it's a good thing i'm not a teacher...

oh wait...
i am.

well, here's a little funny.

i'm updating and restocking my etsy shop and i'm in the midst of listing my labels when i realize something just doesn't look right...

i've always called these hexagons:

notice the problem?

i know from teaching 2nd grade geometry that a hexagon has 6 sides...not 8. duh!

it's really pretty funny when you think about it.
it's been so long now, that's how i refer to them... "octagon" just doesn't have the same ring to it.

heehee!

better late than never...

right?
be warned ~ this is a long post with lots of pics...just so you know! heehee...

this is new...i've wanted to do this for a long time, and finally just decided to go for it! a few thrift store frames and some white spray paint...i love the way it turned out!

the house all decked out for Christmas...

the girlies in their new jammies...

jaden got a new CoolPix digi camera from her papaw...

{and yes...she's taking a pic of ashlyn who is inside the box}

my absolute favorite gift? my NEW CAMERA! jackson and his momma got me a Nikon DX...so exciting! here are a few of my favorite shots with my new camera...

jaden's favorite gifts..."Camp Rock" dvd and her magic light brush

ashlyn's favorite gift...her new "rock star"
{not sure why she calls it that instead of guitar...but it's cute, so i don't bother correcting her}

{she's even got the rock star hair}

and jackson's favorite gift...i worked with my mom who bought him his new flat screen

our holidays were great! it was really nice to spend time with everyone...
we didn't have to rush from house to house and party to party, so we really got to enjoy our visits...

i'm slowly working my way out of my funk...
i've finally realized that a lot of what i'm unhappy won't get better without ME changing a lot of things...

i'm not much for resolutions, but this year i'm trying to take them very seriously...
i'll be back to post those in a couple days...

hope your holidays were great, too!

oh...

jackson and i celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary last week...
nothing elaborate...just our annual trip to La Comedia dinner theater for some yummy food and a fantastic show ~ Miracle on 34th Street...
let me tell you that Santa was amazing...he had me believing!

luv zin ya!

refocus...

trying to direct my thoughts to other things...

this is how creative my 6 year-old can be when left to her own devices...{and when she's not ignoring me or tormenting her sister}:

yes...that's a quilt and a belt...
project runway...here she comes!


this is a luminary walk we took about 2 weeks ago with my mom-in-law and brother-in-law...
it was so pretty with the huge snowflakes and frozen waterfall...{nevermind that i had no hat and had to wear jackson's work hood which made me look like a ninja}:

and while we were there, the girls got to visit with santa...

and jackson took the girls to the park a few days ago...

i need...

to stop and take a breath...

i'm overwhelmed, exhausted, fed-up, and on the verge of a break down.
it's just too much...everything is too much.

i have too much to do and not enough time to do it.
i have a job that i'm not sure i can keep doing.
i have a daughter who i am hoping and praying will grow out of her defiant behavior...and she's only 6!
i have fears that i can't really voice to anyone because i don't know how to put them in words.
i have a husband i am trying not to drive away.
i am tired of having the same arguments.
i am constantly...and i mean 24-7...in pain.

i am ready to throw in the towel.


i wish with all my heart that i could focus on everything that is good right now...this time of year, this season.

but i just can't.

{f.y.i....just putting that in words helps some. i just need some time...}

hi brat!

better late than never...

this is my stunning sister, sarah {a.k.a. "brat"},
and my girlies at thanksgiving:

our christmas card...

another one of jaden's fantastic illustrations...

{when you get yours in the mail, just pretend you haven't seen this post}
heehee...

new goodies...

in my etsy shop...