How quickly your life changes

Here it is...end of March already. I can't wait to go to the beach, sit out..relax, read a little--oh wait--that life is over!!! My grandchildren, ages, 4, 11 and 12 have just moved in with me because their mother (my oldest daughter) is deploying to Afghanistan. Now I know it "sucks" for them, cuz they would rather be home with their mom, but for now they are stuck with me. This past week-end was a wake up call. I thought, boy that new movie is out with Gerard Butler :) and I think I'll go watch it-oh, can't forgot I had the kids. Then I got hungry and thought I would just go out to dinner, but again, oops, too expensive for all of us to go out (I have two older daughters in High School). So, for now it's the cartoon channel, daycare and after school care to contend with. I guess I will be really appreciative in a year when I get my freedom back. Don't get me wrong--I love them to death and we have great times when we go places--It's just an adjustment period, and loss of freedom. My house looks like a bomb blew it up, there's so much junk everywhere. (Not that it looked like better homes and gardens before)--but the clutter is making me think of the "hoarders" show. If you haven't watched that one it is really and eye-opener. So I now we have some young mothers in class that have this same thing...several young kids at home, no big deal--I have once again joined your ranks.

Comment on the Fafsa post

Lauren got accepted to Johnson & Wales College in Charlotte. She has always spoken of becoming a chef, and has taken culinary arts in school for 2-3 years now. She really is not an "academic" type..but I hope since she loves this subject that she will excel. I know one thing for sure--her mother LOVES to eat good food and boy would I like it if someone cooked for me in my "old age" :) LOL.

Fafsa and graduation gripes

Well, I completed the fafsa application this week-end--and it was not so bad. For those of you who don't know, it is the federal application to see if you can get student financial aid to go to college. They even have "fafsa help" meetings you can go to so as to get help filling this thing out. My daughter, Lauren, will be going to college in the fall. (I hope). Anyway, you fill out a bunch of personal info..All about her name, dob, address, when she got her license, when you got your license, are you a resident of NC, is she...What did you pay in taxes last year..what is your yearly pay, and what schools is she interested in going to. That's pretty much it. Oh, before doing any of that I had to get a "Pin" for me and her..which is just an easy way to sign the form (The pin form is right on the fafsa website). You fill our your ssn info on a form, make up a pin number, hit send and now you can use the pin. That way when you fill out the fafsa you can just put in that pin number instead of physically signing it..and you are done. Well, don't make the same mistake I did. The first time I started filling out the fafsa I didn't realize I was at a site [fafsa.com] that charges you to fill out the form. It is a commercial site and I didn't realize that I was not at the government website until I had already intered some info--so beware. So now that is done and I hope they approve a "buttload" of money (LOL) so she doesn't run me into the poor house!

The other "gripe" is how expensive a kid's senior year is. There are key chains and tassels and sweatpants and sweatshirts and invitations and senior portraits (they cost a pretty penny) and it seems everyone want to get ahold of your hard earned $. Oh let's not forget the "Prom".

It will soon be over--But wait--her sister, Madeline will graduate next year...YIKES!!! :)