Senior to Soldier

Jay's brother, Matt, graduated from James F. Byrnes High School on Tues, May. 26th. On Wed, Sept. 2nd he graduated from boot camp at Fort Jackson in Columbia.

I took so long to post his H.S. pics on here that I finally decided to wait until the boot camp graduation and combine them into one post.

Here are the pics from these two monumental moments in his life. Please keep him in your prayers, along with all of our armed forces, as he plunges into a life of the Army Strong. He is training to be a combat medic in Texas for 18 weeks and then will be attached to a unit either stateside or abroad.

Graduation cake

Matt and Celeste
Celeste's son, Tony, is also a combat medic and is currently deployed.

Outside festivities

Grandmoney, Celeste, and Amy/Mia

Jay and Matt

Jay, Joni, and Matt

Amy and Matt

Joni and Matt

Graduation night

Teachers entering

The band

The graduating seniors entering the ceremony

Here is Matt walking up to the platform with his row to receive his diploma.

Matt receiving his diploma

The seniors raise their fist to end of the Alma Mater. "Loyal sons and daughters true of James F. Byrnes High."

After the graduation ceremony Matt posed with his proud Mom...

his brother, Jay and myself...

a hug from his dad, Scott...

posing with his dad and granddad, Kelly...

his proud dad, Scott...

and his granddad again.

These pictures are from the boot camp graduation. We took both girls and had a wonderful day. It was a short ceremony filled with pride, honor and strength. Matt was part of the Alpha company and he did very well during his time at boot camp. Afterward, we signed Matt out and headed to California Dreaming for lunch.

Georgia waiting on the ceremony to begin

Jay and Katie Jo

Matt standing in formation with the Alpha company

Walking out in formation after the ceremony

Matt hugging Joni

Matt hugging Katie Jo
*I will have to say, on a side note, that Katie Jo found this all very fascinating. We talked at length before the graduation about what to expect and what it meant to be a soldier. We got a photo in the mail from Jay's mom of Matt. It's his official Army photo and we hung it on the fridge. Not a day goes by that Katie Jo and Georgia don't point it out and say "Uncle Matt." So when I look at this photo I don't see Katie Jo hugging Uncle Matt I see a little girl who was sooo excited to see her Uncle, the soldier.

Jay, Amy, Matt and Joni

Matt and his dad, Scott

Matt and his granddad, Kelly, Joni and Scott

The girls at California Dreaming

Last chance photo
Georgia, Jay, Amy, Joni, Matt, Kelly, Katie Jo, and Scott's wife, Tina

Cousins!

In August Jay's sister, Jessica, and her family came down to Seabrook from Maryland for vacation. Katie Jo and Georgia were so excited to see their cousins and spend time with them. They came by our house on the way in and the kids had fun running around the back yard and climbing trees. We went out to Seabrook a couple of days for some beach/pool fun and Katie Jo even spent the night one night. It was lots of fun and the girls can't wait to see Aidan, John Paul, and Mary Katherine again!

A couple of funny videos

The First of Many

This past Saturday was Katie Jo's first Clemson Football game. She was very excited to see the tiger, the cheerleaders, and clap and cheer. She did very well. By half time she was ready to go and by the middle of the third quarter she had hit a wall! Thankfully the tigers were up by plenty giving us the chance to make a break. All in all it was a great first experience for her.

Tailgating with some yummy Gutherie's!Playing a game of tiger washers before the big game.

Katie Jo's turn!

Katie Jo's picture of her Daddy.

Striking a cheerleader pose in her new cheerleader uniform.

Walking in with Mom.

She got to ride in most of the way on a golf cart. The highlight of her day, I'm sure!

It stared raining at the end but with a bag of Skittles any child can be made happy.

Here's a video of Katie Jo's reaction when we entered the stadium and a clip of her listening to the music from the comfort of her Daddy's shoulders.