While Kyle sleeps in, Nico and Maya are up early today for the first day of the new school year. Nicolai is a junior and Maya will be entering the 7th grade. This year demarcates a more dramatic boundary than others. Kyle will be leaving for college, Nicolai begins the year a full fledged driver and looking more like a man than a boy, and I can no longer credibly describe Maya as my little girl. She has matured into a young woman complete with holes drilled through her ear lobes and a new focus on fashion. Randomly colored toe nails have been covered with a single hue, wild and flowing hair has been replaced with tight braids, a fashionista inspired outfit has taken the place of care free summer attire. It has been a terrific summer but I think everyone was ready for school to start including Jeanine who will be attending the University of Bridgeport every other weekend for the remainder of the year. Everyone in the family seems to be getting smarter except me.