Welcome to Mix-Up Day at Maywood Middle School!  :)

I wanted you to see my inspiration for this awesome outfit.  Click here to see the cutie pa-tootie!  It's a much better look when being pulled off by a young child.

I love my job!

P.S.  The picture is not the best quality (in composition, clarity, and subject), but that only adds to the "Mix."  :)

some favorites...

This might be a little random, but these are small things that make me smile.  Maybe they'll brighten your day as well - and it will keep me from having to figure out this whole blogger update (see previous post).

In random order...

• retailmenot.com - this website is one I stumbled upon a couple years ago.  It contains coupon codes for so many online stores.  I check this website before I order anything online (I also check a few other searches if nothing shows up on retailmenot).  This site has greatly improved over the last few years and I'm hoping that most of you already have it listed as a favorite.
• ebates.com - this website gives me money back.  There's no catch.  If I want to buy something, I first head to retailmenot and write down the coupon code(s).  Then I head to ebates and look to see if the store I am looking to purchase from is listed.  There are literally hundreds of stores to shop.  It then links me to the store and I get a percentage of the final sale back.  Every few months, a check shows up in the mail and I head to the bank!  I've earned back $72.55 since I started with ebates.  Who doesn't love a little bit of extra cash?!?!  If you decide to give it a whirl, please include my email address so I can get a little something in return.  :)  Ben and Anne at gmail dot com
• paperbackswap.com - this site allows you to trade books.  (Some of you hate to read, so you might want to skip this one.)  Here's how it works...I list my books and then wait for someone to request one.  When they do, I mail it out to them and receive a credit for the paperback/hardcover/CD.  Now, I can request one of the books that I would like to read.  They start you off with a few free credits to help get the literature moving.  As long as you're willing to be patient, the program works well.  I also enjoy this because it keeps the clutter, created by books, to a minimum.  And, instead of taking the books to Goodwill and feeling as though I'm not getting anything in return, I can at least trade them in for something I want.
• sushi - Right now I can't seem to get enough of this stuff!  I never thought I would be one to embrace something like sushi.  However, about a year ago, Laura introduced me to some incredible sushi.  If you live in the area, you need to try Umi Sake House.  They have the most delicious food!  For those of you who have never tried sushi, you need to find someone in your life who appreciates this food and then ask them to show you the way.  You'll thank me!
• Ben is no longer considered seasonal help - he's full time!  Praise the Lord!  Although his decision to quit his job was not something I wanted to face, I am so thankful he made the difficult choice.  I know it couldn't be easy, but we can both see the benefits now.  We trust that God provides, but to actually put that trust into action was not an easy task - it's still difficult at times (especially when we feel like ships passing in the night).  But we are incredibly thankful for what we have!
• The Christmas shopping has started!  We're trying to be more thoughtful and intentional this year.  We've made plans to do something as a family, with my side, instead of exchanging gifts with the siblings.  However, that still leaves a few holes to fill...and I'm having fun doing that now.
• cards - Oh, how I love making cards!  Now if only I could make some money doing what I love.  (Don't get me wrong, I love teaching.)  However, it would be sweet if this hobby of mine could pay for itself.  At least we don't have to throw away money on greeting cards.  We're set...and people seem to like the homemade version.
• rain - I am actually welcoming the rain this year.  The cooler temperatures are kind of fun too!  Fall is my favorite season and this one is shaping up quite nicely.
• posting - I like being able to select the time at which my new blog writings will post.  It makes me think that perhaps I should sit down and blog a few posts at a time and then schedule them to "appear" throughout the week.  That could be fun.

i want to change things up a bit...

I've been checking out this post - looking for some creative way(s) to change up my blog.  Some of the templates out there are rather decorative and fun, but I want something that's totally unique.  So far, I've found a ton of great ideas, but I'm not so good at the technical side of it all.  We'll see.

Oh, and I'm hoping this change will also inspire me to keep up with my blog.  Our camera is full - literally - of pictures that need to be uploaded and shared.

P.S.  I would like to take a graphic design class at some point in my life.  Nothing fancy, just the basics.  I want to be able to create cards and such with my computer.  Right now, I simply fumble my way though things.  It's worked so far, but I know there's an easier, "right" way of going about it.  In the meantime, I will happily head to places like scrapblog for some cool, free stuff to keep me busy.

last weekend...

Check out my adventures here!

I had a blast hanging out with Hillary, Riley and Owen.  I can't wait for another trek into the city with them.  :)

do you want to...

...renew your current magazine subscription(s)?  Or buy a new one?

You can help Maywood Middle School by either purchasing a magazine subscription or renewing your current subscription(s).  Unfortunately, we're a bit behind on sales this year - we were pridicting this.  Since Maywood only asks students, parents, staff, and the surrouding community to participate in one fund raiser each year, this is it!  As the Leadership teacher, I get a little nervous each year at this time.  So much has to be covered by ASB funds...which means that every little bit helps.  :)

If you're interested, please visit http://www.aphearst.com/

Our school code is: WC3660

When you're prompted to enter a student's name, you can either put my name in the boxes (Anne Simmons) or you can enter "No" & "Student" and the school with still get the credit.

I would love to know if you decide to participate.  Please leave me a comment so I can thank you!  :)

chunky monkey...

   
Here are a few recent shots of Gavin...I just can't get enough of the the little guy.  He has the sweetest smile and he's a chunky monkey - it's quite the combo!  There's no doubt he's a Weber - he looks just like my dad and Bobby (maybe more so like my dad though).  Enjoy!

   

    

Here we have the messy picture from lunch followed by the cleaned up version.  He is so happy and content with a full tummy!

  

Here's Gavin with Uncle Mike...I don't know who did more smiling.  It was so sweet!

   

This is a shot of Gavin flirting with Auntie Jamie!

  

Now he's trying to redeem himself and make it clear that I'm his favorite auntie.  :)

   

This is one of my favorites - Gavin with Grammy!  He's happy, full and tired.  This was taken when we were over in Leavenworth last month.  I love it!

  

Ridin' Dirty (diaper, that is)...

  

And here's how Gavin's visit at our place ended on Sunday (we babysat while Bobby & Kelli were at the Seahawks game).  He HATES to sleep...so he constantly fights it.  This time was different.  He was rolling around and crawling all over the place.  At one point, he rolled onto his backside and just started to chill out.  Ben and I sat there watching him and the Seahawks game...before we knew it, his eye lids were shut and there was no waking the little man.  Looks like we've got the touch.  :)

learning, but not quickly...

I am a gift-giver & receiver.  It's my strongest love language.  However, it's not Ben's love language...not at all!  Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped me from using my love language to reach him - or try to reach him.  Let me show you what I mean...
    

    

This is what I did before heading off to see my BFF in New York earlier this summer.  Since I was going to be gone, I thought I would leave a little gift for Ben each day.  The first day (Wednesday) he opened a card and there was $10 inside for him to get a sandwich at his favorite lunch spot.  The next day, he had a gift card waiting for him - to use for a breakfast sandwich on his way into work.  For Friday, it was a Starbuck card for a yummy drink and breakfast treat.  On Saturday he was up with his family at Big Lake, so I had to hide the Gushers in his car...the card told him where to look.  I knew he would be coming home to an empty house on Sunday and if there wasn't something frozen, he probably wouldn't eat (he hates to do anything that resembles cooking).  So, I made sure the freezer was stocked with his favorites.  Then it was time for him to head back to work on Monday, so I tied together a few Power Bars - something to help sustain him should he choose to skip meals.  ;)  Tuesday, I left money in the card for a bucket of golf balls down at the driving range.  Then, the last day - the same day I came home - I put a gift card in there for dinner.  The idea being that he would pick me up from the airport and then we would enjoy dinner together while catching up.

      

   

Great idea, right?  I thought so.  But that was my mistake.

Selfishly, this is the type of gift I would LOOOOOOOOOOVE to receive.  Naturally, I thought it would be something that Ben would enjoy.  However, I was thinking about myself and not him.  Sure, the gifts were for him and they were symbolic of my love (which sounds strange, but you know what I mean).  But Ben's love languages are words of affirmation, touch and time.  Sure, he's pretty strong in 3 out of 5...unfortunately for me, my gift is not listed there.

   

I say all of this not to toot my own horn, but instead, to show just how much I'm still learning - after three years of marriage.

   

The Bible Study I'm current going through has been an eye-opener to say the least!  The Lord is showing me that I am still so selfish - in small and in big ways!  I've also been able to see that often times my selfish side comes out and rears its ugly head when I least expect it to.  It's not like I sit around plotting and planning against my husband.  However, I am also realizing that I don't sit around plotting and planning NOT to be selfish in my marriage...which is what I should be doing!

   

Thankfully, I'm married to a wonderful man who loves me despite all of my flaws!  And, I can confidantly say that he loves me like that because He is actively pursuing the author of love!  How blessed am I?

  

Now I just need to be sure I voice these things to my husband so he can enjoy those words of affirmation.  ;)

       

     

As for the gifts I left behind for Ben...he forgot to open the first few.  So, when I called to talk to him during the day, he explained that they were at home/forgotten/left behind.  From that point forward, he just decided to open them all at once so that he wouldn't forget.  Bless his little heart!  :)