Hi all - it's been a bit but I've been super super busy with work and "real" life so haven't had time to poke my head in. I'll have to do some reading and catch up on everyone's situation, especially around the holidaze.

DH is doing really well, continuing his counseling and we're still seeing the couples counselor which has been great. Every so often we fall back into old communication habits but we're able to recoginze it quickly and work through it rather than harboring bad feelings for hours or days. DH was having some hard time last week with the upcoming holidays and thinking about his family and SDs. But he's doing better and talking with his counselor about it and he's not ruined anything this year.

We went out of town last weekend on a "pre-holiday" trip that involved holiday stuff and enjoyed ourselves a lot. It was great to get out of dodge for a while and go somewhere to beautiful places that were decorated up. I didn't bake nearly as much this year as I've not had time to do that either. I'm going to make a batch of sweet buns today and then be done with it.

We're hosting a holiday party tomorrow, Monday evening, that may prove to have a LOT of people coming!  Yikes!  We're going shopping for it tomorrow mid-day (basically I'm saying 'eff it to all day work) and do the set up. DH is helping me with everything or he knows it wouldn't happen, this was actually somewhat of his idea anyway. After discussion of what we both wanted this holiday, I agreed to make a turkey meal on the 24th, he'll handle all food on the 25th because I don't lift a fricking finger on that day other than to shove cookies in my mouth and swig them down with champagne. LOL. 

YSD18 will be here on the 24th (have no idea what time), 25th and 26th. I don't know if she's leaving on the 26th or 27th. Usually when she says she'll be somewhere her "through date" includes the day she leaves. So I suggested that he clarify that because it sounds like out of her 3 week break from school she'll see him for 2.5 days. He's planning on talking with her about him meeting up with her another time. Hope he does. I've not spoken to her or communicated at all since she left in August. It's been peacefull. I told DH that I'd make up the guest room for her and that's it. He gets to figure out what she will eat.

I am gifting her a small amout of cash since neither of us have any idea what the hell to get her. She's impossible to buy for. DH got her a little mini notebook and pen, a Swiss army knife (hope she checks a bag if she keeps it with her), and a jumprope. I looked at him funny at that last one and he got a bit verklempt about it. I told him that he wanted my feedback, and I said I think it's an odd gift for her (so with the army knife but I let that one go) since she doesn't exercise. He said that "she used to jumprope." I cannot remember this at all, unless he's thinking of when she was in elementary school...he just wants to have packages for her to open. I personally don't think she cares at all. AND I did prevent him from buying a new board game for all of us to play (and he recognized that yes, he burned me out on those the past several years). I just want to sit and read and watch a movie or two!  I think it'll be ok in the end.  He also tried to connect with OSD21 but received no answer of course.

Happy holidaze to everyone and hope we all find some peace in coping in our own way, or in our own corner. Do something nice for yourself only.