Random August fun and starting back at homeschool…

Lily helped Andrew play Club Penguin…that’s all we need, another Club Penguin account!

Andrew decided to dress like a “rapper” one day.  Considering we rarely listen to secular music, I wonder how he even knows what a “rapper” is…haha!

Lily got to try out the new headset/mic for school.

 

And Ryan polished up on his football skills with Hassane…

The boys had their first day at Timothy Ministry (homeschool enrichment classes) and it was pulling teeth to get the “together” shot!

The lineup this year:

Ryan – Bible Study (book of James), Phys Ed, Ancient History (Middle Ages), and God’s World News (current events)

Andrew – Lego free building, Choi Kwan Do, Navigating the States, and Science (Space)

Waiting in line as the 244th homeschooling mommy paid off and the boys LOVE their classes.

Andrew’s Fav: Science/Space

Rya'n’s Fav: Gym time

Andrew and his “States” teacher…Ryan was in no way shape or form going to pose!  He has become quite the camera avoider…another Nana.  Great!

Lily had her first whole milk bottle…look at the “What is this?” look on her face.

We fit in 1 more pool day at the pool…

Lily has discovered what it means to “cheese” for pictures…

But enough is enough and eventually the little ball of energy crashes.

Sky Zone Bounce Park

Another really cool thing we did in August was with the Homeschool group.  We went to a place all the way over in Suwanee called the SkyZone and it was well worth the drive!  It was a huge trampoline park that consists of dodge ball courts, bball hoops, foam pit and free jump.  The whole place is just about covered in trampolines and the boys jumped for 2hours or more!  They had a blast!  What a workout…it certainly counted for Physical Education!

Ryan waiting for his turn in the foam ball pit!

There was no focusing on these crazy bouncers!

Baby bouncin…

Dodge ball…

I got Ryan from the sidelines!

Dunkin hard…almost.

And he’s flying…

The one and only time I caught them standing still!

Oh, and Ryan got a haircut…finally.

Miss Lily didn’t know what to think…crazy boys!

August has proven to be busy, busy, busy with lots of love and lots of fun!  One day we will look back and wish our days were as busy as they are now and we didn’t have time to clean the house.

On Cloud 9…

This year marks our 9 year wedding anniversary and like everyone always says, “time flies when you’re having fun!” 

Although very difficult to see, the picture in the double sided frame on the left shows our first “date” back in December of 1997.  I say “date” because truly we were “just friends” for about 6 months until I finally gave into Matt’s 3am serenades below my dorm room window and phone calls singing Sugar Pie Honey Bunch!  Honestly, ever since that day in August when I saw Matt  for the first time, I knew he was the one!  Fast forward 6 months and we were inseparable, fast forward 6 years, and history was in the making!

Now, 9 years later, I can honestly say that I am living on Cloud 9 with the man of my dreams. 

We kept it low key but Matt said it was the best anniversary ever!  I cooked him dinner and we looked at pictures from our lives together…it was great and stirred up some emotions!  The boys stayed at Grammy’s house, but Lily has yet to spend the night somewhere without Mommy and Daddy so we had a little guest of honor at the celebration.  I dressed her up too and we showed Daddy how much we love him!

She helped with the cooking…

…and insisted on being in the annual picture!

But she let us get some of only us!

Any resemblance?  This is Matt and me when we are older than dirt, sitting on our front porch drinking lemonade together, as always!

Magnets hold these salt shakers in kissing mode…so cute!

A little over a year ago, at Lily’s baby shower, everyone introduced themselves by describing how they met/knew me/Lily.  When it was Matt’s mom (Grammy’s) turn, she brought me to tears.  She said, “Matt called me one night soon after going to WVU and all I heard was…”There’s this girl…”  and ever since then, no matter what, its just ALWAYS been Jenny.”  She couldn’t have said it any better! 

Through thick and thin, sickness and health, richer or poorer…it has always been Matty!  No other will ever do and every morning I wake up, I know I have someone who will love me and cherish me as much as I do him into eternity!  God has allowed us to make mistakes, learn from each other, and sometimes even teach others but we can honestly say, “the two have become one!”

Thank you Matty for bringing me joy and holding me through the sorrow!  I have always and will ALWAYS love you!

Cruisin with our crew and a new Ireland baby…not us for once!

Back in August, Matt’s extended family: Mawmaw, Pawpaw, Uncle Rick, Aunt Marie, Cousin Conner and Billy and Megan all got together with Grammy, Peepaw and and ourselves to have a water filled day on Lake Lanier.  It was great and the kids made lots of memories. Thank you Laynes for the great idea and fun day and the other Irelands (Uncle Billy and Aunt Megan) had a fantabulous announcement!

Everyone got vested up and we were ready for fun.

We tried to convince her it was fun to wear a vest

She was NOT having it!

It got much better once we started playing

…

This is pure fun says Lily!

We couldn’t get the boys, even the big boys out of the water!

Down the hatch!  Conner on the slide.

Ryan’s turn…

The views on Lanier are gorgeous!

The kids enjoyed the beach…

We loved the family time…

Should we smile or scream?  Ryan’s manning the wheel.

Andrew enjoying the wind in his hair!

…but hands down, the best part was the BIG SURPRISE. 

The kids were

going to have another cousin born in January!

HUGE CONGRATS TO BILLY AND MEGAN!

Mawmaw was soooo excited, we all were!

 

The hours flew by, and it was time to dock…booo!

We really enjoyed ourselves and want to do it again if I can get to courage to take the kids on the water again!

Through MANY tries, we got a family picture, in fact even the guy walking by was looking at the camera…NICE!

Lily got some more Grandma loving!

Then, out of the blue (no pun intended), the Irelands announced that our new little one would be…

another boy!

The boy genes run strong in the Ireland family. 

Now what will they name that sweet angel??

And the ride home?  Lily tested and approved!