Vacationing with the Jacksons

This was the second year that we have vacationed with the Jackson family. Rich and Darcie are our closest friends and we just love their two little girls Grace and Joy. We decided to return to wonderful Buckley, MI and stay at the KOA in a camping lodge. The KOA has a cool train that the girls just loved and a playground right across from our lodge. The girls played there all week long and I think were a little sad to leave it.

Above you will see just some of the many pictures that we took on our vacation. If you put your mouse on the picture you will see a caption. I think we have 200 pictures, so I'll probably post some more later!

What a fun week we had together! The weather was gorgeous, which made the trips to the pool very enjoyable. We are looking forward to planning our trip together next year. I'm sure this will become a Jackson-Mihalek family tradition!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to our wonderful fathers! Nate and I are both blessed with such wonderful, caring, special dads! I thought I would take some time to reminisce about my dad. I have so many great memories as a child.

One of my most favorite memories of my dad is spending time with him in the coffee shop. You know how police officers love coffee and donuts! My dad and I would go to a donut shop in Grand Haven. He would order his coffee and I would get to order chocolate milk and a chocolate donut. Yummy! My dad and I would sit at the counter on stools and hang out. I miss those days. Just me and my dad! Now when I go over to visit we sit on the deck, admire his lawn, and drink our cup of coffee. No donuts included.

Another favorite memory of mine, even though it was stressful at the time, was practicing my driving with my dad. When I got my permit I was so excited, but I knew that my dad and I would spend hours driving around town and on the back roads. He wanted to make sure I was a great driver before I got my license. I was always so nervous, but I loved having that time alone with my dad. He taught me to look right, look left, look right again. I find myself still staying that to this day. Thanks dad for teaching me to drive!

I have to tell you that my dad is great at yard work. The summer before Nate and I got married he helped us put in a yard. My brother Chad came over to help too and we put rock around our house and filled the yard with grass. I think when my dad retires some day he will own his own lawn care business. He is very gifted at lawn care and I am so glad because I don't know anything about lawn care and he knows that!

My dad is so important to me. He has always been there to help me make those important decisions and I still call him to this day and ask his opinion on things. I know he loves it! My favorite memories now, sitting with my dad and drinking a cup of coffee.

My mom, dad, and me a very long time ago.

Oh the memories of Christmas morning! My dad always holds his gift, shakes it, feels it, shakes it again, and tries to guess what it is. I don't know how he does it, but he is usually always right!

One of my favorite memories of all...dancing with my dad at my wedding. What a special moment the two of us shared. I will always cherish that time together.

The School Year is Almost Over!

It is that time of year! Schools are letting out and summer is in the air. Nate finished his year on Friday and I am still going into my hot and muggy classroom until Wednesday. Oh well! I actually have a fun group of second graders and will miss them next year. It seems like every year I get more and more attached to my group of kids. I will tell you the one thing that I will not miss is hearing my name, "Mrs. Mihalek? Mrs. Mihalek? Mrs. Mihalek?" over and over again. Oh and the constant little line of 5 kids that follow me around the classroom. They are my little ducklings. I always call them that and they finally understand why. This time of year they are really needy because they know that the year is almost over. Only a couple more days with my ducklings.

I look back over the year and truly feel blessed that I have the opportunity to do what I do every day. I love how teaching makes me feel; happy, excited, overwhelmed, tired...the list goes on. I love looking at their faces and seeing them so excited about learning (2nd graders get excited about anything you do). I love the look they get on their faces when they understand what I have taught them. I love how they come to school ready to learn, well most of them.

I thank God every day for allowing me to do what I love to do. Wednesday will be a day of mixed emotions. I know I will probably shed some tears because I really do love this group of kids. After I have escorted them out of the building I will return to my classroom to clean up and pack everything away. Then summer will officially begin and I can begin to relax. I can't wait!