Reunion

This week Isabel is home for Thanksgiving, so today her and Cesca came to visit the girls and to take them to Panera for lunch, which was always one of their favorite activities during the summer. It was great to see them, and to see the girls all happy and excited for the special visit.

Bey Vs Bey

Bella is learning to play chess at their new before and after care, and on Thursday night her and Lionel were playing together after dinner. I don't think they finished, but at least they gave it a try.

Thanksgiving Celebration

On Thursday afternoon Bella had her Thanksgiving celebration at school, so I left work at 1:30 to go be with her. My mom also came. After the celebration Bella was free to go home with me, which is exactly what she asked for. Since we had to come back to get Sofia I didn't necessarily want to go back home.  Instead, Bella asked to go to a park. The day was sunny but cold, so I wasn't necessarily excited about going to the park. But Bella really, really wanted to go. And since we never get a chance to go to a park on a week day, let alone that early in the day, I decided to suck it up and take her there. There were only a few other kids at the park, and there was plenty of space to run around. So she did. And I tried to move around as well to play with her and to keep warm. I even went down the slides.

Ten steps

This weekend I finally fixed the screen in my old phone. Sofia of course wants it, and I told her I would think about it. So I came up with something that will - hopefully - give her good habits at last.

Paris

Friday was a terrible day in Paris. Bella, completely oblivious about it, was coloring an Eiffel Tower at dinner. 

Toxic goals

I am one of the most disciplined people you will find around. I set goals. I make a plan. I work hard. And when I have setbacks I regroup, keep going, and work twice as hard. This is normally a good thing, but lately I've come to realize it is not such a good thing when working towards what I am going to call "toxic goals". I've had one of this for a while at work and slowly, but painfully, I am starting to realize I probably have to let go. I have worked hard. I have delivered.  I have requested and acted on feedback. But that is not enough. There are too many factors that don't depend on me and I can't control. I am getting disappointed, frustrated, and feeling taken advantage of. And that is not a good place to be. So it seems like the only way to get back in control is to do the unthinkable-for-a-fighter-like-me and just give up and move on.

Bad English

Bella hung this in her bedroom door. Bad english, but at least she was polite saying please ... Or "plees".