School has started!

 Oh my goodness.  My girls have gotten big. When did this happen?  Hailey is starting 4th grade this year and Mia is starting Kindergarten.  The girls are so excited that they get to go to school together.  They have big plans about getting to see each other during the day at school.  I love these little muffins, I am sure going to miss them.

 Mia is beyond excited and keeps telling me that she isn't nervous.  Last night I overheard Hailey and Mia talking late into the night.  Hailey was telling Mia all about school and how cool it is and if she needs anything, she will be there.  Warms my heart!

 Mia is going to full day kindergarten.  It's what they do out here in Michigan.  She had to bring a yoga mat to sleep on for nap time and she isn't very excited about that.  Look at her sweet face.  I could kiss those cheeks forever.

 Mia was all smiles when I picked her up after school.  She asked when she gets to go back again and was so excited when I said, "Tomorrow."

This is on the 2nd day of school.  Hailey said she loves her teacher.  She explained her as, "A really nice Mom that is my age."  Haha.  This is Hailey's 2nd year at Barnard Elementary so she already has friends.  She warmed my heart when she said, " I can't wait to go back to school and see all of the new kids that I can be friends with."  Hailey is awesome like that.  Mia, picked her outfit today and put up a pretty good fight to wear it.  Some battles are just not worth fighting.  Love the little Diva.

My Dad's Birthday!

I love having family traditions and finding ways to celebrate even the hard times.  It's always touchy and can be emotional but I want my kids to remember my Dad, their Grandpa.  I want us to celebrate Him, his life.  He still is their Grandpa so I think we should.  This year we decided that on Grandpa's Birthday, August 22, we would have his favorite cake; carrot cake.  The girls helped me make it and we invited the Bruner's (close family friends) over to eat it with us.  During the week we wrote down things we love or remember about Grandpa Dan and read them all out loud on his birthday.

This is what was written.

-Grandpa thought family time was important and made sure we had time for that.
-Grandpa Dan has an amazing testimony and loves the gospel and was always willing to serve in any way Heavenly Father wanted him to.
-Mia drew a picture of a bunch of hearts and said, "Grandpa loves me."  She also drew a picture of Grandpa with a heart face and Grandpa inside of a heart.
-Hailey said, "He loved going to the beach, He told us stories, He took us to the water park and loved me, He helped me save a bird, He hung my picture on the wall and it will stay there."
-Grandpa liked spending time with his kids.  We would exercise together, go boating, play music together, lay in the backyard, hike, ski, play games, watch movies, or just talk.
-Grandpa Dan liked to tell jokes and make people laugh.  He had a good sense of humor.

I sure love my Dad and miss him everyday but I know we will be together again.  I am so thankful for all of the great memories that we have together and I know that he watches over us.

Mia's cute picture of Grandpa Dan.  I wanted to remember this forever.  It's so sweet!