It's Christmas Time at the Gough's!

Dear Mom

Hi Mom! It's me again!! I feel much better. Perhaps your first advice should be, if it's 1:30 in the morning, and you are sad, it could just be because it's 1:30 in the morning. I woke up this morning in my warm bed to the smell of oatmeal and "Let it Snow" running through my head and Jesse running in to give me a hug and sparkly blue nail-polish on my fingers. Then I played Christmas hymns on the piano for a while. All better! Also, Jesse has pink eye so he can't go to school which means we can stay at home in our pajamas ALL day (again). So go back to your writing and your Relief-Societying and your students and all the other people pulling you in a million directions knowing you have one less kid adult to worry about!

Dear Mom

I know you are really busy right now with students and writing and being a Mom and a Relief Society president and all that and can't answer your phone so I'm talking to you on here since I know you will read this. Yes I am 32 years old and I still need to talk to my Mom about everything. Which is part of the reason I need to talk to you. Let me start with the good stuff.

So, Mom, I feel really grateful. I love the sound of my kids giggling and how they run around together and are happy. I love that our whole family danced to Christmas music by our newly decorated Christmas tree today after supper. I love that Jesse is the nicest kid. Even to kids who aren't necessarily nice to him, he's very diplomatic and compromising. Be honest...did I teach him that?

I love that Breanna is I think one of the happiest girls alive. I love that she is also very diplomatic and compromising. Especially with me and Jesse, she'll say to us through her tears: "Okay!"

I love that many of my dreams have come true, and in the most truest way.

I'm also sad (see above picture).

I'm sad I can't solve my own problems and I'm 32 years old.

I'm scared of not developing talents I know I have, I'm scared of not living up to my potential because I'm too tired or scared.

I'm sad that I can't trust my feelings because I tend to rush towards being offended and angry instead of having charity. I'm scared I will never have charity.

I'm sad because it's 1:30am and I'm still awake and I really wanted to go for a run tomorrow but now I'll be too tired.

Also I think Jesse has pink-eye.

You're the best Mom and teacher in the world. I wish I could brighten your days instead of calling you with all my problems.

Love,

Sarah

Shopping in a Winter Wonderland

I didn't get to go to Edmonton because of the crazy roads. So instead we went Christmas shopping on Saturday.

We saw 4 cars in the ditch on the way to Ikea!

Busy malls and lots of beautiful people in beautiful clothes

Yummy (ahem gross) fast food

What a treat

Waiting in line for Santa. I hate posting ugly pictures of myself, but look at Breanna!

HI SANTA!!

Candy canes and sticky fingers ("He looks serious, but when he talks he's nice"-Jesse)

Fascinating things to look at

Yucky Toilets