Hello out there

We're still here. In the home stretch of single-pseudo-parenthood. DJ's mother will be home in a week and we have been so busy preparing. Ok, I have been busy catching up on housework, teaching, chasing DJ around, dealing with endless insurance paperwork and phone calls.

Today was picture day at school. I took a couple photos of DJ before we left the house, but as usual, they look silly. DJ is a silly kid, so it's expected.

So much of me is excited for DJ's mom's return, but a signficant part of me is also very nervous. There is always a certain amount of behavior difference with DJ when his mom is around, because A) She has been gone for a long time B) She feels guilty for being gone for a long time and he knows that and C) She isn't big on discipline, which he also knows, so it changes the dynamic in the house a lot. To top it all off, we are entering the Holiday season, which brings a chaos all its own and we are going to be flying cross-country to celebrate with our families, so poor DJ has a lot going on in the coming weeks. He is very adabtable, but it's bound to create some issues.

With DJ's mom arriving the morning before Thanksgiving, we had originally planned to have a very small dinner at home, just the three of us. However, my pastor and his wife have invited us to join them at their house for Thanksgiving dinner and I accepted. It is so very hard for me to have a tiny Thanksgiving when I come from a history of large extravagant festivities. I am extremely grateful for this invitation, as I enjoy spending time with people from my church, DJ loves to play with the pastor's sons and I get to have a bit more of a gathering and real meal.

It's gotten very cold here and we had our first snow flurries yesterday. Snow before Thanksgiving. Happened last year, too. All those great fall colors are gone, the trees almost completely bare. It's almost winter. Are you ready?