New book

 

Just started this book “Atomic Habits”.  Only got 20 pages in and realized that already this book is spot on.  Small, consistent, steps will get you where you want to go. They’ll get you to your full potential over time. But you have to let the system work.  This could work with your job, a project, managing money. 

Boy did the managing money part hit!!  If you’re a spender and never start changing small habits you’ll always be a slender and you’ll never have money. If you’re a saver, these steps just might help you save more!!

It’s another one of those years

We have 3 21 and older now. She joined the club. Fortunately she shares the week with her grandpa so we get to see her soon. But her friends have her for the night. Happiest birthday. 

 

Another year coming down

 

My college junior. I’m looking forward to her graduating and being closer to home again. 

My high school senior. It wasn’t that long ago that she was 5 and starting kindergarten.  She’s ready for senior year. 

And the baby. My last baby. He was off to football at 530 and got through his first day of high school.  Good to have these two in the same school. 

Love all of the kids beyond measure. 

Senior year means college prep

 If your incoming senior is planning a career that requires a degree (our daughter is nursing), then you need to begin the prep NOW!  The one application and automatic scholarships at some universities require applications by December 1st.  Then, your student is in for a wait to see if they were accepted and then a furious attempt to submit the application for scholarships for each school they’re interested in. Have them do themselves a favor. Apply during the summer. They can then slowly begin the process for scholarships after their first semester of senior year without quite as much pressure. Especially if they’re taking dual credit classes and APs.  

Know what is available and what scores are needed. Missouri Department of Higher Education has Bright Flight scholarships. While they’re not as much as they used to be, money for college is so appreciated, especially in a middle class family like ours with 5 kids where only one has chosen a field that doesn’t  require a degree. We don’t have money to help all of them so we really can’t help any. The topic of them paying their way through college will have to be a topic for another post. 

Back to Bright Flight. They do allow superscores for ACT. Here’s the link if you’re interested. https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants/brightflight.php. Note that the newest high school grads to be have to scroll down to see the higher requirements. It’s a 32 super by the way 😉

Here’s the trick.  If you’re child only has a 31 composite but a 32 super MDHE will not be notified by ACT.  ACT only automatically sends your child’s composite scores.  If your child received a high enough superscore, you are responsible for paying ACT to send the superscore to MDHE.  I spoke to them myself to confirm.   

Take those ACTs kids!

Extra $5 bonus!

 

Extra $5 the first time you use it. Use linked code https://upside.app.link/XTNA6F  to sign up for Upside and get your bonus!  Easiest money you’ll make when filling up your gas tank, grocery shopping or eating at some restaurants. I love this app and we’ve made over $100 that we can trade in for gift cards.  Our driving kids have their own accounts to earn their own money. So easy and love the extra cash. 

Amazing tape!

 

My favorite tape in the world. I’ve never even tried anything else. This 3M double sided sticky tape has been used to hold all of our solar lights around the pool, some of our blink cameras and the pool pole hook. I’m stunned that not even wet or cold weather makes it detach and some items have been up for over 2 years. My favorite thing to try before screws!

Where did the summer go?????!!

 It’s already gone. Official sports practices are in motion. No more skipping a day here and there. No getting away. 

So the two high schoolers (gulp, I only have high school kids left) and I went to my work to pick some things up and then off to bowl and eat.  Anyone who knows me knows this is truly a treat.  I can’t even remember the last time I bowled. Probably for my 26 year olds 13th birthday?  But it was just the three of us. I forgot to make reservations so we just kindly asked if they had a lane and we ended up with a private room for awhile.

We had an hour time like so we got two and half games in. The last game was a lightening round meaning no prep just bowl as soon as the pins drop. That was my best game. We each won one. Then we had lunch at the alley so Chelsi could go to work. It was a really nice time.  The only pics and video were from the beginning. After that we just enjoyed. So yeah…Jae did actually start putting his fingers in the holes and bowling right. He did much better then.