Battling the Brown Boxes

First night in our New England Cape. We vacillate from cozy to chaotic, happy to melancholy, humid to chilly! We love our new home. As if on cue, this morning during breakfast, a doe and her spotted twin fawns came grazing by our kitchen nook window.  We decided to have coffee on the back patio, where it's 75 degrees by 9 a.m.
The girls are settling in beyond my wildest expectations. My fear that the spark of their adolescent ways (the silly pranks, their obscure observations, the spontaneous "I love you Mama"s) would fade... all of that unnecessary worry as they continue to both inspire and entertain.  This past week while I managed the contractors at the house and started back to work simultaneously, the girls were busy making their own tracks.
Sisi went to New Jersey and spent three days with her new college roommate.  They went to a concert and spent time on the Jersey shore.  She had a blast! The two of them hit if off like old familiar friends. I was beyond proud of my daughter who had to manage her own way home from NJ by train, including a transfer by taxi from Penn to Grand Central Stations in NYC. She is managing the city life like it's second nature to her. She is ready to launch!
Let me tell you now about my little A, now the mature and grown up A. She attended a week long lacrosse clinic at her new high school this past week.  Her mom signed her up not knowing the clinic was meant for younger players.  The weather was some of the most humid and hot we've seen yet. But A went out with her typical enthusiasm and an open mind. She got to know the H.S. coach, as well as one of the high school alumni who is now playing lax at CAL! Her new Cal pal is now working out with A one on one. A. won the shootout on the last day of the clinic, but gave up the prize because she'd already won a prize earlier in the week. She goes to soccer camp in MA next week with the h.s. soccer team. She is very busy decorating her California Surf room (picture palm trees, teal blue and plenty of sea shells).
Little Sof celebrated her birthday with a trip to the Aquarium and dinner at a fondue restaurant. She spent this last week at "Glee Camp," where she sang and danced her way through eight songs! It was one of her best performances yet! The choreographer and voice coach were "real live" Broadway performers. I was so amazed that just two weeks ago she was saying farewell to her beloved directors, Jeff and Steph in CA, and now, center stage in a whole new production. We had gelatto to celebrate.
My kids inspire me. Their willingness to trust, to embrace the day, to carry on despite missing friends and family terribly, makes me feel blessed and ever grateful. 
Final note: we watched the Giants sweep the Dodgers on t.v. tonight!