| 
   
Tuesday, August 19th, 2025              
	
		
			| As if coming up in July to move Jayden and her belongings didn't 
			make it official enough, today it became officially official - 
			Jayden was moving into her dorm on the campus of Michigan State 
			University. Jay would be rooming with her friend from Riverview High 
			School, Avery, in Phillips Hall. The move-in process was well 
			organized, but a bit chaotic for those of us who haven't really done 
			this step before. We move all of her belongings up in carts, to her 
			second floor dorm room. We didn't know it at the time, but it turns 
			out Jay and Avery got one of the larger rooms in the dorm, as it is 
			beside the RA's room, and sticks out from the main building an extra 
			couple of feet, giving them a fair bit of extra space on the inside. 
			We helped the girls get their stuff set up with the assistance of 
			Avery's parents. 
			Once the room was set up to the girls liking (at least for the 
			time being), we headed down to the dining hall downstairs to enjoy a 
			meal. We were all impressed with the selection of options available 
			to them, though we would later find out from Jay that the meals are 
			extremely repetitive. Bummer. 
			Once we finished eating, we walked a bit of the campus, which you 
			can read about below...  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
		 
	 
	
	
		
			
			 
			Michigan State University Move-In Day - Phillips 
			Hall
			 
			 | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Drew playing around with Tara on Jayden and Avery's futon.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay working on setting up her side of the room.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay standing near her girlfriend Hanna, as well as her roommate 
			Avery and her parents.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay was a feeling a tad overwhelmed at the amount of people in 
			her room as Avery does some organization.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jayden and Avery posing for a photo...
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			...and a close-up of the new roommates.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay and Avery, looking at Avery's side of the room...
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			...and looking at Jay's side.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			A close-up of Jay.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Tara, Jayden, and Rodney posing for a photo.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			A closer look at Tara, Jay, and Rod.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay giving a wry smile to the camera...
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			...before becoming a tad more serious.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay hoisting Avery in the air...
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			...to celebrate the start of their year together!
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jay giving the Peters Family salute!
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			  | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Drew joining Jay in giving the Peters Family salute!
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			  | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Jayden snuck in the salute to what was supposed to be the "nice" 
			picture with Drew.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			
  | 
		 
	 
 
 
	
		
			| After eating we walked around campus, heading to the bookstore 
			to check out the available Michigan State merchandise. We briefly 
			returned to the dorms, where we said our goodbyes and went our 
			separate ways. Jayden and Avery headed off to their freshman 
			orientation center held in the Breslin Center (home of the Spartans 
			basketball team) while Tara, Drew, and I headed over to Munn Ice 
			Arena (home of the Spartans hockey team) to check out one of the 
			activities there. We though Drew would like to add this sheet of ice 
			to his checklist, adding another famous rink to a list that includes 
			Joe Louis and Little Caesars Arenas (homes of the Detroit Red 
			Wings), Amalie Arena (home of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Yost 
			Arena (home of the Michigan Wolverines hockey team), but alas, he 
			was uninterested. Once we wandered around the arena concourse, we 
			headed back to the car to make the drive home, minus one child. They 
			are definitely growing up, and I am definitely getting old! Good 
			luck Jayden. I love and miss you kiddo!  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
		 
	 
	
	
		
			
			 
			Michigan State University Move-In Day - Campus 
			Walk
			 
			 | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Avery, Jayden, and Hanna walking across campus...
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			...otherwise known as Large, Medium, and Small!
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			Tara entering Munn Ice Arena for one of the activities that took 
			place during the move-in days (and the only one we attended).
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			A look across the skating surface of Munn Ice Arena.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			A hockey stick bench dedicated to the Humboldt Broncos, whose 
			team was involved in a tragic bus crash in 2018.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			|   | 
			
			
			_small.jpg)  | 
			
			The Military Honor Chair, a nice touch - saving a seat for those 
			who have gone missing during military duty.
			 | 
			  | 
		 
		
			
  | 
		 
	 
 
	   |