Danielle's Graduation From High School
  
In June, we celebrated Danielle's graduation from Bishop Carroll High School. We're really proud of Danielle, she received the Hayley Wickenheiser Award for her academic and athletic performance in her high school career.
Now she is looking forward to attending U of C studying Psychology.
Canoe Trip with Matthew
This year, our 5th Annual Canoe trip was from Nordeg to Rocky Mountain House. The Nordeg area is quite beautiful. We were luck to have fantastic weather. It rained a little on Saturday evening as we were unloading the canoes but the sun was shining the whole time.
There were some tricky spots with rapids along the route. Everyone made it without falling in. I'd really recommend this area for a canoe trip, there were lots of nice spots to camp along the banks and the river moved at a fairly good pace.
In this picture, we are just preparing to push off on the Friday morning.
Teaching Kids Smart Money Habits
There's no doubt that teaching your child smart money management habits is vital to their long-term success. But amid all the soccer games, PTA meetings and lunch-packing, the school year can get busy -- making summer the perfect time to start teaching them about money. Here are some great ways to help your child understand finances:
Empower them to earn. Start chores young, giving your child small, incremental responsibilities around the house in exchange for money, play time or another reward. Show them that hard work pays off.
Encourage them to get a job. When old enough, encourage your kids to get a job. Maybe it's babysitting for a next-door neighbour or clearing tables at the pizzeria down the street. Whatever it is, working outside the home helps teach financial responsibility, social skills and time management all in one fell swoop.
Try a prepaid debit card. Prepaid debit cards are a great way to teach your kids responsible spending habits without too much financial risk. Consider depositing a small amount onto the card each month and letting them figure out how to budget it week over week. After a few overly indulgent purchases (and a zero balance until the next month rolls around), you can bet they'll start learning how to manage their funds more wisely.
Use tech to your advantage. It's no secret that today's kids are tech-savvy, so why not leverage that? You can find apps to help them manage their pocket money, learn to invest and save, and establish smart spending habits.
Encouraging your kids to develop smart money management habits can set them up for a lifetime of success -- and maybe even help them buy their first home.
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