, ever turn off the game! Just kidding, probably.
Those guys were super cute, right? Thanks for participating and for your honesty. Parenting is no romp through the daisies, but it sounds like you’re probably raising well mannered, delightful kids that everyone adores. Keep on being good to each other!
If you’d like to apply to Functional Couple Friday, do it here quick before you think better of it! And till we meet again, I remain, The Blogapist Who Really Thinks Everyone Should Try an Adult Tap Class. The Other Good Thing Was That Kellie Didn’t Call Me Out by Name If I Got The Step Wrong. Thanks Kellie.