Little Girls Get Big Surprise After Dad Has to Miss Father-Daughter Dance (Exclusive)

Kenzie McAllister is a mom to daughters, Dottie, 5, and Daisy, 7, who were excited for a big night out

When Kenzie McAllister learned her husband would be out of town during their community's father-daughter dance, the stay-at-home mom from Boise, Idaho, asked her two daughters, Dottie, 5, and Daisy, 7, who they’d like to bring instead.

"They both replied in unison, 'GRANDPA!' " McAllister tells PEOPLE exclusively.

Living with her parents at the time, McAllister asked Daisy to run to her dad Gary's office and see if he'd be willing to go with them. A few minutes later, Daisy returned with $15 cash in hand and the signed permission slip, announcing, “We’ve got a date!”

"My girls have the best relationship with him," McAllister says. "He can make them laugh even when they’re upset. He'll throw a football with them in the rain, is always up for a good wrestle, and loves getting one-on-one time with them."

"There was no convincing. They were so excited to go with Grandpa and even decided to make him a flower to wear so they could all match," she adds.

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When the time for the dance rolled around, McAllister got the kids dressed and ready. Then, once they were set, Gary, 66, knocked on the door to pick them up.

"They walked down, and my dad told them how beautiful they looked, then knocked on the door like he was taking them on a date — like a gentleman. It was so cute," the mom says.

McAllister recorded the moment on her camera. Later she posted the video to TikTok, where it quickly went viral, amassing more than 400,000 views.

"Howdy, partner," one of the girls says in the video as she opens the door.

"Hi, Mrs. McAllister. I'm here to pick up your daughters for a date," Gary responds. "We'll be home by 8:15 p.m."

@mac.chats